Tokyo Pop

Infobox Film
name = Tokyo Pop


image_size =
caption = Theatrical release poster
director = Fran Rubel Kuzui
producer = Kaz Kuzui
writer = Lynn Grossman
Fran Rubel Kuzui
narrator =
starring = Carrie Hamilton
Diamond Yukai
Hiroshi Kobayashi
Hiroshi Sugita
Satoshi Kanai
music = Alan Brewer
cinematography = James Hayman
editing = Camilla Toniolo
distributor = International Spectrafilm
released = April 15, 1988
runtime =
country = United States
Japan
language = English
Japanese
budget =
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
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imdb_id = 0096281nihongo|"Tokyo Pop"|東京ポップ|Tōkyō Poppu is a music-centric movie from 1988 that tells the story of a girl from the USA, a boy from Japan, and a briefly successful pop band. The movie contrasts American customs with Tokyo lifestyles, as it presents an evolving love story between the two main characters.

The main actors are Carrie Hamilton for Wendy and Diamond Yukai (aka Yutaka Tadokoro) for Hiro Yamaguchi. Other actors included Gina Belafonte and Tetsuro Tamba. The movie was directed by Fran Rubel Kuzui. X (later on X Japan) played the band members in the movie.

Plot

This is the story of a girl named Wendy Reed, who leaves the USA and her boyfriend, a musician played by Michael Cerveris, and travels to Tokyo, Japan. She plans to visit a girlfriend but cannot find her. Instead she meets a young man called Hiro (pronounced "hero"), who is the leader of an unsuccessful pop band. As Wendy is blonde and tall by local standards, she attracts attention. She falls in love with Hiro and develops a music career as the movie advances. With some tricks they manage to catch the eye of a record label producer and achieve success for a short time. The song, which is played throughout, is a cover version from John Sebastian's "Do you believe in magic?" While they top the charts, there is some luxury in their lives, but the blossoming relationship of the main couple starts breaking apart.

In the movie, Tokyo Pop is a one day business where groups have one hit in the charts and then vanish forever. Since this is the case, Wendy goes back to the US in hopes of finding a more stable career. She had an unforgettable time with Hiro but can leave him behind because he is a marvelous composer, who will find his way through his own power. He no longer needs her to garner the attention of producers.

The film ends with a tearful duet between the two; she, in a US studio singing about her love for him and he, on a Japanese stage replying in kind. The duet showcases his artistic music skills.

External links

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