Movies News
Genghis Khan tops box-office in Japan
By Scott Rosenberg
Mar 7, 2007, 12:40 GMT

The epic feature ‘Genghis Khan: To the Ends of the Earth and Sea’ has become a hit in Japan topping the box-office this past weekend. Distributed by Shochiku, the film has grossed 195,796,400 yen (approximately US $1,682,337.77)  since its opening March 3 and has outperformed such high profile Hollywood films as ‘Dreamgirls’ and ‘Ghost Rider’ to take the number one spot at the box-office.

Movie played on 440 screens nationwide - rare for a Japanese release, since such large releases are reserved for Hollywood blockbusters. 

Its expected box office will surpass 2 billion yen due to the beginning of the Japanese spring vacation.
 
In the past Kadokawa, has released many mega hits such as ‘Sengoku jietai’ and ‘Ten to chi to.’ They are using “Khan”, which has been in the works for over 27 years as their second “comeback” film, following ‘Yamato,’ the top domestic hit of 2005.

Shochiku has already sold “Khan” to over 50 countries. The $30m Japan-Mongolian co-production, directed by Shinichiro Sawai (‘W’s Tragedy’), commemorates the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Mongol Empire. The film was shot over a period of  four months on location in Mongolia with battle scenes featuring more than 33,000 soldiers and extras.

While the name Genghis Kahn is carved into world history, the man behind it is little known. What he accomplished some 800 years ago, is something unattained by history’s most distinguished figures.

Genghis Khan created the world’s greatest empire, extending from the Persian Gulf in the west to China in the east.

The film is taken from Seiichi Morimura’s two-part novel ‘To the Ends of the Earth and Sea’ (Haruki Paperbacks), a stately epic that tells the story of the vast ambitions and indomitable spirit of Genghis Khan. The mysteries concerning the life of Genghis Khan are as numerous as the legends that remain about him. 

The film details these mysteries, his passionate loves and hatreds as a son, a husband, and a father.

Born the eldest son of a Mongolian tribal chief, Temujin (later Genghis Khan) is said to be a rebirth of the totemic ‘blue wolf’, and is raised with great care so he may shoulder the burden of his tribe’s future. At 14, however, everything changes when his father is killed in a tribal conflict.

Takashi Sorimachi, (Yamato) stars as Genghis Kahn. Playing his wife Borte is Rei Kikukawa, with Mayumi Wakamura as his mother Hoelun.

Ara stars as Kulan, the lifelong love of Genghis Khan, a brave woman who fights alongside of him. A newcomer who has raised high expectations, Ara was the Grand Prix winner in the ‘Actress Audition’ sponsored in collaboration by Kadokawa’s Haruki Office and Avex Group.

The role of Jamuqa, the sworn friend who becomes his greatest enemy, is played by Yusuke Hirayama, while Yoshihiko Hakamada plays his younger brother Khasar, Kenichi Matsuyama his son Jochi, and Eugene Nomura his trusted retainer Borchu.

The cast also includes such stars as Naoki Hosaka, Takaaki Enoki, Masahiko Tsugawa, and Hiroki Matsukata.

Teruki Matsumoto, managing director of Shochiku’s motion picture operations said, “We are extremely proud of this film and are very pleased to see it playing well in Japan. The success of this film shows that quality movies with the right message can crossover to just about any audience. As expected, the film has done great business and has been embraced by a wide audience base. We hope to see continued success for the film.”