It Took Two Days to Photograph the Pictures for Madame Ranko's Room

Director Koki Mitani seems to be enjoying himself more and more with each film, finding his own style while embracing challenges. "The Magic Hour" is also stylish, unique, and wonderfully strange. It's a comedy, yet it possesses an elegance... capturing Mitani's signature world.

Mitani truly loves movies. When giving notes on direction, he's even said things like, "Please watch that actor's wink in that particular film." I've borrowed DVDs to study them. Mitani has seen an incredible number of films.

©2008 Fuji Television, Toho. Now showing nationwide through Toho Cinemas starting Saturday, June 7th.

My character, Madame Ranko, is the proprietress of a hotel in the port town of Sukago. Everyone stays there, and various incidents unfold. I wear heavy makeup, and you'll notice my beauty mark and hairstyle change each time I appear. I also have many photos of myself displayed in my room, and I spent two full days just for the photoshoot of those pictures. Please don't miss it.

"Well, I've finished making a cool T-shirt with a triple necklace design! I also created a sports towel and a hand towel featuring a crown motif. These towels are designed to be "photogenic" and cool, something I'd want to use myself during rehearsals. Gou-kun, who was in charge of the design, immediately took a sample home, saying, 'I want to start using this today!'" (Statement)