[TinyRedLeaf]

From Up On Poppy Hill tops Japan's 2011 box office

Tokyo (Sept 19): Studio Ghibli's most recent film, Kokuriko-Zaka Kara, has overtaken this year's two Pokemon films to become the highest-earning domestic film in Japan this year. About two months after its theatre release here, Kokuriko-Zaka Kara topped ticket sales for Gekijoban Pocket Monster Best Wishes! Victini to Kuroki Eiyu Zekrom and Gekijoban Pocket Monster Best Wishes! Victini to Shiroki Eiyu Reshiram. All three movies opened on July 16. As of Sept 11, Kokuriko-Zaka Kara has grossed the equivalent of US$53.8 million, while the two Pokemon movies earned about US$53.4 million combined. The film was seen 445,269 times on 457 theaters in its first three days, and was seen about 3,300,000 times by Sept 14. Studio Ghibli is no stranger to domestic box-office success: In 1997, Mononoke Hime grossed US$154 million over eight months, while Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi earned US$229.6 million in 2001 to become the highest-grossing film in Japanese history. Because of its popularity, Kokuriko-Zaka Kara will continue to play next month on 300 screens in Japan. It will also receive a new poster (right) after a suggestion by the film's writer and planner, Hayao Miyazaki. ANIME NEWS NETWORK