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Tokyo Pop

Play trailer 1:29 Poster for Tokyo Pop R 1988 1h 39m Romance Music Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Bleach-blonde wannabe rocker Wendy (Carrie Hamilton) is disillusioned with her life in New York City. After receiving a postcard from Japan saying "wish you were here," she spontaneously hops on a plane to Tokyo with dreams of making it big as a singer. Quickly finding herself broke and a fish out of water, she moves into a youth hostel for gaijin (foreigners) and takes up work as a hostess at a karaoke bar. Just when she's at her breaking point, she meets Hiro (Diamond Yukai), a rock 'n' roller whose band is looking for their big break. They form a romantic and musical connection and Hiro convinces Wendy to become their lead singer. Through a combination of hustle and luck, they stumble into their 15 minutes of fame, but Wendy soon comes to realize that being a gaijin rocker may be nothing more than a passing fad. An underseen gem of '80s American independent cinema by Fran Rubel Kuzui (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Tokyo Pop takes us on a breezy tour through bubble era Tokyo, replete with knowing nods to the city's vibrant pop culture.
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Tokyo Pop

Critics Reviews

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Walter Goodman New York Times 05/21/2003
You don't have to be a fan of rock music to get a kick out of ''Tokyo Pop,'' a wedding of American and Japanese youth cultures as seen through a fun-house mirror. Go to Full Review Sean Burns North Shore Movies 08/26/2023
It’s an awfully sweet picture, welcoming and easy to watch. Go to Full Review Kathy Fennessy Seattle Film Blog 08/26/2023
3.5/4
Though [Fran Rubel] Kuzui grapples with cross-cultural relationships and, to a lesser extent, cultural appropriation, Tokyo Pop mostly revolves around authenticity, however the performer in question defines it. Go to Full Review Dennis Harvey 48 Hills 08/21/2023
It’s a genial, stylish culture-clash picaresque. Go to Full Review Lee Jutton Film Inquiry 08/17/2023
Kuzui may have only directed a couple of features, but few filmmakers can say they’ve made a movie as fun, free, and ultimately bittersweet as Tokyo Pop. Go to Full Review Laura Clifford Reeling Reviews 08/14/2023
B+
The restoration pops, from Keith Haring’s vivid, singular titles to the dazzling neon streets of Tokyo…“Tokyo Pop” is a sweet time machine. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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05/31/2011 Love the 80's fashion See more 08/15/2010 Heartfelt and sadly underrated movie. Will a DVD ever be released? See more 08/28/2008 I first saw this on TV back in the early '90's and fell in love with it, Japanese culture and it's female lead, the late Carrie Hamilton. Actually she is my main reason for liking this film, but the male lead (Masumi Harukawa) is also very likeable. There are some good songs and some very cheesy songs too. (I own the soundtrack!) This has never had a DVD release which is a real disappointment, and judging by the few fans it has on here most people are unaware of it's existence. See more 05/27/2008 pretty much unknown and forgotten, unlike the overrated Lost in Translation (the main guy in Tokyo Pop is also in Translation as the wacked out commercial director) , but even as a goofy comedy I think it has a much better insight into life in Tokyo than Lost in Translation See more 04/20/2008 Cameo by X-Japan o_O! See more 01/24/2008 better than 'Lost in Translation.' see it instead See more Read all reviews
Tokyo Pop

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Cast & Crew

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Fran Rubel Kuzui

Director

Carrie Hamilton

Wendy Reed

Diamond Yukai

Hiro Yamaguchi

Taiji Tonoyama

Grandfather

Tetsurô Tanba

Mr. Dota

Masumi Harukawa

Mother

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Tokyo Pop

Tokyo Pop: 4K Restoration Trailer Tokyo Pop: 4K Restoration Trailer 1:29 View more videos
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Tokyo Pop

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Movie Info

Synopsis Bleach-blonde wannabe rocker Wendy (Carrie Hamilton) is disillusioned with her life in New York City. After receiving a postcard from Japan saying "wish you were here," she spontaneously hops on a plane to Tokyo with dreams of making it big as a singer. Quickly finding herself broke and a fish out of water, she moves into a youth hostel for gaijin (foreigners) and takes up work as a hostess at a karaoke bar. Just when she's at her breaking point, she meets Hiro (Diamond Yukai), a rock 'n' roller whose band is looking for their big break. They form a romantic and musical connection and Hiro convinces Wendy to become their lead singer. Through a combination of hustle and luck, they stumble into their 15 minutes of fame, but Wendy soon comes to realize that being a gaijin rocker may be nothing more than a passing fad. An underseen gem of '80s American independent cinema by Fran Rubel Kuzui (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Tokyo Pop takes us on a breezy tour through bubble era Tokyo, replete with knowing nods to the city's vibrant pop culture.
Director
Fran Rubel Kuzui
Producer
Kaz Kuzui
Screenwriter
Lynn Grossman, Fran Rubel Kuzui
Production Co
Lorimar Film Entertainment, Kuzui Enterprises
Rating
R
Genre
Romance, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 15, 1988, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Aug 4, 2023
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 3, 2023
Box Office (Gross USA)
$37.8K
Runtime
1h 39m
Sound Mix
Surround