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news: dorama
Megumi Yasu to star in "Hisho no Kagami"
Thu, March 6, 2008 (3:19pm EST)
TV Tokyo's drama adaptation of Kei Horito's manga series "Hisho no Kagami" (previously announced here) will start its broadcast on April 11. Talento Megumi Yasu has been given the starring role of Yu Kagami, a multi-talented temp secretary with a strong sense of justice. The character is described as being skilled in karate and aikido, so Yasu has taken up kickboxing to help her play the part.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: movie
Yui Aragaki leads ouendan in next film
Thu, March 6, 2008 (5:21pm EST)
Rising actress Yui Aragaki, who recently picked up several film awards, has been cast in her next project. She will star in Kensaku Watanabe's "Fure Fure Shojo," which is scheduled to open this September.
Aragaki plays Momoko, a high school bookworm who longs for the type of romance found in the novels she reads. One day, she encounters Oshima, the ace pitcher of the baseball team, and falls in love at first sight. In an effort to get closer to him, she joins the team's ouendan (cheering squad). However, the squad only has one member and is on the verge of being shut down. While desperately trying to keep the squad alive, she meets a legendary cheer squad leader (Takashi Naito) who shows her the true meaning of being in an ouendan.
Aragaki remarked that she has worn a gakuran (a type of uniform) for previous works, but this was her first time wearing one fitted for her.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: artiste
Mika Nakashima graces cover of Rolling Stone
Thu, March 6, 2008 (5:54pm EST)
Singer Mika Nakashima has been chosen as the first Japanese person to be on the cover of Rolling Stone Japan.
The American-based Rolling Stone launched the Japanese version of its magazine last March. Past issues have featured overseas artists on the cover, but Nakashima will break tradition with the April issue (on sale March 10), which will also include a 4-page feature on her. There is further talk that Nakashima may appear on the cover of the U.S. edition in the future.
The magazine's editor selected her for the cover because he wanted a female artist whose impact extended beyond just music. Nakashima, who is involved in areas such as fashion and acting, was a natural choice.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: artiste
Chemistry's Kawabata marries model
Thu, March 6, 2008 (3:29pm EST)
Kaname Kawabata (CHEMISTRY) announced on his official website that he has married model Miki Takahashi. Sources say that they registered their marriage on Thursday.
Kawabata had been dating talento Hiroko Anzai for several years, but they broke up early last year so that Kawabata could focus on his music career. In June, he met Takahashi when she appeared in the music video for "This Night," and their relationship quickly developed.
A ceremony and reception have not yet been scheduled.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: anime movie
Master animator Miyazaki Hayao (67) spoke this week for the first time about his latest movie "Gake no Ue no Ponyo" (Ponyo on the Cliff), due for release in July. He described the story as "Hans Christian Anderson's tale of the Little Mermaid, transposed to modern Japan. Without the Christian subtext, it's a story of young children's love and adventure." Ponyo, the heroine of the title, is a fish child with a stubborn wish to live with the 5-year-old human boy Sosuke. Inspiration for the movie came in 2004, when Miyazaki took his Studio Ghibli staff on a company holiday to a small town on the shores of the Seto Inland Sea. Captivated by the ocean and the town, he later spent two months there alone researching and sketching. The name Sosuke came from a Natsume Soseki novel he read during that time. Visually, he described the "small seaside town and the house on the cliff; just a few people; the ocean, like a living creature; a world where magic appears naturally." Sousuke's nursery is located next to an old people's home, and producer Suzuki Toshio (59) described the movie as appealing to both the young and the elderly. "It's a movie that can help us face these times of neurosis and anxiety." The animation is in a freehand style, without the computer graphics of Miyazaki's recent works.
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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news: celebrities
 
In today's issue of weekly magazine "Friday," comedian Gekidan Hitori (31) speaks publicly for the first time about his relationship with talento Osawa Akane (22). He says that he's hoping they'll be able to tie the knot soon, but can't yet say when that might be. The two started dating last spring and have since been regularly spotted together around Tokyo. Osawa Keiji (75), Akane's grandfather and the former manager of the Nippon Ham Fighters baseball team, refused to comment to reporters on their wedding plans.
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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news: idol
TOKIO's Yamaguchi marries
Sat, March 8, 2008 (3:06pm EST)
On Saturday, TOKIO kicked off their new tour with a concert at the Nippon Budokan. About an hour into the show, bassist Tatsuya Yamaguchi, 36, announced that he got married that morning.
His wife is a 31-year-old former model originally from Sendai. The two met in 1999 and have been dating for about 8 years. They started living together in 2004. The woman is now pregnant with their first child and is due to give birth this summer.
There are no plans yet for a ceremony.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: artiste
Koda tour likely to proceed as planned
Fri, March 7, 2008 (5:07pm EST)
According to Sports Hochi, it appears that Kumi Koda's upcoming tour will go on as originally scheduled.
Due to a controversiol statement she made on the radio, Koda has essentially been suspended since early February. She stated last month that she wanted to postpone her tour, but Avex wanted to proceed with it.
As of Friday, Koda issued a serious apology to her fan club members that appears to signal a preparation for her return to work. Tickets have already been on sale, and with the tour's April 12 start date fast approaching, it is very likely that there will be no postponement after all.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: music awards
VMAJ nominees announced
Fri, March 7, 2008 (5:22pm EST)
The nominees for the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards Japan have been announced. Voting has also opened.
EXILE, Mr.Children, and Tokyo Jihen are in the running for Best Video of the Year. Ken Hirai, SEAMO, and Tamio Okuda are competing for Best Male Video, while Ai Otsuka, Kumi Koda, and Mika Nakashima battle for Best Female Video.
The nominees for Best Group Video include m-flo (and guest artists), Mr.Children, and RIP SLYME. ERIKA, Motohiro Hata, and Satomi Takasugi are contenders for Best New Artist Video.
The MTV website has a complete list of awards and nominees.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: artiste
Nakatani to present at Asian Film Awards
Fri, March 7, 2008 (9:10pm EST)
Actress Miki Nakatani has been chosen as one of the presenters at the 2nd Asian Film Awards, which marks the start of the Hong Kong International Film Festival on the 17th. Nakatani won Best Actress at last year's awards for "Memories of Matsuko."
Tadanobu Asano and director Hideo Nakata are also participating as presenters.
A list of the nominees can be seen at the awards' official website.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: comedian
Cocorico's Tanaka expecting second child
Fri, March 7, 2008 (9:15pm EST)
Comedian Naoki Tanaka (of Cocorico) will soon celebrate the birth of a second child. A women's magazine reports that his wife, actress Shie Kohinata, is scheduled to give birth to their second boy on May 3.
Tanaka and Kohinata married in 2003. Their first son will turn 4 later this year.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: actress
Rinko Kikuchi on cover of i-D Magazine
Sat, March 8, 2008 (5:59pm EST)
The April issue of Britain's fashion and culture-focused i-D Magazine features actress Rinko Kikuchi on its cover. The issue also includes a multi-page article on Kikuchi. The cover image can be seen here.
The last Japanese person to appear on the magazine's cover was Chiaki Kuriyama in 2004 (cover image here).
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: artistes
ORESKABAND returns to SXSW
Sun, March 9, 2008 (10:08pm EDT)
 
On Saturday, Osaka radio station FM802 held its 3rd annual amateur band competition in the city of Sakai, Osaka. ORESKABAND and The Inazuma Sentai, who both hail from Sakai, attended the event as guests.
During their performance, ORESKABAND reportedly announced that they will play at this year's SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, on March 15. This will be their second year in a row to appear at the festival.
The SXSW website does not currently list the band as a participant. However, several other Japanese artists are listed: Maki Rinka, Damage, The Emeralds, Toddle, the pillows, and aonami. In addition, the Japan Nite showcase features detroit7, Sodopp, Avengers in Sci-Fi, Quartz-head 02, Petty Booka, and Ketchup Mania.
As for the band competition in Sakai, the winner was the 4-piece group lego big morl.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: singers
 
Canadian superstar Celine Dion (39) is in Japan for the first time in nine years and performed two shows at Tokyo Dome over the weekend. She was joined by singer Itoh Yuna (24), with whom she released the local version of the duet "A World to Believe In." Dion plays two shows at Kyocera Dome Osaka on March 11-12.
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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news: artistes
KELUN sings "Bleach" theme
Sun, March 9, 2008 (10:24pm EDT)
Rock trio KELUN has been tapped to provide the new opening song for the popular "Bleach" anime series. The group barely made their major label debut this past November.
The song, "CHU-BURA," will start with the April 23 episode. It will be available as chaku-uta on April 4, though the single won't hit store shelves until the summer.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: awards
2nd annual Seiyu Award winners
Sun, March 9, 2008 (10:56pm EDT)
The 2nd Seiyu Awards were given out on Saturday in Akihabara, Tokyo. The winners were:
* Male Lead: Mamoru Miyano
* Female Lead: Aya Hirano
* Male Supporting Character: Daisuke Ono, Hiroshi Kamiya
* Female Supporting Character: Rie Kugimiya, Mitsuki Saiga
* Male New Performer: Wataru Hatano, Tsubasa Yonaga
* Female New Performer: Emiri Kato, Yu Kobayashi
* Song: Aya Hirano, Emiri Kato, Kaori Fukuhara, Aya Endo ("Motteke! Sailor Fuku")
* Personality: Kenichi Suzumura (Yugengaisha Cherry Bell, etc.)
* Special Achievement Award: Tatsuya Jo
* Achievement Awards: Nachi Nozawa, Michio Hazama, Ryoko Kinomiya
* Synergy Award: Kamen Rider Den-O
* Kei Tomiyama Award: Toru Furuya
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: musician
Musician Gen Ueda dies of cancer
Mon, March 10, 2008 (4:32am EDT)
Gen Ueda, once a keyboardist and vocalist of the rock/ska band LA-PPISCH, died of cancer on Sunday. He was 47.
Ueda left LA-PPISCH in 2002 to pursue a solo career. He also served as a producer for artists such as Chitose Hajime. In 2006, he was diagnosed with cancer and began receiving treatment.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday.
Souce: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: artiste
Another free ringtone from Utada
Mon, March 10, 2008 (4:49am EDT)
In December, Hikaru Utada commemorated the anniversary of her debut single "Automatic" by temporarily making it available as a free ringtone, and it was downloaded about 500,000 times in a 4-day span. Now, she is doing the same thing with another one of her hit songs, "First Love."
The free ringtone will be available for a span of four days starting on March 10, which marks the anniversary of the "First Love" album.
At the same time, many of her other songs from her early career are being released (non-free) for the first time under the chaku-uta and chaku-uta full services.
Utada is also collaborating with social networking site mixi for a promotional campaign celebrating Utada's 10th year as a singer. The campaign will run on mixi's mobile site from March 10 to 17.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: movie
Maria Ozawa in Taiwanese horror film
Mon, March 10, 2008 (5:13am EDT)
Adult film star Maria Ozawa is apparently expanding into acting, as she will appear in a movie called "Invitation Only," billed as "Taiwan's first-ever slasher horror." The movie is being produced by Three Dots Entertainment and finished production last week.
Ozawa plays a supermodel in the film, and her dialogue includes both English and Japanese.
The film is scheduled for release in Taiwan this August, though it will begin marketing at Hong Kong's Filmart later this month.
More details can be found at Jason Gray's blog.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Post time 11-3-2008 04:18 PM
