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Japanese Box Office, January 2-3 (Updated)

Nodame Cantabile Saishū Gakushō Zen-Pen (Nodame Cantabile: The Final Score Part I), the first film in a two-part theatrical finale inspired by Tomoko Ninomiya's Nodame Cantabile musical romance manga, stayed at #2 on Kogyo Tsushinsha's Japanese box office chart during the January 2-3 weekend after debuting two weeks ago. According to Variety and Rentrak Theatrical, it earned US$3,252,911 on 409 screens for a total-to-date of US$23,979,527. The two movies continue the story of the 2006 live-action television drama series and this year's two-part Nodame Cantabile Shinshun Special in Europe television special. Ninomiya's original manga ended in October, and a spinoff manga launched in December.

One Piece Film Strong World, the 10th anime film based on Eiichiro Oda's One Piece pirate manga, fell to #4, after being at #3 last week. It added US$2,611,102 on 194 screens to its total of US$39,439,879.

Tsuri Baka Nisshi 20: Final (Free and Easy 20: Final), the film based on Juzo Yamasaki and Kenichi Kitami's Tsuri Baka Nisshi (Diary of a Fishing Fool) comedy manga, moved up to #5 after debuing at #6 on the Kogyo Tsushinsha chart (#7 on Rentrak Theatrical's chart) last weekend. It earned US$1,105,212 on 176 screens for a total-to-date of US$3,102,237. The movie was announced last April as the last in the venerable movie franchise. Rentarō Mikuni has been playing a salaryman (company employee) who escapes everyday tedium by fishing, while Toshiyuki Nishida plays his boss. The two have starred in these films almost every year since 1988.

Kamen Rider × Kamen Rider Double & Decade: Movie War 2010 fell from #5 to #6 (#7 on Rentrak Theatrical's chart). It earned US$955,342 on 293 screens to add to its US$13,414,727 total.

Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva (Layton Kyōju to Eien no Utahime), an animated movie based on Nintendo and Level5's hit puzzle adventure game series, fell from #8 to #9. It earned US$569,624 on 311 screens for a three-week total of $4,270,243. Castmembers Yō Ōizumi (Brave Story, Howl's Moving Castle) and Maki Horikita (Densha Otoko series, Always: Sunset on Third Street) reprised their respective roles of Layton and Luke in the movie.

James Cameron's Avatar science-fiction action movie stayed at #1 after debuting last weekend, earning a weekend box office take of US$7,351,042, for a two-week total of US$35,050,720.

Source: Kogyo Tsushinsha

Images © 2009 Fuji TV, Kodansha, Amuse, TOHO, FNS27
© Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha, Fuji TV, Toei Animation
© 2009 One Piece Production Committee

Update: The Japanese film distributor Toei has announced on January 5 that One Piece Film Strong World was seen 3.01 million times in 24 days. It is the fastest Toei film to sell 3 million tickets since 2000. The previous record-holder, 2008's Aibo, reached the 3-million mark in 32 days. Source: Oricon