The Adventures of Yoko: Road to the Agency Star

The Adventures of Yoko Part I: Road to the Agency Star (or known simply as Road to the Agency Star ) is a 2003 English-language Bangla-Japanese musical adventure film directed by Noriko Matsumiya and the story was written by Naoko Takeuchi (the artist who behind the Sailor Moon franchise) and Shakib Panna. This film was based on the 2000 musical novella The Adventures of Yoko Takashima by Naoko Takeuchi herself.

Jointly produced by Super Talkie International (now Super Talkie Pictures, who behind Eri Naam Dosti/Ties Never Die (2000)) of Bangladesh and Japan Media Group of Japan, this was the first movie from The Adventures of Yoko movie trilogy. It was premiered on November 27, 2003, and then finally released generally a day later. It was an box office successful film, with over $250 gross, from Super Talkie International.

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.

The enhanced/revised version was made in late 2019 by Project Fate.Alicia and S.C. NANA NET. This version was directed by Noriko's her younger sister Patricia Matsumiya, but never released on theaters. They released a direct-to-video and web video instead. It was released on November 27, 2020 as a DVD/Blu-ray Disc by Project Fate.Alicia Amusement Creative.

Plot synopsis
The film starts at the morning on the Times Square of Manhattan, New York, as the opening note says:

"New York City, 7:45 AM. People love to see the famous stars on the Times Square of New York. They liked their performances of the history of music, but they wanted to see the live again. But the one girl who travelled to the USA but she thought that her jewelery and treasure are missing..."

Yoko Takashima (played by Nana Mizuki), a Japanese foreign girl, seems to be confused about her missing jewellery and an diamond treasure after going a trip to New York, which are from her home. Her family thinks about her jewellery must be stolen by the burglars. However, to get these back, Yoko Takashima, for the best, must dance and compete for her glory!

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

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

Emiko Hayashi (played by Erika Sato) 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 entire cast of characters according to the ending 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 (voice-over)


 * 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


 * Kimmy Katkar as Josh Barker, the agency manager

Production & Release
The Adventures of Yoko: Road to the Agency Star was announced on the 2002 International Japanese Film Carnival at Nippon Budokan, when Nana Mizuki starred on her first film Bonfire Killers, and she wanted her next one.

Music
A Swedish composer Ericka Johannson, B.K.A. Ericka Holland, performed a music for the film. These are released on December 1, 2003 as Road to the Agency Star Original Soundtrack and More. The closing credits theme is "(I am) Koishiteru..." by Nana Mizuki, the actress for her lead role for the film. This song is included on her eighth single "still in the groove" and third album DREAM SKiPPER. Nana even used her awarded song "What cheer?", which also from her album, for the film's finale segment.

Dedication
The Adventures of Yoko: Road to the Agency Star 's beginning text has a statement that this film was dedicated to the memory of an actress named Mrs. Kokoro S. Minajima, who got killed upon falling accident from a balcony on 2003. Kokoro Minajima was also a model from Saitama Prefecture, who was born in July 6, 1969. Nana Mizuki gave her loving memory a dedication, but this also appears on the next two movies, The Dancing Agent and Sailor Summer Vacation (along with Sumar Aka, Laurence Olivier, and Nana Khanna).

Awards
This film was nominated for the several awards. The Adventures of Yoko: Road to the Agency Star won the Golden Globe Awards for Best Foreign Language Film, Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical, Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Original Song in the 61st Golden Globe Awards, Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture in the 8th Golden Satellite Awards, and the 10th Busan International Film Festival Award. Nana Mizuki performed "What cheer?" on the 61st Golden Globe Awards after her winning a award.