TOKYO —

Actor Ken Watanabe thinks that an upcoming film on a Japanese corporation and its labor union, in which he stars, is set to be released at the right time as many have second thoughts about labor in the economic downturn.
   
‘‘The social and economic situations have drastically changed since the second half of last year,’’ Watanabe said during a recent promotional event for the Oct 24 release of the movie ‘‘Shizumanu Taiyo’’ (A sun that never sets) based on the namesake bestselling novel by Toyoko Yamasaki.
   
‘‘We’ve entered an era in which people talk about what is a company or what is labor without hesitation. I feel that the production of this film was waiting for this timing,’’ the 49-year-old actor said.
   
Watanabe plays a fictitious airline worker named Onchi who has a hard time after heading its labor union. Onchi has more troubles in seeing his former aide in the union, played by Tomokazu Miura, turn his back on him and be promoted.

© 2009 Kyodo News. All rights reserved. No reproduction or republication without written permission.

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5 Comments

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  LoveUSA at 01:36 PM JST - 12th July

  great actor, so talented and smart, I would like to see all his next movies! This one seems very interesting. I cannot wait until October.

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  Eddisofbextar at 08:27 AM JST - 13th July

  More psychological preparation for the coming new japan (influx of foreign workers and their crazy ideas of human rights, etc).

  Better late than never. I will be seeing this movie for sure.

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  LoveUSA at 09:09 AM JST - 13th July

  love the coolbiz suit of Watanabe.

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  saborichan at 01:24 PM JST - 13th July

  I saw a preview on the weekend of a new mobie of "Tsuribaka " or something; apparently a popular manga with movies made of it. I thought that was what this was referring to at first.

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  WMD at 01:40 PM JST - 13th July

  what is a labor union? They don't exist in japan do they really? I mean proper unions.

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