Tokyo, Japan – December 26, 2004 – Shochiku Co. Ltd., Japan’s leading entertainment conglomerate, announced today a broad array of events and initiatives developed to celebrate the company’s historic 110th anniversary in 2005. The announcement was made by December 27, 2004. Established as a theatrical playhouse in November, 1895 by Takejiro Otani, Shochiku, to this day, continues to make concerted efforts to promote the cause of Japanese culture and entertainment, both domestically and internationally. Poised for another successful year in 2005, the company that brought the first full-scale talking picture to Japan (“The Neighbor’s Wife and Mine”) and the first color film (“Carmen Comes Home”) will celebrate this very special anniversary with an ambitious theatrical release slate, special performances, and commemorative events and ceremonies held throughout the world. Below are highlights of the efforts being made to celebrate Shochiku’s 110th anniversary in 2005. Theatrical Film Releases: Coming off its most successful year ever at the box office, having earned over Y20 billion ($195 million), Shochiku has assembled a strong theatrical release slate that promises to again draw large audiences and catapult box office figures to new record heights in the year in which the company turns 110 years old. Highlighting the company’s theatrical release slate in 2005 are some of Shochiku’s biggest productions to date. These highly anticipated films include “Ashura” (working title)/”Ashurajo no Hitomi” (the original title), an artistic collaboration of Shochiku film and Kabuki, from Director Yojiro Takita and starring famous Kabuki actor Somegro Ichikawa, along with Rie Miyazawa, Kanako Higuchi, Fumiyo Kohinata, Tsuyoshi Naito, Atsuro Watabe. The film will be releases wide in Japan on April 16th 2005.  “Ashura” is based on the original work by Kazuki Nakashima (from Gekidan Shinkasen -- a theatrical troupe). In summer 2005, Shochiku will introduce “Aimless Aegis” (tentative title) nationwide. The highly anticapted film stars Hiroyuki Sanada, Akira Terao, Koichi Sato and Kiichi Nakai. The film is directed by Junji Sakamoto, while the screenplay was written by Harutoshi Fukui. The first film to have the full support of Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force, the high-budgeted film looks to be a spectacular war film that generates a lot of attention. Then, in the fall of 2005, Shochiku will release the ninja film “Shinobi’ (original title) nationwide. Directed by Ten Shimoyama from original work by Futaro Yamada, the film stars Yukie Nakama, Joe Odagiri, Kippei Shiina, Tomoka Kurotani, Erika Sawajiri, Renji Ishibashi and Kazuo Kitamura. The film has already generated much buzz due to the first-of-its-kind public investment structure, exemplifying the innovative spirit Shochiku has always demonstrated. Other high-profile films being released by Shochiku in 2005 include the foreign blockbusters “Alexander” and “The Aviator,” as well as “Racing Stripes” and “The Prince of Tennis.” Constantly finding innovative ways to acknowledge its roots, Shochiku has become a symbol of enduring tradition as the exclusive promoter of Kabuki Theater, Japan’s traditional form of theater, dating back to the early 17th century. In addition to a stellar release slate, Shochiku will augment anniversary celebrations with special Kabuki theater performances throughout the year that serve as means to reflect back on the company’s origins and celebrate 110 years of entertainment in Japan. Below is a listing of Special Kabuki-Za theater performances scheduled to take place throughout the year. Kabuki Performances: January 1st – 6th 2005 Play: The commemorative exhibition of the eighteenth Kanzaburo Nakamura name–taking. “The Bloom of Flower, Kanzaburo” (the subtitle) [“Hanasaku Kanzaburo” (the original title)] Venue: Nippon Bashi Mitsukoshi (The head department store). January 2nd – 26th Play: “The beginning of spring/the great Kabuki” “Hatsu Haru Okabuki (the original title)” Venue: Kabuki-Za Theater Play: “The special New Year/the great Kabuki”, [Shinshun Okabuki (the original title)”] Venue: Shinbashienbu-jo Play: “The special New Year/Asakusa Kabuki” [“Shinshun Asakusa Okabuki (the original title)”] Venue: Asakusa public hall Play: “The beginning of spring/the great Kabuki”[“Hatsu Haru Okabuki (the original title)”] Venue: Osaka Shochiku-Za March-May, 2005 Play: The eighteenth Kanzaburo Nakamura name–taking ceremony Venue: Kabuki-Za July, 2005 Play: The eighteenth Kanzaburo Nakamura name–taking ceremony Venue: Osaka Shochiku-Za December, 2005 Play: The fourth Tojuro Sakata name–taking ceremony Venue: Kyoto Minami-Za Cinema Kabuki: January 15th – 28th 2005 The first program under “Cinema Kabuki” will be the commemorative screening of the eighteenth Kanzaburo Nakamura’s name–taking.  Following this screening will be a digital screening in Togeki of “Nezumi Kozo” (original title) from Director and Producer Hideki Noda. This film is the famous mega-hit, which was staged in Kabuki-Za, and shot by high-powered HD cameras back in August 2003 specifically for this anniversary screening.  Shochiku aims to recreate the live show on the screen and project the resounding picture and sound effects to the audience. This elaborate screening project represents the first time that the Theatrical division and the Filmed Entertainment division of Shochiku have engaged in a full-scale business jointly. Festivals & Events: Shochiku will be honored in many international film festivals and special events throughout the year to celebrate the company and acknowledge its presence and influence on the international film landscape over the years. Festivals and events that will honor Shochiku in 2005 include: · Cinematheque Pusan (Korea). Cinematheque Pusan will introduce a special feature on Shochiku in the “La nouvelle vague” (The New Wave) section, consisting of 10 Shochiku films to be screened. · The 55th Berlin International Film Festival (Germany). Shochiku is being honored with the Berlinale Camera at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival. · The 29th Hong Kong International Film Festival (Hong Kong). There will be special Shochiku’s screenings (20-25 films/tentative), during the festival to celebrate the anniversary. · In Three European cities, a traveling screening of the 9 films directed by Hiroshi Simizu. The cities holding the screenings are Austrian Film Museum (Vienna, Austria), Deutches Filmmuseum (Frankfurt am Main, Germany), and Filmpodium (Zurich, Switzerland). This tour will take place from September 16 through the end of November, 2005. · MoMA (U.S.). 14 Shochiku films will be screened in 2005. · The 43rd New York Film Festival (The U.S.). The festival plans to screen 30-40 of Shochiku’s films throughout the festival to honor the company’s anniversary. Home Entertainment Initiatives: Shochiku will release a DVD box set of films from the highly acclaimed director, Keisuke Kinoshita. The DVD box set, containing six boxes, includes a total of 49 films directed by Keisuke Kinoshita. Additionally, Shochiku will release the legendary singer, Hibari Misora’s DVD box set. The DVD box set contains 32 memorable films in which Misora starred in. The eight-box set will be sold as part of the masterpieces selection from Shochiku. Special commemoration planning project: October 2005– March 2006 (tentative) Event: There will be special screenings of Shochiku’s films in the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo/Film Center. Venue: The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo/Film Center. These screenings are a large scale specials designed to reflect on the history of Shochiku’s Film. In addition, this project will publicly praise a large number of great directors whom Shochiku introduced over the years. About Shochiku: Founded in 1895, Shochiku functions as a highly-tuned vertically integrated entertainment entity, encompassing feature film and television production, theatrical distribution of Japanese & foreign motion pictures, worldwide sales, exhibition, DVD and home video distribution and the Kabuki Theater. Shochiku operates one of the most successful motion picture divisions in Japan. The company has produced a number of critically and financially successful films, including the 2004 Academy Awardâ nominee for best foreign language film “The Twilight Samurai,” directed by Yoji Yamada, the first Japanese Academy Awardâ nomination for a live-action film in 22 years. The company will be celebrating its 110th anniversary in 2005. (http://www.shochikufilms.com)