Inside THR Japan’s glittering launch party – The Hollywood Reporter
In the final days of the Tokyo International Film Festival The Hollywood Reporter Japan added some old-school glamor with a lavish party at The Peninsula Hotel in Ginza.
On October 30th THR Japan took over Peter Restaurant for an event that brought together some of the biggest names in the Japanese film industry and enjoyed exquisite canapés and signature drinks from Sake Hundred, surrounded on three sides with spectacular nighttime views of Tokyo from the 24th floor of The Peninsula.
At the opening ceremony, speeches were given by Hiroyasu Ando, Chairman of the Tokyo Film Festival; Tsukasa Shiga, chairman of Hersey Shiga Global, the licensing digital media giant THR Japan in collaboration with Penske Media Corporation; Japan’s Environment Minister and well-known film buff Shintaro Ito; And THRAsia office manager Patrick Brzeski.
THR Head of the Asia Office Patrick Brzeski
THR
Guests from the local entertainment industry included Cannes Palme d’Or-winning and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda, Japanese acting icon Jun Kunimura (The wailing, Midway, Kate), actor Takumi Saitoh (Shin Ultraman, Shin Kamen Rider), Godzilla Minus One Director Takashi Yamazaki and producer Georgina Pope.
Jury members Tran Thi Bich Ngoc, Markus Nornes and Albert Serra were also spotted from the Tokyo Film Festival.
Hirokazu Koreeda
THR
From the studio side, Toho Cinemas President Takayuki Ikeda was also present; Kazushi Sato, deputy general manager and senior vice president at Sony Pictures Entertainment; Gaku Narita, head of Japanese content, executive director at Disney; and Belina Tan, vice president of corporate communications at Disney APAC.
Jun Kunimura (right)
THR
The party also attracted local dignitaries from Tokyo, including Ishii Mitsuko and Hirofumi Nakasone, members of the Japanese House of Councilors; Junko Koyama, President of Clarins Japan; Kathy Knowles, Marketing Director, MSC Cruises; Roberto Barbieri, director at MHD; Yuiko Murase and Masashi Tanimura of Mitsubishi Estate; and Costin Mandrea, CEO and CCO of Coca Cola Bottlers.
Takumi Saitoh
THR
Launched in January, THR Japan is a Tokyo-based Japanese-language entertainment publication that features major industry news translated from THR‘s flagship website, as well as original reporting on the Japanese entertainment business.