Kenichi Matsuyama (松山 ケンイチ; Matsuyama Ken'ichi; 松山健一), born March 5, 1985, is a Japanese actor. He is known for his affinity for strange character roles, and he is best known internationally for playing L in the 2006 films Death Note, Death Note: The Last Name and L: Change the World in 2008, as well as voicing Gelus in the Death Note animated adaptation. This time, he has been cast to play lead character Toru Watanabe in the movie adaptation of Haruki Murakami's novel Norwegian Wood.
It is rare for a Japanese live-action film to secure distribution in that many countries before it has even opened in Japan, but the movie is based on Haruki Murakami's international bestseller of the same name. The book has sold nearly 11 million copies in Japan since its publication in 1987, and it has been translated into 36 languages worldwide.
Norwegian Wood (ノルウェイの森 Noruwei no Mori) is a 1987 novel by Japanese author Haruki Murakami (村上春樹, Murakami Haruki, born January 12, 1949). The novel is a nostalgic story of loss and sexuality. The story's protagonist and narrator is Toru Watanabe, who looks back on his days as a freshman university student living in Tokyo. Through Toru's reminiscences we see him develop relationships with two very different women — the beautiful yet emotionally troubled Naoko, and the outgoing, lively Midori.
The novel is set in Tokyo during the late 1960s, a time when Japanese students, like those of many other nations, were protesting against the established order. While it serves as the backdrop against which the events of the novel unfold, Murakami (through the eyes of Toru and Midori) portrays the student movement as largely weak-willed and hypocritical.
Murakami adapted the first section of the novel from an earlier short story, "Firefly". The story was subsequently included in the collection Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman.
Norwegian Wood was hugely popular with Japanese youth and made Murakami somewhat of a superstar in his native country (apparently much to his dismay at the time).
The official website for Anh Hung Tran’ film adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s 1987 novel Norwegian Wood has been updated with a brief teaser. Yes, it’s finally here! The first teaser for Tran Anh Hung’s Norwegian Wood, complete with the original recording of the Beatles’ song of the same name. Bask in the glory of scenery and top billing credits. Or check out 10 seconds of additional footage on a news segment. [MOVIELICIOUS! via Wildgrounds]
[Video] 1st Teaser
[Video] Full Trailer HQ
[Video] 村上春樹-映画「ノルウェイの森」ヴェネツィア国際映画祭公式上映
(67th Venice International Film Festival/La Biennale di Venezia)
All I can say is thank god Director Tran Anh Hung has managed to secure the rights to the original Beatles recording of “Norwegian Wood” for his upcoming film of the same title. The song is instrumental to the novel on which the film is based, and author Haruki Murakami had previously settled on using a cover, wanting to incorporate the song but thinking that the rights would be too difficult to obtain. Nothing is worse than having to use a cover of a song that’s completely integral to your plot. Yeah, I’m lookin’ at you, Golden Slumber.
According to the current Japanese blurb, the film begins with 37-year-old Toru Watanabe on a plane bound for Germany. He listens to the Beatles song “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” and begins to think about his youth.
Back in high school, Toru (Kenichi Matsuyama) was best friends with Kizuki, who was dating Naoko (Rinko Kikuchi). After Kizuki suddenly commits suicide, Toru tries to escape his feelings of loss by going to a Tokyo university. However, while in Tokyo he’s reunited with Naoko.
“Norwegian Wood” will be released in Japan tomorrow, December 11, 2010.
Source: Tokyograph, NipponCinema
