Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE!

whitedove

Ayaka rumored to be dating, denied by agency
Wed, January 9, 2008 (4:45pm EST)



Singer-songwriter Ayaka may be dating guitarist Toshikazu Wakabayashi, according to the newest issue of FRIDAY. Wakabayashi is a member of the duo Luv Handles and served as a support musician for Ayaka during her nationwide tour and at her Kohaku Uta Gassen performance.

FRIDAY reports that Wakabayashi spent the night at Ayaka's apartment on Christmas Eve. He has reportedly been seen there late at night on other occasions as well.

Ayaka's management says there is no romantic relationship and that another musician, a female violinist, was present at the meeting on Christmas Eve.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

Yoji Yamada's "Kaabee" to compete at Berlin
Thu, January 10, 2008 (5:59am EST)

The 58th Berlin International Film Festival (February 7-17) has revealed several more films for its competition section. Among them is Yoji Yamada's "Kaabee" (also known by its English title "Kabei - Our Mother"), which stars Sayuri Yoshinaga.



The film is Yamada's 4th time in competition at the festival, and his 6th to be screened. Yoshinaga has also been to the festival once, for Tamasaburo Bando's "Yume no Onna" in 1993.

According to distributor Shochiku, Yamada and Yoshinaga will attend the film's screening, along with co-star Tadanobu Asano.



Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

"KIDS" to open in 4 countries
Thu, January 10, 2008 (3:16pm EST)

On Thursday, a press conference was held for the movie "KIDS," directed by Tatsuya Ogishima. It was announced that the movie will open simultaneously in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong on February 2.



Based on Otsuichi's story "Kiz/Kids," the movie stars Teppei Koike, Hiroshi Tamaki, and Chiaki Kuriyama.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

Nagase, Fukuda star in next Arias film
Thu, January 10, 2008 (3:40pm EST)

Director Michael Arias ("Tekkon Kinkreet") is working on a new movie titled "Heaven's Door," based on the 1997 German film "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." TOKIO's Tomoya Nagase and young actress Mayuko Fukuda are co-starring.



The original picture involves two men who both learn that they have an untreatable illness and are nearing death. When one reveals that he has never been to the ocean, they embark on a comical adventure to see the sea.

Arias' version features a young man (Nagase) and a girl (Fukuda) as the protagonists. Like the original, the movie is not meant to be sad, focusing instead on the relationship between the two characters.

The supporting cast includes Tomokazu Miura and Keishi Nagatsuka. Filming already started on the 7th. Theatrical release is scheduled for early 2009.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

Satomi Ishihara to lead revival of Kohei Tsuka play
Thu, January 10, 2008 (5:55pm EST)

"Bakumatsu Junjouden," a popular play by dramatist Kohei Tsuka, is returning to the stage later this year with Tsuka directing. This is his first time directing it in 18 years.



The play, which was turned into a movie in 1991, portrays the Shinsengumi swordsman Okita Soji as actually being a woman. Satomi Ishihara will star in this role, previously played by Riho Makise for the film. Former Takarazuka top star Tsubasa Makoto will plays Sakamoto Ryoma.

Performances will be held at the Shinbashi Enbujo in August.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

Funky Monkey Babys provide "Chuzai-san" song
Thu, January 10, 2008 (6:01pm EST)



Popular group FUNKY MONKEY BABYS will do the theme song for Renpei Tsukamoto's movie "Bokutachi to Chuzai-san no 700 Nichi Senso," which is adapted from a popular blog. The film stars Hayato Ichihara and Kuranosuke Sasaki.

The song's title and release date have not yet been announced. The movie opens on April 5.

Source: www.toykograph.com

whitedove

Kobukuro surpasses Chage and Aska
Thu, January 10, 2008 (6:15pm EST)



Oricon's most recent sales figures show that Kobukuro's "ALL SINGLES BEST" has sold more than 2.71 million copies since its September 2006 release. This makes it the best selling album by a vocal duo, surpassing CHAGE and ASKA's 1992 collection "Super Best II," which sold a little less than 2.70 million.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

"Soredemo" tops Kinema Junpo list
Thu, January 10, 2008 (6:30am EST)



Film magazine Kinema Junpo has announced its Best 10 for 2007. According to the list, the top Japanese film of the year is Masayuki Suo's "Soredemo Boku wa Yattenai," which also won three of the Kinema Junpo Awards: Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor.

The Best 10 domestic films are:

1. Soredemo Boku wa Yattenai
2. Tennen Kokekko
3. Shaberedomo Shaberedomo
4. Sad Vacation
5. Summer Days with Coo
6. Sidecar ni Inu
7. The Matsugane Potshot Affair
8. Tamamoe!
9. Yunagi no Machi, Sakura no Kuni
10. Funuke Domo, Kanashimi no Ai wo Misero

The Best 10 foreign films are:

1. Still Life
2. The Lives of Others
3. A Prairie Home Companion
4. The Queen
5. Babel
6. Irina Palm
7. Dreamgirls
8. Volver
9. Zodiac
10. Pan's Labyrinth

The awards ceremony for the Kinema Junpo Awards will be held on February 5. The winners are:

Best Director: Masayuki Suo
Best Screenplay: Masayuki Suo
Best Actress: Yuko Takeuchi
Best Actor: Ryo Kase
Best Supporting Actress: Hiromi Nagasaku
Best Supporting Actor: Tomokazu Miura
Best New Actress: Misako Renbutsu
Best New Actor: Kento Hayashi
Best Foreign Film Director: Jia Zhangke
Best Cultural Film: Himeyuri

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

Hiroshi Mikami to star in WOWOW's "Pandora"
Fri, January 11, 2008 (5:13am EST)

This spring, WOWOW will broadcast a drama series titled "Pandora." The story, scripted by Yumiko Inoue, revolves around a doctor who discovers a cure for cancer, resulting in political intrigue.



Hiroshi Mikami stars as the doctor. Other cast members include Toshiro Yanagiba, Manami Konishi, and Koji Yamamoto.

The series will last for 8 episodes, airing on Sunday nights starting in April.

whitedove

Gravure idol sisters form pop duo
Fri, January 11, 2008 (4:27pm EST)

Well-endowed gravure idols Mayuka Okada (a K-cup) and Junne (a J-cup) are forming a pop duo called Pink Pie JacK. The two are actually sisters.

Their first release will be a 5-song mini-album titled "Namaiki Koiki," which hits store shelves on February 14.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

Satoshi Ohno gets art exhibit
Fri, January 11, 2008 (5:11pm EST)



Arashi's Satoshi Ohno will have his first personal art exhibition, titled "FREESTYLE," at an art space in Omotesando Hills.

Ohno's talent for art is well known among his fans, and many have been hoping to see his art in person. The exhibit includes approximately 150 works in several forms, such as drawings, figures, photos, and graffiti. It will run from February 21 to 29 and is admission-free.

On February 8, ahead of the exhibit, Ohno's art will be released as a photobook, also titled "FREESTYLE."

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

Vidoll members to appear at MegaCon
Fri, January 11, 2008 (5:25pm EST)



Jhouse-Rock and MegaCon 2008 have announced that two members of Vidoll, Jui and Rame, will be attending the convention as special guests. They will participate in events throughout the weekend.

MegaCon is taking place on March 7-9 in Orlando, Florida.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

Ken Ogata undergoes surgery
Fri, January 11, 2008 (6:02pm EST)



70-year-old actor Ken Ogata successfully underwent surgery recently for a fracture in his spine, it was revealed on Friday.

In autumn of last year, Ogata began experiencing back pain, but he proceeded with his stage performances in October and November. The pain was still present in December, so he had a hospital examination, which found that he was suffering from a vertebral compression fracture. He was soon hospitalized and treated through vertebroplasty.

Ogata commented on his blog that he is scheduled to leave the hospital on Saturday and will begin rehabilitation.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

Kyoko Fukada confirmed as Doronjo in "Yatterman"
Thu, January 10, 2008 (10:16pm EST)



It was rumored in December that actress Kyoko Fukada had been chosen for the part of Doronjo in Takashi Miike's version of "Yatterman." Now the rumor has been confirmed, placing Fukada opposite the Yatterman hero team, played by Sho Sakurai and Saki Fukuda.



Filming is set to begin in March, while release is scheduled for spring 2009. The casting for Doronjo's henchmen has not yet been revealed.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

kannivalism's Ryo hospitalized for depression, activities halted
Fri, January 11, 2008 (4:10pm EST)



Ryo Kodama, the vocalist of rock band kannivalism, has been hospitalized for severe depression, it was learned on Friday. The band's activities have been halted, including a planned tour starting on the 22nd.

Around last September, Kodama began seeing a specialist, but the prescribed medicine apparently had no effect. He was admitted into a hospital on December 20, and his treatment is expected to take a long time.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

Charts: AAA gets first #1, EXILE stays on top
Tue, January 15, 2008 (12:25pm EST)



The Oricon sales charts this week show AAA with their first #1 single, "MIRAGE." It sold 25,000 copies, barely edging out Masato Sugimoto's "Waremokou." Masafumi Akikawa remained at #3.

The duo Yugin entered the charts at #4 with their major-label debut, "Fate," and RAG FAIR's new release "Soshun Rhapsody" ranked 5th.



On the albums chart, Kobukuro's "5296" kept its #1 spot by selling 112,000 copies, putting it in range to reach the million mark this coming week. This is the first album to top the charts for four consecutive weeks since Kumi Koda's "Black Cherry" last year. Kobukuro also took the #8 spot with their "ALL SINGLES BEST."

MISIA was #3 with "EIGHTH WORLD," which sold 71,000 copies. This is her 8th consecutive Top 10 appearance (16th total). One other highlight of the albums chart was Hideaki Tokunaga, who charted with his three "VOCALIST" cover albums (#6, #9, #10).

In music DVDs, AAA scored another victory with their "2nd Anniversary Live -5th ATTACK 070922- at Nippon Budokan," selling 13,000 copies.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

Ryoko Moriyama to release J-pop cover album
Sat, January 12, 2008 (7:06am EST)



Folk/jazz singer Ryoko Moriyama will release a J-pop cover album on March 5. Titled "Shunkashuutou," the album's theme is the four seasons.

The thirteen tracks include covers of songs by Mika Nakashima, Yumi Matsutoya, Southern All Stars, Yosui Inoue, Ayaka, Porno Graffiti, and her own son, Naotaro Moriyama, among others.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

Oshii takes "Shin Onna Tachiguishi Retsuden" to Berlin
Sat, January 12, 2008 (4:59pm EST)

"Shin Onna Tachiguishi Retsuden," an omnibus film directed by Mamoru Oshii and four other directors, has been chosen to participate in the 58th Berlin International Film Festival. It will be screened as part of a festival section themed around food and culture which was created last year.

The movie is a follow-up to Oshii's "Tachiguishi Retsuden" and "Onna Tachiguishi Retsuden," dealing with "fast food grifters" - people who eat at restaurants without paying. It is composed of six stories, starring different actresses such as Yuko Ogura and Miki Mizuno. The film opened in Japan in November.



Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

Anne Suzuki to study in NY
Sun, January 13, 2008 (6:31pm EST)



With Coming of Age Day taking place on Monday, 20-year-old actress Anne Suzuki declared that she hopes to learn English and French by the time she is 30, and is aiming to study abroad.

True to her words, she is traveling to New York later this month and doing language studies there until mid-May. During that time, she will be taking a break from work.

Suzuki is currently a student at Wako University in Tokyo.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

Pakkun Makkun sing a song
Sun, January 13, 2008 (7:13pm EST)



Comedy duo Pakkun Makkun will debut as singers next month with a children's song titled "Sankaku Shikaku Maru Kobicchi". It will appear on NHK's "Minna no Uta" during February and March.

The single goes on sale February 20. It will come with an English version of the song, translated by the American-born Pakkun (whose real name is Patrick Harlan).

Source: www.tokyograph.com