Tokyo Pop

I really enjoyed this movie. The characters are real and likeable and the story is entertaining. The script is excellent and the exchanges between the Japanese and gaijin characters genuinely amusing and realistic. I loved the way the hero (Hiro) was always several beats behind in his responses to English. Anyone who has spent some time in Japan and has an interest in the Japanese music scene will find a lot to take delight in here. And the occasional desperation of a gaijin, feeling lost and alien in Japan, is cleverly portrayed. The people who made this movie really knew what they were on about, from the Japanese and the gaijin point of view.

The two lead actors are very believable and the other cast members are all excellent. The band scenes and the portrayals of the varied types of musicians are great fun.

I had never heard of this movie before I watched it and it was a revelation to find something so amusing and true about a place and a music that I love. Thank you to these film makers!

Hello! My name is Paula, I live in Argentina, and I've always had this odd fascination about this film, since I was a teenager actually, and I the last song performed by Carrie Hamilton was so enchanting! It is called "Never Forget", but I can't find it anywhere! and nobody seems to be interested in this film, or the movie soundtrack. Please contact me if you can provide me with some info. paula155@hotmail.com is my email address. I really don't get how this movie is so mysterious and has no fans clubs, forums, or things like that. It was really disappointing when I knew about Carrie's death. She was so young, and talented, her voice was an inspiration.

I have never been to Japan -- the closest I've ever been to Japan has been the Sanrio store in my local mall during the time period when this film was made -- but I was once a young woman caught up in the post punk music scene and the character of Wendy (Carrie Hamilton) was very familiar to me. This film takes us to 1988 Japan through her eyes and is very effective at conveying her sense of isolation in a foreign land. Watching the movie 36 years after it was made still feels totally fresh, totally timeless. Our current fascination with K-pop gives us some familiarity with the Asian hit-making machinery and now there is not only one Sanrio store in my local mall but four! I highly recommend this movie to any of my young fellow shoppers. The creative force was also involved in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the titles are Keith Haring's work. "Tokyo Pop" is an entertaining cultural artifact that, in this sparkling preservation, is an undiscovered gem. A rare treasure by a woman director that deserves more recognition.

I loved this film. A lot. Though my tastes may be a bit different than most people I've met, I really did enjoy both the comedic and romantic aspects of the film, and I thought both blended very well. My favorite example of this was when Hiro (played by Tadokoro Yutaka of Red Warriors), takes Wendy (fantastically played by the late Carrie Hamilton) to a hotel; the movie makes a good point of explaining just how much of a problem language barriers can be, though in a way we can all laugh at, which I found to be great ...

Overacted in some parts, underacted in a few, and misdirected in many, this film is my idea of a great time, and I hope those of you who feel the same way make an effort to see it for yourself.

Tokyo Pop is a classic eighties story of a American girl who goes to Japan to become a rock star. Carrie Hamilton is excellent as the lead. It is sad that at thirty-eight she passed from lung and brain cancer.

Diamond Yukai is stunning as the boy she falls for. The music is very eighties, but still the versions of Blue Suede Shoes, Natural Woman, and do you believe in Magic are classic. Hiro's (Yukai) original song to her is beautiful and Hiro's Song at the end is sung with passion and is also a wonderful song.

It was incredible that Kino Lorber finally put out a blu ray. I've owned a videocassette since 1988 and have b tried to buy a bluray for years. The soundtrack has been on repeat for me for thirty- five years. Al though I will admit two of the songs are kind of too punk, Japanese for me, but the rest are stellar.

I suggest everyone watch this film. It is a unknown classic.

Thank Carol Burnett for helping get this disc made for her daughter, Carrie Hamilton.