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Yoji Yamada to start new project

TOKYO (TR) – Studio giant Shochiku announced this week that legendary director Yoji Yamada will begin work on his next film in mid-January.

“Otouto” tells the story of one foolish brother (the word “otouto” in Japanese means younger brother) and his warm and caring older sister. The film will be the 81st for Yamada, who first garnered fame for his “Tora-san” series of 48 films and whose recent works include the Academy Award-nominated “The Twilight Samurai” (2002) and its follow-up, “The Hidden Blade” (2004).

“Family ties are inseparable,” said Yamada in a press release from Shochiku. “The unreasonable, yet loving, and sometimes sad relationship of a family and siblings will be depicted through heartfelt laughter in this film.”

The film will bring back actress Sayuri Yoshinaga and actor Tsurube Shofukutei from Yamada’s “Kabei – Our Mother,” which premiered at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival.

“Otouto” is scheduled to be released in early 2010.