ARTICLE
Which Cast Member of ‘The After-Dinner Mysteries’ has the Best Mystery-Solving Skills?
By InCinemas / 29 Jul 2013 (Monday)
The director and cast of the Japanese movie, The After-Dinner Mysteries were in town last weekend for the world premiere of the movie.
Starring Sho Sakurai, member of Japan’s top idol group Arashi, famous actress Keiko Kitagawa and Kippei Shiina, the movie is based on the novel Nazotoki wa Dinah no Atode (The After-Dinner Mysteries) by Tokuya Higashigawa.
(View movie details/stills of this Japanese detective comedy!)
(Watch the trailer here!)
It was definitely a star-studded red carpet event with fans yearning to see their idols in Singapore. As the movie had significant scenes filmed here such as the Raffles Hotel, Marina Bay Sands and Singapore River, Singapore had the privilege to hold the World Premiere (outside of Japan) here!
When asked about the memorable experiences in Singapore, director Masato Hijikata said during their first trip to Singapore, the Merlion was under renovation, so they had to travel back to reshoot some of the scenes. Lead actor Sakurai commented on the beautiful greeneries at Raffles Hotel being the most memorable part of his trip.
The filming in Singapore started in June for approximately two to three weeks where they visited iconic places in Singapore. While their visit here was a hush event, fans were quick to notice the internationally-acclaimed actors, which created an online buzz then.
Before the novel became a movie, the drama version also starred Sakurai and Kitagawa were well-received from fans around the world. Acting as the family’s butler to Reiko Hosho (Kitagawa), there was no doubt on the chemistry between each other.
Sakurai said, “We have been working together for three years, even on set or off set, we have a deep trust between each other.” Kitagawa agreed with her co-actor where the cast and crew felt like family and friends to her.
Sakurai plays an intelligent and observant butler who unravels mysteries just by having the cases explained to him. The detective protagonist many will be rooting for, but when it came to selecting which cast member had the best mystery-solving skills, it was Shiina who ‘won’ the title.
Ironically, his character as detective Kyoichiro Kazamatsuri is the one who specializes in throwing cases off course with his ridiculous theories. Shiina explained that a day before the movie releases in Japan, there will be a special drama where he emerges as the champion of an international police competition, to which he felt that he was the best candidate to be a detective in the movie.
“Make sure to watch the drama,” he added.
The gala premiere was nothing less than glamorous where thousands of fans flocked to the Marina Bay Sands to catch a glimpse of the cast and director who graced the red-carpet in the evening. The lucky ones were able to catch the movie at the Sands Theatre before it opens in Singapore 22 August!