Cast Lists no Tanoshii Kakikata!

More news on the movie front! Since the last post, more and more cast members have been announced every so often. And now the cast list on the official website is complete, I thought I'd share the news about who Maasa will be co-starring alongside.

Atae Yakumo					Sato Hisanori
Yabusame Tsurugi					Sudou Maasa
Ichigo Yuuna					Taketatsu Ayana
Atae Kokona					Noto Arisa
Atae Marumi					Kouda Mariko
Atae Koyuri					Igarashi Reiko
Ishikiri Kiyomaro					Suzuki Hiroki

Some of you may recognise those names. Both Sato Hisanori and Suzuki Hiroki have starred in Prince of Tennis musicals. Taketatsu Ayana is a voice actress famous for starring in the anime K-ON!, Noto Arisa is a former Hello!Project Egg - now having left H!P but continues to work for UFA, mostly as an actress. And Kouda Mariko is another voice actress and singer who has starred in various anime.

This is quite an ensemble cast. No big names, but there's someone acting in this for everybody. Especially for fans of Prince of Tennis and Berryz Koubou, as we have here our two lead cast members Sudou Maasa and Sato Hisanori who are playing each other's love interest in this movie.

I'm still not sure how I'll react to this relationship, but a cast that can interest Harowota, Ani-otaku and PoT fangirls... It sounds like we're in for quite a ride.

http://ranobe.jp/cast.html

Read more

Light Novel no Tanoshii Kakikata!

Well, I don't think any of us could have predicted this. I, like many I am sure, woke up this morning to the wonderful news that Maasa had scored an acting role in an upcomming Live Action adaption of the anime Light Novel no Tanoshii Kakikata. But not just any acting role, a starring role!

That's right, Maasa shall be playing the role of Tsurugi Yabusame, the lead female role in this movie. The character is described as the beautiful classmate who happens to be the strongest girl in school. She, however, has long desired to be 「可愛い女の子」, a "cute girl". Since Junior High School, Tsurugi has taken to writing light novels and her first won her a newcommer's writer's award. However, fearful of her strict father, she keeps her identity hidden by publishing the books using the penname "Mio Himemiya".

Tsurugi Yabusame gets writer's block, however, when writing about something she has no experience with herself, such is the case with her new light novel - a romantic comedy. Her classmate, Yakumo Atae (pictured) is one person who knows of her secret. Yakumo's cousin, who happens to be Tsurugi's editor, suggests that the two start dating so that she can get experience with romance and finish writing.

So far Maasa has been the first and only person cast for the movie. But it's rather incredible. Maasa does bear a slight resemblance to the girl, but she doesn't exactly have much history as an actress - and to suddenly be thrown in to the lead role, it's incredible.

If the movie works out well it could serve to promote Maasa in Berryz, and Berryz as a group to new fans. We're all holding our breath hoping for something wonderful.

There is no official release date yet, but from what I understand it's slated for release in 2010. Let's keep an eye out for more updates, and it'll be curious to see the actor who Maasa is to become romantically involved with.

That itself will prove delicate. To somehow create a believable relationship between the two characters without going far enough to upset wota like myself.

http://ranobe.jp/index.html

Read more