Source: Toho Co., Ltd.. Pony Canyon Inc. Official Site: kasane-movie.jp (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Toho Co., Ltd. and Pony Canyon Inc. have provided information and high-res photos from their new thriller, KASANE -BEAUTY AND FATE- (? ?????, Rui -Kasane-). Described as "a shocking dark-Cinderella story", the movie opens in Japan on September 7, 2018.

KASANE -BEAUTY AND FATE- is based on the manga series Kasane by Daruma Matsuura. Originally serialized in Evening magazine beginning in 2013, the tale of forbidden love and hate has been collected in 13 volumes which have sold more than 2.2 million copies to date (the series is available in English from Kodansha USA). The movie version was directed by Yuichi Sato (KISARAGI, STRAWBERRY NIGHT) from a screenplay by Tsutomu Kuroiwa (BLACK BUTLER, GANTZ:O, ONE PIECE FILM GOLD), and stars Tao Tsuchiya (ULTRAMAN ZERO: THE REVENGE OF BELIAL, RUROUNI KENSHIN series, YELL FOR THE BLUE SKY, POLICEMAN AND ME) and Kyoko Yoshine (64, ANTHEM OF THE HEART). STORY As the daughter of legendary actress Sukeyo Fuchi (Rei Dan), Kasane (Kyoko Yoshine) is gifted with her mother`s superior talent of acting. However, her appearance does not resemble that of her mother, and a big scar on her face has made her feel inferior. But her late mother left her a lipstick that is charmed with a mysterious power that can steal the "face" of the one who is kissed. On the other hand, Nina Tanzawa (Tao Tsuchiya) is a stage actress with remarkable beauty, but struggles to take center stage because of a reason she dares not to tell anyone. Her desperation to succeed as an actress grows by the day... One day Kasane meets Nina through a man named Habuta (Tadanobu Asano) who had been helped by Sukeyo in the past. "Beauty" and "talent"... The desire to fill their weaknesses has brought the two women together. The two decide to use the power of the lipstick and switch faces in order to fulfill their wishes. "Nina Tanzawa" is now in the spotlight as the perfect actress, combining Nina`s beauty and Kasane`s talent. The two women have their desires fulfilled, until they both fall in love with a director named Ugo (Yu Yokoyama), which puts a crack in their secret partnership. The curtains rise on the love-hate relationship of two desperate actresses.

CREDITS Japanese Theatrical Release: Friday, September 7, 2018 (Nationwide Roadshow) Running Time: 112 Minutes Cast Nina Tanzawa/Kasane Fuchi: Tao Tsuchiya Kasane Fuchi/Nina Tanzawa: Kyoko Yoshine Reita Ugo: Yu Yokoyama Mariko Tsutsui Mrs. Tanzawa: Tomoko Ikuta Yoshio Fujiwara: Kunio Murai Sukeyo Fuchi: Rei Dan Kingo Habuta: Tadanobu Asano Staff Director: Yuichi Sato Original Story: Kasane by Daruma Matsuura (serialized in Kodansha`s Evening KC) Screenplay: Tsutomu Kuroiwa Production: Takashi Ishihara, Minami Ichikawa, Osamu Yoshiba Producers: Juichi Uehara, Fumi Hashimoto, Reiko Katayama Line Producer: Hiroshi Takeishi Cinematography: Shohei Tanigawa Art Director: Naoki Soma Music: Yugo Kanno Theme Song: “Black Bird” by Aimer (SME Records? Production Company: “Kasane” Film Partners (Fuji Television, Toho, Kodansha) Production: Kyodo Television Co.,Ltd Distributor: Toho World Sales: Pony Canyon © 2018 “Kasane” Film Partners © Daruma Matsuura / Kodansha

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About Toho Company. Ltd.

Founded in 1932, Toho Co., Ltd. is one of the leading entertainment conglomerates in Japan. Toho is best known worldwide as the producer of the Godzilla films, as well as most of the films by the world-renowned director, Akira Kurosawa. Besides film production, Toho also distributes Japanese films (earning the highest box office receipts for decades in Japan) as well as foreign films through its subsidiary, owns first class movie theaters throughout Japan, produces legitimate plays and musicals, and has more than 100 entertainment-related subsidiaries.

About Pony Canyon Inc.

Pony Canyon has been at the forefront of Japan`s video entertainment industry. Pony Canyon also develops digital software, utilizing the latest interactive and multimedia technology. Pony Canyon is a part of the Fuji Media Holdings Inc. which is Japan`s largest and influential media conglomerate.