A Quintessential Entertainment Film, Etched with the Director's Youthful Echoes

Acclaimed visionary Sion Sono, known for "Himizu" and "TOKYO TRIBE," presents "Shinjuku Swan." Based on Ken Wakui's manga, which garnered fervent popularity immediately after its eight-year run, the film features a stellar cast including Gō Ayano, Takayuki Yamada, Erika Sawajiri, Nobuaki Kaneko, Jun Murakami, and Yusuke Iseya. Set in Shinjuku's Kabukicho, it tells the story of Tatsuya Shiratori, played by Gō Ayano, who arrives with nothing and grows as he meets various people while working as a scout.



Ahead of its release, the Japan premiere was held on May 7th at TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku in Kabukicho, Tokyo. Gō Ayano, Takayuki Yamada, Erika Sawajiri, Nobuaki Kaneko, Motoki Fukami, Yu Yamada, Kosuke Toyohara, Yusuke Iseya, director Sion Sono, Osamu Suzuki, and producer Mataichiro Yamamoto, a total of 11 people, took the stage. A red carpet ceremony also took place in front of the theater.

Director Sono passionately shared his enthusiasm for this, his first major film release in over 300 theaters nationwide: "Shinjuku is where my youth unfolded, a city that nurtured many artists, musicians, and various creators. I believe the echoes of my youth are deeply imprinted in this film."



Lead actor Ayano commented, "I focused on giving my all and expressing myself without fear. I worked while incorporating the expressions and hairstyles from the original manga." He also revealed that his character's signature blond hair was his own, not a wig, and highlighted the production team's dedication by mentioning that all costumes were custom-made, one-of-a-kind pieces.

Director Sono has partnered with producer Mataichiro Yamamoto, known for live-action adaptations like "Crows Zero" and "Lupin the Third." The screenplay is by Osamu Suzuki, a popular broadcast writer, and Rikiya Mizushima. The film "Shinjuku Swan" features the new song "Dive," written by the rock band MAN WITH A MISSION, as its theme song, resulting in a truly spectacular production that can be called a quintessential entertainment film.



Shinjuku Swan
Opens nationwide on Saturday, May 30th, at TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku and other theaters.
(Sequential distribution of the film in 6 parts began on dTV on May 7th)
Director | Sion Sono
Screenplay | Osamu Suzuki, Rikiya Mizushima
Original Story | Ken Wakui "Shinjuku Swan" (Published by Kodansha in "Young Magazine")
Starring | Gō Ayano, Takayuki Yamada, Erika Sawajiri, Nobuaki Kaneko, Motoki Fukami, Jun Murakami, Yūki Kubota, Erina Mano, Manami Marutaka, Ken Yasuda, Yu Yamada, Kosuke Toyohara, Kōtarō Yoshida, Yusuke Iseya
Distribution | Sony Pictures Entertainment
2015 / Japan / PG12 / 139 minutes

http://www.shinjuku-swan.jp


©2015 "Shinjuku Swan" Production Committee