Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part II]

whitedove · Post time 4-2-2009 06:23 PM

Televiews - TV Detectives

January 31, 2009 by J!-ENT

The following is an excerpt from Wm. Penn抯揟eleviews

whitedove · Post time 4-2-2009 06:25 PM

Olympic marathon gold medalist Takahashi to become TV anchorwoman

Saturday 31st January, 05:04 AM JST

TOKYO

whitedove · Post time 4-2-2009 06:27 PM

Aya Ueto unveils her lineup of wedding dresses

Saturday 31st January, 05:10 AM JST

TOKYO

whitedove · Post time 4-2-2009 06:27 PM

Disney hugs make actress Horikita grin

Sunday 01st February, 05:05 AM JST

TOKYO

whitedove · Post time 4-2-2009 06:28 PM

Naomi Kawashima takes part in Bulgarian wine tasting party

Sunday 01st February, 05:15 AM JST

TOKYO

whitedove · Post time 4-2-2009 06:29 PM

Yumi Matsutoya becomes voice of Yubari
Mon, February 2, 2009 (2:25am EST)

Singer Yumi Matsutoya has been chosen to provide the image song for this year's Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival. Although this is the festival's 19th celebration, it is the first time that an image song has been commissioned.

The song's title is "Mazu wa Doko e Ikou." It will be included on Matsutoya's forthcoming album "So$hite Mou Ichido Yume Miru Darou," which is scheduled for release this spring.

The film festival opens on February 26 and runs until March 2.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 4-2-2009 06:29 PM

Rei Yoshii stars in daytime series "Egoist"
Mon, February 2, 2009 (2:43am EST)

Next season, Fuji TV will broadcast a daytime drama series called "Egoist," starring Rei Yoshii. The show is being produced by Tokai TV for its "Dorodoro Geki" time slot (weekdays 1:30pm-2:00pm), and will mark the station's 45th anniversary. "Egoist" will be their 179th series for that time slot.

The story is set in the world of show business. Yoshii plays the stylist for a successful actress named Reiko (played by newlywed Naomi Kawashima). Mao Miyaji plays Yoshii's younger sister, an actress in a small troupe who holds Reiko in high regard. When she realizes that Reiko and her older sister have some past secret, she sees an opportunity to boost her own career by spreading lies.

Most "Dorodoro Geki" series in the past lasted three months, but "Egoist" is scheduled for only two months. It begins airing on April 6.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 4-2-2009 06:30 PM

Horipro's Saki Momose wins Push 1 idol contest
Mon, February 2, 2009 (3:36am EST)

On Saturday, the idol audition event Push 1 was held in Tokyo. The contest, organized by Yasushi Akimoto, gathered young idols from 16 different talent agencies, having them compete against each other in a tournament-style format.

The eventual grand prize winner turned out to be 15-year-old Saki Momose, representing Horipro. Her performances included breaking boards with her bare hands, a baton twirling display, and a rendition of "Yeah! Meccha Holiday." In the finals, she won with a comedy skit borrowed from The Drifters. For her victory, Momose earned 1 million yen and a deal with portal site MSN.

The runner-up was the twin act of 21-year-olds Anna and Reina Aoi, representing Blue Rose. They were one of two duos entered in the competition. Meanwhile, American-born 14-year-old Mayu Kawamoto (from the agency JUNES) received the special Microsoft Award.

The Push 1 event also served as the official debut of AKB Idoling!!!, a collaborative unit formed from members of AKB48 and Idoling!!!

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 4-2-2009 06:31 PM

Naomi Kawashima finally ties the knot
Mon, February 2, 2009 (1:59am EST)

Actress Naomi Kawashima (48) just got married on Sunday. She has been engaged to the famous pastry chef Toshi Yoroizuka (43) since November 2007. They finally decided to register their marriage on February 1 in memory of their first date a few years ago.

The two plan to hold their wedding ceremony at a church in Tuscany, Italy, in early June. It will be followed by a "gourmet" reception in Tokyo on June 23, where the couple plan to have several top chefs as guests.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 4-2-2009 06:32 PM

22 members of the Hello! Project troupe held an emotional "graduation ceremony" concert at Yokohama Arena yesterday. Among those leaving the nest are Matsuura Aya (22), Nakazawa Yuko (35) and Abe Natsumi (27). Amongst the huge troupe that has produced 78 idol singers, the first and most famous group is Morning Musume, who held their debut concert at the same arena in 1998. Nakazawa and Abe were among that original lineup, which has changed countless times over the last 11 years. They have since gone on to other groups, such as Melon Kinenbi and Country Musume, or pursued solo singing or acting careers but have remained part of the Hello! Project. With the departure of the 22, the troupe's average age drops from 18 to 15.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove · Post time 4-2-2009 06:32 PM

Actor Sugawara Bunta (73) said on his Nippon Housou radio show yesterday that he recently won a battle against cancer. He was diagnosed with cancer of the bladder in 2007 and underwent radiation and chemotherapy treatment that allowed him to avoid having an organ transplant. He said he was delighted with the treatment, which led to a complete recovery and allowed him to continue working.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove · Post time 4-2-2009 06:34 PM

Popular manga-ka Toriyama Akira has been commissioned to draw an illustration of J-pop queen Hamasaki Ayumi (30) for her latest single. The connection of course is that "Rule" is the theme song for the global release of "Dragonball," the Hollywood adaptation of Toriyama's mega-popular manga. The first pressing of the single will be printed with the image of Hamasaki as the character Goku on both the CD and an accompanying DVD. It is the first time for Toriyama to create an original illustration for a recording artist. He said, "Actually I'm really not good at caricatures, and for a while I regretted taking on this job. Hamasaki-san has so many fans and I hope they don't get angry that the image doesn't resemble her!" Called "Dragonball Evolution" for its Japan release, the movie opens here on March 13. The double-A side single "Rule/Sparkle" goes on sale February 25.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove · Post time 4-2-2009 06:35 PM

Actor Takahashi Hideki (64) revealed yesterday that he was recently hospitalized with a broken back. Appearing with his wife Mieko (60) at an award ceremony in Tokyo, he said he slipped on an icy road while filming a drama in Fukushima on January 14. He injured his back and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was diagnosed with a broken lumbar vertebra. The next day he was transferred to a hospital in Tokyo, which he left only last weekend. At yesterday's event, where he and his wife were named as Best Cruise Couple for 2009, he said he was wearing a corset and his injury wuld take about three months to heal. He heads back to Fukushima on February 20 to continue filming the TV Tokyo detective drama series "Sousa Kenji - Chikamatsu Shigemichi."

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove · Post time 4-2-2009 06:35 PM

The NTV network yesterday said that they will be further reducing the number of live terrestrial broadcasts of Yomiuri Giants games in the upcoming baseball season. The number of broadcasts, once staple viewing for families across the nation, will be cut by 16 to 26 games including the opening three games of the season and those against perennial rival the Hanshin Tigers. Baseball in general has seen declining TV audiences over the last few years, with the Giants in particular losing their once overwhelming appeal, and falling ratings have made it harder to attract advertising. The number of games to be shown on NTV's satellite channels will be increased. NTV is under the same corporate umbrella as the Yomiuri team.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove · Post time 4-2-2009 06:36 PM

Talento Hazama Kampei (59) posted a video entry to his blog yesterday to mark his crossing of the International Dateline in the Pacific Ocean. He recently embarked on a walk around the world, crossing the oceans by yacht. The endeavor is expected to take up to three years, though Hazama has considerable experience of long-distance endurance events. He expects to reach land in Los Angeles at the end of this month or early March.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove · Post time 4-2-2009 06:36 PM

KANJANI8 YASUDA SHOTA "Too bad" for not having a love scene

Yasuda Shota (24) of Kanjani8 held a press conference in Tokyo today for his butai "Kagotsurube" (March 16-31, Tokyo Aoyama Theatre) in which he takes the lead role for the first time.

The butai is based on the famous Kabuki act "Kagotsurube satono eizame." Yoshiwara is the scene of the sad man who was possessed by the light of a mysterious sword. In the story, there is a part where Oiran (played by Fujisawa Ema) gently gives the man a kiss, but the stage director said that there will be no love scene. "That's too bad, haha" said Yasuda.

Fujisawa Ema, Kazama Shunsuke and Nishioka Tokuma also appeared in the press conference. The Osaka shows will be held from April 16-19.

translated by: paaaaan@LJ