Japanese drama king Takuya Kimura arrived in Taiwan yesterday for the first time in his 28-year performing arts career.
Tourism Bureau officials said the Japanese singer-actor would feature in a promotional film, confirming the Internet rumors started on Friday night.
According to bureau officials, Kimura is in Taiwan at the invitation of Hong Kong director John Woo (吳宇森), who is to direct the bureau-funded film.
Photo: Chen I-kuan, Taipei Times
Tourism Bureau Deputy Director-general Liu Hsi-lin (劉喜臨) said the bureau wished to feature Kimura in the film to further open the Japanese tourism market.
“Kimura appeals to both middle-aged white-collar workers and young professionals who make up the largest number of Japanese tourists to Taiwan,” he said.
The film is about food and culture and is to be shot over two days, Liu said, adding that “even we are not sure” about the details.
Ko Fu-hung (葛福鴻) of Asia Plus Broadcasting Ltd has been given authority to communicate with Kimura’s Japanese managers, Liu said.
Due to a confidential agreement, filming dates, location and content are all secret, he said, adding that a similar model had been used during earlier visits by Masaharu Fukuyama and Sachiko Kobayashi with film-making details publicized post-release.
When asked why Kimura’s arrival had been exposed, Liu said that despite a guarantee of strict discipline at Asia Plus, staff might have leaked the news.
“Original plans and personnel for the film might be changed to protect the confidentiality of filming,” the tourism official said.
Liu said the film could come out by the end of the year in Japan and Taiwanese fans would be able to see it online.
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