Latest news with #Megumi
Fashion Network
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fashion Network
Max Fashion partners with Disney to launch Lilo & Stitch inspired collection
Max Fashion has launched a new apparel collection inspired by Disney 's Lilo & Stitch, ahead of the film's upcoming theatrical release in India, to engage fans. Designed for children, teenagers, and young adults, the collection blends the animated film's tropical setting with a playful aesthetic and seasonal designs. 'This isn't our first time working together, our relationship with Disney goes way back,' said Sumit Chandna, deputy CEO of Max Fashion, in a press release. 'Taking inspiration from cult classics always helps kids connect with the collection in a big way. And after so many incredible collaborations with Disney, it feels less like a partnership and more like a creative friendship- we just get each other.' This marks the ninth collaboration between Max Fashion and Disney, following previous co-branded collections themed around the Jungle Book, Disney Princesses, Star Wars, and Guardians of the Galaxy. The latest line features vibrant prints, breezy fabrics, and a summer palette of oranges, blues, greens, and pastels. The collection debuted on May 24 with a launch event at Megumi in Mumbai, including a themed runway walk featuring mothers and children. Actor Bipasha Basu appeared as the showstopper at the event. Now available in over 520 Max Fashion stores and online, the line aims to strengthen the brand's positioning in licensed youth fashion. 'It's a win-win for both the brands,' said Priya Nijhara, director of consumer products at the Walt Disney Company.
The Mainichi
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Japanese abductees' kin urge N. Korea's Kim to return loved ones
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea pleaded with the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, to return their loved ones during a national rally in Tokyo on Saturday. "Resolve the negative legacy left by your predecessors and turn your country into one that can envision a brighter future through courage and bold decision-making," said Takuya Yokota, a 56-year-old younger brother of Megumi, a symbolic figure among the abductees. A moment of silence was held at the start of the meeting for Akihiro Arimoto, the father of Keiko Arimoto, who was 23 when she was abducted. He died in February at age 96. Holding a photo of Keiko, Yokota vowed that "those of us remaining will continue to raise our voices, so his disappointment will not be in vain," as he called on the Japanese government to realize a Japan-North Korea summit. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who also attended the rally, expressed his intention to seek a resolution through talks with Kim, saying, "We will break through by any means. We will further strengthen our efforts through various channels." Since the return of five abductees to Japan in 2002, Tokyo has sought the release of 12 others it has officially recognized as having been taken by North Korea. It also suspects Pyongyang's involvement in the disappearances of other Japanese citizens. "As a parent, I have done everything I can, but nothing has happened. I always wonder if this will be resolved while I am still alive, but I want to stay strong and not cry," said Megumi's 89-year-old mother, Sakie. Megumi Yokota was abducted at age 13 by North Korean agents in Niigata Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast in 1977 while returning home from badminton practice at her junior high school. Pyongyang claims she died by suicide in 1994. Around 800 people participated in the rally, according to a group of the victims' families and other organizers. A resolution adopted at the meeting urged Kim to make a decision. It stated that the group would not oppose humanitarian aid from Japan or the lifting of sanctions on North Korea if all abductees were returned while their parents were still alive.
24-05-2025
- Politics
Families Demand N. Korea Return All Japanese Abductees
Tokyo, May 24 (Jiji Press)--Families of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea and their supporters held a national rally in Tokyo on Saturday to demand the immediate return of all abductees. "We really have no time left," a participant said, bearing in mind that Sakie Yokota, 89, the mother of abductee Megumi, has become the only surviving member of the generation of the abductees' parents. Megumi was kidnapped in 1977 when she was 13. The rally was attended by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. At the beginning of the event, a minute of silence was observed in memory of Akihiro Arimoto, the father of abductee Keiko, who died in February this year. Keiko disappeared in Europe in 1983 when she was 23. Takuya Yokota, 56, a younger brother of Megumi and head of a group of families of abductees, gave a speech calling for a Japan-North Korea summit. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
Japan Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
‘I Still Want To Do It With My Wife': Hapless husband's self-pity wears thin
Behind every starving artist, there tends to be someone else who's paying the bills. That was certainly true for filmmaker Shin Adachi, who spent years as an unsuccessful screenwriter before finally breaking out with '100 Yen Love' in 2014. As he has revealed in two autobiographical novels and their respective screen adaptations, he wouldn't have made it this far without the help of his spouse, Akiko. But in Adachi's fictionalized retelling, his better half is a far cry from the 'devoted wife' archetype beloved of NHK morning dramas. In 'I Still Want To Do It With My Wife,' Chika (played by the single-named Megumi) subjects her husband to a near-constant invective — and you can hardly blame her. Work-shy and out of work, Gota (Shunsuke Kazama) is a hopeless case. He didn't even make ¥100,000 the previous year, yet when he does finally land a gig, he's so out of his depth with the material that he has to get his missus to write it for him. Not only is Chika the main breadwinner, she also seems to be the more effective parent to their son, Taro (Tetta Shimada), who has a developmental disorder. So when Gota approaches her at the end of a long day with a suggestive look on his face, it's understandable that she tells him to get lost. Gota's only confidantes are the neighborhood moms, but they scoff at his complaints that he doesn't get enough credit for doing the cooking and housework. Welcome to being a homemaker, pal. These battle lines will be familiar to anyone who saw Adachi's 'A Beloved Wife' (2020), in which his sex-starved alter ego was played by Gaku Hamada. (Even the names of the lead characters are the same, although this doesn't appear to be a direct sequel.) Kazama, an equally cuddly screen presence, somehow manages to be even more irritating than his predecessor. Adapted from the director's 2019 novel, 'I Still Want To Do It With My Wife' started as a 12-episode drama that aired on TV Osaka earlier this year. Adachi says he'd always envisioned it as a standalone film, which explains why the theatrical cut — edited from the show, with a few extra scenes added — doesn't feel like a digest version. All the same, it frequently betrays its TV origins, both in the rough-around-the-edges aesthetic and the episodic plot. Like many married couples, Gota and Chika are constantly revisiting the same arguments. Although there are a few big moments (a bust-up at a funeral, an emotional meltdown on a busy street), much of the film keeps going round in circles. Adachi's candor is refreshing, but it's still subject to the law of diminishing returns. Much like the character she plays, Megumi ends up having to do most of the work. After spending much of the film's first half in the bathtub — a more onerous acting assignment than you'd think — she's called on to deliver the emotional fireworks later on, too. Shimada, best known to international audiences from Koji Fukada's 'Love Life' (2022), is equally winning as the couple's high-maintenance son. Taking verisimilitude to the extreme, Adachi filmed the domestic scenes in the family's apartment, using long takes and handheld camerawork to heighten the pressure-cooker atmosphere. It gives an extra touch of authenticity to a fitfully engaging film. Adachi can do better than this, but his wife has probably told him that already.
Japan Forward
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Forward
Families of Abductees Relaunch Petition Drive After 12 Years
このページを 日本語 で読む On April 26, the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea held a street campaign in Tokyo's Ginza district. They called for public cooperation in signing a petition urging the Japanese government to rescue the abductees as soon as possible. Participants included Takuya Yokota (56), younger brother of Megumi Yokota (now 60, abducted at age 13), and Koichiro Iizuka (48), son of Yaeko Taguchi (now 69, abducted at age 22). Three other family members also took part. According to the support organization Sukuukai (The National Association for the Rescue of Abducted Japanese), this was the first time in about 12 years that multiple family members organized and led a street petition drive. Takuya Yokota speaks out during a signature campaign at Ginza's Sukiyabashi crossing. April 26, Chuo Ward, Tokyo (©Sankei by Katsuyuki Seki) With many of the abductees' parents passing away in recent years, the association adopted a new action policy in February. The goal is to intensify appeals to public opinion and break the longstanding deadlock. Since its founding in March 1997, the group has collected more than 19.2 million signatures. It now aims to surpass 20 million by the end of 2025. At the campaign site near Sukiyabashi intersection in Ginza, banners read: "The government must do everything in its power to rescue all abductees within this year!" Families and supporters stood in line, calling out to passersby: "Each signature makes a difference. Please lend us your support." The campaign coincided with the start of Golden Week, a string of national holidays in late April and early May. Ginza was bustling with shoppers and tourists. While relatively few people stopped to engage, some did pause to listen or reach for a petition form. Takashi Niinuma (72), an office worker in Tokyo, said, "I'm from the same generation as Sakie Yokota (Megumi's mother). As a parent, imagining what it would be like to have your child taken from you is truly heart-wrenching. I signed the petition in hopes of offering even the slightest support." A 77-year-old woman from Hadano City, Kanagawa Prefecture, added, "I saw the families often on TV, so I decided to sign. I hope they keep going, but in the end, this is a problem that politics must resolve." Takuya Yokota stands on the street asking passersby to sign the petition. April 26, Chuo Ward, Tokyo (©Sankei by Katsuyuki Seki) The last such petition campaign was held in April 2013 near JR Ochanomizu Station. At that time, the group was nearing its previous goal of 10 million signatures. Megumi's father, Shigeru Yokota (who died in 2020 at age 87), and her mother, Sakie (now 89), both participated. Sakie did not attend the latest event. Although she was eager to join, her son Takuya persuaded her to prioritize her health. He reportedly told her, "If Megumi returns and you're not here, it would be meaningless." Explaining the decision to relaunch a public petition campaign, Takuya said, "The association has long aimed to bring the abductees home while their parents are still alive. Now, only my mother remains. We felt it was necessary to renew our appeal to public opinion for swift progress." After the signature campaign at Ginza's Sukiyabashi intersection, Tetsuya Yokota, Takuya Yokota, and Koichiro Iizuka speak to the press. Takuya brought a photo of Keiko Arimoto to the event. April 26, Chuo Ward, Tokyo (©Sankei by Katsuyuki Seki) Koichiro Iizuka commented, "With this petition, I believe we were able to revive public memory and raise awareness among new audiences. If we give up, it's over. So we'll continue to raise our voices." Author: Shoki Nakamura, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
