Hiroshi Abe stars in "Tengoku Kara no Yell"
Hiroshi Abe (46) is starring in a new movie titled "Tengoku Kara no Yell," based on the true story of an Okinawan man who opened a free music studio for the youths in his city. Mimura (26) and Nanami Sakuraba (18) will play supporting roles.
Abe takes on the part of Hikaru Oshiro, modeled after a bento shop owner named Hikaru Nakasone, whose story has previously been told through a documentary on NHK and as a published book. When Nakasone learned that a group of high school students had no place to properly practice as a band, he spent his own time and money to build a studio underneath his shop. Even after he was diagnosed with cancer, he continued supporting the dreams of the students, up until his unfortunate death last November.
Nakasone encouraged the growth of the youths who used his studio, setting three conditions in order for them to be able to use it for free - to properly do their greetings, to never get a failing grade in school, and to become a person who can understand the pain of others.
Mimura will play Oshiro's wife Michiko, and Sakuraba will play a student aiming to become a professional vocalist and guitarist. The movie will be directed by Chikato Kumazawa, and popular screenwriter Masaya Ozaki will handle the script. The movie is scheduled for release in 2011.
source: TOKYOGRAPH