Japan Today - November 20, 2002
DiCaprio fever hits Japan over "Gangs" premiere
NARITA — Proving that he is still the champion heartthrob of the universe for Japanese women at
least, actor Leonardo DiCaprio, 28, arrived in Japan Tuesday afternoon along with director Martin
Scorsese for the world premiere Tuesday night of their long-delayed film "Gangs of New York."
More than 500 young fans, mainly girls, swarmed around the pair, yelling "Leo, Leo, Leo" as their
security hustled them through the terminal at Narita airport.
It has been two and a half years since DiCaprio was last in Japan (for "The Beach"). At that time,
scenes of hysteria followed him wherever he went. His news conference then attracted over 500
media and was broadcast live on the Internet, drawing 250,000 hits.
Counting on a smiliar reaction this time, the Japanese distributors of "Gangs of New York" will
broadcast Wednesday's news conference with DiCaprio and Scorsese live on the Internet
(gony.excite.co.jp/) from 11 a.m.
"Gangs of New York," which was completed more than a year ago but which was delayed in the wake of
the Sept 11 terror attacks, tells the story of battling Irish gangs in New York in the mid-1800s,
culminating in the draft riots of 1863.
It will open simultaneously in Japan and the U.S. on Dec 21.
Thanks to Shaolin !
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