Award winning Le Hérisson (4 awards and 1 nomination at Cairo International Film Festival including the Best Director for Mona Achache, and the Best Music for Gabriel Yared in Valladolid International Film Festival) was released in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, United Arab Emirates, Greece, Italy, Argentina and is released in Germany and Austria in May and in Australia in July. UK release has still not been announced. The film is based on the bestseller, ‘L’élégance du Hérisson’ by Muriel Barbery, English translation ‘The Elegance of the Hedgehog’ by Alison Anderson. Togo speaks fluent French for his role, Kakuro.
◆ Review extract [from guy-bellinger, IMDb]
… Josiane Balasko is perfect as Renée, ugly outside but beautiful inside. Togo Igawa is a dream Mr. Ozu; he is Japanese to the core, genuinely has class and really exudes sympathy. As for the little girl, wow! Garance Le Guillermic IS a discovery! … This trio had to be perfect. If a single one of these three actors had been unconvincing, the film would have failed mercilessly. Fortunately, it does not. 27-year-old Mona Achache works wonders in every department. Her film is at the same time deep, moving and fun to watch. Don't miss it!

At the Israeli Film Academy A Matter of Size (Hebrew title: Sippur Gadol [Big Story]) won 3 categories (Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Costume Design) and received 11 nominations (including Best Actor). It won Prix Aquitaine at Sarlat International Cinema Festival (France) and released January 2010 in France (French title Sumo) and April in South Korea. It has been shown at many Jewish Film Festivals worldwide and has already been sold for remake by one of the productions in Hollywood. The film is a comedy - A young overweight Jewish guy, who just cannot lose weight, encounters Japanese sumo, endures vigorous training and wins a tournament. Togo plays his strict coach and speaks Hebrew. In London it was screened at the London Jewish Film Festival last November but public release has still not been announced.

Scott Adkins leads this action film Ninja together with Tsuyoshi Ihara and Mika Hijii and Togo plays their ninja master. All the Japanese scenes were shot in Bulgaria but they are very convincing. The action scenes are stunning and there is no doubt why the director, Isaac Florentain, has a great number of action film fans. It is a bonus that a real martial arts master Fumio Demura (Sensei of Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Genbu-Kai International) appears displaying his amazing skills. UK release on DVD is 15 March 2010.

Ulrich Tukur, who won two Best Actor awards (Bavarian Film Awards and German Film Awards, leads this poignant film, John Rabe (directed by Oscar winner Florian Gallenberger) about the man who saved several thousand Chinese people during the Japanese assault on and capture of the city of Nanjing in 1937/38. He is known as Schindler in Shanghai. Spilberg’s Schindler’s List was a big hit in Japan but it seems that John Rabe will not be released in Japan as its subject is too touchy for some Japanese people. Although some films denying the Nanjin Massacre have been shown without objection, regrettably some Japanese distributors even refused to watch John Rabe. If you want to see it, how about getting out of Japan or buying a DVD from outside Japan. It is released in the UK 30 April 2010.

This is the first time a Japanese engine appears in a story of Thomas and Friends and features Hiro who came to the island of Sodor from Japan. During his time, Hiro was called "Master of the Railway”. But when he breaks down, no parts are available and eventually, he is left in a siding in the forest. Thomas rescues him and is determined to help make Hiro new so that he won't be sent to the scrapyard. They become good friends. This is also the first time that all characters are played by individual actors. Of course, Togo is Hiro. You can see this on DVD. Unfortunately it is in English but it will make a great gift for Japanese children keen to learn English at an early age.