Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part II]

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Erika Sawajiri to have wedding party at Doutor Coffee's farm in Hawaii


Saturday 24th January, 04:50 AM JST



TOKYO

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1,500 fans turn up for AKB48 singer's photo book launch
Monday 26th January, 11:03 AM JST



TOKYO

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High schooler named Miss Nippon
Mon, January 26, 2009 (10:39am EST)

The 2009 Miss Nippon Contest was held in Tokyo on Monday. Chosen from an initial pool of 3,508 contestants, this year's Grand Prix winner was Marino Miyata, a 17-year-old high school student from Tokyo. This is only the fourth time in the competition's 41-year history that a high schooler has won the grand prize.

Meanwhile, the Sponichi Special Prize, chosen through internet voting, went to 19-year-old Yusa Kato, a student at Aichi Shukutoku University. The other prize winners were:
昅iss Kimono: Ran Matsumoto (25)
昅iss Nature: Ayasa Sadahiro (25)
昅iss Marine Day: Yu Ikenaga (20)
昅iss Sky Day: Yayoi Hamachi (24)

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Hiroaki Ogi now a father
Tue, January 27, 2009 (12:44am EST)



Comedian Hiroaki Ogi (of Ogiyahagi) entered fatherhood last week. He announced that his wife, Naho Moriyama, gave birth to a daughter on Friday night.

Ogi and Moriyama have been married since October 2006. Moriyama is also known for being the daughter of Ryoko Moriyama and the sister of Naotaro Moriyama.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Yumi Aso divorced
Tue, January 27, 2009 (1:13am EST)



Actress Yumi Aso (44) has been divorced since last year, it was learned on Monday. The news was revealed in this week's issue of Shukan Josei.

Aso married actor Toshiya Nagasawa (47) in March 2004 when she was already pregnant, and she gave birth to a son that July. They divorced in June 2008, though they had already been living separately before that. Aso was given custody of the child.

Aso's agency declined to provide further details such as the reason for the divorce, but rumors say that Nagasawa was the type to pay more attention to his friends than his family.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Hana Hizuki adds to Takarazuka graduates
Tue, January 27, 2009 (1:38am EST)



Takarazuka top star Hana Hizuki is the latest to announce her intention to leave the troupe. She is the fifth top star planning to graduate this year, along with Kei Aran, Asuka Tono, Yuri Shirahane, and Yuga Yamato.

Hizuki is the current musumeyaku of the Cosmos Troupe, for which Yamato is the otokoyaku. Hizuki made her debut with the Takarazuka Revue in 2000 as part of the Star Troupe, but she transferred to the Cosmos Troupe in 2007.

Hizuki plans to graduate at the same time as Yamato. Their final performances will be in "Bara ni Furu Ame" and "Amour Sore wa...," which will finish up in Tokyo on July 5.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Yonekura returns in "Koshonin" SP
Tue, January 27, 2009 (2:22am EST)



Last winter, actress Ryoko Yonekura starred as a police negotiator in the TV Asahi drama series "Koshonin ~The Negotiator~." The network has announced that the show will be returning in the form of a special episode, scheduled to air on February 28.

Yonekura will of course reprise her role as the negotiator Reiko Usagi. The story this time revolves around a kidnapping case, with one of the highlights said to be an action scene in which Yonekura jumps onto a medical emergency helicopter.

During its initial broadcast, "Koshonin" averaged ratings of 13.4% over its 8 episodes.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Kishidan returns under Avex
Tue, January 27, 2009 (2:57am EST)



Rock band Kishidan has announced that they are resuming activity with two concerts at Nippon Budokan on April 25 and 26. These will be their first performances since playing in Yamanashi in August 2006.

Kishidan is establishing an official fan club on February 1. The band further revealed that they are no longer signed with EMI Music Japan, as they are now affiliated with Avex. DJ OZMA, the alter ego of Kishidan leader Show Ayanocozey (Sho Ayanokoji), also moved from EMI to Avex in September.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Tempters drummer Hiroshi Oguchi dies of cancer
Tue, January 27, 2009 (3:27am EST)



Musician Hiroshi Oguchi died at a Tokyo hospital on Sunday night, succumbing to liver cancer. He was 58. Oguchi had repeatedly been in and out of the hospital for cirrhosis for some time. About a year ago, he underwent surgery to remove the cancer, and he had been seriously fighting his illness since then.

Oguchi is best known as the drummer of the band The Tempters, one of the top acts of the Group Sounds era. He later became a member of the bands PYG and Vodka Collins, and he eventually extended his career into acting and fashion design.

Oguchi married actress Kimie Shingyoji (49) in 1983. The following year, he was found guilty of marijuana possession, though he received a suspended sentence. The couple gave birth to a son named Gento in 1986, who is currently active as a musician. In 1991, Oguchi's fashion company went bankrupt, prompting Shingyoji's return to show business. In 1997, Shingyoji even released a nude photo collection shot by Oguchi. Despite their persistence through 22 years of marriage, they eventually divorced in 2005 largely due to financial reasons.

As an actor, Oguchi had roles in several dramas and films, including "Kita no Zeronen" and "Japan Sinks" His last job was in Yasutomo Nakai's movie "Kafu wo Machiwabite," which is scheduled to open on February 28. He had been fairly healthy when he played the role of a doctor during filming last April.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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JELLY drummer sentenced to seven years
Tue, January 27, 2009 (11:07am EST)

Kohei Shimizu (29), the drummer of now-defunct rock band JELLY, has been sentenced to seven years in prison. The ruling was handed down in Tokyo District Court on Tuesday, during the case's first hearing.

Shimizu admitted to the charges against him. In November, he was arrested for abduction and forced indecency. On September 9, he had stopped his car on a residential road in Tokyo's Suginami ward. He grabbed a nine-year-old girl by the arm and forced her into the back seat of the car. After taking pictures of her chest and molesting her for roughly five minutes, Shimizu released the girl. The crime, which took place in the afternoon, was discovered through a neighborhood surveillance camera.

During questioning, Shimizu stated that he had been interested in young girls ever since he was in high school. He said that he knew he was committing a crime but that he was unable to stop himself.

Shimizu's lawyer is appealing for leniency. A final decision is expected to be made on February 12.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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9nine becomes five
Wed, January 28, 2009 (12:24am EST)



Idol group 9nine, which has had only 8 members since the removal of Rubi Kato two years ago, is now shrinking to a total of five. Midori Yamaoka, Mai Yoshida, and Marie Ashida will graduate from the group on March 27 with a final concert at Harajuku's Astro Hall.

The concert will be split into two halves. The first half is the last performance featuring all 8 members, while the second half is the first performance by the new 5-member lineup.

Yamaoka, Yoshida, and Ashida are said to each be continuing with a new path, though no specific plans have yet been announced.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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A "Chance" for Maki Horikita
Wed, January 28, 2009 (2:10am EST)



Young actress Maki Horikita will star in a two-part drama special on Fuji TV titled "Chance! Kanojo ga Seikou $hita Riyuu," described as a comical success story. The show will also feature Hitori Gekidan and Meisa Kuroki.



Horikita plays a 22-year-old who struggles to find a job, finally landing one at a travel company. Kuroki plays a career woman at the same firm who happens to have the same last name. One day, they mistakenly take each other's cell phones, and as a result, Horikita's character ends up having to give a critical presentation. This becomes her "chance" at success.

Fuji TV will broadcast the drama at 11:10pm on March 7 and March 14.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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"Akumu no Elevator" adapted to film
Wed, January 28, 2009 (12:22pm EST)

"Akumu no Elevator," written by actor/author Hanta Kino$hita, is being turned into a movie. The suspense comedy, which is based on the first installment of Kino$hita's popular "Akumu series," will be the directorial debut of actor Keisuke Horibe.



The story unfolds in a stopped elevator, where four men and women are trapped. Masaaki Uchino has been given the lead role. Filming already finished at the end of last year, and theatrical release has been scheduled for this coming fall.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Rock band DOES appears in "Crows Zero" sequel
Wed, January 28, 2009 (12:23pm EST)

Rock trio DOES will have a part in the movie "Crows ZERO II." Their song "Torch Lighter" (on sale April 8) is being used in the film, and they will even play the song on-screen in one scene. This is the first time they have written music for a movie, as well as their first movie appearance.

"Crows ZERO II," which is the sequel to 2007's hit movie "Crows ZERO," opens on April 11.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Mami Nomura marries producer
Thu, January 29, 2009 (1:19am EST)



Actress Mami Nomura (44) announced on her official blog that she is married. Her husband is a producer that she met five years ago through work, though she did not reveal his identity. The pair tied the knot at the start of this year.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Graceful Woman Award
Thu, January 29, 2009 (1:39am EST)

On Tuesday, the presentation ceremony for the Graceful Woman Award was held in Tokyo. Based on a survey run by Swiss fashion brand Akris, the awards are presented to female celebrities recognized for their grace and elegance.



Prizes were given in six categories: Ryoko Yonekura (30s), Hitomi Kuroki (40s), Keiko Matsuzaka (50s), Sayuri Yoshinaga (60s), Christel Takigawa (newscaster), and Shizuka Arakawa (athlete). Yoshinaga and Arakawa were both absent due to their work schedule.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Charts: Mai Kuraki, TVXQ
Wed, January 28, 2009 (2:56am EST)



Mai Kuraki's latest album, "touch Me!," sold 50,000 copies this past week to take #1 on the albums chart. Her last #1 was four albums ago, in 2003. The popular singer has seen all 30 of her singles reach the top ten, and she hopes to extend that streak in April when she releases the double A-side "PUZZLE / Revive." "PUZZLE" is being used as the theme for the upcoming "Detective Conan" movie, while "Revive" is the current opening theme for the "Detective Conan" series.

The rest of the top ten on the albums chart saw new releases from May'n at #2 and Sakanaction at #8.



On the singles chart, TVXQ scored their fourth consecutive #1 with 89,000 copies sold of their triple A-side "Bolero / Kiss the Baby Sky / Wasurenaide." "Bolero" is being used as a theme song for the movie "Subaru." Meisa Kuroki, who stars in the film, is featured on the single's jacket.

Nana Mizuki's newest song came in at #2, while Buono! and Motohiro Hata entered at #4 and #5, respectively. Also in the top ten were visual kei band D (#6), ALI PROJECT (#9), and the latest "Minami-ke" single (#10).

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Kitamura, Iwai create animated film
Thu, January 29, 2009 (2:16am EST)

Twitch reports that directors Ryuhei Kitamura and Shunji Iwai have teamed up to create a 50-minute animated film titled "Baton." The movie, commissioned for the 150th birthday of Yokohama, combines traditional rotoscope animation with 2D and 3D effects.

Kitamura is directing while Iwai is producing. Although the film is produced entirely in Japanese, the project is animated in the U.S. under the supervision of Mark Brooks at Studio Titmouse. It is also said that that some famous Japanese actors are involved.

The film is apparently getting a limited release in Japan from April 29 to September 27.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Four Leaves' Aoyama dies of cancer
Thu, January 29, 2009 (3:52am EST)



Takashi Aoyama, the lead vocalist of the boy band Four Leaves, died on Wednesday morning. He was 57. Aoyama, whose real name was Takayuki Shiro$hita, had been battling liver cancer since he was diagnosed with it in late October 2008.

Four Leaves was one of the earliest acts produced by Johnny's Jimusho. The four-member group first formed in 1967 and made their record debut the following year. They disbanded in 1978, but they reunited in 2002.

Last April, the group started a nationwide tour that was scheduled to end on March 29 of this year. After discovering his cancer, Aoyama insisted on continuing with the concerts while receiving medical treatment. The band had planned to put their activities on hold right after completing the tour. Unfortunately, his final show was on January 10. The remaining members will finish the tour as planned.

In 1977, Aoyama married talento Jun Shimada, whom he had two children with. He later divorced Shimada and married his second wife Megumi (42) in 1997. They gave birth to a daughter, who turned 10 on January 19.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Arashi transforms into Tatsunoko heroes
Thu, January 29, 2009 (3:15am EST)



The animated PV for Arashi's next single, "Believe," is a collaboration with animation studio Tatsunoko. The collaboration is linked to the upcoming live-action movie based on Tatsunoko's "Yatterman" franchise, which stars Arashi member Sho Sakurai and uses "Believe" as its theme song.

In the music video, each of the five Arashi members will "transform" into a character from a different Tatsunoko series. Sakurai will obviously take on the role of Yatterman No. 1. The other shows being used are "Yattodetaman" (Kazunari Ninomiya), "Time Bokan" (Satoshi Ohno), "Otasukeman" (Masaki Aiba), and "Zenderman" (Jun Matsumoto).

The "Yatterman" movie opens on March 7. "Believe" goes on sale as a CD single on March 4, the same day the PV becomes available through media site Dwango. A live-action music video for "Believe" is also being made.

Source: www.tokyograph.com