Koji Yakusho article

[Michael Badzik]

John Dougill wrote:

> I've written a simple piece for the Kansai Time Out, an amateur's
> perspective.  Could I run it by members of the list to see if I've made
any
> howlers or debatable points.  I'd be glad of any input.  Thanks....
 

> Such is his fame that he is currently appearing in two different
> advertisements on television - one for Kirin Ishibori 

Otherwise known as Kirin Ichiban Shibori...

> and the other for a Life Insurance company.

If this is the Yasuda Kasai ad - I wouldn't call them a life insurance 
company. They call themselves Yasuda Fire & Marine Insurance in English.

The only other comment I have is that, like other articles on him that I 
have read, one could get the idea that Yakusho is something of an 
overnight sensation. In reality, of course, he has been acting for over 
twenty years, on stage, television (in more than 50 shows), as well as 
film (since at least as far back as _Tampopo_). While he certainly 
received a lot of deserved acclaim for his 1997 movies I think that his 
acceptance into Nakadai Tatsuya's school in 1978, and his selection by 
former actor Itami Juuzo a few years later for a leading role in 
_Tampopo_, show that his talent is not new-found.

With apologies for not being able to give you these when you requested 
(twice!) resources on Yakusho: the Yomiuri published an article on him 
that should still be available at http://www.gwjapan.com/yomiuri, and 
there is a web site in both English and Japanese at 
http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~pozi, and one that is in Japanese only at 
http://www.geocities.co.jp/Hollywood/4754, that have lots of info about 
him.

Hope this has been of some help or interest.

Michael Badzik
mike at vena.com