Backed by a resurgent film industry, major studios are holding auditions to find their next leading ladies.
Critics say filmmakers have been making good progress in recent years, aided by such blockbusters as "Odoru Dai-Sosasen" ("Dancing Dragnet"), which was made into a series. But they are suffering from a shortage of stars.
Naoki Sato, director of the planning department at Miss Phoenix, says the status of domestic movies is rising and that the industry is in dire need of a female star.