The Adventures of Yoko: Road to the Agency Star

The Adventures of Yoko: Road to the Agency Star is a 2003 English-language adventure film directed by Noriko Matsumiya and written by Naoko Takeuchi, the artist who behind the Sailor Moon franchise, and Shakib Panna. This film was based on the 2000 English novella The Adventures of Yoko Takashima by Takeuchi herself.

Co-produced by Super Talkie International (who behind Ties Never Die) of Bangladesh and Starchild of Japan, this was the first movie from The Adventures of Yoko movie trilogy. It was released on November 13, 2003.

This film starred Nana Mizuki in the lead role, with featuring the Indian musician Usha Khanna and the J-Pop singer Mamoru Miyano. This also marked Nana Mizuki's on-screen appearance on film since the 2000 film Bonfire Killers.

Plot
Yoko Takashima seems to be confused about her missing jewellery and an diamond treasure after going a trip to New York City, which are from her home. Her family thinks about her jewellery must be stolen by the burglars. However, to get these back, Yoko must dance and compete for her glory!

After thinking, she went to the theater and met the manager, Josh, said that Yoko must dance and compete the dancing contest to become the "agency star". Her family should wait until Yoko cames back.

She went back to her family. However, Sultana, Yoko's mother, had a bad feeling about the audience. Yoko and her family went into the hotel.

Emiko Hayashi met Yoko at the hotel, said that Yoko seems to be confused about her missing jewellery and treasure, and let her to be stay gold. Yoko and Emiko teamed-up together to work-out their best to sing and dance!

Cast
The cast of characters according to the closing credits of the film:


 * Nana Mizuki as Yoko Takashima


 * Usha Khanna as Sultana Takashima


 * Mamoru Miyano as Hiroto Takashima


 * Erika Sato as Emiko Hayashi


 * Mariya Takeuchi as Subaru Kinoshima


 * Inori Ishaque as Haruko Oshima


 * Shakib Khan as Susumu Oshima


 * Inori Minase as Yuko Hayashi


 * Sumar Aka as Vikram Razi


 * Nana Patekar as Jahami Khan


 * Kaori Kumi as Oko Komatsu


 * Crystal Stainton as James Synchell


 * Jack Matterson as Chuck Johnson


 * Ichika Naegi as Inori Razi


 * Rajesh Kumar as Mangla Hamala


 * Hibiki Miyasaki as Emiko Shednam


 * Hiromi Ito as Nang-Kum Jueng


 * Artonia Olivier as Linna Miyamoto


 * Yuko Oshima as Anna Miyamoto


 * Alice Caseline as Emma Drecker


 * Laurence Olivier as a man in Yoko Takashima's flashback


 * Lauren Misker as a woman in Yoko Takashima's flashback


 * Yui Ogura as Riko Takashima, Yoko's younger sister


 * Kimmy Katkar as Josh, the agency manager

Music
The closing credits theme is "Koishiteru..." by Nana Mizuki, the lead role for the film. This song is included on her single "still in the groove" and album DREAM SKiPPER. Nana even used her song "What cheer?" for the finale segment.

Nana Mizuki's Dedication to Kokoro Minajima
The Adventures of Yoko: Road to the Agency Star 's beginning text has a stalement that this film was dedicated to the memory of a actress Kokoro Minajima, who got killed upon falling accident from a balcony on 2003. Minajima was a model from Saitama Prefecture, who was born in July 1969. Nana gave her loving memory a dedication card. This also appears on the next movie, The Dancing Agent.

Awards
This film was nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Costume Design, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score. The Adventures of Yoko: Road to the Agency Star won the Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical and Best Screenplay in the 62nd Golden Globe Awards.