Elections and movies

[Aaron Gerow]

The local election campaigns are beginning to heat up in Japan and the 
race for governor of Tokyo is garnering the most attention. Especially 
with Prime Minister Abe's declining approval ratings and the victory of 
Takeshi Gundan member Sonomanma Higashi (real name: Higashikokubaru 
Hideo) in the race for governor of Miyazaki Prefecture a little while 
ago (he appears as the drug tester in Getting Any?, or as Takeshi's 
foil in Takeshi's Castle/MXC), many are wondering whether changes are 
in the wind. The Tokyo race is appearing to have film connections as 
well, and not just because the incumbent, Ishihara Shintaro, is the 
older brother of Ishihara Yujiro, arguably postwar Japan's most famous 
male star, and has directed and/or scripted several films. One of his 
prominent challengers is the architect Kurokawa Kisho, who is known in 
the movie world as the husband of the great Daiei actress Wakao Ayako 
(perhaps we'll see her on the campaign trail?). And even the character 
actor Sakura Kinzo (who appears as the rich man's chauffeur in 
Tampopo), is making a run for it.

Aaron Gerow
KineJapan owner

Assistant Professor
Film Studies Program/East Asian Languages and Literatures
Yale University

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