Japan's 'Chikawa' Tops Box Office for Second Consecutive Day, 'Assassins' Ranks Second

'Chiikawa' Surpasses 1.45 Million Cumulative Viewers... 'Tazza: The High Rollers 3' Ranks Third'The First Slam Dunk' Tops Box Office for Second Consecutive Day, Surpassing 'The Roundup' /CJ ENM[Reporter Park Ji-yoon] The Japanese animation 'Chiikawa' is consistently making its presence felt at the box office.According to the Korean Film Council's integrated network on the 16th, 'The First Slam Dunk' (Director Kei Oiwa, hereinafter referred to as 'Chiikawa') captivated 35,423 viewers the previous day, securing the top spot at the box office. The cumulative number of viewers reached 1,450,448.'Chiikawa' (Cheeky Cute) is a manga serialized by Japanese illustrator Nagano, depicting the joyful, poignant, and sometimes rough daily lives of its unique characters.The theatrical film 'Chiikawa,' based on the most popular episode 'Siren Arc' serialized in 2023, is an animation that depicts Chiikawa and his friends embarking on a suspicious extermination mission to uncover a hidden secret on an unknown island after falling for the temptation of a 100-fold reward. Author Nagano directly participated in the script and supervision, faithfully capturing the charm and emotions of the original work.'The Roundup' (Director Hur Jin-ho) ranked second with 23,511 viewers. The cumulative number of viewers is 3,109,162.Released on the 23rd of last month, 'The Roundup' is a film that traces the suspicions and masterminds behind the assassination of the First Lady that shocked South Korea on August 15, 1974. It is motivated by the assassination of Madam Yuk Young-soo during the 1974 Liberation Day ceremony, an event that had never been depicted in Korean cinema before.'The Roundup' was on a box office streak when it encountered an unexpected issue. Some raised concerns about historical distortion, pointing to scenes suggesting the possibility of former President Park Chung-hee's side or the Korean Central Intelligence Agency's involvement in the incident, and even claims of Chinese capital investment, placing the film at the center of various controversies.In response, the production company issued an official statement to distance itself from the allegations. However, protests occurred in front of the homes of actors involved in the film, leading to a situation where the controversy surrounding the film spilled beyond the screen. Ultimately, 'The Roundup' canceled its stage greetings and official schedule at the 31st Busan International Film Festival.Despite the ongoing turbulent atmosphere, the film continues to attract audiences, raising expectations for its future box office performance.'Tazza: The High Rollers 3' (Director Kuk-hee Choi) ranked third with 16,535 viewers, 'Oppenheimer' (Director Christopher Nolan) ranked fourth with 8,610 viewers, and 'The First Slam Dunk' (Director Sakurari Kitao) ranked fifth with 7,064 viewers.jiyoon-1031@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]