Saturday, April 23, 2011

"Neon Genesis Evangelion" creator produces documentary on adult star Yumika Hayashi

by Chris MaGee

I have to say that one of my favorite films of last year's Nippon Connection Japanese Film Festival had to be Tetsuaki Matsue's "Annyong Yumika". Matsue's look at Yumika Hayashi and a Korean/ Japanese co-produced film that she starred in not only depicted the late pink actress with great respect and love, but it was also a fascinating detective story with Matsue tracking down the film's stars and director to discuss its production.

Suffice to say another film about Yumika Hayashi, who passed away in 2005 at the age of 34 after choking on her vomit after a night of drinking, would have to work very hard to top "Annyong Yumika", but none other than "Neon Genesis Evangelion" creator Hideaki Anno is taking up the challenge. According to Tokyograph Anno is acting as producer on “Kantoku Shikkaku”, a film made by long-time AV director Katsuyuki Hirano.

Hirano may have one advantage of Tetsuaki Matsue though. He was romantically involved with Hayashi in 1996 and their romance was chronicled in two Hirano films, "Tokyo - Rebun 41-day Adultery Bicycle Touring Trip" and "Tokyo - Hokkaidō Bicycle Tour - Fucking Exciting Illicit Love Journey 2". Hirano and Anno say that “Kantoku Shikkaku” will include footage from this same period as well as never before seen clips of Yumika Hayashi. "Kantoku Shikkaku" is scheduled to premiere in select Japanese theatres on September 3rd.

Thanks to Eiga.com for the above poster image.

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