Top 10 movies with the most tweets in 2017 (Eiga.com)

Eiga.com released a top 10 ranking of the movies shown in Japan this year with the most tweets between 1 January 2017 and 3 December 2017 as a reflection of which movies were mentioned or talked about the most online. One trend noted was that none of the movies in this year's ranking reached the same kind of online exposure compared to past year's number ones i.e. "Frozen" (753,913 tweets) in 2014, "Bakemono no Ko" (522,538 tweets) in 2015 and "Zootopia" (765,638 tweets) in 2016. It was also pointed out that the extensive promotional campaigns of non-Japanese movies was a key factor leading to them hogging the top spots in this ranking. Last but not least, it is also worth mentioning that the box office hits may not necessarily translate to an equal amount of online popularity and exposure or vice versa as seen from the Japanese films in this ranking where only "22 Nenme no kokuhaku Watashi ga satsujinhan desu" is the sole movie which was both in the top 10 Japanese box office hits ranking and here. Even the top 3 bestselling films from Hollywood i.e. "Beauty and the Beast", "Despicable Me 3" and "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" all failed to make it to this list.

Perhaps this goes to show that box office takings don't really translate to whether people want to talk about or post anything about a movie? Reminds me of how "Quartet" was doing pretty badly in ratings but so talked about and praised online.

Top 10 movies box office ranking for the weekend of 1st & 2nd July 2017

Numbers in brackets indicate the number of cinemas showing the movie:

1) Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (365)

2) Shinobi no Kuni (331)

3) Ani ni aisaresugite komattemasu (251)

4) 22 Nenme no Kokuhaku Watashi ga satsujinhan desu (328)

5) Beauty and the Beast (372)

6) Hirugao (312)

7) Sore ike! Anpanman Buruburu no takarasagashi daibouken! (196)

8) Kodomotsukai (250)

9) Hacksaw Ridge (253)

10) Gekijouban Free! Timeless Medley Yakusoku (59)

Source: Eiga.com

Top 10 movies box office ranking for the weekend of 24th & 25th June 2017

Numbers in brackets indicate the number of cinemas showing the movie:

1) 22 Nenme no Kokuhaku Watashi ga satsujinhan desu (328)

2) Beauty and the Beast (372)

3) Hirugao (312)

4) Hacksaw Ridge (252)

5) Kodomotsukai (250)

6) Gekijouban Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei Hoshi wo yobu shoujo (59)

7) Itsumata, Kimi to Herijunzailai (189)

8) Uchuu Senkan Yamato 2202 Ai no senshitachi Dai Nisho Hasshin Hen (20)

9) King Arthur (326)

10) Hanaikusa (353)

Source: Eiga.com

Top 10 movies box office ranking for the weekend of 17th & 18th June 2017

Numbers in brackets indicate the number of cinemas showing the movie:

1) 22 Nenme no Kokuhaku Watashi ga satsujinhan desu (328)

2) Beauty and the Beast (372)

3) Hirugao (312)

4) Kodomotsukai (250)

5) Gekijouban Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei Hoshi wo yobu shoujo (59)

6) King Arthur (326)

7) Hanaikusa (353)

8) Chotto ima kara shigoto yametekuru (285)

9) LOGAN (359)

10) Meitantei Conan Karakurenai no Love Letter (354)

Source: Eiga.com

Special event of new movie "Kodomotsukai"

The special event of new movie "Kodomotsukai" was held at Iino Hall on 17 May which was attended by the director Shimizu Takashi and cast members Takizawa Hideaki, Arioka Daiki and Kadowaki Mugi. The movie which is based on an original script, features Takizawa as a mysterious man who manipulates the spirits of children by entering into their hearts and taking control of their spirits. Three days after the children disappear, they will cause the mysterious deaths of the adults who meet them. Arioka plays a news reporter trying to investigate the truth while Kadowaki Mugi plays his girlfriend and is being manipulated by Takizawa's character.

In line with the theme of the movie, the hall was designed to look like a haunted house and the screen was suddenly turned off before showing a part of the movie. Takizawa then appeared with bright red lights showered on him and commented that he was pleased that the audience seemed to like their arrangements. This movie is somewhat like a challenge to him as this marks his first leading role in a movie and his first horror movie so he has been eagerly anticipating the release of the film.

When it was Arioka's turn to speak, he stumbled over his words which led his senior Takizawa to tease him about it. Arioka then commented that he had a deep impression of the shock he encountered after watching "Juon", another movie directed by Shimizu, so he was excited about being able to work with the latter. However, Takizawa poked fun at Arioka for lying again which led everyone to laugh at this remark.

During the second half of the event, Takizawa continued to play around with Arioka by "picking" on his comments. When Arioka was asked about his impression of Takizawa, Arioka said that he expected to get closer to his senior during the filming but he was too much in awe of Takizawa who had the scary aura of the kodomotsukai and couldn't get close to him at all. However, Takizawa said laughingly that Arioka was shy and just using him as an excuse because Arioka did not take the initiative to approach him at all. Kadowaki also echoed the same view and wondered how they could play lovers when they were so unfamiliar with each other.

"Kodomotsukai" will be shown in cinemas from 17 June.

Sources: Yomiuri Hochi / Sponichi / Oricon / Eiga.com

Takizawa Hideaki to star in new horror movie "Kodomotsukai"

Takizawa Hideaki will be starring in the new horror movie "Kodomotsukai" (The Child Manipulator" directed by Shimizu Takashi which will be shown in 2017. This is Takizawa's first leading role in a movie since he appeared in the 2000 movie "Kawa no nagare no you ni". Filming begins on 1 July.

The movie which is based on an original script, features Takizawa as a mysterious man who manipulates the spirits of children by entering into their hearts and taking control of their spirits. Three days after the children disappear, they will cause the mysterious deaths of the adults who meet them. Takizawa will have to put on special makeup for this character. Co-stars include Hey! Say! JUMP member Arioka Daiki who plays a news reporter trying to investigate the truth and Kadowaki Mugi who plays his girlfriend and is being manipulated by Takizawa's character.

Takizawa commented that as this is the first time he is attempting a horror movie, he is eagerly looking forward to acting in this role. Although the movie is quite scary, there are also humourous elements in it so he is hoping that this will be a new type of horror movie which can be presented to the audience.

Sources: Yomiuri Hochi / Natalie / Cinema Today