Comedy

Tokyo Pop (1988): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Name: Tokyo Pop
Genre: Comedy
Released: 1988-04-15
Duration: 1 h 39 min
Cast: Taiji Tonoyama, Hiroshi Mikami, Masumi Harukawa, Tetsurô Tanba, Toki Shiozawa

Tokyo Pop is a 1988 comedy directed by Fran Rubel Kuzui, starring Taiji Tonoyama, Hiroshi Mikami and Masumi Harukawa. It runs 1 hour 39 minutes and earned $38,847 worldwide. Critics gave it 60 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10.

IMDb rating: 6.7/10
worldwide gross: $38.8K
Metascore: 60

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Released: April 15, 1988
Runtime: 1h 39m (99 min)
Director: Fran Rubel Kuzui
Genre: Comedy
Original language: English
Studio: National Film Development Corporation
After the credits: No No extra scene

The story

What Is Tokyo Pop About?

The premise of Tokyo Pop without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A spirited young woman leaves New York City to pursue her rock and roll dreams in Tokyo. Struggling to make ends meet and feeling lost in a new culture, she encounters Hiro, a charming musician who invites her to join his band. As they experience rising fame, the lines between genuine artistry and manufactured success become blurred in this quirky story exploring cultural exchange and the pursuit of stardom.

Tokyo Pop Themes & Keywords

· 41 tags

title directed by female
band the musical group
tokyo japan
female singer
aspiring female singer
singer
singing
song
american in japan
rock 'n' roll
postcard
boyfriend girlfriend relationship

+29 more

ex boyfriend ex girlfriend relationship
interracial romance
cultural difference
nightclub
drink
drinking
drunkenness
home on the range the song
gaijin
love hotel
depression
isolation
breakup
guitar
80s
band audition
woman wrestler
hotel
lost
travel
travel to japan
shrine
rental accommodation
hostel
sex in hotel
becoming famous
rock band
f rated
independent film

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Cast & crew

Tokyo Pop Cast

Taiji Tonoyama leads the cast, with Hiroshi Mikami and Masumi Harukawa. Directed by Fran Rubel Kuzui; 10 actors are credited in all.

Director Fran Rubel Kuzui

Also Starring in Tokyo Pop

· 6 more

From the director

Tokyo Pop Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Tokyo Pop 60 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10.

IMDb

6.7 /10
See on IMDb
Metacritic

60 Metascore
See on Metacritic
TMDB

74% User score
See on TMDB

Plot

Tokyo Pop Plot Summary

What happens in Tokyo Pop from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Wendy Reed, a passionate and ambitious young singer from New York City, has been taking the stage by storm alongside her boyfriend Mike’s band. However, her world shatters when she uncovers Mike’s intentions to replace her with another female vocalist. In search of solace, Wendy makes a reckless decision to fly to Tokyo to see a friend, only to discover that her friend has fled to Thailand, leaving her alone and broke. With no options left, she takes refuge in a shabby Itabashi hostel for foreigners and finds work as a hostess in a karaoke bar.

Full summary

The whole story of Tokyo Pop, scene by scene

Read the full summary