Writer Yamasaki Toyoko passes away due to heart failure

Writer Yamasaki Toyoko who was known for her novels adapted into dramas and movies such as "Shiroi Kyoto", "Daichi no Ko", "Shizumanu Taiyo", passed away on 29 September at the age of 88 years old due to heart failure. Yamasaki began her writing career in 1957 with the novel "Noren" and won the Naoki Award the following year with the novel "Hana Noren" which described the tough Osaka woman modeled after Yoshimoto Kogyo's founder Yoshimoto Sei. Since then, she had released many well-known and bestselling novels, many of which had been made into dramas and movies such as "Nyokei Kazoku", "Shiroi Kyoto", "Karei Naru Ichizoku", "Fumou Chitai" and "Shizumanu Taiyo". Although she suffered from numb legs and fingers since 2001, Yamasaki still managed to write and release the novel "Unmei no Hito" in 2009 and had written 20 chapters of her final work "Yakusoku no Umi" since August this year which is now serialised in "Shuukan Shincho".

Source: Sponichi

First episode rating of "Fumou Chitai"

The first episode of "Fumou Chitai" starring Karasawa Toshiaki shown via FujiTV on 15 Oct 09 garnered a rating of 14.4%. The debut was a 2-hour-18-minute SP shown from 9pm onwards which marked the start of this drama which will span 2 seasons till March next year.

"Fumou Chitai" was previously adapted into a movie in 1976 and a drama by TBS in 1979. This current version is made to mark the 50th anniversary of FujiTV.

Production press conference of "Fumou Chitai"

The production press conference of "Fumou Chitai" was held on 4 October 09 where cast members Karasawa Toshiaki, Wakui Emi, Koyuki, Harada Yoshio, Yanagiba Toshiro, Abe Sadao, Endo Kenichi, Amami Yuki, Takenouchi Yutaka and Hashizume Isao made their appearances. The drama will begin on 15 Oct and stretch over 2 seasons in the Thursday 9pm slot.

The story is based on a novel by Yamazaki Toyoko about Iki Tadashi, a staff officer in the army who was detained in Siberia after WWII and later became a famous businessman. It is said that Iki was written to reflect the life of Itochu's late CEO Sejima Ryuzo. This is the 2nd time that Karasawa is acting in a story based on Yamazaki's novel and he remembered how she remarked that he had the guts to take on the challenge. As such, Karasawa mentioned that he was wondering how Yamazaki would react to this 2nd attempt to act in her story.

Filming began in the middle of August at New Zealand where Karasawa had to film scenes of Ichie being detained in Siberia. To look the role, he tried many ways to lose weight including drinking Chinese medicine and he lost 7 kg to reach the weight of 56kg. Now, his weight has rebounded by about 2 to 3 kg.

During the press conference, members of the cast also took turns to poke fun at Karasawa's small face where Abe Sadao started with mentioning that Karasawa's face was small. With response to that, Amami Yuki also commented jokingly that she didn't like to stand beside Karasawa because it made her face look bigger. Even Karasawa's longtime partner Wakui Emi who last acted with him 15 years ago in "Imouto Yo" remarked that Karasawa is very slim and has a small face thus she has to try very hard to make sure she doesn't look like an old woman beside him.

Top 10 most anticipated Autumn 2009 dramas (Oricon)

1) Liar Game Season 2 (FujiTV)

2) Tokyo DOGS (FujiTV)

3) Fumou Chitai (FujiTV)

4) Aibou Season 8 (TV Asahi)

5) Otomen ~ Aki ~ (FujiTV)

6) Koushonin THE NEGOTIATOR (TV Asahi)

7) My Girl (TV Asahi)

8) Samurai High School (NTV)

9) Real Clothes (FujiTV)

10) Ohitorisama (TBS)

Preview of "Fumou Chitai" (Wasteland) - Autumn 2009

Title: Fumou Chitai 不毛地帯 (Wasteland)
Original novel by: Yamazaki Toyoko
Produced by: FujiTV
O.A. Date: Oct 09 ~ Mar 10
Main theme song by: Sakamoto Ryuuichi
Cast: Karasawa Toshiaki, Wakui Emi, Tabe Mikako, Takahashi Taira, Yanagiba Toshiro, Furuta Arata, Danta Yasunori, Itou Shirou, Abe Sadao, Amami Yuki, Endo Kenichi, Hashizume Isao, Nakamura Atsuo, Sasaki Kuranosuke, Koyuki, Harada Toshio, Kishibe Ittoku, Takenouchi Yutaka, Saiki Shigeru, Matsushige Yutaka etc.
Official website: here