A private showing of the upcoming movie "Ashita no Joe", starring Yamashita Tomohisa (NEWS), was held on January 17th, and cast members including Yamashita, Iseya Yusuke, Kagawa Teruyuki, and Karina showed up.

Karina confessed her feelings regarding Yamashita and Iseya, who both underwent fierce food�restriction and stern training to modify their bodies into boxers, "They were both so fierce looking, and had an aura which made me hesitate to speak to them."



Yamashita, who played Yabuki Joe, the legendary manga character, said, "I felt a lot of pressure, and wasn't sure if I would be able to fulfill the role of Joe. �However, I have learned from Joe that it's important to keep challenging. �I never thought that I would be able to be immersed in one thing this much."

Yamashita also confessed that there was a time when he really flew off the handle during the shoot after he received "real" punches in his empty stomach. �Yamashita said while looking back to those days, "I thought, 'So, this is the fighting spirit...', by looking at my truly angry face."

Iseya Yusuke, who played the role of Rikiishi Toru, the rival of Joe,�described�Yamashita as an "ab freak." �According to Iseya, Yamashita kept doing sit-ups in the corner of the studio even when he felt sick.

The official release of the movie will be on February 11th.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQLNCm1yr5U

Source & Photo: Oricon Style