Japanese Story took A$411,629 from 40 screens for Palace in its opening four-day weekend despite the arrival of sunny weather in most cities, school holidays, Jewish New Year and the AFL grand final. The result put it in ninth position but everything above was on about 200 to 400 screens.

It has apparently attracted suburban multiplex and regional audiences, as well as the arthouse crowd, which augurs well for the plan to slowly add more prints. The trio of award ceremonies is also fast approaching and with the slim local pickings of this year it is sure to do well.

Only the IMAX Titanic film, Ghosts Of The Abyss, had a better screen average, although Tomb Raider 2 put on a good showing in third spot for UIP. In stark contrast to Japanese Story was the other local opener, The Wannabes, which grossed about A$45,000 less from three times as many screens.

Figures for Calendar Girls, Swimming Pool and The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen are for previews only.