Box‑Office Highlights
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (Nintendo / Illumination / Universal Pictures) – #1 for its second weekend (May 1‑3). 847,000 tickets sold, ¥1.172 billion (≈US$7.49 M) from Friday‑Sunday. Over Golden Week (through Wednesday) total tickets hit 3.94 million, ¥5.4 billion (≈US$34.5 M). The film opened at #1 in Japan, moving 1.121 million tickets and ¥1.601 billion (≈US$9.96 M) in its first three days. It debuted internationally on April 1 (U.S./U.K.) and April 3 in other territories, with a Japan release on April 24.
- Detective Conan: Highway no Datenshi – #3 in its fourth weekend, selling 649,000 tickets and ¥932 million (≈US$5.95 M) Friday‑Sunday. Cumulative totals now stand at 7.4 million tickets and ¥10.8 billion (≈US$69.0 M), making it the fourth consecutive Conan film to surpass ¥10 billion.
- Live‑Action Sakamoto Days – Opened at #4, moving 346,000 tickets and ¥478 million (≈US$3.05 M) in the first three days. In eight days (the full Golden Week) it sold 1.14 million tickets and ¥1.5 billion (≈US$9.6 M). The film premiered in Japan on April 29 and is shown in the panoramic ScreenX format at 27 theaters.
- Cosmic Princess Kaguya! – Dropped from #5 to #6 in its 11th weekend after a limited one‑week theatrical run was extended. The film earned ¥223.5 million (≈US$1.43 M) in its first three days of the extended run and began streaming on Netflix on January 22.
- Sound! Euphonium, The Final Movie Part 1 – Fell from #4 to #8 in its second weekend. Opening weekend (May 1) saw 77,000 tickets sold and ¥125.8 million (≈US$0.78 M). The film adds a new animated “Sunrise Festival” performance and a scene of Kumiko Oumae becoming club president.
- Doraemon: Shin Nobita no Kaitei Kiganjō – Slid from #6 to #10 in its 10th weekend. Opened on February 27 at #1, moving 621,000 tickets and ¥779.7 million (≈US$4.96 M) in three days, and held the top spot for six consecutive weekends.
Detective Conan: Highway no Datenshi – Details
The 29th film in the long‑running Detective Conan franchise focuses on Kanagawa Police motorcycle division leader Chihaya Hagiwara. Miyuki Sawashiro takes over the role, replacing the late Atsuko Tanaka. Supporting characters include inspector Jugo Yokomizo, teenage detective Masumi Sera, Chihaya’s late brother Kenji Hagiwara, and Kenji’s academy classmate Jinpei Matsuda.
Production staff:
- Director: Takahiro Hasui (formerly of Detective Conan: The Black Iron Submarine)
- Script: Takahiro Ōkura (Detective Conan: The Crimson Love Letter)
- Music: Yūgo Kanno (Detective Conan: One‑eyed Flashback)
- Theme song: “Last Danced Anata to” performed by Misia
Live‑Action Sakamoto Days – Film Overview
The movie adapts Yuuto Suzuki’s manga about former hitman‑turned‑convenience‑store owner Tarō Sakamoto. The story follows the chubby, retired assassin as he protects his family from danger.
Key cast:
- Ren Meguro (Snow Man) as Tarō Sakamoto
- Fumiya Takahashi as Shin Asakura
- Aya Ueto as Aoi Sakamoto (Tarō’s wife)
- Miyu Yoshimoto as Hana Sakamoto (their daughter)
- Supporting roles include Mayū Yokota, Junki Tozuka, Akihisa Shiono, Keisuke Watanabe, Takumi Kitamura, Yūsei Yagi, and Meru Nukumi.
Behind the camera:
- Director & screenwriter: Yūichi Fukuda (known for live‑action Gintama)
- Action director: Keiya Tabuchi (worked on Evangelion 3.0+1.0, Attack on Titan live‑action)
- Producers: CREDEUS and Avex Pictures
The manga is available in English digitally via Viz Media and MANGA Plus, with Viz also publishing the print edition. The series is described as follows:
“Taro Sakamoto was the ultimate assassin, feared by villains and admired by hitmen. One day he fell in love, retired, married, became a father… and gained weight! The chubby store owner is actually a former legendary hitman. Can he protect his family from danger? Get ready for a fresh action‑comedy!”
Other Notable Releases
- Cosmic Princess Kaguya! – Shingo Yamashita’s directorial debut in a collaboration between Studio Chromato and Studio Colorido. The film’s character designs were handled by Hechima (Tsukuyomi designs) and Akihiro Nagae (real‑world designs). It features songs by Vocaloid producers Ryo, kz, 40mP, HoneyWorks, Aqu3ra, and yuigot.
- Sound! Euphonium, The Final Movie Part 1 – Directed by Taichi Ogawa (chief director Tatsuya Ishihara). Script and series composition by Jukki Hanada. Character designers Shoko Ikeda and Kazumi Ikeda (chief animation director). Music by Akito Matsuda (Lantis/Heart Company) with cooperation from Senzoku Gakuen College of Music.
- Doraemon: Shin Nobita no Kaitei Kiganjō – Directed by Tetsuo Yajima, screenplay by Isao Murayama. The film is a 2D remake of the 1983 classic.
Sources: Kōgyō Tsūshin, Cinema Today.
