Hokkaido — Finland is a nation famed for its saunas the Finnish tradition of cutting a hole in the ice on a frozen lake to bathe in the water underneath And did you know this is also practiced in Japan “Hokkaido Avanto” began for the season on Jan 11 at Lake Kuttari in the town of Shintoku please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent Inside the about 2-meter-by-2-meter square hole cut in the 20-centimeter-thick ice on the lake Users first go into a sauna a few steps away and sweat buckets they psyche themselves up and dip into the avanto with cries of “Cold!” and “Ow!” came to the lake with friends to experience avanto but I got to enjoy the magnificent view around here so it was a wonderful experience,” he said Hokkaido Avanto will continue until March 9 The fee starts at ¥20,000 per person on weekdays Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun Spots Ski/Snowboard you can enjoy the exhilaration of racing through towering mountains Enjoy the magnificent scenery in between skiing and snowboarding we will introduce ski resorts where you can ski down the mountain and enjoy the spectacular scenery [7 minutes walk from Sapporo Station] Enjoy hot springs A comfortable stay at the 605-room "Sapporo Hotel by Granbell" [Updated for 2025] A complete guide to accessing Daiwa House Premist Dome (Sapporo Dome) and nearby hotels "So cute it's unfair" - Feel the healing power of a sleeping miniature horse [Information on the early opening on April 25th] Sapporo Odori's newest attraction Floor details and highlights of "4PLA" opening in summer 2025 A hotel in the center of Sapporo with a superb sauna and large public bath Experience the warmth that is unique to Hokkaido at "Danyuki Sapporo" [2025 Edition] 7 recommended cherry blossom spots in the Kitami and eastern Hokkaido areas Enjoy cherry blossom viewing in the great outdoors Seasonal “news” of Hokkaido can be checked by category You can check the information of your “town” in one place Events” held throughout the province are easy to find and can be saved This page has been automatically translated by Google Translate service Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information Hokkaido--An import from Finland has led to scenes of semi-naked men running out of a hot sauna hut and jumping into a hole in the ice covering a frigid lake here this winter This method of cooling down after taking a sweat bath is called “avanto” in Finnish And it has proved exhilarating for visitors to Shintoku in the northwestern part of Hokkaido’s Tokachi Plain a group established in 2020 by hotel operators tourism organizations and hospitals in the Tokachi region opened a facility called Avanto Kuttariko (Lake Kuttari) in January together with Yuyado Kuttari Onsen Lake Inn and others Kuttari is a dam-created lake located near the Daisetuzan National Park One corner of the lake features a 1-meter-by-1.5-meter hole dug through the 15-centimeter-thick sheet of ice a group of men in bathing suits warmed up in a lakefront sauna hut ran on the ice and jumped through the hole and into the 0.9-degree water The men poked their faces out of the water and said They climbed a ladder to get out of the hole dried themselves off and sat on nearby chairs to enjoy the view in the bitter cold weather “The limit for soaking in the water is about 30 seconds,” Teppei Goto it feels warm even if the air temperature is below zero.” Goto works at a sauna facility in the city of Obihiro in Hokkaido But avanto gives him “a sense of exhilaration that cannot be felt in an ordinary sauna.” Sauna-loving hotel operators realized that the Tokachi region’s natural scenery and its microthermal climate are similar to those of Finland They established Tokachi Sauna to promote tourism to the area through a Finland-style sauna and conducted demonstration experiments to maximize the use of local resources such as Hokkaido’s many frozen lakes during the bitter winter months Sixteen companies and organizations that operate nine facilities offering steam saunas using “loyly” hot stones have joined the group provides staff members who accompany visitors to the facility such as spreading a net beneath the hole to prevent users from drifting under the ice who runs an outdoor tourism service company called Destination Tokachi “There are many people who love sauna and hope to experience avanto in Finland at least once,” he said He urged such people to visit Avanto Kuttariko which offers “a top-class sauna experience utilizing local resources.” The facility is expected to be open every day until mid-March The fee is 19,500 yen ($170) per person for two hours For more information:（https://tokachi-sauna.com/avanto/） A new take on predicting Hokkaido’s rare natural sightings Alarm bells ring in Kinki region as Lake Biwako keeps shrinking Science turns to seals to unlock mysteries under the ice sheet Specialty shop opens at Haneda Airport to promote Hokkaido Get the ice ready: Marathons in Sapporo face record heat wave Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages Copyright © The Asahi Shimbun Company. All rights reserved. No reproduction or republication without written permission. when Japan hosted the Olympics for the first time ever the French team was stuck with a dilemma: There was no cheese worthy of the name The French government airlifted a whole cargo-load of cheese just to help the athletes feel at home When a new round of athletes arrive next July Today Japan has a booming artisanal cheese scene with more than 300 boutique producers producing a range of styles At least half of those are on the island of Hokkaido though these cheesemakers can be found throughout Japan Nozumu Miyajima was one of the island’s pioneers in 1978 he returned to Japan and settled in Tokachi is dedicated to providing jobs for people with mental or physical disabilities Miyajima raised Holsteins for milk production but he began experimenting with cheese because the milk market was too volatile he became the first to import Brown Swiss cows to Japan; their milk is higher in protein making it more suitable for cheese production He started with Gouda and Camembert but began winning international awards in the 2000s with a cheese called Sakura it was a soft cheese made with cherry blossoms—a classic Japanese touch have been working together to standardize how local raclette is made and since 2017 they have their own communal cellar where the cheeses from various farms can be aged together A point of distinction is the use of moor water from local hot springs to wash the aging cheese The water filters through the region’s soils a mix of volcanic ash and lignite—stone made from compressed peat As a result it’s alkaline but has significant amounts of humic acid “We think these two points affect the cheese,” says Koji Yanagidaira the collective’s production control manager and the alkalinity is important for bacterial activity It gives the cheese an orange rind and a mellow flavor pure taste with an umami character as well as a slightly nutty flavor and smoky note.” The collective has also applied for a Geographical Indication (GI) for its cheese Recognized by the World Trade Organization GIs effectively trademark agricultural products that have a distinct character when made from a prescribed region; these are the rules that say that Champagne comes only from the area of France of the same name Japan created its GI system in 2015; this will be the first cheese to qualify and the world’s third such raclette alongside Raclette du Valais and Raclette de Savoie in Switzerland and France is a common practice among many Japanese cheesemakers That’s especially true for goat cheeses; lamb and similar flavors with the acidic tartness associated with the style but little of the earthy notes one might find in a French example Ran Ran’s cheese sells in some of the major department stores in Tokyo as well as locally “Fifteen years ago I tasted fresh mozzarella in Italy and I wanted to make cheese like that in Tokyo,” Fujikawa says “I decided I wanted to make cheese in front of the customers.” His inspiration comes from bakers or in Japan who rise early and sell their products the day they’re made each morning so he can be ready for the day’s business and caciocavallo cheeses—all of which can be enjoyed without aging International recognition also helps; in November Japan took home five gold medals in the World Cheese Awards in Bergamo Lane says an award like that can instantly sell out a half-year’s production for some cheesemakers At least one popular Japanese product may lend cheese a hand “I think sake works really well with cheese or just cheeses by themselves,” says Nancy Cushman co-owner of the restaurant group Cushman Concepts She pairs sake with pizza at her restaurant Covina in New York City While she recommends aged sakes with blue cheeses ultimately cheese and sake work together because of the matching of amino acids population decline is hitting rural areas particularly hard added-value products are more sustainable than agricultural commodities and can make the difference between a rural community thriving or fading from view—a point that Miyajima and Lane all mentioned when I spoke with them The success of these craft cheesemakers can make a real difference you have the ability to reinvigorate a region,” Lane says An artisanal-cheese revolution is quietly afoot in Japan When Nozomu Miyajima traveled to Switzerland for the Mountain Cheese Olympics no one really considered him a credible threat But the little-known Japanese dairy farmer was armed with a secret weapon Inside Miyajima’s suitcase was a fresh batch of sakura a creamy soft cheese delicately flavored with Japan’s national flower his lilliputian creation stunned the judges and romped past its French and Italian rivals to gold—a first for his nation the average amount of cheese consumed per person each year weighed less than a raisin a quiet revolution is taking place as artisanal producers concoct new cheeses with the same obsessive quest for perfection that has become a signature of Japanese craft begging the question: Could Japanese cheese become the next Japanese whiskey Driving Spots Located in the northwestern part of the vast Tokachi Plain this route runs around the foothills of Mount Daisetsu and the Hidaka Mountains In order to clearly distinguish this area from other areas in the Tokachi region the name of the route combines "Tokachi Plain," which expresses regionality and grandeur with "mountain foot," which evokes the image of deep forests [2025 Edition] 20 Recommended Driving Spots Near Obihiro and Tokachi [2025 Edition] 20 recommended driving spots near Sapporo From classic spots that can be enjoyed for a day trip to hidden gems Hokkaido's Night Scenic Spots for Driving and Dating 15 breathtaking roads to ride on while touring Hokkaido Furano's 10 recommended driving spots for the year 2024 and the countryside scenery of the four seasons Recommended 10 Driving Spots near Yoichi and Shakotan Places with a view of the clear blue coastline In partnership withVisit Gifu and Ishikawa Travel Get your weekly dose of armchair travelling Yamamoto acknowledged that portraying a "gal" like Momo was difficult in this age (the kogal trend has mostly passed) and she "thought a lot about the director and hair/makeup artists." She was impressed by Momo's smiles when she read the manga and put an extra effort into making her smiles seem authentic when she played the part She also emphasized the difference between being in love with Toji and being in love with Kairi "Of course girls would love to be in a situation where they're fought over between two handsome boys," she said Inoo described his character as "kind of dumb and frivolous" but "lovable" nonetheless He also made an effort to convey "loneliness and poignancy" in his scenes with his family to emphasize a contrast Inoo was initially "excited to be in a sparkly romantic kind of movie" because he thought he'd be able to perform kabe-don an act of (sort of) pinning a girl to a wall to make her heart flutter he found himself "getting pinned to a wall by three people" instead (see the trailer below) Shintoku made note of the fact that not only was Peach Girl his debut film, it was also Inoo's, and Yamamoto was starring in her first shōjo manga adaptation it felt like our youths were coming back," he explained Although the director acknowledged that Yamamoto and Inoo felt like they had been too busy to enjoy their youths The actors finished off the event by praising the film Yamamoto described it as a story where "a romantic incident happens every five minutes" and hoped that everyone in Japan — not just girls — would see it Inoo likened it to riding a jet coaster and also recommended it to a wide audience — "the young generation but also older people like the director hoping to relive their youths." Source: Comic Natalie A JR Nemuro Line train ran its last service between Furano and Shintoku stations A farewell ceremony was held Sunday at each station of the service attended by local residents and train fans Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version Event At music festivals and outdoor festivals held in the great outdoors of Hokkaido Here are 15 of Hokkaido's best summer festivals from well-known festivals to those being held for the first time this year Why not make the best memories in Hokkaido this summer This outdoor rock festival is one of the four biggest festivals in Japan and is representative of Hokkaido It started in 1999 as Japan's first full-scale all-night outdoor rock festival With a variety of stages of different sizes built across the vast land of Ishikari and surrounded by the scenery and atmosphere of Hokkaido It was established in 2010 as an event that combines music Many artists will perform on a total of five indoor and outdoor stages The food court serves gourmet food made with local ingredients from Iwamizawa and Minami Sorachi There is also an adjacent amusement park with over 40 attractions so you can enjoy the festival in a variety of ways PMF (Pacific Music Festival) is a classical music festival held in various locations from indoors in concert halls to outdoor performances on outdoor stages This outdoor event allows you to enjoy the fantastical sea fog There will also be live DJ performances and performances by famous artists where you can enjoy gourmet food unique to Kushiro and a barbecue corner where anyone can come empty-handed The festival will be held at a venue surrounded by cliffs called Ganke Feel," the event is packed with the charms of Shintoku Town which was selected as Saunaer of the Year 2022 and gourmet food made with Tokachi ingredients This is a new outdoor event in Sapporo with the theme of "CRAFT: A Boat Made by Everyone." The appeal of this event is that you can enjoy music In addition to the individual performances of the artists you can also enjoy special live performances that you don't usually get to see will be hosting its first outdoor live music event where you can enjoy music and the outdoors Live music will be held on the stage at WIND PLAZA and tent sites will be set up for camping in the Escon Field Other outdoor events and SUP experiences will also be held making it a fun event for the whole family held for the first time at Furano Ski Resort is based on the concept of "Resonating with the Five Senses - MIX ENTERTAINMENT -" and combines music Artists from various genres will gather from Japan and abroad to heat up the Furano Basin it is an event that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike with gourmet food made with Furano ingredients A homely festival held under the 360-degree blue sky of Sorachi With the theme of "Festival x Picnic = Fesnic," where you can enjoy music while relaxing on the grass in the great outdoors there will be live performances by artists as well as delicious gourmet food from Hokkaido This year's motto is "Kodomo Odoru," and there are plans for a variety of content that can be enjoyed by both adults and children A multi-purpose entertainment festival that makes the most of Tomakomai City's attractive location making it a fun event for people of all ages and genders The venue is divided into a paid area where you can enjoy live artist performances and a free area with a mini stage and food and various content will be held in each area An event where you can enjoy various performances such as music The stage performances by artists gathered from all over the world which will be held on five stages and six areas and miscellaneous goods will also be gathered from all over the world at the venue Don't miss the moment the sun goes down and the performances with the night view spreading out before you The night sky of Ashibetsu will be lit up with music there will also be live performances by musicians and stage performances by civic groups there will also be a row of stalls selling local specialties and authentic gourmet food A festival inviting various creators to take place in the rich nature of Lake Toya such as food and drink stalls from inside and outside Toyako Town Bonfires are also prepared at the campsite so you can enjoy a relaxing camping experience Otaru's annual summer outdoor music event The venue is the parking lot of the Otaru Port Pier 3 Cruise Ship Terminal where you can enjoy music while feeling the sea breeze up close Bands that perform come from nearby areas such as Sapporo and Otaru and they will perform a variety of music genres This event was created with the desire to "warm up the city of Tomakomai heating up the center of Tomakomai under the motto "Become a beacon of pride for the city." Expanding the circle of exchange in Minami-ku a community market created by students together with the local community Enjoy seasonal spring gourmet food and Golden Week 10 recommended events in Hokkaido [May 2025] 5 recommended events in Sapporo [May 2nd - 6th 5 easy-to-participate social good events in Hokkaido [May 2025] [2025 Edition] 16 Flower Events in Hokkaido: Cherry blossoms Toyama Prefecture--When Taku Suganuma hauled up his fixed fishing net off the coast of Imizu he made a catch of the day that he had never seen before The strange fish had a unique face with a protruding head rippling its dorsal fin and shaking its 1-meter-long silver body caught the fish on the Shintokumaru fishing boat when the firefly squid fishing season was coming to an end which is often caught in nets during this season a younger colleague knowledgeable about fish species said it might be a deep-sea North Pacific crestfish Suganuma decided to give the fish to the Uozu Aquarium because of its rarity a North Pacific crestfish hadn't been spotted in Toyama Prefecture for more than 30 years since one was found washed up at the mouth of the Katakaigawa river in Uozu in 1988 eight of the unicornfish either were caught or were snared in nets between February and April last year The North Pacific crestfish is characterized by a red dorsal fin and releases black ink from its anus in response when it senses danger It is believed that the fish lives in the intermediate layer at depths between 200 and 1,000 meters offshore but details about its life remain unknown because it is rarely caught Specimens usually quickly die due to differences in the water temperature and other factors when brought to the surface Only one of the eight fish taken to the aquarium remained alive for about an hour It released a large amount of ink several times as it swam around in a large tank containing 16 tons of seawater instantly limiting visibility to only 10 centimeters ahead said that the white flesh of the fish is crunchy like flounder when served as sashimi A close look at the contents of its stomach provided hints of the North Pacific crestfish's life and ecosystem as well as a threat to marine life: plastic waste where the water suddenly deepens from the shore fish that live in the intermediate layer could wander into fixed nets." a senior researcher at the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) who is an expert in marine biology "Because they have poor swimming capabilities they seem unable to return to deep water once they are carried by the current that flows to the surface." Many deep-sea creatures stay still and wait for prey to conserve their energy There are also discoveries that emerged after the North Pacific crestfish was caught in May Packaging film for medicines and video cassettes were found in its stomach It is thought that the fish mistakenly consumed such waste items because it uses its big eyes to find food It is said that modern research into the deep sea started in 1872 with the expedition of the HMS Challenger Although there have been a wide variety of findings since then "At least 90 percent of the deep seas surrounding Japan have never been explored by anyone," Fujiwara said it is even more surprising when details about creatures living in the dark environment come to light It has been learned that there are life forms in the deep sea where light is absent that use chemical substances streaming from the Earth's surface as energy sources Other mysterious creatures include predatory tunicates which remain still and patiently wait for their food to drift toward them and "honekui-hanamushi," a type of tube worm that takes root in the bones of dead whales on the seabed to absorb organic matter The Atlantic footballfish has a "fishing rod" on the top of its head Although the male is so tiny that it appears to be a lump on the body of a female he bites into her skin and connects its blood vessels to those of the female to live on nourishment from her "We learn more and more about how artful creatures can be to survive and how cleverly they have evolved That's the charm of the deep sea," Fujiwara said (This article was written by Mamoru Takatsu and Natsuki Edogawa.) Southern fish survive winter off Izu amid warmer waters No reproduction or republication without written permission Shin Shinchō Kōki ~ Classmate wa Sengoku Bujо̄) star as Marin Kitagawa (left in image below) and Wakana Gojō (right) The series will premiere in the Dramaism programming block on MBS on October 8 at 24:59 (effectively, October 9 at 12:59 a.m.), and it will also run on TBS The manga's "Tenmei" arc had launched with the 86th chapter that debuted on January 6 Sources: MBS, Comic Natalie Spots Driving Spots The Obihiro/Tokachi area has many sunny days as the phrase "Tokachi sunny day" suggests making it the perfect area for a drive where you can enjoy nature and food to the fullest we will introduce some recommended spots for a drive in the Obihiro/Tokachi area Tokachi Hills offers a luxurious view of Tokachi's cityscape the cafe serves gourmet food made with local ingredients at the "Hills Shop & Shop Cafe" located before entering the garden there are many products that you can only find here such as handmade goods by Tokachi artists and wonderful garden goods outdoor camping Camping is a classic outdoor activity to enjoy the great nature of Hokkaido you can enjoy an extraordinary experience in a variety of landscapes from spring to autumn we will introduce 20 campgrounds that boast vast grounds unique to the Tokachi area near Obihiro as well as campgrounds where you can enjoy a star-filled night sky is a vast adventure kingdom of nature with a total area of 120 hectares children and adults alike can spend an entire day here and still have fun It is a park full of dreams and romance surrounded by lush greenery Campsites are surrounded by clear streams and forests Part of the campground is auto-campground style allowing families and groups to enjoy the best of outdoor camping The Rekibune River is adjacent to the campground and visitors can fully enjoy outdoor activities such as playing in the water An environmentally nurturing park where visitors can learn about and enjoy the rich natural environment of Tokachi In addition to the auto campsites and cottages the park boasts one of the largest "fluffers" in Japan and is a fun place for the whole family to play all day long A beautiful exterior country-style cottage adjacent to a dairy farmer's hands-on tourist farm that has been in operation since 1913 A wide variety of farm experience menus are available for visitors to enjoy interacting with cows Sarabetsu Country Park is an auto-camping site with a lot of fun with 30 hectares of green grass as far as the eye can see and plenty of tent sites to support your outdoor lifestyle The park is equipped with a waterway for water play This campground is located next to the Otogawa River The quiet campground on the north shore of Lake Shikaribetsu Lake Shikaribetsu is a field of longing for canoeists and its water quality is among the best in Japan you can feel the clean air and wind all over your body In addition to enjoying the great outdoors at the campground we recommend staying in a cottage with a kitchen This campground is located on Chobushi Lake which stretches about 5 km in circumference The brackish lake is separated from the Pacific Ocean by narrow sand dunes and the dunes are covered with beautiful flowers such as Japanese rose Located in the forests of Nukabira Gen-senkyo Visitors can greet the morning while listening to the chirping of birds and enjoy nature walks The campground is located in Satomigaoka Park on a hill 2 km from downtown Ashoro This campground is located on the shore of Lake Sahoro It is a perfect place to relax and enjoy camping Canoeing and fishing can be enjoyed at the nearby Sahoro Dam Shizusan Camping Village is a free camping site located in Honbetsu Park The camp site is equipped with cooking facilities It is a quiet location in the mountains where you can hear the murmuring of the river but it is also conveniently located near the city center This campground is located in Naumann Park Visitors can choose from three sites of different shapes and sizes to suit their purposes The area is conveniently located near a roadside station the restroom building has been equipped with additional toilets and running water to make your stay more comfortable This campground is located near the hidden hot spring "Kanno Onsen" There is a popular natural outdoor hot spring "Shika-no-yu" in the campground which is open to the public free of charge There are several natural hot springs in Shikaribetsu Gorge but this Shika-no-yu is by far the most popular The magnificent Poloshiri Plateau is a nature zone where you can experience the changes of the four seasons in their entirety the campground is surrounded by beautiful green grass and trees and the sounds of the river flowing from the Hidaka Mountains and the chirping of birds echo through the quiet campground You can enjoy an extraordinary time gazing at the star-filled night sky and being enveloped by the gentle warmth of a campfire The UPI Onneto (Onneto Campground Rest House) is a rest facility that provides tourist information This campground is located in the Tomuraushi district There is also a Tomraushi hot spring nearby making it an ideal place to spend the night before climbing Mt This small but unique all-grass campground is located at the foot of the dam's outlet This is a secret spot for those who want to have a private camping experience This campground is recommended for those who want to enjoy camping in peace and quiet It is adjacent to the Shintoku-machi General Gymnasium All information is current as of April 2024 Please check the official website for details The 21 recommended campgrounds in the Goshi area near Lake Toya Family-oriented camps with a variety of fun activities and Kamikawa Area: 22 Campgrounds Recommended for the Year 2024 Camping in contact with nature and animals Recommended 13 campsites near Hidaka and Erimo Kushiro Campgrounds: 23 recommended campgrounds in the Kushiro and Nemuro areas for 2024 The 21 recommended campsites in the suburbs of Rumoi and Soya area for 2024 Camping to enjoy the ocean and spectacular views all around SAPPORO--Paris-based hotel operator Club Med announced it will open a third resort in Hokkaido later this year that will provide guests with access to some of the finest powder on this far northern main island’s ski slopes The Kiroro Resort in Akaigawa will follow in the footsteps of the Sahoro and Tomamu resorts which specializes in all-inclusive holidays wholly owns or operates nearly 80 resort villages in exotic holiday locations around the world The venture is the latest sign that foreign companies are making active investments in Hokkaido as Japan’s moribund tourism industry starts to rebound after the COVID-19 pandemic Plans call for Club Med to give extensive makeovers to two existing hotels which will allow the resort to open in two stages The Kiroro Peak hotel will open on the upper side of a mountain in December while the Kiroro Grand hotel is scheduled to open around summer next year at the base of the mountain The area is renowned for the quality of its snow The two hotels will offer around 400 rooms in total Reservations for Kiroro Peak began to be accepted in August with room rates for two starting at an all-inclusive 39,000 yen ($280) per person the general manager of Northeast Asia at Club Med who was involved in opening the Tomamu retreat noted that Kiroro has a high profile and is close to Otaru another popular sightseeing spot in Hokkaido He said the company is hoping to attract long-stay visitors and make the new resort enjoyable for non-skiers as well Split-second reactions key to success in hospitality world Elderly rickshaw puller the main draw in secluded Yamagata spa Tour industry finally has high hopes for Golden Week holidays Inn owner fears for his Ukrainian recruits trying to reach Japan Startup offers radio-based search service in mountains Boston professor stranded in 3/11 disaster guided by strangers The official website for the live-action film adaptation of Amu Meguro's Honey So Sweet manga began streaming a character video for the film on Wednesday The video highlights the main character Nao Kaogure The film will open on March 31 Yūna Taira (seen below) will play Nao Kogure, while Shō Hirano of the Johnny's Jr Ryūsei Yokohama (below) will play Ayumu Misaki The rest of the cast includes Kaho Mizutani (upper right in image below) as Kayo Yashiro, Gaku Sano (lower left) as Ikumi Gongawara, Nana Asakawa (lower right) as Miyabi Nishigaki and singer-songwriter Yu Takahashi (not pictured) as Nao's uncle Sōsuke Kogure Source: Comic Natalie Miwa Ueda's Peach Girl manga is inspiring a live-action film adaptation that will premiere in 2017 in Japan Mizuki Yamamoto (live-action Black Butler) (pictured right) will star as Momo and idol group Hey! Say! JUMP's Kei Inoo will play Kairi in his first film role. Kōji Shintoku will direct the film The manga centers on an average high school girl named Momo whom everyone thinks sleeps around because of her tanned skin The actual reason she is so tanned is because she was on the swim team and tans very easily a boy whom she's heard only likes non-tanned girls Momo has low self-esteem and tries to remake herself into someone she thinks Toji would like but she has a "friend" named Sae who enjoys going behind Momo's back and making her life miserable The series inspired a live-action drama in Taiwan in 2001 and a Japanese television anime in 2005. Funimation released the anime adaptation Source: Comic Natalie The March issue of Kodansha's Bessatsu Friend magazine announced four more cast members on Monday for the live-action film adaptation of Miwa Ueda's Peach Girl shōjo manga The previously revealed film's cast includes: In addition, idol group Hey! Say! JUMP's Kei Inoo is playing Kairi in his first film role Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" song will serve as the film's theme song This will be the first time that a Japanese film features one of Jepsen's songs Kodansha shipped the first compiled book volume of the sequel series on January 13 This year's 16th issue of Kodansha's Be Love magazine announced on Monday that Miwa Ueda will begin serializing a new manga titled Peach Girl NEXT in the magazine's next issue on August 12. The manga is a sequel to her Peach Girl manga The magazine teases the manga with the text "It's been 10 years since Momo and Kairi got together The two are counting the days until their wedding The love of the four 27-year olds begins again The original Peach Girl manga centers on an average high school girl named Momo whom everyone thinks sleeps around because of her tanned skin The series has over 13 million copies in print The series inspired a live-action drama in Taiwan in 2001 and a Japanese television anime in 2005. Funimation released the anime adaptation. A live-action film adaptation by director Kōji Shintoku will debut in Japan in 2017 Source: The Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web The ongoing live-action television adaptation of Fuyumi Soryo's shōjo manga Mars will conclude its story with a film I Love You~) just like the television series will open in theaters throughout Japan on June 18 and Rei is an outgoing playboy with a frightening violent side The two start a friendship and eventually a romance after Rei sees a drawing that Kira drew on the back of a map she gave him both Kira and Rei are hiding troubled pasts and through their relationship they confront their past demons He enters Kira and Rei's lives to try to force Rei to return to the person he used to be The television series premiered on January 24, and it airs on NTV on Saturdays from 12:55 a.m The manga already received a Taiwanese Mars [2004] live-action television series adaptation that aired in 2004-2005. The adaptation starred Vic Zhou and Barbie Hsu Source: Comic Natalie Japanese entertainment news websites reported on Saturday that Mayu Murata's Honey Lemon Soda manga is getting a live-action film adaptation starring Snow Man male idol group member Raul a young man with trademark lemon-colored hair who seems cold but in truth is very kind Costarring in the film is Ai Yoshikawa as Uka Ishimori Kōji Shintoku (live-action Peach Girl, Honey So Sweet films) is directing the film Murata launched the manga in Shueisha's Ribon magazine in December 2015 Shueisha published the manga's 14th compiled volume on August 25 The manga centers on Uka Ishimori who did not have any good memories of her middle school years Uka is trying to "graduate" from her past self Murata's Nagareboshi Lens manga inspired an event anime in 2011 Source: Music Natalie The film stars (from left to right in below image): Ueda's manga centers on an average high school girl named Momo whom everyone thinks sleeps around because of her tanned skin Kodansha shipped the second compiled book volume of the sequel series on April 13 Source: Comic Natalie The official website of the live-action film adaptation of Miwa Ueda's Peach Girl manga revealed on Tuesday that Kōichi Tsutaya will compose the music for the film In addition, idol group Hey! Say! JUMP's Kei Inoo will play Kairi in his first film role The film will premiere in Japan in 2017. Kōji Shintoku will direct the film Source: Comic Natalie