Yôkai Daisensô (AKA Big Spook War). by Takashi Miike. Promotional Leaftet Translated.

Here's a translation of the Promotional Leaftet shown to the left, for Takashi Miikes upcoming movie - with thank to the time and effort of Jason Gray, friend of the site, Thanks Jason - see his blog here.

Unparalleled thrills! A moving fantasy-adventure is born!

From 'Sunakake Babâ' to 'Azuki Arai', from 'Ittan Momen' to 'Nuri Kabe', from 'Abura Sumashi' to 'Nurarihyon', 'Kappa' to 'Daitengu', 'Yuki Onna' to 'Bake Neko', 'Ôkubi' to 'Hitotsume Kozô'...

Yôkai -- not 'creature', nor 'ghost', nor 'monster', each yôkai has a grotesque appearance and a unique character. These amusingly frightening, strange beings are most definitely living among us.

Over the years, there have been numerous hit films and other works with yôkai as their theme. With their bold entry into the world of Japanese film, the Kadokawa Group commemorates its 60th anniversary with the largest-scale fantasy adventure in Japanese film history, Yôkai Daisensô (Big Spook War).

After a strange turn of events, a bullied crybaby becomes "Kirin Sôshi", righteous saviour of the world. In this battle of the century, Kirin Sôshi brings together the power of all the yôkai living in Japan to fight the Evil Spirit Army Corps (headed by Commander Katô Yasunori), who are scheming to destroy the world.

Filled with exciting, heart-pounding action, laughs, and tears, Yôkai Daisensô is a highly entertaining adventure story.

In making the film, a production team was formed under the name ‘kai’ (‘mystery’ or ‘wonder’), bringing together #1 yôkai pioneer and creator of manga Gegege no Kitarô, Mizuki Shigeru, and some of this generation’s best authors, including Miyabe Miyuki, Aramata Hiroshi and Kyôgoku Natsuhiko. Miike Takashi (Zebraman, Chakushin Ari /You’ve Got a Call etc.), who has made many hit films and garnered high praise both in Japan and abroad, directs this fantastical story.

Genius child actor Kamiki Ryûnosukue plays main character Tadashi, who fights side-by-side with the yôkai against the Evil Spirit Army Corps. Lending strong support are such actors as Toyokawa Etsushi, Kuriyama Chiaki, Sugawara Bunta, and in the roles of yôkai, Kondô  Masaomi, Takahashi Mai, Abe Sadao, Imawano Kiyoshirô, Takenaka Naoto and others -- a truly star-studded cast of unique talent has been assembled. (*the small type carefully notes that the yôkai pictured on the flyer are but one small part of the ones that appear in the film - jg)

This summer, won’t you go on a strange adventure with some yôkai?