From the author of "Paprika" comes the psychic warfare of "Nanase Futatabi"

by Chris MaGee

Even if you're not familiar with the name Yasutaka Tsutsui if you're a fan of Japanese film you've more than likely encountered his work. The now 75-year-old author has written dozens of novels and short story collections including the 1967 young adult novel "Toki o Kakeru Shōjo (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time)", which has been adapted into numerous TV and film adaptations including Nobuhiro Obayashi's live-action 1983 film and the 2006 Mamoru Hosoda animated feature, and his 1993 novel "Paprika" which formed the basis of Satoshi Kon's last feature film. With such a lengthy and influential resume you know it wouldn't be long before there was another Yasutaka Tsutsui adaptation announced, and that's just what happened this past week.

Kevin Ouellette over at Nippon Cinema is reporting that Tsutsui's novel "Nanase Futatabi" has been turned into a feature film starring Sei Ashina (above left). Ashina plays Nanase, a pyschic who must join forces with others gifted with ESP in order to track down and stop someone who is hunting psychics down. Eriko Sato, Kei Tanaka, and Ai Maeda round out the cast as Nanase's psychic colleagues.

"Nanase Futabi" is currently in post-production with director Kazuya Konaka at the helm and IMJ Entertainment and Magic Hour Inc are shooting for a June 2010 theatrical release. You can check out the teaser trailer for the film at Nippon Cinema here.