Takashi Yamazaki's "Always" returns with a 3D time trip back to Tokyo circa 1964

by Chris MaGee

One of the biggest audience hits both in japan and abroad in the past few years has to be Takashi Yamazaki's 2005 film "Always: Sunset on Third Street". Not since Yoji Yamada was churning out the "Tora-san" comedies in the 1970's and 80's have Japanese audiences enjoyed the kind of homespun nostalgia of Yamasaki's chronicle of the Suzuki family and their lives in post-war Tokyo. One of the big reasons for the success of the film was Yamazaki's use of CGI special effects to recreate the landscape of 1950's Tokyo onscreen. So successful was the first "Always" that Yamazaki delivered a sequel in 2007 which also quickly captured the hearts of audiences. So, what have we learned over the years about a film that draws audiences to theatres like bees to honey? That's right! Make another and another and then another until the bees stop buzzing. Now, according to a report by Tokyograph that's exactly what's happening... again.

It was announced this past week that Yamazaki will be making a third "Always" film, and this time audiences won't just be marvelling at the CGI cityscapes, they'll be marvelling at them in 3D. This new "Always" film, titled "Always: Sanchome no Yuhi '64" will follow the Suzuki family into the 1960's and specifically the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games and the great Economic Miracle that accompanied it in Japan. This new "Always" film will not just differ from the previous two films by being shot in 3d. "Always" and "Always 2" were both based on manga by Ryohei Saigan while this new feature will be based on an original script drawn from Saigan' characters.

Japanese audiences can expect to see "Always: Sanchome no Yuhi '64" in theatres in April of 2012. For now you can take a full look at the promotional poster for the film by visiting Eiga.com here.