Tragedy hits the set of "Tsurugidake: Ten no Ki"

by Chris MaGee

Variety Asia Online is reporting that a sound engineer working on the set of Daisaku Kimura's upcoming mountaineering epic "Tsurugidake: Ten no Ki" has been severely injured. The film that chronicles the exploration of the Hida Mountains during the Meiji era is currently being filmed high in the mountains of Toyama Prefecture. Apparently the engineer, Teiichi Saito, was recording sound effects at the time of the accident and could not hear his fellow crew members warning him of falling rocks. He was airlifted to a hospital and is currently recovering.

"Tsurugidake: Ten no Ki" starring Koji Yakusho, Tadanobu Asano and Ryuhei Matsuda is slated for a 2009 release. Check out our original report for a look at the teaser trailer.