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Oricon: cherry blossom beauty
Tue, March 25, 2008 (10:58am EDT)

With the arrival of the cherry blossom season, Oricon surveyed a thousand people to find out which celebrity's beauty best matched that of the cherry blossoms.



Actress Nanako Matsushima was listed at #1, outranking her fellow actresses Yukie Nakama (#2) and Yuko Takeuchi (#3). Mika Nakashima came in at #4, ahead of a tie between Sayuri Yoshinaga and Koyuki.

Young actress Aoi Miyazaki ranked #7, followed by Takako Matsu, Emi Suzuki, and Masami Nagasawa.

Cherry blossom beauty:

1) Nanako Matsushima
2) Yukie Nakama
3) Yuko Takeuchi
4) Mika Nakashima
5) Sayuri Yoshinaga
5) Koyuki
7) Aoi Miyazaki
8) Takako Matsu
9) Emi Suzuki
10) Masami Nagasawa

Source: www.tokyograph.com

[ Last edited by  whitedove at 28-3-2008 06:33 PM ]

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Two theme songs for spring dramas
Tue, March 25, 2008 (1:56am EDT)



The band Aqua Timez has been given the task of providing the theme song for the third "Gokusen" drama series, which starts on NTV on April 19. The song, called "Niji," will go on sale May 8.



Meanwhile, Mariya Takeuchi will sing the theme for TBS's "Around 40." Titled "Shiawase no Monosashi," the song will also feature starring actress Yuki Amami as part of the chorus. The single goes on sale May 21.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Oricon: adventure with a male celebrity
Tue, March 25, 2008 (10:57am EDT)

Following up on a similar survey published last week, Oricon has revealed the results of its question: "Which male celebrity would you want to go on an adventure with?"

Comedian Masaru Hamaguchi (of Yoiko) tied for #1, apparently due to his image of having strong survival abilities. The other one at the top of the list was actor Hiroshi Tamaki, who simply was very popular among the female respondents.

Shingo Katori ranked #3, followed by actor Hiroshi Fujioka and martial arts actor Kane Kosugi.

Which male celebrity would you want to go on an adventure with?

1) Masaru Hamaguchi (Yoiko)
2) Hiroshi Tamaki
3) Shingo Katori (SMAP)
4) Hiroshi Fujioka
5) Kane Kosugi

Source: www.tokyograph.com

[ Last edited by  whitedove at 28-3-2008 06:25 PM ]

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More cast details for "Shonen Meriken Sakku"
Tue, March 25, 2008 (2:15am EDT)



More cast details have been revealed for the Kankuro Kudo-directed comedy "Shonen Meriken Sakku." It was already known that Aoi Miyazaki is playing the lead as Kanna, a record company scout, and Ging Nang Boyz's Kazunobu Mineta will be playing the vocalist of one of the bands she recruits.

Koichi Sato, Yuichi Kimura, Tomorowo Taguchi, and Hiroki Miyake will play a punk band whose members are all over the age of 50. The band gets accidentally discovered by Kanna when she comes across 25-year-old footage of the band.



Also appearing in the film are Yusuke Santamaria as the gay president of Kanna's record company and Ryo Katsuji as Kanna's boyfriend.

"Shonen Meriken Sakku" is scheduled for release between late 2008 and early 2009.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Saeko, Darvish become parents
Tue, March 25, 2008 (2:36am EDT)



Actress Saeko and Nippon Ham Fighters pitcher Yu Darvish gave birth to their first child on Monday afternoon at a Sapporo hospital. The baby boy weighed in at 3,000 grams.

The young couple married on November 11.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Mana producing "cello vocalist"
Tue, March 25, 2008 (10:55am EDT)



Musician Mana, well known as the leader of visual-kei band Malice Mizer, has taken on the role of producer for his first female artist.

The artist is 19-year-old Kanon Wakeshima, who will make her major label debut on May 28 with a single titled "still doll." Wakeshima has studied cello since the age of 3, and her music features her as both a cellist and vocalist.

Mana has gained popularity in Europe both for his musical projects and his Gothic Lolita fashion label. Because of that, Wakeshima will make her live debut in Europe, starting with the 9th Japan Expo in Paris, France, which is being held on July 3-6.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Kurara Chibana to host television show
Tue, March 25, 2008 (10:59am EDT)



Talento Kurara Chibana, best known as the first runner-up for the Miss Universe 2006 crown, will begin hosting her first television show next month.

TV Tokyo's "Chibana Kurara no Chikyu Reporter" will air on Friday nights starting on April 4, focusing on political and social issues around the world, especially foreign aid. Capable of speaking four languages, Chibana has had a strong image as an international personality since she rose to fame in the Miss Universe competition.

As one of her first projects for the show, Chibana visited Uganda earlier this month for about a week.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Saki Fukuda, Nana Katase star in "Hula Girls" stage play
Tue, March 25, 2008 (2:58am EDT)



Sang-il Lee's 2006 film "Hula Girls" is making its return as a stage play. The movie, which follows the plight of several women training to be hula dancers as part of a plan to revitalize a coal mining town, won several awards and was highly praised by critics.

The stage version stars Nana Katase as the dance instructor Madoka, originally played by Yasuko Matsuyuki, while Saki Fukuda co-stars as the young Kimiko, originally played by Yu Aoi. This is Fukuda's first time in a theater production.

Daisuke Habara, who had writing credits for the movie, will handle the script. Kazuya Yamada is directing, and choreography will be done by hula teacher Kaleinani Hayakawa, who was the model for Madoka's character.

Performances will run at the Akasaka ACT Theater in Tokyo from July 18 to August 3.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Young actress Kuroki Meisa (19) is in sparkling company. Yesterday she was named the "Bulgari Brilliant Dream Award" winner for 2008. The annual award from the jewelry maker has previously been given to such top class stars as Boston Red Sox pitcher Matsuzaka Daisuke and J-pop diva Hamasaki Ayumi. For yesterday's ceremony, Kuroki wore a diamond ring, necklace and earring set with a combined value of over

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[JAPAN] Pop singer Matsuura Aya to promote sweets



JapanToday.com reported, 揚op singer Aya Matsuura, 21, has been named 揚romotional Director擺/b] for the 25th National Confectionery Exposition to be held in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, from April 18. The event will feature exhibitions of approximately 7,000 confectionery items. Matsuura, who was born and raised in Himeji, said, 揑 love sweets and look forward to the exhibition. I like Japanese confectionery most because they are sweet but low in calories.

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[JAPAN] Actress Suzuki Anne leaves to New York to learn English



JapanToday.com reported, 揂ctress Anne Suzuki, 20, is spending eight weeks in New York studying English at a language school. Before leaving Japan, Suzuki said, 揕ast year, I visited Finland and Morocco and thought if I had been able to communicate with local people somehow, it would be more enjoyable. So I抳e decided to learn English first of all.敁My friends suggested to me that the best way to learn English in New York would be to get a boyfriend,

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[JAPAN] 6,000 fans turnout for CD single promotional for Tamaki Hiroshi



JapanToday.com reported, 揂ctor Hiroshi Tamaki, 28, recently held a promotional event for his new song 揥anna hug

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[JAPAN] Amuro Namie tops Oricon Weekly Charts - First time in a decade



JapanToday.com reported, 揝inger Namie Amuro, 30, this week topped Oricon抯 music chart for the first time in 10 years with her new single album

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Charts: "Heart Station" makes it five straight number ones for Utada
Thu, March 27, 2008 (12:37am EDT)



Hikaru Utada's album "HEART STATION" has sold 480,000 copies and is ranked #1, making it her 5th straight #1 original album since her debut. This ties her with The Checkers, Hikaru Genji, and KinKi Kids for the third-longest streak, behind BoA (6) and Ayumi Hamasaki (8). Including her singles collection in 2004, this is her 6th consecutive chart-topper. The album also set the record for initial week sales in 2008, surpassing the 421,000 copies sold by Kumi Koda's "Kingdom."



In Oricon's singles rankings, Namie Amuro's single "60s 70s 80s" held the #1 spot at 38,000 copies. In an extremely rare occurrence, the single debuted at #2 last week only to jump to #1 this week. This comes as the result of a strong promotional campaign, as well as low sales from competing artists. This is her 10th #1 single, with the last one being 1998's "I HAVE NEVER SEEN." It also marks her 14th straight year with a top 10 ranking.

THE ALFEE's "Lifetime Love" was the #2 single, selling 32,000 copies. It has been 16 years since the group entered the Top 3, and the song became their 41st consecutive Top 10 single, tying B'z for second place behind SMAP (42). "Lifetime Love" is the theme to the TBS drama series "Mikon Roku Shimai 2," while its coupling song, "Wonderful Days," is the image song of the 2008 Osaka International Ladies Marathon.

Also in the Top 10 singles were Project.R, Mai Kuraki, and actress Manami Konishi. "Sunny Day" is Konishi's singing debut, released under the alias of Kazue Fujiki, the character she plays in the movie "Sweet Rain: Shinigami no Seido." The song sold close to 10,000 copies to obtain the #10 ranking. The last actress to make the Top 10 with her singing debut under a different name was Masami Nagasawa with the single "Sailor Fuku to Kikanju."

Meanwhile, four new albums besides Utada's "HEART STATION" entered the Top 10, released separately by KREVA, Shoko Nakagawa, FLOW, and Hiroshi Tamaki. Nakagawa's entry was the biggest news of the bunch, as "Big Bang!!!" is her first original album.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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"Bara no nai Hanaya" finale hits 22%
Wed, March 26, 2008 (12:59am EDT)



The final episode of Fuji TV's "Bara no nai Hanaya," which aired on Monday, achieved ratings of 22.1%, with a peak of 26.3%. The whole series averaged 18.8%, making it #1 of all the dramas this season.

The next highest ratings for the season were held by "Aibou 6" (16.5% average) and "Saito-san" (15.5% average). The latter achieved 19.6% with its finale.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Hideo Okuda's "Lala Pipo" being adapted to film
Wed, March 26, 2008 (2:31am EDT)

"Lala Pipo," a novel by prize-winning author Hideo Okuda ("Southbound," "In the Pool"), is being turned into a movie.

The novel's title is based on a mishearing of the phrase "a lot of people." With sex as its central theme, the original novel combined tragedy and comedy in its portrayal of human nature through the lives of several characters. One of them, a scout for the sex industry, will be played by Hiroki Narimiya in the film.



Director Tetsuya Nakashima is handling the script, while Masayuki Miyano is taking on his first feature-length film as director. Filming begins on the 29th, with Nikkatsu and Desperado jointly distributing the movie next spring.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Compilation of themes from box office hits on sale next month
Wed, March 26, 2008 (3:03am EDT)

It was made public on Monday that the theme songs to various major box office hits will be sold as a single album on April 16th.

The title of the collection is "J-MOVIE SONGS." A total of 13 tracks will be featured in the album, including Ken Hirai's "Hitomi wo Tojite" from the movie "Sekai no Chuushin de, Ai wo Sakebu," Yuna Ito's "Precious" from "Umizaru 2: Limit of Love," and ORANGE RANGE's "Hana" from "Ima, Ai ni Yukimasu."

The movies associated with the album have a combined revenue of over 30 billion yen, and a total audience of about 25 million people. A similar compilation of songs from Western films, labeled "MOVIE SONGS FOREVER," will also be released simultaneously.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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SUGIZO to fill in for hide at X Japan concerts
Wed, March 26, 2008 (1:37am EDT)



It has been confirmed that LUNA SEA's SUGIZO will be participating in the upcoming X Japan reunion concerts, on March 28-30 at the Tokyo Dome. He will be taking on the role of guitarist, filling in for deceased member hide.

SUGIZO and Yoshiki have worked together before as part of the supergroup SKIN, along with Gackt and Miyavi.



However, SUGIZO is not the only guitarist who will participate in the concerts. Both Richard Fortus (of Guns N' Roses) and Wes Borland (formerly of Limp Bizkit) are playing, and more guests are planned.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Erika Toda stars in first film by photographer Amiy Mori
Wed, March 26, 2008 (2:52am EDT)



Actress Erika Toda is starring in a movie called "Koikyokusei," due out this coming winter. It will be the directorial debut of photographer Amiy Mori.

The story is based on a short manga by Omi Mitsuya called "Kimi ni Hikari wo" that appeared in Bessatsu Friend in 2005. Toda plays Natsuki, a young woman who lives in Hokkaido, where she takes care of her autistic younger brother. One day, she reunites with a childhood friend (Kazuki Kato) and falls in love, but he suffers from a terrible illness.



This is Toda's first time playing the sole lead in a movie, and is also her first love story.

Filming, already underway in Otaru and Sapporo, is scheduled to last until mid-May.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Former Morning Musume member Goto Maki (22) says she has decided to get back to work. In the first update to her blog since last December, she revealed that she is currently staying in Los Angeles for about a month. She apologized to fans for the trouble caused by the robbery arrest of her younger brother Yuuki (21) last year and her own sudden decision a week later to quit the Hello! Project collective. Her brother's court case is ongoing. Maki said she had thought long and hard about her future before deciding to take the first step back towards her musical career, though she didn't give any details. Yuuki had a brief pop career and is married with a child. He was arrested last October and again in December on robbery charges.

Source: www.japan-zone.com