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Charts: Shibasaki, Kanjani8
Wed, March 19, 2008 (2:36pm EDT)



Actress Kou Shibasaki achieved her highest sales ever for a CD release this past week. Her "Single Best" sold 227,000 copies, placing her at the top of the album charts. This is her first time at #1. In addition, her simultaneously released "The Back Best" charted at #3, though it sold a much lower 41,000 copies.

Ken Hirai's "FAKIN' POP" landed between Shibasaki's releases at #2, with 161,000 in sales. The only other new albums in the top 10 were GARNET CROW (#5) and C-ute (#10).



On the singles side, Kanjani8 sold 194,000 copies of "Wahaha" to take the #1 spot. This is their 4th consecutive chart-topper. Namie Amuro held the #2 spot with 115,000 in sales for "60s 70s 80s."

aiko was #3 and Tatsuro Yama#a was #4 (his highest ranking ever). Berryz Koubou placed 5th. Also in the top 10 were TVXQ (#7) and Masayoshi Yamazaki (#10).

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Oricon: spring fashion
Wed, March 19, 2008 (4:02am EDT)



Oricon recently surveyed 450 women to see which celebrity's fashion style they wanted to copy this spring. The #1 answer was model Yuri Ebihara, who topped the same survey last year. She was most popular among the 20s crowd.

Actress Yui Aragaki ranked #2, with many of her voters coming from the teenage demographic. Meanwhile, four women tied for #3: Miho Kanno, Namie Amuro, Yuko Takeuchi, and Yu Aoi.

Spring fashion:

1) Yuri Ebihara
2) Yui Aragaki
3) Miho Kanno
3) Namie Amuro
3) Yuko Takeuchi
3) Yu Aoi

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Oricon: kissable lips
Wed, March 19, 2008 (4:24am EDT)

In a recent Oricon survey, a thousand single men and women in their teens and 20s were asked the question: "Which female celebrity has beautiful lips that you would want to kiss?"



With many appearances in fashion magazines and commercials for products like Shiseido's Maquillage line, Misaki Ito was the #1 choice among men and women alike. Right behind her was actress Aya Ueto, followed by talento Waka Inoue.

Actresses Haruka Igawa and Haruka Ayase were #4 and #5, respectively. Igawa didn't make the men's top 5, as Satomi Ishihara ranked higher, and Ayase missed the women's top 5, losing out to Nanako Matsushima.

Kissable lips:

1) Misaki Ito
2) Aya Ueto
3) Waka Inoue
4) Haruka Igawa
5) Haruka Ayase

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Oricon: kissable lips
Wed, March 19, 2008 (4:24am EDT)

In a recent Oricon survey, a thousand single men and women in their teens and 20s were asked the question: "Which female celebrity has beautiful lips that you would want to kiss?"



With many appearances in fashion magazines and commercials for products like Shiseido's Maquillage line, Misaki Ito was the #1 choice among men and women alike. Right behind her was actress Aya Ueto, followed by talento Waka Inoue.

Actresses Haruka Igawa and Haruka Ayase were #4 and #5, respectively. Igawa didn't make the men's top 5, as Satomi Ishihara ranked higher, and Ayase missed the women's top 5, losing out to Nanako Matsushima.

Kissable lips:

1) Misaki Ito
2) Aya Ueto
3) Waka Inoue
4) Haruka Igawa
5) Haruka Ayase

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Junji Sakamoto sheds light on child exploitation with new movie
Wed, March 19, 2008 (3:04pm EDT)

Director Junji Sakamoto has already completed a new film titled "Yami no Kodomotachi" ("Children of the Dark"). The movie is based on a novel by Yang Seok-Il that deals with child exploitation and trafficking in Thailand.



As Ryuganji summarizes, Yosuke Eguchi stars as a newspaper reporter who "begins researching a story on exploited children with the assistance of aid worker Otowa (Aoi Miyazaki) and freelance cameraman Yoda (Satoshi Tsumabuki), but becomes increasingly mired in the struggle to save them." Koichi Sato also appears in the film.

Filming took place in Thailand last April, and theatrical release is scheduled for this summer. The theme song is Keisuke Kuwata's "Gendai Tokyo Kitan," which was released as a B-side on his last single, "Darling."

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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"Hana Yori Dango Final" guest cast
Wed, March 19, 2008 (3:21pm EDT)



The guest cast of the "Hana Yori Dango Final" movie includes Kinya Kitaoji, Naohito Fujiki, and EXILE's AKIRA, it was learned on Tuesday. All three characters will be obstacles in the relationship between the main characters Makino (Mao Inoue) and Domyouji (Jun Matsumoto).

It has not yet been revealed what Kitaoji's character will be. AKIRA, who is making his big screen debut with this movie, has been cast as a robber.

Fujiki previously played the role of Rui Hanazawa in the 1995 film version that starred Yuki Uchida and Shosuke Tanihara. In the new movie, he will once again play a love rival to Domyouji.

"Hana Yori Dango Final" opens on June 28.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Mirai Moriyama to star in "Rent"
Wed, March 19, 2008 (3:42pm EDT)



Actor Mirai Moriyama has been given the lead in an upcoming Japanese production of the Broadway musical "Rent," winning the part through an audition of roughly 8,000 people. While double casting for long productions is common, Moriyama will be performing for the show's entire two-month run.

The musical is being directed by Erica Schmidt. Performances will take place between November 7 and December 30 at the Theatre Creation in Hibiya, Tokyo.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Mirai Moriyama to star in "Rent"
Wed, March 19, 2008 (3:42pm EDT)



Actor Mirai Moriyama has been given the lead in an upcoming Japanese production of the Broadway musical "Rent," winning the part through an audition of roughly 8,000 people. While double casting for long productions is common, Moriyama will be performing for the show's entire two-month run.

The musical is being directed by Erica Schmidt. Performances will take place between November 7 and December 30 at the Theatre Creation in Hibiya, Tokyo.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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NHK reveals drama lineup, Tanimura confirmed for "Cat Street"
Wed, March 19, 2008 (5:33pm EDT)

On Wednesday, NHK revealed its 2008 lineup for its newly established "Drama 8" time slot (Thursday 8:00pm).

"Battery" (starring Yuma Nakayama) starts on April 3, and will be followed by "Otome no Punch" (starring Shizu-chan) on June 19.

The recently announced adaptation of Yoko Kamio's "Cat Street" manga series will start its run on August 28, and actress Mitsuki Tanimura has been confirmed as the lead.

The newest announcement is "Nanase Futatabi," starring Misako Renbutsu. The drama, which starts on October 9, is based on Yasutaka Tsutsui's novel about a girl with psychic powers. It was previously dramatized in 1979 with Yumi Takigawa as the lead.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Miyavi World Tour dates announced
Wed, March 19, 2008 (5:45pm EDT)



Concert dates for Miyavi's world tour have been released.

United States

    * 5/14 - Anaheim, CA
    * 5/16 - Los Angeles, CA
    * 5/18 - San Francisco, CA

Europe

    * 6/21 - Cologne, Germany
    * 6/22 - Berlin, Germany
    * 6/24 - Amstelveen, Netherlands
    * 6/27 - Barcelona, Spain
    * 7/1 - Stockholm, Sweden
    * 7/2 - Helsinki, Finland

Asia

    * 7/10 - Taipei, Taiwan
    * 7/12 - Seoul, Korea
    * 7/13 - Seoul, Korea
    * 7/18 - Shanghai, China

Other dates have been announced for Japan in August. Additional concerts may be added to the tour in the near future.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Another TV tie-in for Utada
Thu, March 20, 2008 (12:55pm EDT)



Yet another song from Hikaru Utada's new album "HEART STATION" has been given a tie-in. The opening track, "Fight the Blues," will be used as the theme song for the TBS show "Houdou Tokushuu NEXT." This is her first tie-in with a news program.

The show, which is a revamped version of the currently airing "JNN Houdou Tokushuu," starts on April 5 in the network's Saturday 5:30pm time slot.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Maiko Kikuchi enters motherhood
Thu, March 20, 2008 (1:02pm EDT)



33-year-old actress Maiko Kikuchi announced on her blog that she gave birth to her first child on Wednesday. The baby girl was named Asuka.

Both Kikuchi and the child are said to be healthy, and they have already been discharged from the hospital. The actress will return to work with a stage play this October.

Kikuchi has been married since July of last year.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Nao Matsu$hita graduates
Thu, March 20, 2008 (1:12pm EDT)



23-year-old actress and pianist Nao Matsu$hita has graduated from the Tokyo College of Music. Due to work, she was unable to attend the graduation ceremony on Wednesday, but she received her diploma afterwards and met with the press.

Matsu$hita entered the college in 2003. She had originally planned to graduate last year, but her busy schedule left her 3 units short of completion.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Actor Naritoshi Hayashi dies at 76
Thu, March 20, 2008 (1:40pm EDT)



Actor Naritoshi Hayashi died of heart failure on February 6, it was learned on Wednesday. He was 76.

Hayashi, whose real name was Hisashi Hasegawa, was the eldest son of the late actor Kazuo Hasegawa. Hayashi made his film debut as a child in 1937 when he appeared in "Tsuchiya Chikara" alongside his father.

After graduation, he appeared in many movies, such as the 1953 version of "Mashiroki Fuji no Ne," though he retired from film in the 1960s and became a kabuki actor with Toho Kabuki, which was led by his father. He made a return to the big screen in the 1980s, including an appearance in Juzo Itami's "Tampopo."

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Oguri voices Colin MacLeod for animated "Highlander"
Thu, March 20, 2008 (2:12pm EDT)



Popular actor Shun Oguri has been chosen to do the voice of the protagonist Colin MacLeod in the director's cut of "Highlander: The Search for Vengeance." The animated film was released in the U.S. last year, but the original edit by director Yoshiaki Kawajiri is being released in Japan this summer.

A press event for the movie will take place on the 28th during the Tokyo International Anime Fair.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Aya Sugimoto stars in new film about Sada Abe
Thu, March 20, 2008 (2:56pm EDT)



Director Rokuro Mochizuki has been working on a movie about the infamous Sada Abe, a woman who became a national sensation in 1936 after killing and castrating her lover. Titled "Johnen: Sada no Ai," the film stars Aya Sugimoto ("Hana to Hebi") as Abe at the time of the incident.

Sada Abe's life has been the topic of multiple films in the past, including Nagisa Oshima's controversiolly explicit "In the Realm of the Senses" ("Ai no Corrida") and Nobuhiko Obayashi's prize-winning "SADA."

Kazuya Nakayama ("IZO") will co-star as Abe's lover Kichizo Ishida. Rock singer Yuya Uchida has also been cast in the film.

The movie, which carries an R-18 rating, opens on May 31.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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D-BOYS starring in "Shakariki!" movie adaptation
Wed, March 19, 2008 (5:02pm EDT)

"Shakariki!," the first manga series by artist Masahito Soda, is being adapted as a live-action film, starring members of the acting group D-BOYS. Serialized in Shonen Champion from 1992 to 1995, the comic focused on high schoolers involved in the sport of bicycle racing.



D-BOYS leader Yuya Endo[/] stars as Teru, who is trying to revive his school's defunct bicycle club. Yuichi Nakamura ("Kamen Rider Den-O") plays the talented Poppo, and Hiroki Suzuki ("Juken Sentai Gekiranger") plays Yuta, a racer from a rival school. The three actors began practicing in December, and last week they underwent more intensive training that included cycling for 60km every day.



The rest of the cast includes Noriko Nakagoshi as Teru's sister Sayuri, Miho Nakai as one of the team's mothers, Akira Emoto as the school principal, Yoichi Nukumizu as vice principal, and Taizo Harada as the team's coach.

This is the first feature-length film helmed by Shinsuke Ono, who has worked as an assistant director on movies such as Takeshi Kitano's "Kids Return." Shooting begins on Thursday and is expected to take until the end of April. Showgate will distribute the movie in September.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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"hide memorial summit" confirmed for May
Thu, March 20, 2008 (5:04pm EDT)



X JAPAN will be holding two concerts in May as a memorial for the 10th death anniversary of guitarist hide. Titled "hide memorial summit," the 2-day event will bring together a total of roughly 20 artists, including LUNA SEA, Dir en grey, and T.M.Revolution.

hide, whose real name was Hideto Matsumoto, passed away on May 2, 1998. The memorial concerts are scheduled for the weekend of his death anniversary, May 3-4, at Tokyo's Ajinomoto Stadium. The event is being organized by hide's brother and produced by Yoshiki.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Model and talento Mie (25) and Japan's top international pro surfer Tajima Teppei (23) are engaged to be married, it was revealed yesterday. They plan to hold a small wedding ceremony in Tokyo on Sunday. Tajima heads off to compete overseas next month, but Mie is likely to stay behind as she's currently four months pregnant. Last week she took part in the Tokyo Girls Collection, a major fashion event that will be her last job as a model. A "JJ" magazine cover girl while a student at Aoyama Gakuin University, she has also worked as a presenter on TV shows such as Fuji TV's "Mot-Supo!" and TV Asahi's "Warai no Kin Medal". A scheduled appearance on Fuji's "Tamacchi!" on Monday will be her last. Fluent in English, she plans to support her husband's career on the international surfing circuit. A pro since he was 16, last year Tajima became the first surfer to win four World Qualifying Series events in a row and is now the No.1 surfer in Asia. On hearing that Mie was pregnant, he proposed to her on the same Chiba Prefecture beach where they first met in July of last year.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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YUI, GReeeeN do "Mezamashi" theme songs
Fri, March 21, 2008 (1:43am EDT)



Singer-songwriter YUI and pop group GReeeeN have been separately tapped to provide theme songs for Fuji TV's "Mezamashi" programs, starting in April.

YUI's currently untitled song will be used on "Mezamashi News," which airs in the early morning Monday to Saturday. Meanwhile, GReeeeN's "Chikyugo" will appear on "Mezamashi Saturday," which airs on Saturday mornings.

Source: www.tokyograph.com