Koji Yakusho becomes a director

[Tokyograph News]

Veteran actor Koji Yakusho is directing and starring in a new film titled "Gama no Abura." The movie, which has been shooting for the past month, marks Yakusho's first time in the director's chair. He was also the one who came up with the original plan for the film roughly two years ago.

The story is a human drama revolving around a day trader (Yakusho), his wife, his son who was injured in an accident, and his son's lover. Yakusho himself was in charge of appointing the cast and crew, and he chose Eita to take on the role of the son, while Satomi Kobayashi plays the wife. Also appearing are K-1 fighter Junichi Sawayashiki and child model Fumi Nikaido, who will be making her big screen debut with this picture.

Yakusho plans to wrap up filming by the end of this month. The movie already attracted some interest from buyers at the Cannes film market this year. Producers are aiming to have the completed work make its premiere at next year's Cannes.

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