Seiko Ito Born in Tokyo in 1961. His debut as a novelist brought us “No Life King" in 1988. His newly-chosen theme and unique writing style received a lot of attention. He has since released a number of novels,reportages and essays,including “Botanical Life" (1999) which received the 15th Kodansha Essay Award. As a performer,he has won renown for his stage productions and live shows with ,Naoto Takenaka,and City Boys. As a creator working at the cutting edge of his profession,he co-wrote “Kenbutsuki" with his friend and colleague,Jun Miura,and proposed new ways to appreciate statues of Buddha. Also with Miura,he produced the popular event,“Slide Show", a sell-out performance at the Budokan. In the music world,Ito worked at the frontier of Japanese Hip Hop and is currently receiving attentions with his activities with Kuchiroro. He regularly performs on TV programs such as “Shiru Shiru Mishiru" (TV Asahi) ,“Tensai Terebi-kun Bit World"(E TELE), "Otonano!"(TBS).

Jun Miura An illustrator,writer and musician,Jun Miura is known for coining the phrase “my boom" (referring to one's current interest),and more recently for sparking a nationwide boom of “Yuru-Kyara" (mascot characters). His many writings include “IDEN&TITY",“Shikisoku zenereishon" and "Kenbutsuki.

ASAKUSA JINTA ASAKUSA JINTA is a rock band that performs both nationally and internationally. Their base of operations is Asakusa. A Rakugo master,Sanyutei Koyuza, named the band in 2004. They call their unique music style "ASIANICA".

Kichitaro Negish After making his directing debut in 1978,he won the Blue Ribbon Award for Best Director for his 1981 film “Enrai". Works since include “Tantei Monogatari"and“Uhohho Tankentai",and in 2005 he released “What the Snow Brings",which won the Tokyo Sakura Grand Prix and the Award for Best Director at the Tokyo International Film Festival. His 2009 film “Villion’s Wife" received the Best Director Award at the Montreal World Film Festival.

Hisahiro Ogura Actor and a founding member of the theater company Super Eccentric Theater (SET),where he has appeared in most of the main productions. He is indispensable to productions directed by Yuji Miyake,such as those presented by the Atami Goro Ichiza Company,and is active both in films and on TV,appearing in dramas and game shows and sometimes showing off his versatility as a narrator too. He is due to be on stage at the Sunshine Theater for a SET production “Shanghai Rose" from November 1.

Lily Franky Illustrator,author,photographer and actor. His novel “Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me,and Sometimes Dad" sold over 2.2million copies to become a bestseller. As an actor,he has starred in a variety of productions,including the film “All Around Us",TV drama “Cold Blue",“Ryomaden" and theater play “Crazy Honey".

Seiko Ito ＞＞Profile

Yumi Hayama,Makiko Nishimoto They won the Grand Prize,Audience Award and U-25 Special Award of the SHITA COME Grand Prize 2011.
Message:
Dive into the Yabure Taitsu (Torn Stockings) world! Hoping that this film will bring smiles and laughter to all!

Yuji Kanda A native of the Old Town part of Tokyo. Through his involvement in the planning and production of a number of films including “Kamikaze Girls" and “Moryo no Hako",Kanda has experienced all of the three major international film festivals. Even as a high school student,he won prizes for films he directed at the Pia Film Festivals two years in a row. He has played the leading role in the film “Hoshizora no Mukou no Kuni" and his versatile activities most recently include training young actors.

S.Shankar Debuts as a director after training as an assistant director. Gains recognition with his film “Jeans" starring Aishwarya Rai. In 2010,he presents his 10 year-planned film “Enthiran (Robot)" which becomes a worldwide success,making him one of the most prominent Indian directors of today.

Bakarhythm Born in 1975 in Fukuoka,Japan,Bakarhythm graduated from the Acting Department of Japan Film University. In 1995,he became part of a comedy duo under the name Bakarhythm,and went solo in December 2005. While he is currently most active appearing on TV,he also regularly holds solo comedy performances that have become so popular they sell out in minutes. He is also active in several other fields as a narrator,actor,illustrator,writer,blogger, creator,and so on.

Jade Castro Since his feature debut with “Endo" in 2007,Castro has also released “My Big Love" before going on to direct “Remington and the Curse of Zombadings". Also a screenplay writer and producer.

The Drifters Performing on TV,films and stage,The Drifters are no doubt one of the most famous comedy groups in Japan. In particular,their mega-hit TV series “Hachijidayo Zeninshugo (It’s 8pm. Everyone Gather!)" phenomenally impacted children of the time. Their sketches and gags are at the roots of Japanese comedy today. They starred in 21 comedy films from 1967 to1975,and still continue to delight their fans.

Kenzo Saeki Forms the band “Pearl Brothers" in 1983. A songwriter who has provided lyrics for many artists,he also lectures at universities and makes appearances on films and TV.

Yuhi Komiyama (HoffDylan) Debuts in 1996 with the song “Smile" as the vocalist and keyboard player of the band HoffDylan. Provided the song “Good" for Boo Takagi. He has released his 8th album “2 Platoons"" in 2012.

Toshiaki Sato Comedy film expert,writer,radio host and music critic. He produced the CD “Drifter Eigadayo! Zeninshugo" (EMI).

ASAKUSA JINTA ＞＞Profile

OKAMOTO'S Worshippers of Taro Okamoto and Ramones,the OKAMOTO'S are a four-member rock band from Shinjuku. After their debut,they have performed over 300 live concerts in 3 years,including lives held in the US,Australia,Hong Kong,Taiwan and Vietnam. Their stunning performance will rock the scene!

Dohatsuten Formed in Sapporo in 1984,they have established their own style of rock and roll called Japanese R&E (Rhythm & Enka). They recently released albums “Tabbey Road" and “Koino lekishikann/rock/onna",the latter being a collaboration disc with SCOOBIE DO. Their highly entertaining performance has no boundaries.

Pocaskajan Ex-vocalists from different bands gathered to form this mock music group Pocaskajan. Their flexible style,backed by their rich music experience,has delighted their fans in their performances at various venues from entertainment theaters to concert halls. They have appeared in many rock festivals and are known for the TV commercial song “Garigari-ku no Uta".

HoffDylan Makes their debut with “Smile" in 1996. All songs released have been arranged and produced by themselves. Their latest album is “2Platoons". They are also talk show hosts on radio/TV,commercial narrators,magazine columnists and web producers. Their live tour “Ho Futaritabi 2012" is scheduled to perform at 14 venues this fall.

Rekishi He debuted as a keyboard player for SUPER BUTTER DOG in 1997. He has produced many artists such as Ringo Sheena,Yuko Ando,SUNEOHAIR,and has participated in song making for many artists including Dohatsuten and Sambomaster. He made his solo debut in 2007 and continues to aggressively perform live shows which are also famous for his lively talks.

Tomohiro Machiyama Machiyama is a film critic and founder of film magazine Eiga Hiho,as well as the author of several books. He also oversees the subtitling of films, appears as a regular on TBS radio program “Tamamusubi" (every Thursday at 3 pm),hosts his own TV show on cable channel WOWOW about movies,and so on.

Suido-Bashi Hakase Suido-Bashi Hakase became a protege of film legend Takeshi Kitano in 1986. He frequently appears on TV,radio,and the theater stage as one half of the comedy duo Asakusa Kid. He also puts a lot of energy into writing,with digital novel “Geinin Shunju" being his latest work. He is also a regular on NHK TV's morning show “Asaichi".

Drew Goddard New Mexico native Drew Goddard is the TV screenwriter behind “Buffy the Vampire Slayer". He was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for his work on “LOST". He drew attention on the cinema scene for his screenplay of “Cloverfield/HAKAISHA",and tried his hand at directing for the first time in “The Cabin in the Woods".

Michio Hazama Known as the voice of Steve Martin,Woody Allen,Robert De Niro,Harrison Ford,and Sylvester Stallone in Rocky,Michio Hazama is a superstar in the voice acting world with over 6,000 titles to his name.

Masako Nozawa

Masako Nozawa is one of Japan's most famous voice actors,known for her roles in GeGeGe no Kitaro (as Kitaro),Galaxy Express 999 (as Tetsuro Hoshino),the Dragonball series (as Son Goku,Gohan,Goten,and more),and countless other classics. She also presides over the Moonlight Theater Troupe.

Official Website: http://www.office-nozawa.co.jp/

Norio Wakamoto Known for his roles in “Sazae-san" (as Anago) and “Dragonball Z" (as Cell), Norio Wakamoto also provides narration for the popular variety shows “Arashi ni Shiyagare",“Hitoshi Matsumoto no Suberanai Hanashi",among countless others.

Official Website: http://www.sigma7.co.jp/profile/m_40.html

Koichi Yamadera Koichi Yamadera is a top voice actor in Japan in terms of popularity and skill. He is best known for his work in "Soreike! Anpanman" (as Cheese and 4 other characters). He is also the voice of Donald Duck and over 10 other Disney characters,as well as Eddie Murphy and Jim Carrey.

Kenji Uchida He studied filmmaking at San Francisco State University. His independently produced film “WEEKEND BLUES" won both Best Concept and Brilliant awards at the Pia Film Festival in 2002. His theatrical feature film debut,“A Stranger of Mine" won many awards domestically and overseas including an award at the 58th Cannes Film Festival. His 2008 film “After School" set a record for the longest running film in theaters in Japan. His newest film “Key of Life" is receiving high reviews and has earned him the Best Screenplay award at the Shanghai International Film Festival.

Kihachi Okamoto Since his directing debut in 1958 with “Kekkon no Subete",his style of shooting humorous stories in airy rhythms using imaginative camerawork has fascinated movie lovers. His best known works include “Dokuritsu Gurentai",“Japan’s Longest Day" (Nihon no Ichiban Nagai Hi),“Human Guinea Pigs,The Human Bullet" (Nikudan),“Eburi Manshi no Yuga-na Seikatsu". He has also written a number of books.

Hirotaro Honda Born in 1951,gains recognition in Yukio Ninagawa’s 1979 play “Suicide for Love".
Film and TV appearances include “Hissatsu Shimainin",“Kamiyu Nante Shiranai",“Sakuradamongai-no-hen" and more recently,“Ryomaden" and “Tight Rope no Onna".

Mickey Curtis The 1958 “Nichigeki Western Carnival" makes him a sensational star of the rockabilly boom. An actor - debuting in “Kekkon no Subete" - and rakugo performer. He recently starred in the smash hit film “Robo-G".

Frank Coraci Born in New York State,Coraci started his career as a travel documentary director. His 2006 film “The Waterboy" became the biggest commercial hit ever in the sports comedy genre,while his representative works also include “Click",“Around the World in 80 Days"and“The Wedding Singer". His next feature “Here Comes the Boom" is another sports comedy on cage fighting,which is due for US release in October 2012.

Yuji Uchiyama Uchiyama caught the eye of producer Masanori Kusakabe with “Alzheim",his graduation project for the Department of Imaging Art of Tokyo Polytechnic University,and then work began on “Kami Usagi Rope". With his ability to do everything from illustrating to voice acting,he is definitely a filmmaker to watch.

Ryosuke Aoike In 2002,Aoike released his animated work “Catman" on the website Shockwave.com,and since then has directed several animated works,commercials,and dramas. Among his major works are Fujiko F. Fujio’s “Parallel Space",and “Shinichi Hoshi’s Short Short Theater".

LiLiCo Sweden-born LiLiCo is a film commentator who regularly appears on TV shows "King's Brunch" and "Wednesday Premier Cinema" and MCs various fashion and film-related events. She also makes numerous appearances on radio programs and talk events,writes for magazines,and more.

Ryo Shiki From Sasebo City,Nagasaki. His works as a TV director/producer include “Sunge! Best 10",“Wachacha TV",“Chichi Harabara",“Kuri kuriimu",“Buruburu antachaburu" and “Goddo tan". Makes his theatrical feature film debut in 2008,with his independently produced film,“Hitori make". This is his second feature film.

Vanilla Yamazaki A benshi (film-narrator). Makes her debut as a benshi to the Tokyo Kinema Club in 2001. She has established her unique performance style of singing and playing the Taisho harp and piano. She is also a voice actor and writer, producing illiustration,DTM,animation and video works on her PC that she has proudly made on her own.