Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part II]

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Satomi Ishihara appears with wrestler Masahiro Chono in Suntory TV commercial

Tuesday 03rd February, 01:39 PM JST



TOKYO

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"Shibatora" SP slated for spring
Tue, February 3, 2009 (12:20am EST)



The popular Fuji TV drama series "Shibatora," which starred Teppei Koike as a baby-faced cop working in the juvenile division, will be returning to television. During a DVD release event on Monday, it was announced that a two-hour special is scheduled to air sometime this spring.

Filming started on Tuesday. Naohito Fujiki, Miki Maya, and Suzuka Ohgo are among the returning cast members.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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First starring stage play for Kanjani8's Yasuda
Tue, February 3, 2009 (1:12am EST)



A press conference was held on Monday for "Kagotsurube," the first stage play starring Kanjani8 member Shota Yasuda. Written and directed by Nobuhiro Mouri, the play recounts the Edo-era tale of Jirozaemon and the mystical sword Kagotsurube.



Ema Fujisawa, Shunsuke Kazama, and Tokuma Nishioka have also been cast in the play. Performances will run at the Aoyama Theatre in Tokyo from March 16 to March 31.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Nozomi Tsuji starts producing babywear
Tue, February 3, 2009 (1:52am EST)



Former Morning Musume member Nozomi Tsuji returned to the stage this past weekend for the Elder Club graduation concerts in Yokohama, her first performances since marrying actor Taiyo Sugiura in 2007. On Monday, she announced that she is starting work again - not as a singer, but as a clothing producer.

Tsuji is collaborating with the Osaka-based shop Akachan Honpo, which deals with baby products. She is involved in producing baby apparel and other goods, including T-shirts, under the brand name Baby & Ribbon. The items will go on sale in early March, available through Akachan Honpo and Ito-Yokado stores.

Tsuji has been a mother since November 2007. As a result, she became interested in designing children's clothes, and she accepted an offer from Akachan Honpo last summer.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Koreeda's next film is "Kuuki Ningyou"
Tue, February 3, 2009 (1:28am EST)

Renowned director Hirokazu Koreeda has just finished filming for his new movie, "Kuuki Ningyou." The film is based on the manga of the same name by Yoshiie Goda, a romantic fantasy about a vinyl doll that begins to experience human emotions.



It has been known since last year that the starring actress is Korean talent Bae Doona, known for playing the lead in Nobuhiro Yama$hita's "Linda Linda Linda" in 2004. The male lead is ARATA ("Ping Pong," "Hebi ni Piasu"), who plays a young man working at a video rental shop.

"Kuuki Ningyou" is expected to be released in theaters next fall.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Actress Jun Ishikawa talks about bullying when she was younger and living in Rome

February 3, 2009 by J!-ENT



Mainichi Daily News reported:

Jun Ichikawa, a Japanese actress who grew up here, has emerged as a heroine in a popular Italian TV drama series. Hers is a success story in which she reveals that acting helped her overcome her bitter experiences early in life: bullying and anorexia.

揑 moved to Rome at the age of eight with my opera singing parents,

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World premiere of 'Plastic City' movie set for March 14 in Tokyo

Wednesday 04th February, 04:10 AM JST

TOKYO

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Moe Oshikiri visits Rakuten baseball camp in Okinawa

Wednesday 04th February, 10:29 AM JST



OKINAWA

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New projects from Ellegarden members
Wed, February 4, 2009 (2:24am EST)



With vocalist Takeshi Hosomi going solo and guitarist Shinichi Ubukata announcing a new band last month, news has now rolled in regarding the other two members of the on-hiatus rock band ELLEGARDEN.

Bassist Yuichi Takada has formally joined the metal band MEANING, which includes U.K.L. vocalist Hayato Hidaka. Originally formed in 2004, the band's previous bassist Mami quit the group at the end of last year. Takada's first official show with MEANING was on Sunday.

Meanwhile, drummer Hirotaka Takahashi recently formed a new group called Scars Borough. Besides Takahashi, the group features vocalist KYOKO and bassist MARCH (both from minimal Hugg), along with Shin Hongo of THE TRANSFORMER. The band's first mini-album goes on sale April 22.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Oricon: favorite TV host
Wed, February 4, 2009 (2:25am EST)



Oricon recently surveyed a pool of 1,200 people, asking them to name their favorite television emcee. At #1 was talento Shinsuke Shimada, whose current hosting duties include the hit show "Quiz! Hexagon II." The next most popular choices were Tamori and SMAP's Masahiro Nakai.

   1. Shinsuke Shimada
   2. Tamori
   3. Masahiro Nakai (SMAP)
   4. Sanma Akashiya
   5. Minomonta
   6. Hitoshi Kusano
   7. Koji Imada
   8. Downtown
   9. Shinya Ueda
  10. Kazuo Tokumitsu

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Diamond Yukai prepares for second marriage
Wed, February 4, 2009 (3:15am EST)



Rock singer and actor Diamond Yukai (46) announced on his blog that he is getting hitched again. On January 7, he plans to register his marriage with an OL said to be in her 30s. There are currently no plans for a formal wedding ceremony, however.

According to a close source, Yukai first met the woman two years ago. The pair began living together about a year later, though they plan to move soon to a new house that is currently under construction.

Yukai, who is better known as the former vocalist of the rock band RED WARRIORS, was previously married to actress Rieko Miura (35). Their marriage lasted from 1997 to 2001.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Takeshi Kitayama headed for marriage with Saburo Kitajima's daughter
Wed, February 4, 2009 (4:01am EST)



On Tuesday, enka singer Takeshi Kitayama (34) attended a public setsubun ceremony in Tokyo along with his mentor, Saburo Kitajima. During the event, he boldly announced to the crowd that he is in a serious relationship with Kitajima's second daughter, Satoko (35).

Satoko currently works for the music management agency that Kitajima operates. Kitayama met her during the eight-year period that he served as Kitajima's attendant, which involved duties such as maintaining the Kitajimas' yard and taking care of the family dog. Their romance started when she treated his hand after it was injured by a lawn mower. At first, their relationship was a secret from the family, but Kitayama eventually gained the father's approval about three years ago.

Although there are no formal plans yet for marriage, Kitajima openly gave his blessings to the couple. It is now expected that a wedding awaits in the near future.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Charts: KinKi Kids, Kumi Koda
Wed, February 4, 2009 (2:57am EST)



Popular duo KinKi Kids extended a world record this week with their 28th single, "Yakusoku." 171,000 units of the CD were sold in its first week, propelling it to #1 on the charts. This further cements their Guinness World Record of having the most consecutive number-one singles starting with the artist's debut. They also have improved their Oricon record of most consecutive years with a number-one single (13).

GReeeeN ranked in at #2, selling 72,000 copies of their new single, "Ayumi." While Junko Akimoto remained on the charts at #3, the rest of the top ten were all new releases: Kazuya Yoshii, Kaela Kimura, Gackt, Miliyah Kato, MUCC, Yui Horie, and Watarirouka Hashiritai.



On the albums chart, Kumi Koda emerged victorious with 253,000 in sales for her seventh release, "TRICK." It is her third consecutive original album to top the charts.

Trailing far behind Koda was Miho Fukuhara at #2 with 45,000 in sales. TERIYAKI BOYZ managed #3 with "Serious Japanese," which is scheduled to get a U.S. release next month. Kiyoharu (#5) and FLOW (#7) also entered the top ten with their new albums.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Popular rakugo veteran Katsura Utamaru (72) was rushed to a Yokohama hospital on Monday. He was diagnosed with pulmonary emphysema and told he would need to take at least a week's total rest. As he was scheduled to attend a rakugo event in Tokyo on Monday evening, he tried to leave the hospital with an IV drip. Doctors refused to let him leave saying he would endanger his life. He asked fellow rakugo-ka Sanyutei Koyuza (61) to attend the event in his place. He is expected to recover in time to film the February 14 edition of NHK's "Shoten," the rakugo show for which he is the emcee.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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Talento Yamamoto Mona (32) just can't seem to shake off that erotic image, as she showed a bit more skin than she planned at a PR event yesterday. On the comeback trail after an affair last year with a married baseball star almost derailed her career, she needs to avoid anything too scandalous. Her recent revelation that she's in a serious relationship with a handsome - and single - property investor had the media speculating that maybe she's ready to settle down. So the audience was abuzz when she was announced as a surprise guest at a preview screening of the movie "Defiance" in Tokyo yesterday. Starring Daniel Craig, it's a WWII story about Jews banding together to resist the Nazis, a suitably serious theme for the new Mona and maybe why she wore a knee-length dress rather than the miniskirts she's favored recently. But as she raised a sheet of paper to read out her speech, it got caught in her dress and flashed her shapely thighs. A practical joke by the gods of the entertainment world, perhaps. After the event, Mona was coy when reporters asked about her wedding plans and whether her boyfriend had proposed. But she made it clear that their relationship was headed in that direction.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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Ai Iijima died of pneumonia, foul play ruled out

February 4, 2009 by J!-ENT



The autopsy performed by the Tokyo Medical Examiner抯 Office has shown that TV talent (and former adult star) Ai Iijima (36) has shown that she died from pneumonia and foul play has been ruled out.

Iijima was found on December 24th by a friend who was worried for her. Iijima was said to have died a week before she was found.

Source: www.nt2099.com/J-ENT

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Eiko Koike promotes cotton industry

Wednesday 04th February, 05:58 PM JST

By Taro Fujimoto



TOKYO

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Koyuki and Haruka Ayase unveil Panasonic抯 new flat screen TVs

Thursday 05th February, 04:26 AM JST

Source:

TOKYO

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Issei Ishida dismissed for two-timing scandal
Thu, February 5, 2009 (1:54am EST)



Actor Issei Ishida (34) has just been let go by his management agency, it was learned on Wednesday.

It was recently reported in the media that Ishida was guilty of dating two women at the same time. He had been romantically linked to actress Chiharu Kawai (35) since 2007, but it turns out that he was also carrying on a relationship with another woman, who was a childhood friend. In addition, that woman had become pregnant and subsequently had an abortion.

Before the scandal broke, Ishida had been in talks with his agency to renew his contract. After the news surfaced, he was put on indefinite suspension, but his agency ultimately decided at the end of January to cancel his contract.

When asked about his plans from now on, Ishida said that he is not sure yet. However, he also stated that he is not considering leaving show business.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Mai Hoshimura announces "Piano & Best"
Thu, February 5, 2009 (2:11am EST)



Mai Hoshimura has announced the release of her first best album, scheduled to go on sale March 11. Titled "PIANO & BEST," the collection consists of two discs - one will feature tunes sung to her own piano accompaniment, while the other will include all of her singles to date. One new song is being recorded for each disc. The DVD that comes with the first press edition will be her first to include live concert footage.

After the album's release, Hoshimura reportedly plans to hold several free concerts throughout Japan.

Source: www.tokyograph.com