Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part II]

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Oricon: wonderful smiles
Thu, February 5, 2009 (2:31am EST)



Oricon conducted a poll of a thousand men and women, asking them which celebrities they feel have a wonderful smile. Actor Satoshi Tsumabuki ranked #1 on the list of men, while actress Aoi Miyazaki topped the list of women.

Men:

   1. Satoshi Tsumabuki
   2. Teppei Koike
   3. Masaharu Fukuyama
   4. Yusuke Kamiji
   5. Hiroshi Tamaki
   6. Ryo Ishikawa
   7. Hiro Mizushima
   8. Ryuta Sato
   9. Takuya Kimura (SMAP)
  10. Sanma Akashiya

Women:

   1. Aoi Miyazaki
   2. Aya Ueto
   3. Becky
   4. Yui Aragaki
   5. Masami Nagasawa
   6. Saki Aibu
   7. Haruka Ayase
   8. Yukie Nakama
   9. Yu Aoi
  10. Suzanne

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Oricon: Valentine chocolates
Thu, February 5, 2009 (3:05am EST)

With Valentine's Day less than two weeks away, Oricon has taken a look at the tradition of women giving chocolates to men. 500 women in their teens and 20s were asked a few questions on the subject:

Which music artist do you want to give chocolates to?



   1. Masaharu Fukuyama
   2. HYDE (L'Arc~en~Ciel)
      DAIGO (BREAKERZ)
   4. Koichi Domoto (KinKi Kids)
   5. Kazutoshi Sakurai

Which actor do you want to give chocolates to?



   1. Hiro Mizushima
   2. Takeru Sato
   3. Hiroshi Tamaki
   4. Haruma Miura
   5. Kenichi Matsuyama

Which comedian do you want to give chocolates to?



   1. Yoshimi Tokui
   2. Toshiaki Kasuga
   3. Satoshi Inoue
      Satoshi Kanada
   5. Mitsunori Fukuda

What song do you want to go along with your chocolates?

   1. "Chocolate Disco" - Perfume
   2. "Valentine Kiss" - Sayuri Kokusho
   3. "CHE.R.RY" - YUI
   4. "LOVE LOVE LOVE" - Dreams Come True
   5. "Daisuki da yo" - Ai Otsuka

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Singer YUKI pregnant
Thu, February 5, 2009 (12:58am EST)



Singer YUKI (36), formerly a member of rock band Judy and Mary, has announced through her official website that she is expecting a child soon. She is currently in her seventh month of pregnancy, and is scheduled to give birth in May.

YUKI has been married to musician YO-KING (of Magokoro Brothers) since September 2000. They gave birth to a son in 2003, but he unfortunately passed away less than two years later. In August 2006, YUKI gave birth to another son.

YUKI said that her and her child's health take priority over her music, so she will be taking work at an easy pace for now.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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TELEVIEWS / After 56 years, what does the future hold for terrestrial TV?

Wm. Penn / Daily Yomiuri Columnist

TV Asahi and Fuji TV are in the midst of numerous festivities to celebrate their 50th anniversaries this winter, but is the party almost over for terrestrial TV networks?

NHK aired the first Japanese TV broadcast Feb. 1, 1953. NTV entered the game in August, 1953 and TBS arrived in 1955. In 1959, the year Crown Prince Akihito--now the Emperor--married Michiko Shoda, Fuji, TV Asahi, NHK-Educational and a host of regional broadcasting companies all went on air. But how many private broadcasters will survive until age 60?

Further indication of the rising anxiety in the TV industry came in the Jan. 31 edition of the Weekly Toyo Keizai magazine, which devoted more than 30 pages to an analysis of the problems broadcast and print media face. It even included a prediction that if advertising continues to decline, only two or three of the five major private networks might survive.

With quality, ratings, advertising and company profits all in decline, that prediction could very well come true someday. Still, I can't feel much sympathy for the TV industry considering the way they have treated the viewing public over the last decade. They have tossed a rubbish barrel of programming at us and presided over a gross lowering of standards that has caused a whole new generation of viewers to be raised on a diet of the most vapid junk TV. Like junk food, it numbs the tastebuds and after a while, one can no longer appreciate delicate flavors and more hearty, healthy fare.



A perfect example is Fuji's 50th anniversary offering Arifureta Kiseki (Thursdays, 10 p.m.). Starring Japan's top actress Yukie Nakama, with a strong cast and sensitive story by renowned scriptwriter Taichi Yamada, it should have been assured of top-10 ratings, but it has already fallen off the charts. So long fed the junk food, viewers no longer seem to have the patience for serious, thoughtful, somewhat slow-moving dramas with careful characterization. Such dramas are fighting an uphill battle nowadays in the new three-"M" world where only mysteries, manga-remakes and medical tales can earn passing ratings.

Another reason I don't feel sorry for the networks is that while they compete wildly with each other, they have let two powerful entertainment industry mega-companies--Johnny's Jimusho and Yoshimoto Kogyo--rule the TV world. Just how powerful this stranglehold is was evident in the Jan. 31-Feb. 6 edition of TV Guide. The magazine debuted back in August 1962 and celebrated its 2,500th issue by presenting a tally of the 20 entertainers who have graced its cover most often. SMAP and Kinki Kids tied for first place with 38 covers each. Individually, SMAP member Takuya Kimura appeared on 34, Shingo Katori on 33, Masahiro Nakai on 27 and Tsuyoshi Kusanagi on 24. (Don't know what happened to poor Goro Inagaki. He was not even in the top 20.) Tsuyoshi and Koichi Domoto of Kinki Kids had 23 and 16 covers, respectively, while Tokio's Tomoya Nagase appeared on 24. Arashi and Kat-tun both had 18 and Hideaki Takizawa 17. Thus, Johnny's talents have accounted for almost 40 percent of the approximately 800 covers since 1995, when SMAP first appeared. And that is just a tally of those who made the top 20. Add in other Johnny's groups and celebrities and the figure probably comes closer to 50 percent.

It may be easier for the networks to deal with several big companies, but it makes for pretty homogenized entertainment choices for the public. In slow but steadily growing numbers, viewers have responded by taking flight and soaring into satellite TV territory. By the end of December, 2008, Sky Perfect JSAT Corp. had reached 4,290,123 subscribers. That's about 800,000 more than five years ago. The trend is likely to continue or even spurt ahead now that the broadcaster have announced that it air all 64 FIFA World Cup South Africa soccer matches in 2010.

Once viewers are lost to satellite TV, it's hard to bring them back down to earth too. Once hooked on hanryu (South Korean wave) romances and historical dramas on satellite TV, what would induce them to return to predictable local dramas? The wide variety of TV magazines specializing in South Korean dramas attests to the fact hanryu has become a niche industry in the Japanese TV market that's not going away any time soon.

It's hard to find statistics to calculate just how many viewers terrestrial TV is losing to satellite broadcasts, but the change is probably most measurable in baseball ratings. Terrestrial TV baseball ratings have declined dramatically in the last few years and are often well below 10 percent. But why would true baseball fans watch late-starting, early-ending, CM-ridden games featuring a few of the most popular teams when they can follow their own favorite team on satellite nightly with minimal interruptions?

In a battle for survival, every team needs a strategy. To win back their viewers and their advertisers, the networks need a new game plan and quick. Next week, Televiews offers one.
(Feb. 6, 2009)

Source: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/arts/20090206TDY16004.htm

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Aya Ueto introduces 12th National Beauty Girl Contest

Thursday 05th February, 03:00 PM JST



TOKYO

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2009 Elan d'or Awards
Fri, February 6, 2009 (1:18am EST)



The 2009 Elan d'or Awards, sponsored by the All Nippon Producers Association, were presented in Tokyo on Thursday. The highlight of the ceremony was the newcomer awards, given to six young celebrities: Eita, Meisa Kuroki, Erika Toda, Shota Matsuda, Haruma Miura, and Aoi Miyazaki.



"Okuribito" won the prize for best film, while "Atsuhime" was chosen as best drama. The respective producers of those works, Toshiaki Nakazawa and Motohiko Sano, earned Best Producer honors. Producers Masaaki Wakasugi, Junichi Kozuki, and Motohiro Matsumoto received honorable mention awards.



Special prizes were given to the late director Kon Ichikawa and the late actor Ken Ogata.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Takashi Miike joins cast of "Tenchijin"
Fri, February 6, 2009 (1:51am EST)



Popular director Takashi Miike is set to make his debut as a television drama actor. He will appear in NHK's taiga drama "Tenchijin," which features several stars he has worked with before, such as lead actor Satoshi Tsumabuki, Shun Oguri, and Kyoko Fukada.

Miike will have a semi-regular role in the series, starting with the 6th episode on February 8. He plays a retainer to Uesugi Kagetora (Tetsuji Tamayama). It is said that he will have a sword fight scene with Tsumabuki during the series.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Exile's USA debuts in stage play 'Hebihimesama'

Friday 06th February, 05:43 AM JST



TOKYO

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Ichihara, Ueto cast in animated film "Baton"
Fri, February 6, 2009 (2:59am EST)



A PR event for the Port of Yokohama's 150th birthday was held on Thursday. During the event, it was announced that Hayato Ichihara and Aya Ueto have both been cast in the movie "Baton," which was revealed last month. Commissioned for Yokohama's anniversary expo, the film is an animated collaboration involving director Ryuhei Kitamura and producer Shunji Iwai.

Ichihara was presented with a surprise bouquet and cake in celebration of his 22nd birthday on Friday. He also commented on his love life, as it was discovered last June that he has had a girlfriend for about eight years. Reporters asked him about the possibility of marriage by the end of this year, but he gave a noncommittal answer, saying, "You don't know what will happen in life."

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Tutorial's Tokui dating Yui Natsukawa
Fri, February 6, 2009 (2:37am EST)



This week's issue of FRIDAY magazine has uncovered another celebrity romance. Popular comedian Yoshimi Tokui (33) of the duo Tutorial is currently in a relationship with actress Yui Natsukawa (40). They were seen a couple times at Natsukawa's apartment within the past few weeks.

Their romance reportedly developed after they both appeared in the Fuji TV drama series "Muri na Renai" last spring. In September, rumors surfaced after they were seen together at a yakiniku restaurant, but Tokui was thought to still be in a relationship with badminton player Reiko Shiota (25). However, Tokui only recently revealed that although he asked Shiota out around two years ago, she turned him down due to her training for the Beijing Olympics.

Unlike Tokui's rumored romances in the past, this time his agency Yoshimoto Kogyo confirmed the story. Natsukawa's management has also confirmed that they are dating.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Bloomberg to discontinue non-English television broadcasts

Friday 06th February, 03:05 PM JST

TOKYO

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Junichi Ishida apologizes at movie preview for son抯 misconduct

Friday 06th February, 05:30 AM JST



TOKYO

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Actor Kuniyasu Atsumi passes away
Sat, February 7, 2009 (12:32pm EST)



Veteran actor Kuniyasu Atsumi died of a brain tumor on Thursday morning at a hospital in Tokyo's Setagaya ward. He was 76.

Atsumi's acting career began in 1954 when he joined the Haiyuza Theatre Company. Over the years, he appeared in countless films and television dramas, primarily in supporting roles. Some of his most notable parts were in NHK's taiga drama "Ako Roshi" and in the movies "****i no Inai Hachigatsu" and "Odoru Daisousasen: The Movie."

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Megumi, Kenji Furuya celebrate first child
Sat, February 7, 2009 (12:46pm EST)



Talento Megumi gave birth to her first child early on Friday, her agency announced via a fax to the media. The baby boy, born at 3,000 grams, was delivered four days later than expected but is said to be healthy.



Last July, Megumi married Dragon Ash's Kenji Furuya after learning that she was pregnant. The couple had been dating for three years and started living together in 2007.

Megumi's work has been put on hold since the marriage. It is not yet known when she plans to return.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Ai Kato unharmed in minor car accident
Sun, February 8, 2009 (2:18am EST)



Actress Ai Kato was recently involved in a car accident, it was learned on Friday. On Tuesday afternoon, Kato was exiting the parking lot of a building in Nishi-Shinjuku when the car behind her rear-ended her. Although the back of Kato's car was damaged, neither driver suffered any injuries.

On Friday, Kato attended a filming session in Nagoya for her next TV drama role, in NHK's "Limit: Keiji no Genba 2." The 5-episode series is a sequel to last year's "Keiji no Genba," which starred Akira Terao and Mirai Moriyama as a pair of detectives. The new drama will air in NHK's Saturday time slot starting in July.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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NTV announcer Shinobu Matsumoto goes free
Sun, February 8, 2009 (2:40am EST)



NTV announcer Shinobu Matsumoto will be leaving the network at the end of March, it was learned on Thursday. She will be active as an independent announcer after her departure.

Matsumoto has been a part of NTV since 1992. Among the shows she has appeared on is the network's annual "24 Hour Television," which she helped host for four consecutive years from 2001 to 2004. Her current work includes "Gyouretsu no Dekiru Houritsu Soudanjo," which she will continue to host after she goes independent.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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2008's top celebrity blogs
Sun, February 8, 2009 (2:57am EST)



Ameba held its third Blog of the Year awards in Tokyo on Thursday. Popular celebrity bloggers were honored in several different categories: Yusuke Kamiji (male talento/actor), Suzanne (female talento/actress), DAIGO (music artist), Yu Yamada (model), and Harumi Edo (comedian). A special prize was awarded to Junichi Ishida.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Noboru Kaneko stars as "newhalf" in TV Tokyo drama
Mon, February 9, 2009 (12:13am EST)



This spring, TV Tokyo will broadcast a daytime drama series called "Mama wa Newhalf," starring actor Noboru Kaneko. This is his first time playing the lead in a serial drama.

Kaneko plays a hard-working, elite salaryman who has suffered from a gender identity disorder since his youth. As a result, he spends his nights as a "newhalf" (transsexual) by the name of Luna, working as the number-one hostess at a nightclub. However, his life becomes even more complicated when he ends up taking in a five-year-old boy and having to fill the role of a parent.

The show will start on April 6, airing every weekday. TV Tokyo has not yet determined the specific time slot.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Tsutsumi directs TERU-MCU collaboration
Mon, February 9, 2009 (12:15am EST)



Rapper MCU (of KICK THE CAN CREW) has teamed up with GLAY vocalist TERU for a collaborative song titled "STILL LOVE." To make the combo even more impressive, the music video is being made by top film director Yukihiko Tsutsumi, whose most recent credits include the "20th Century Boys" movies.

The song is being included on MCU's upcoming album, "Shu Ha Ri Still Love," scheduled for release on March 11.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Sekai no Nabeatsu heads new idol group
Mon, February 9, 2009 (12:25am EST)



Management agency Yoshimoto Kogyo has launched a new idol group named Murasaki Shikibu, featuring five of its popular comedians. The unit consists of Sekai no Nabeatsu (as the leader), both members of Ameagari Kes$hitai (Hiroyuki Miyasako and Toru Hotohara), Cocorico's Naoki Tanaka, and Garage Sale's Gori.

Murasaki Shikibu made their stage debut with a performance in Shinjuku on Sunday. The members' hairstyles drew comparisons to the Johnny's Jimusho group Hikaru Genji, but instead of performing with roller skates, they took the stage on stilts instead.

Their debut single "LOVE Nandayo," written and composed by Nabeatsu, goes on sale this Wednesday.

Source: www.tokyograph.com