Guest Writers 1 Gou Ousaka Born in Tokyo in 1943. Won the Naoki Award, the Mystery Writers Award of Japan, and the Grand Prize of Japan Adventure Novel. He loves Spain, is a gun maniac, and plays very good guitar. Currently he is the board chairman of Mystery Writers of Japan. 2 Kenzou Kitakata Born in Saga Prefecture in 1947. He is one of the most popular hard-boiled novel writers, who gave a first challenge to write a historical novel in 1988. Many of his such historical novels have been made into a film. He is a special adviser of this Mystery Film Festival. 3 Miyuki Miyabe Born in Tokyo. After working for a law firm, she won the Rookie Prize of All Yomimono Mystery Award for her debut volume. Also won the Japan Mystery Suspense Award, the Mystery Writers Award of Japan, the Eiji Yoshikawa Rookie Award, and the Syugoro Yamamoto Award. Her recent novel, "Mohou-han" (copycat criminal) has been a hot topic. 4 Iori Fujiwara Born in Osaka City in 1948. Won 114th Naoki Award for the debut volume, also won Rampo Edogawa Award. 5 Hideyuki Kikuchi Born in Chiba Prefecture in 1949. He had contributed his short stories to little mystery literature magazines, while working as a magazine writer, free writer, and translator. He has been releasing his popular series of novels in horror and romantic action since his dramatic debut in 1982. 6 Ryouichi Kanou Born in Yokohama City in 1963. He won the Rookie of the Year Prize of Mystery Novel Award in 1991, and the Mystery Writers Award of Japan in 1999. He is one of the most promising writers in Japan. 7 Fumihiko Nakatsu Born in Ichinoseki, Iwate Prefecture, in 1941. He worked as a reporter for Iwate Nippo Co., Ltd. He won the Rampo Edogawa Award in 1982. He mainly specializes in historical mystery. Currently he is living in Morioka. 8 Katsuhiko Takahashi Born in Iwate Prefecture in 1947. He has won many awards under various categories. Currently his original piece called "Tokimune Houjou" is being on the air at NHK. 9 Jun Saitou Born in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, in 1957. He debuted as a writer while working as a radio director, and won the Mystery Writers Award of Japan. He is an executive board members of Mystery Writers of Japan, and the general producer of this Film Festival. Guest Director and Actor 10 Junya Sato (Director) Born in Tokyo in 1932. He started his career at Tokyo Film Studio of Toei Co., Ltd. He won the Blue Ribbon Rookie Prize in 1956 for his debut film. Since then, he has directed many mega-hit films, including disaster films. 11 Jang Jin (Director) Began his career as a playwright, and has written and directed many award-winning plays for the stage. His debut film, THE HAPPENINGS, received positive reviews from the critics. THE SPY is his second film and he is considered one of the most promising young directors in Korea. 12 Hinako Saeki Born in Nara City in 1977. She is playing an active role on TV dramas, movies, and TV ads since her first appearance on the screen in 1995. She is indispensable for Japan's film industry for the future for her acting talent. She is interested in ballet and English conversation, and enjoys writing columns of movie reviews. She also participated in the film, which won the Encouragement Grand Prize for the Best New Director at this festival. Directors Nominated for the Encouragement Prize for the Best New Director 13 Masahiko Nagasawa Born in Akita Prefecture. After working for a CM production company, he entered the movie world as a freelance. Currently he is shooting a movie "Seoul" starring Tomoya Nagase of TOKIO, Japan's one of a fave rave among young people. He played a role of a producer for "Undo" and "Love Letter" directed by Shunji Iwai, and was in charge of a script for a film directed by Shinohara. Also, he produced an official opening film for the Winter Olympics in Nagano held in 1998. He has planned and produced many CMs, including a campaign for the World Cup soccer game aired at NHK-BS in 1997 and 98. 14 KIM Jung-Kwon Born in Korea in 1969. He entered the film industry as an actor, and went in for a film director, wining many awards for his short films. He debuted as a director after working as an assistant director. His next film will be released at Christmas this year in Korea. 15 Mitsuhiko Yabe Born in Tokyo in 1967. He joined Kamakura Eiga Juku (film school) in Ofuna Studio of Shochiku Co., Ltd. as a first pupil after leaving Honda Motor Co., Ltd., in order to transform his childhood ambition to reality. He entered his short film to an oversea film festival. He won the Sundance/NHK Award in 1999 for the filmscript of "GO!", and ended up directing the same film. 16 Takehiko Nakajima Born in Hokkaido in 1956. He has broad experience as an assistant director for many big names, including Seijun Suzuki, Kon Ichikawa, Nagisa Oshima, Juzo Itami, and Yoichi Sai. He once was called all-time best chief assistant director. Cineast 17 Makiko Uchidate Her perents are originally from Akita and Iwate Prefecture. She has released a lot of writings, including an NHK morning drama, as a popular scenario writer. She especially loves sumo wrestling, and is a committee member of the Yokozuna Promotion Council. She is a judge of the Kadokawa Off Theater Competition at this Film Festival. 18 Rintaro Hosogoe Born in Morioka City. He wored as an art director for Shiseido Co. Ltd., and is currently a movie critic and a travel essayist. He is a commentator of new movies at this festival. 19 Kuro Erikawa A movie personality taking an active part on TV, radio and magazines. She has compered and interviewed various major actors from Hollywood at press conferences, making good use of her great knowledge of Western and Japanese films. She emcees the Encouragement Prize for the Best New Director at this festival. 20 Chikayo Tashiro She is from Shizuoka Prefecture. She worked for IBC Iwate Broadcasting Co., Ltd. as an announcer, and is currently a Tokyo-based freelance. She went to study Chinese at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, inspired by Hong Kong movies. She wrote 3 books on South Korean entertainment during her studying there, and is now training herself to become a scenario writer. She participates in this festival as a navigator on Korean films. 21 Nobukazu Uekusa A Publishing Coordinator of Kinema-Junpo, Co., Ltd. He is a judge of the Encouragement Prize for the Best New Director and the Off Theater Competition, on behalf of Mr. Kazuo Kuroi, the President and Representative Director. Other guests ※Currently some other guests are under negotiation. 22 Shiraku Tatekawa Born in Tokyo in 1963. He became a pupil of Danshi Tatekawa, a comic story master, during his senior year of the Department of Art at Nihon University, totally changing his career course from the movie business. He was promoted to one of the main performers in 1995, and is now having 10 pupils himself. His classical comic stories arranged out of his unique sense of humor are famous, and his original comic story on movies has won support from younger generations. He is also taking active part as a film director, film critic, essayist, producer, and actor. Recently he is very interested in painting. He has served as a radio personality of IBC Iwate Broadcasting Co., Ltd. since April this year. His original comic story on movies and a new film he directed will be shown in this festival. Actor 23 Koutaro Takada （Coming to Morioka as a part of the campaign for "GO!" in Tohoku region) Born in Tokyo in 1982. He is a leading actor of a film, "GO!", which is nominated to the Encouragement Prize for the Best New Director. He has won a lot of attention as a charismatic high school boy by appearing in a super-popular fashion magazine among teenagers. He started his career as a model for magazines while attending a high school, and entered the entertainment world after graduation. The 186cm-tall promising actor attracts a large number of people with his simple but natural acting performance, and has already acted in 3 movies.