Mao Inoue

Mao Inoue and Jonathan Sherr to star in 'My Darling is a Foreigner'

Thursday 27th August, 04:24 AM JST

TOKYO —

Actress Mao Inoue, 22, famous as Makino Tsukushi in “Hana yori dango,” and actor Jonathan Sherr, 35, will play husband and wife in the upcoming movie version of the popular comic book series “My Darling is a Foreigner.”

Written and illustrated by Saori Oguri, the comic books tell the tales of her life with American husband Tony Laszlo, as they encounter and overcome cultural differences and barriers. The series has sold over 2 million copies and snippets have been shown inside JR trains in Tokyo since 2007, providing comic relief for the crowds traveling to work and school and so forth.

Filming has already begun and Inoue commented on the warm atmosphere, saying she wants it to continue right the way through. “I’ve never had a foreign boyfriend, but quite a few of my friends and relatives have,” Inoue said. “So they tell me it’s likely I will have one too! I imagine it would be fun being in an international relationship, and the small things of everyday life would be interesting.”

Inoue also commented on Sherr’s good looks, saying: “When I first met him, I thought ‘Wow! He’s cool!’”

Sherr said he couldn’t believe he was chosen for the part. “I wondered if it was OK for me to star beside such a beautiful woman.”

“My Darling is a Foreigner” will open in cinemas next spring.

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Latest 15 of 59 Total Comments Show All

biglittleman at 05:49 AM JST - 28th August

Tony is just too quirky a character for an actor who was picked mainly on his physical resemblence (okay, just the beard, probably) to handle.

It shouldn't be a problem. Aren't all Caucasian foreigners the same? Any meat sack will do.
TokyoRoughGuy at 06:34 AM JST - 28th August

This will be a huge hit! I can't wait to see it. Inoue Mao is the best.
Makun at 08:46 AM JST - 28th August

Lucky Guy~
Airion at 10:09 AM JST - 28th August

With all the stereotypes of foreigners floating around in Japan (see McDonald's Mr. James), My Darling is a Foreigner is definitely a good thing. The foreigner is smart and speaks Japanese. Much of the manga covers the struggles the author faces in dealing with assumptions about their relationship, such as that she must speak good English or that she'll eventually move overseas. It also addresses some serious issues, such as discrimination against foreigners in the housing. More than what it informs about international marriages, it's value is in presenting a real and fair image of foreigners in Japan. Hopefully the movie will preserve this value.
mrhog123 at 01:22 PM JST - 28th August

Can I be Lazlos stunt double
chuckers at 02:22 PM JST - 28th August

Re: My Darling is a Foreigner vs. Mr. James

Kind of ironic that the guy "leading" the revolt against Mr. James (Debito Arudou) has a MASSIVE hate-on for Tony Laszlo. It is detailed all over Debito's site. He seems upset that most of Japan knows and loves Tony because of his wife's manga as opposed to him who is known only in certain circles and opinions vary quite wildly about him.

I think hearing this will make him more jealous.
sk4ek at 04:15 PM JST - 28th August

Well, Tony is all about positive, constructive, inclusive communication focusing on what brings people together, so...
nipponreddog at 05:10 PM JST - 28th August

Too bad "MY DARLING" couldn't be about an internationl Japanese guy and a beaufitul white girl for a change...
Crimsonsil at 09:23 PM JST - 28th August

He seems upset that most of Japan knows and loves Tony because of his wife's manga as opposed to him who is known only in certain circles and opinions vary quite wildly about him.

You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
harmoneeikaiwa at 11:13 PM JST - 28th August

Well,Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ do like to keep things light and this title does.
elbudamexicano at 10:12 AM JST - 29th August

This is not a "look at the silly gaijin making strange cultural mistakes in Japan" kind of movie. The book is a best seller here in Japan and I really hope the movie is also a hit. A Japanese dude and a white wife? By the way, there are more Japanese men who are married to foreign women than Japanese women married to foreign men, these are true statistics. But which would make a more romantic love story?
sharky1 at 12:15 AM JST - 30th August

Daily things can become interesting in an international relationship...I remember going with my new bride to a classy pasta restaurant. Doing my best to order in Japanese, I blurted out "supagheddi onegaishimasu" which translates into English as "could I please have super diarrhea?"
supagaijin at 12:48 PM JST - 30th August

Can't say I'd expect much for the live-action film, though. Tony is just too quirky a character for an actor who was picked mainly on his physical resemblence (okay, just the beard, probably) to handle.

Both Jonathan Sherr (who is playing Tony) and Tony are friends of mine. Jonathan grew the beard for this role, is much taller than Tony and really doesn't look much like him at all. He is very talented actor and comic improviser who is more than capable of portraying Tony and his "quirks". If the movie turns out bad I'm sure it won't be Jonathan's fault.
shayouzoku at 05:08 PM JST - 2nd September

By the way, there are more Japanese men who are married to foreign women than Japanese women married to foreign men, these are true statistics.

Yes, but they are Japanese guys married to wives from other Asian countries. That's hardly as interesting to the Japanese public as an interracial couple.
saeiry at 09:51 PM JST - 2nd September

A western girl and Japanese guy would be sooooo much more romantic!!!! ^__^ I know we are minority, but western girl/japanese guy couples, WE ROCK! ^^