Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part II]

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Anime Expo brings Morning Musume to the U.S.
Thu, February 12, 2009 (5:40pm EST)



Anime Expo put out a press release today announcing their first official Guest of Honor for this year's convention: popular idol group Morning Musume. While they have performed special concerts in Hawaii before, this will be their first time performing in the continental United States. Online music store JapanFiles.com will also be launching Morning Musume's digital catalog on February 18 with their latest single, "Naichau Kamo."

Anime Expo is being held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on July 2-5.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Boxer 'Joe' in legendary Japanese cartoon to make comeback

Thursday 12th February, 03:00 AM JST



TOKYO

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Megumi Yasu serves as poster girl for female firefighter recruitment drive

Thursday 12th February, 04:32 AM JST



TOKYO

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Mona Yamamoto says she wishes to marry

Thursday 12th February, 10:05 AM JST



OSAKA

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Kinoshita, Mizusawa show their chocolate skills

Friday 13th February, 05:06 AM JST



TOKYO

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Hirosue, Nagai on a date?
Fri, February 13, 2009 (1:29am EST)



The new issue of FRIDAY reports that actress Ryoko Hirosue (28) and actor Masaru Nagai (30) went out on a late-night date. They were seen at a dining bar in Tokyo past 1am, though they left the bar separately, so there were no pictures of the pair together.

Their agencies acknowledged that they did eat together, but insisted that the two are not dating.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Idoling!!! loses four more
Fri, February 13, 2009 (1:51am EST)



Girl group Idoling!!! has been reduced to 16 members since the graduation of Rumi Koizumi last month, but the group will now be getting even smaller. At the end of March, members Sayaka Kato (#1), Maria Eto (#4), Mira Takiguchi (#5), and Michelle Miki (#18) will graduate.

The announcement was made during Thursday's episode of "Idoling!!! Nikki." Because the group is meant to be a vehicle for developing idols, the four are said to be moving on further with their careers as idols. Their specific plans are still unknown.

Their graduation concert will be on March 18 at Shibuya C.C. Lemon Hall. The show is also scheduled to be broadcast live as a special program on satellite channel Fuji TV 721.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Gakky works with Ghibli for new single
Fri, February 13, 2009 (2:06am EST)



Actress Yui Aragaki is collaborating with Studio Ghibli for her upcoming single, "piece." Ghibli's Yoshiyuki Momose directed the title song's music video, as well as contributing art for the CD jacket.

The collaboration came about after Aragaki served as the guide of an NHK music program last May that focused on Disney and Ghibli songs. An offer to produce the music video was given in November, and Momose agreed after hearing the song. Momose's previous work includes "Ghiblies Episode 2" and music videos for artists such as capsule.

In addition to the animated music video, a second live-action video is also being made. Likewise, the CD jacket will come in three flavors - one illustrated by Aragaki, one illustrated by Momose, and one featuring a photo of Aragaki's face.

"piece" goes on sale February 25.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Mari Yaguchi finally gets a solo single
Fri, February 13, 2009 (3:03am EST)



Talento and ex-Morning Musume member Mari Yaguchi is returning to singing with her first solo single next month. It will be a joint release with AIR BAND, a new 6-man band born from the Fuji TV show "Quiz! Hexagon II."

The release, set to go on sale March 25, is titled "Seishun Boku / Seishun Ore." Yaguchi sings the first of the two songs, while AIR BAND does the second.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Rie Miyazawa pregnant, engaged
Fri, February 13, 2009 (2:52am EST)



Actress Rie Miyazawa (35) will soon be married, it was learned on Thursday. Her partner is said to be a businessman who frequently travels between Japan and the U.S. It has also just been publicly revealed that Miyazawa is six months pregnant, even though she is currently in a play called "Piper" at the Bunkamura Theatre Cocoon.

Miyazawa learned she was pregnant around last October. She and her partner had already been dating for a long time and were considering marriage even before she was pregnant.

A formal wedding announcement is expected after February 28, when "Piper" ends its run. Miyazawa is scheduled to give birth in June.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Chinatsu Wakatsuki investigates DVD release of 'Dexter'

Sunday 15th February, 03:00 AM JST



TOKYO

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Scorsese plans film on early Japanese Christians

Monday 16th February, 04:18 AM JST

TOKYO

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Suzanne promotes Kumamoto products

Monday 16th February, 05:35 AM JST



TOKYO

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Masahiro Nakai, Aya Ueto to costar in Fuji's new drama

Monday 16th February, 11:08 AM JST



TOKYO

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Eric Clapton performs in Tokyo

Monday 16th February, 11:24 AM JST



TOKYO

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Another big showbiz wedding was announced yesterday. Following actress Miyazawa Rie's good news at the weekend, it was the turn of comedian Gekidan Hitori (32) and talento Ohsawa Akane (23). The couple have been quite public about the relationship for some time and the news that they tied the knot on February 16 came as no surprise. They are scheduled to make a formal announcement at a hotel press conference in Tokyo this afternoon. Ohsawa, the grand-daughter of charismatic former baseball player and manager Ohsawa Keiji (76), has been in the limelight since becoming a model at the age of three. A few years ago she switched to TV, helped mainly her by relationship with a popular comedian who got caught up in a rape scandal. She played the story for laughs and the wave of publicity helped her gain a foothold in the TV variety circuit. She hinted at the marriage earlier this month during a launch event for her autobiography, while her new husband is already an accomplished writer. Real name Kawashima Shougo, he is the son of a JAL pilot and flight attendant and spent several years of his youth in Alaska. He began his comedy career while in high school and was in a manzai duo for several years. He went solo in 2000 and developed a growing reputation both as a "pin geinin" (solo comedian), actor and writer. He published the novel "Kagehinata ni Saku" in 2006, which was made into a movie last year. His debut as a song lyricist will appear on the upcoming album by J-pop duo Chemistry.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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Director: Jackie Chan film 'Shinjuku Incident' too violent for China

Tuesday 17th February, 05:29 AM JST

HONG KONG

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Yukina Kino$hita releases hard copy version of award-winning cell phone novel

Tuesday 17th February, 06:04 AM JST



TOKYO

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DJ OZMA to auction stage costumes

Tuesday 17th February, 10:41 AM JST



TOKYO

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Yuta Hiraoka stars in "God Hand Teru" adaptation
Tue, February 17, 2009 (12:03am EST)



Actor Yuta Hiraoka has landed his first starring role in a drama series. This spring, TBS will begin its live-action adaptation of the manga series "God Hand Teru," currently being serialized in Shonen Magazine.

The manga, written by Kazuki Yamamoto, revolves around a young man named Teru Mahigashi (Hiraoka). When he was young, his father, a brilliant surgeon, died in an accident, but not before saving Teru's life. As a result, Teru also aims to become a great surgeon like his father, devoted to never letting a patient die. As a clumsy newcomer at his hospital, he seems to be an unlikely savior. But whenever a patient's life is in danger, his true powers emerge in the form of his "god hands," allowing him to successfully perform even the most difficult operations.



In the drama, Asami Mizukawa plays the female lead, a rival doctor. Other cast members include Eri Murakawa, Jun Kaname, Hirofumi Araki, Tetsuya Bessho, and Atsuro Watabe.



"God Hand Teru" will air Saturday nights at 7:56pm, starting on April 11.

Source: www.tokyograph.com