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Shokotan Sings Theme for Kazuo Umezu's Directorial Debut Feature
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
Actress and singer Shōko Nakagawa (a.k.a. Shokotan) will perform the theme song "chocolat chaud" for manga artist Kazuo Umezu's (Drifting Classroom, Makoto-chan) directorial debut feature Mother. Shokotan herself is a big fan of Umezu's, saying, "To me, he is a God. I never even imagined that this wonderful dream would become reality." Shokotan also has a small but "impressive" role in the film itself.
Shokotan's "chocolat chaud" song is on her most recent album 9lives, which shipped on April 2.
41-year-old Kabuki actor Ainosuke Kataoka dons Umezu's signature red-and-white striped shirt to play the creator himself in the film. Kimie Shingyōji plays Ichie, Umezu's mother who holds the key to the story. Mimi Maihane will also appear in the film.
Umezu wrote the script for this autobiographical story that will "reveal the secrets of the 'Umezu World' that have captivated readers in various works." Kataoka acknowledged that when he heard about the role, he worried whether he would be for right for it since "I look nothing like him." He added that his generation have read Makoto-chan and other Umezu works all the time, but he never thought he would get to meet Umezu himself.
Between his Kabuki performances, Kataoka worked on the film, which was shot entirely on location. The film will open in Japan on September 27.
Source: Comic Natalie
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