by Aaron Smith » Thu Dec 09, 2004 1:08 pm
From Screen Daily:
Fire destroys Japanese sound stage
Mark Schilling in Tokyo
24 November 2004 04:00
A fire has destroyed a sound stage at Kadokawa-Daiei studio in Chofu, a western Tokyo suburb. The blaze, which broke out in the structure in the early morning hours of November 21, did not result in any injuries. The cause has not yet been determined and total damages have not yet been assessed.
The 1,067 square metre sound stage, one of five in the studio, was being used to shoot Yokai -- The Great Goblin War, a major Kadokawa Pictures release for the 2005 summer season. Company officials have said the release date will not be pushed back.
The fire, which was discovered at 12:45 a.m., nearly two hours after the end of shooting for the day, burned for eight and a half hours and completely gutted the structure.
Kadokawa reopened the studio on September 1 after the completion of $9 million in renovation work. Covering 12,000 square metres, the studio has five sound stages, as well as screening rooms, meeting rooms, workshops and the Kitchen Cafe Gamera - named for the giant turtle that is a Daiei symbol.