Chinese star Zhang Ziyi was in Japan Tuesday to promote her first Japanese film, the musical Operetta Tanuki Goten.

A grand premiere was held in Tokyo last night with more than 250 Japanese journalists attending the glitzy ceremony.

Zhang Ziyi says the genre of the film is new for her. She had to memorize a lot of Japanese songs and took singing and dancing classes in Japan to prepare for the part.

The film's box office takings in its first day exceeded those for the Hollywood heavy-weight Spiderman across Japan, to the delight of the cast and crew.

Director Seijun Suzuki says he has no complaints about working with Zhang Ziyi saying she is a multi-talented international star.

Ziyi Zhang plays a Chinese speaking spirit princess, called Tanuki-hime who falls in love with a human prince, played by Jo Odagiri.

(CRI March 30, 2005)