AUG The eighth month of the 19th No. 217 year of the Heisei period. 2007 平成 19 年

Published by the Insider Group (Hazuki)

Supported by the Fukutake Education and Culture Foundation The eighth month is the “leaves month”, E-mail: [email protected] but it doesn’t correspond with autumn!

Hit Movie Series Nisshi Tsuribaka (Part 18) filmed in Okayama by Noriko Ehara

“Tsuribaka Nisshi” in the photo) is played (釣りバカ日誌: roughly by actor Toshiyuki translated as the Diaries Nishida. The whole of a Fishing Addict) is premise of the one of the most popular Tsuribaka series is the movie series ever made life of the cheerful in . The series fishing addict, first screened in 1988 Hamachan, and his and 2007 marks the family, friends, 20th anniversary since colleagues, and a guest production began. heroine. The 20th anniversary Hamachan is fishing installment, episode 18, crazy, thinking about was filmed in Okayama his next fishing trip all in May this year and the time. His will be shown at Toho priorities are family Cinemas Konan, first, fishing a close Okayama Merpa, and second, and his work a Movix Kurashiki from distant third. August 25th. Hamachan’s morals Screening in other and love for his wife prefectures begins a and family are week later on rock-solid, and he is September 8th. always honest to everyone. He cannot jumped at the opportunity to support the film, say “No” if anyone asks him for help. which features many of Okayama's best maritime Hamachan has a special relationship with the scenery. Masahiro Ishii, the of Okayama president of his company, Mr. Suzuki, known as Prefecture even makes a cameo appearance as a “Su-san” (on the left in the photo). At work they local fisherman in the film. are Hamachan the salaryman, and Su-san the Why is the Tsuribaka series so popular in CEO. At work, they keep their friendship a Japan? Some say it captures the hearts and minds secret, but on the ocean, Hamachan is the of Japanese people. We cannot stop loving teacher and Su-san is the eager student. “Hamachan”, the lead character. It is a must-see In the part 18, Su-san goes missing after he movie if you are at all interested in Japanese messes up an important speech. Hamachan cinema, culture or of course fishing! tries to find him in Okayama. But when The lead character, Densuke Hamasaki, Hamachan sees the Seto Inland Sea, he cannot affectionately known as “Hamachan” (on the right control his passion for fishing.....