Tengoku Kara no Yell
Encyclopedia
is a 2011 Japanese drama film that was inspired by the true story of the late Hikaru Nakasone. Hikaru Nakasone is an Okinawan altruist who founded the "Ajisai Ongaku Mura", a music village that is open for all to use, and his story was featured in a NHK
documentary broadcasted in 2009. Actor Hiroshi Abe
plays the role of Hikaru Oshiro, whose character is based closely on Nakasone. Actress and idol Nanami Sakuraba
also stars in the film, playing the role of a student who aspires to be a singer and guitarist.
Tengoku Kara no Yell was first screened at the 3rd Okinawa International Film Festival on 27 March 2011. It was subsequently released in Japanese cinemas on 1 October 2011.
, and it caters to high school students who aspire to become musicians, providing them with a practice studio for free and monetary loans to help them start up. Nakasone was diagnosed with kidney cancer in August 2005, and he died in November 2009 at 42 years old. His life story was featured in a 2009 NHK
documentary, and was also complied into a book entitled .
Nakasone is depicted in this film as Hikaru Oshiro, who is played by actor Hiroshi Abe
. Hiroshi Abe has previously starred in films like the 2007 film HERO
and the 2011 film I Wish
. Hiroshi Abe said that he thought this was a "dream story" and that he was very impressed with the passion of the high school students displayed.
In addition, actress Mimura, who previously starred in the 2011 NHK
television series Gō, stars in this film as Hikaru's wife. Actress and idol
Nanami Sakuraba
will also be starring in this film, playing the role of Aya Higa, a high school student who aspires to become a musician.
The filming of Tengoku Kara no Yell began soon after the cast announcement on the 20th of October 2011. The main scenes of this film were entirely shot at the location of "Ajisai Ongaku Mura", the place where this film was based on.Before the filming, interviews with people familiar with Nakasone was conducted in order for the cast to better understand him and to portray him more realistically.
The film poster of Tengoku Kara no Yell was unveiled on 5 May 2011.
Tengoku Kara no Yell was then showcased at a preview announcing the completion of the filming of this film on 6 July 2011. When interviewed at the preview, lead actor Hiroshi Abe
said that he was "under heavy pressure during the filming of this film, but he had received help from various people. Separately, actress Nanami Sakuraba
revealed that she played a guitar for the first time in the filming of this film, described the experience as "fun, but my hands are shaking a lot".
. This was announced by the film's production committee on 25 March 2011. Stereopony named this song "Arigato", which means "thank you" in Japanese
, in expression of their thanks to the late Hikaru Nakasone. Stereopony
members were influenced by Mr Hikaru Nakasone's teachings while they were at the music village he created.
Arigato was released as the title track of a single album on 28 September 2011. It was released in a Limited Edition 'A' version and a ordinary 'B' version. The 'A' version come a DVD containing special footage of this film. Actor Hiroshi Abe appears on the front cover of the 'B' version of this single.
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
documentary broadcasted in 2009. Actor Hiroshi Abe
Hiroshi Abe (actor)
is a Japanese model and actor.He began his career as a model, but he successfully made the transition to acting, becoming one of the most regularly visible presences in Japanese media. He is a 1988 graduate of Chuo University.-Career:...
plays the role of Hikaru Oshiro, whose character is based closely on Nakasone. Actress and idol Nanami Sakuraba
Nanami Sakuraba
is a Japanese gravure idol, actress and singer who won "Miss Magazine 2008".- Drama : - as Sara Nakagawa - as Reiko Torihama - as Shiori Yanagawa - as Asumi Kamogawa - as Kaori Takagi...
also stars in the film, playing the role of a student who aspires to be a singer and guitarist.
Tengoku Kara no Yell was first screened at the 3rd Okinawa International Film Festival on 27 March 2011. It was subsequently released in Japanese cinemas on 1 October 2011.
Plot
Hikaru Oshiro, noticing that there was a lack of music studios catering to high school students aspiring to become musicians, decided to build one studio under his bento shop. He allows high school students to use the studio for free, but he required them to be respectful and empathetic to others, and also do well academically in their schools.Cast
- Hiroshi AbeHiroshi Abe (actor)is a Japanese model and actor.He began his career as a model, but he successfully made the transition to acting, becoming one of the most regularly visible presences in Japanese media. He is a 1988 graduate of Chuo University.-Career:...
plays Hikaru Oshiro, a man who builds a music studio in the basement of his shop when he learned that a group of high school students had no place to properly practice as a band. He allows youth use the place for free, on condition that they are respectful, empathetic to others, and do well in school. - Mimura will star as Hikaru Oshiro's wife.
- Nanami SakurabaNanami Sakurabais a Japanese gravure idol, actress and singer who won "Miss Magazine 2008".- Drama : - as Sara Nakagawa - as Reiko Torihama - as Shiori Yanagawa - as Asumi Kamogawa - as Kaori Takagi...
as Aya Higa, a student who is an aspiring singer and guitaristGuitaristA guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. - Masato Yano as Yuuya Makishi
- Win Morisaki as Kai Inoha
- Shuhei Nomura as Kiyoshi Nakamura
- Taeko Yoshida as Chiyo Oshiro
- Reira Zyasiki
- Keita Tanabe as Seijun Akamine
- Higarino as Miki
- Ruri Yoshida
- Hitomi Kiyan as Aiko Makishi
- Tazuko Tamaki
- Ma-chan
- Eri Maehara as a reporter from the "Town" magazine
- Tamaki Mitshiru
- Masayuki Tahara
Production
The main cast of the film Tengoku no Yell was announced on 20 October 2010. Tengoku Kara no Yell is based on the true story of Okinawan Hikaru Nakasone, who had founded the music village Ajisai Ongaku Mura. This music village is sited on the same street as Okinawa's popular Churaumi AquariumOkinawa Churaumi Aquarium
The , located within the Ocean Expo Commemorative National Government Park in Okinawa, Japan. It welcomed its 20 millionth visitor on 30 March 2010 and is a member of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums .-History:...
, and it caters to high school students who aspire to become musicians, providing them with a practice studio for free and monetary loans to help them start up. Nakasone was diagnosed with kidney cancer in August 2005, and he died in November 2009 at 42 years old. His life story was featured in a 2009 NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
documentary, and was also complied into a book entitled .
Nakasone is depicted in this film as Hikaru Oshiro, who is played by actor Hiroshi Abe
Hiroshi Abe (actor)
is a Japanese model and actor.He began his career as a model, but he successfully made the transition to acting, becoming one of the most regularly visible presences in Japanese media. He is a 1988 graduate of Chuo University.-Career:...
. Hiroshi Abe has previously starred in films like the 2007 film HERO
Hero (2007 film)
Hero is a film based on the 2001 TV series of the same name.Casting of this film, with the original casts from the TV series, includes the new casts from the special drama, which aired in 2006...
and the 2011 film I Wish
I Wish (film)
is a 2011 Japanese film written and directed by Hirokazu Koreeda. This film stars real-life brothers Koki Maeda and Oshiro Maeda, along with veteran actress Kirin Kiki and actor Joe Odagiri...
. Hiroshi Abe said that he thought this was a "dream story" and that he was very impressed with the passion of the high school students displayed.
In addition, actress Mimura, who previously starred in the 2011 NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
television series Gō, stars in this film as Hikaru's wife. Actress and idol
Idol
An idol is an image or other material object representing a deity to which religious worship is addressed or any person or thing regarded with blind admiration, adoration, or devotion.More specific terms include:Worship...
Nanami Sakuraba
Nanami Sakuraba
is a Japanese gravure idol, actress and singer who won "Miss Magazine 2008".- Drama : - as Sara Nakagawa - as Reiko Torihama - as Shiori Yanagawa - as Asumi Kamogawa - as Kaori Takagi...
will also be starring in this film, playing the role of Aya Higa, a high school student who aspires to become a musician.
The filming of Tengoku Kara no Yell began soon after the cast announcement on the 20th of October 2011. The main scenes of this film were entirely shot at the location of "Ajisai Ongaku Mura", the place where this film was based on.Before the filming, interviews with people familiar with Nakasone was conducted in order for the cast to better understand him and to portray him more realistically.
The film poster of Tengoku Kara no Yell was unveiled on 5 May 2011.
Tengoku Kara no Yell was then showcased at a preview announcing the completion of the filming of this film on 6 July 2011. When interviewed at the preview, lead actor Hiroshi Abe
Hiroshi Abe (actor)
is a Japanese model and actor.He began his career as a model, but he successfully made the transition to acting, becoming one of the most regularly visible presences in Japanese media. He is a 1988 graduate of Chuo University.-Career:...
said that he was "under heavy pressure during the filming of this film, but he had received help from various people. Separately, actress Nanami Sakuraba
Nanami Sakuraba
is a Japanese gravure idol, actress and singer who won "Miss Magazine 2008".- Drama : - as Sara Nakagawa - as Reiko Torihama - as Shiori Yanagawa - as Asumi Kamogawa - as Kaori Takagi...
revealed that she played a guitar for the first time in the filming of this film, described the experience as "fun, but my hands are shaking a lot".
Theme song
The film's theme song is performed by the Okinawan rock band StereoponyStereopony
, is a Japanese rock band that formed in Okinawa, Japan in 2007, consisting of Aimi , Nohana , and Shiho...
. This was announced by the film's production committee on 25 March 2011. Stereopony named this song "Arigato", which means "thank you" in Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
, in expression of their thanks to the late Hikaru Nakasone. Stereopony
Stereopony
, is a Japanese rock band that formed in Okinawa, Japan in 2007, consisting of Aimi , Nohana , and Shiho...
members were influenced by Mr Hikaru Nakasone's teachings while they were at the music village he created.
Arigato was released as the title track of a single album on 28 September 2011. It was released in a Limited Edition 'A' version and a ordinary 'B' version. The 'A' version come a DVD containing special footage of this film. Actor Hiroshi Abe appears on the front cover of the 'B' version of this single.