Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part II]

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Mayumi Sada becomes a mama
Fri, April 10, 2009 (2:59am EDT)



Actress Mayumi Sada (31) has now entered motherhood, it was announced on Thursday. Sada's agency revealed that she gave birth to a daughter on April 6.

Sada married a media creator (35) last October. Since the start of this year, she has been taking a break from work to focus on the child. However, Sada plans to return to work and has no intention of retiring.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Fumi Yoshinaga's "Ooku" getting live-action film
Fri, April 10, 2009 (3:26am EDT)



It was earlier reported that Asmik Ace had announced a live-action movie version of the manga "Solanin" starring Aoi Miyazaki. The company actually revealed several new films, including an adaptation of the Fumi Yoshinaga manga "Ooku."

"Ooku" is a historical fiction, set in an alternate version of Edo-era Japan where society has become matriarchal due to an unusual disease that affects males. The story should not be confused with previous works by the same name in television, film, and theater, which have all focused on the actual historical "ooku," a section of Edo Castle that housed the shogun's women.

The movie is being directed by Fuminori Kaneko, known for handling the "Kisarazu Cat's Eye" drama series and its two films. The script is written by Natsuko Takahashi, whose credits include writing for the "Antique Bakery" anime series, also based on a Fumi Yoshinaga series.

No release date has been set, though filming isn't planned to start until spring 2010. The cast is also currently unknown.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Motohiro Hata ties the knot
Fri, April 10, 2009 (3:41am EDT)



Singer-songwriter Motohiro Hata (28) is no longer a bachelor. His agency confirmed the fact that he is now married, though it declined to give any information about his wife, such as her name, age, or occupation. However, it was clarified that the woman is not pregnant.

Hata debuted in late 2006 with the single "Synchro." He steadily gained in popularity, finally getting his first top ten release last year. Hata is also active as a participant in the supergroup Fukumimi.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Mr.Children says breakup reports not true
Thu, April 9, 2009 (2:51am EDT)



On Monday, weekly tabloid Shukan Gendai reported that popular group Mr.Children has plans to disband. The next day, the group addressed fans' concerns by issuing a statement on their website, completely denying any truth to the report.

The magazine's article seems to have been mainly speculation, focusing on the fact that Mr.Children has not yet announced any new releases or scheduled events beyond the end of their current tour in May. With this being the band's 20th anniversary year, an empty schedule seems unusual, which Shukan Gendai interprets as a sign that Mr.Children will wrap up their activities by the end of the year.

The notice on Mr.Children's website stated that both the band and their staff were extremely surprised by the article, but explained that they felt the need to answer their fans' worries and confusion.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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flumpool sings for Tezuka's "MW"
Fri, April 10, 2009 (2:40am EDT)



The band flumpool has landed a major movie tie-in. They will provide the theme song for the live-action film based on Osamu Tezuka's manga "MW." flumpool has been on the rise since their major label debut in October, which was quickly followed by a tie-in with the TBS drama series "Bloody Monday."



"MW," directed by Hitoshi Iwamoto, stars Hiroshi Tamaki and Takayuki Yamada in a thrilling story involving a chemical weapon.

flumpool's theme, titled "MW ~Dear Mr. & Mrs. Picaresque~," uses a new arrangement of a melody taken from a song from the band's indie days. The sound is said to be an up-tempo rock number. The single's release date has not been set yet, but the movie is scheduled for a July 4 release.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Monsters hide-and-seek 1st new Tokyo Disneyland attraction in 5 years

Friday 10th April, 04:22 AM JST

TOKYO

Tokyo Disneyland showed off its first new attraction in five years, which is inspired by the popular computer-animated film "Monsters, Inc," during a press preview Thursday prior to its opening set for next Wednesday. During the ride-style indoor attraction "Ride & Go Seek!," visitors can virtually take part in a hide-and-seek game together with key characters in the film including monsters Sulley, Mike and the human girl Boo.

While visitors are taken to a series of low-lit compartments by slow-moving cars running on flat tracks, they can see, using a built-in flashlight, the monsters and the girl play the game. It is the first new attraction at the theme park since Buzz Lightyear?s Astro Blasters was introduced in April 2004, according to Oriental Land Co, the operator of the park as well as the Tokyo Disney Sea theme park in Chiba Prefecture.

Tokyo Disneyland becomes the second Disney theme park to have an attraction themed on the comedy ??Monsters, Inc,?? which was released in 2001.

Source: www.japantoday.com

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TELEVIEWS / Quick picks for winners in new season

Wm. Penn / Daily Yomiuri Columnist

What do Loto6 and the new TV drama season have in common? Picking the winners is no easy feat. At first glance, Loto6, with just 43 numbers to choose from, doesn't look too daunting. However, considerable empirical research has shown me it is nearly impossible to get even two numbers right.

Can I do better predicting the top six ratings winners among the 30 new continuing dramas beginning this month? Does past experience, star power and the networks' well-tuned PR machinery better my odds of getting at least three of six right?

It's necessary to pick just six of the Top 10 because two slots are always occupied by NHK. It's a given that Tenchijin and Tsubasa have reserved seats on the ratings list. Two to five slots are also filled with two-hour murder/suspense dramas. As the season wears on, their numbers increase as viewer disappointment with the continuing dramas grows.

Here are my predictions. By Golden Week, the ratings will reveal how close I came to a winning ticket.

No. 1: Boss (Fuji, 10 p.m., April 16). Always capable former Takarazuka star Yuki Amami should pull in viewers with this fashionable detective series. Just back from three years training with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, she leads a team that includes Yutaka Takenouchi, Erika Toda and Tetsuji Tamayama.

No. 2: Smile (Fridays, 10 p.m., TBS, from April 17). Jun Matsumoto of Arashi, Yui Aragaki and Kiichi Nakai interact and reveal what is hidden behind their smiles. Matsumoto's appearance alone guarantees a few weeks in the Top 10 ratings.

No. 3: Kyoto Chiken no Onna (8 p.m., TVAsahi, April 23). There's a reason this one is back for Season 5. Veteran actress Yuko Natori is convincing as a prosecutor with excellent women's intuition in this low-key but reliable ratings draw.

No. 4: Boku no Imoto (starting April 19, 9 p.m., TBS) Jo Odagiri plays a shy, brilliant doctor. Masami Nagasawa plays his brilliantly silly sister, who gets involved with all the wrong men. Rie Tomosaka chases the doctor.

No. 5: Maki Horikita is a homeless 20-year-old seeking shelter from a 100-million yen debt in Atashinchi no Danshi (Fuji, 9 p.m., April 14). Corporate bigwig Shinzo Okura asks for her hand in marriage and offers to cover the debt. She says "I do," but he dies a month later, leaving her to play mother to his six adopted sons.

No. 6: It's a toss-up. Will viewers tune in to the romantic comedy Konkatsu (Mondays, Fuji, 9 p.m., April 20), starring Masahiro Nakai and Aya Ueto, to see if Nakai ever takes off his hat? Or will the winner be Godhand-Teru (TBS, 7:56 p.m., April 11), in which Yuta Hiraoka plays a young surgeon who channels the skills of his late father? For these times, when the likelihood of getting an appointment with a real super-specialist is about equal to one's Loto6 chances, Godhand-Teru probably has the edge in a nation hungry for a reassuring medical fairy tale.

There's a long shot in the race too. For my alternate pick, I'll choose NTV's Aishiteru: Kaiyo (April 15, 10 p.m.), a revealing look at the parents of both the victim and perpetrator in a juvenile crime and how they deal with the aftermath of their losses.

Will these dramas produce small-screen magic, or have I completely overlooked a hidden gem? The odds of finding even three winners are slim, but hope springs eternal in both the Loto line and the TV lineup.

Late update: TBS has just signed Takuya Kimura to star in Mr. Brain, a series about a police psychologist starting May 23, 8 p.m. Now there's a sure bet.
(Apr. 10, 2009)

Source: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/arts/20090410TDY14005.htm

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Leonardo DiCaprio To Cast Japanese Pop Group SMAP In ?Ninja Scroll??
Published by Casey Seijas on Thursday, April 9, 2009 at 2:40 pm.

A common complaint when it comes to stateside adaptations of classic anime and manga properties has been the lack of actual Asian actors playing lead roles in them. And while that trend doesn?t seem to be slowing down, could Leonard DiCaprio whose Appian Way production company has the likes of Akira and Ninja Scroll in the works be listening to what fans?



Indeed he has, if a recent post on Anime News Network can be trusted. In a move that should get the hardest of hardcore anime and manga fans excited, ANN reports that DiCaprio is considering casting Japanese pop group SMAP[/b| as main leads in his ?Ninja Scroll? adaptation.

While the Japanese Idol band have each individually acted in various films based on anime and manga titles, should this rumor pan out, it would be the first time all five members appear in a film together.

This latest casting news has been the first report we've heard from DiCaprio's Appian Way front in several weeks, after the actor-turned-budding producer offered MTV exclusive updates on Akira and Ninja Scroll back in November, adding that he wouldn't be starring in either film. Likewise, casting speculation regarding these projects is nothing new, as rumors regarding Joseph Gordon Levitt being considered for the role of Tetsuo in Akira also made the rounds recently.

Source: http://splashpage.mtv.com/2009/0 ... ap-in-ninja-scroll/

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BACK-ON headed to Germany
Fri, April 10, 2009 (3:16pm EDT)



Anime convention Connichi 2009 has announced that the band BACK-ON will be attending this year as a musical guest. BACK-ON has provided music for several shows, including "Air Gear" and "Eyeshield 21."

The convention is taking place on September 18-20 in Kassel, Germany. BACK-ON is scheduled to perform on the 19th. More information is available at the convention website.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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AKB48's Naruse out with herniated disc
Fri, April 10, 2009 (4:10pm EDT)



Risa Naruse (15), a member of AKB48's Team K, is currently taking a break due to her health. She already missed two performances on March 30 and April 4, and a medical examination determined that she is suffering from a herniated disc in her spine.

Naruse will be undergoing treatment, including laser surgery. She will require at least two weeks of hospitalization. It is unknown when she will be able to return to work as part of AKB48.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Going Under Ground loses keyboardist
Sat, April 11, 2009 (4:16am EDT)



Yoichi Ito (30), the keyboardist of the five-member band GOING UNDER GROUND, has decided to leave the group. On Saturday, the band announced the departure on its official website, explaining that Ito was leaving for family reasons.

Ito's wife gave birth to a son this past November. In order to focus on raising the child, he decided to take a break from his music career. His last performance with the band will be on the 18th, the last day of their current tour.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Kazunari Ninomiya, Mao Inoue play couple in drama special
Sat, April 11, 2009 (12:12am EDT)



Arashi's Kazunari Ninomiya (25) and actress Mao Inoue (22) will co-star in a drama special on TBS. The story is based on two novels written by professional windsurfer Natsuki Iijima, who died of cancer in 2005.

During Iijima's battle with cancer, he wrote an essay titled "Gan ni Ikasarete," which formed part of the basis for the 2007 film "Tengoku de Kimi ni Aetara," a biography of Iijima that starred Takao Osawa and Misaki Ito. Around the same time, Iijima penned a novel also titled "Tengoku de Kimi ni Aetara," as well as a sequel titled "Kamisama ga Kureta Namida." The drama special is based on those two books, which sold more than 450,000 copies combined.

The drama is also being called "Tengoku de Kimi ni Aetara." Ninomiya plays the main character, a psychiatrist working in the counseling room of a cancer treatment center by the beach. While tending to the patients, part of his job involves taking dictation from them when they want to send a letter to a loved one.

Inoue plays the psychiatrist's wife and mother to the couple's twin daughters. Other cast members include Nobuko Miyamoto as a nurse, Yusuke Santamaria as a surgeon, and Naoto Ogata as the owner of a surf shop.

The broadcast date for the drama has not yet been determined.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Yu Yamada shines brighter than crystal at Swarovski anniversary
Saturday 11th April, 05:00 AM JST



Actress Yu Yamada, 24, attended the one-year anniversary party of Swarovski's Ginza location this week, baring her beautiful legs in a cherry blossom-colored miniskirt and covered from head to toe in the jeweler's rings, bangles, earrings and watch. The crystal cake which was displayed at the party was, of course, decorated with a single candle made from crystal to celebrate the store?s first birthday.

Yamada beamed happily, saying, ?I feel honored to be able to wear so much gorgeous jewelry. Women get so excited when they put on something that sparkles? it feels like it makes us more beautiful.

Source: www.japantoday.com

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Ging Nang Boyz bassist gets hitched
Sat, April 11, 2009 (2:05pm EDT)



On Friday, punk band Ging Nang Boyz announced on its official website that bassist Shinya Abiko (30) is now married.

Abiko had been dating the woman for roughly 8 years, though at one point they broke up for about 2 years. They got married on April 4.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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"Iryou Sousakan Zouou" being made into drama
Sat, April 11, 2009 (2:27pm EDT)

The medical mystery manga "Iryou Sousakan Zouou," written by Naoyuki Sakai and illustrated by Fumiko Nagao, is being adapted as a live-action television drama. The manga is currently being serialized in Akita Shoten's Play Comic.

The drama version will be a 2-hour special aired in Fuji TV's "Kinyo Prestige" time slot. The cast and the broadcast date have not yet been determined, but details will be announced in the future on the network's website and in Play Comic.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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"Jin" manga gets drama series
Sat, April 11, 2009 (2:43pm EDT)

Shueisha's Super Jump magazine has announced that the manga "Jin" by Motoka Murakami is being adapted as a live-action series. The comic revolves around a brain surgeon who travels back in time to the Bakumatsu period of the 1800s.

The cast and broadcast dates of the drama are still undecided.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Labor exploitation film gave Matsuda vigor
Sunday 12th April, 02:58 AM JST



TOKYO -

Acting in the film Kanikosen (Crab-Canning Boat) about a fight against labor exploitation gave up-and-coming actor Ryuhei Matsuda vigor, he said during a recent promotional event. "That film made me emotional and made me feel I could do anything," the 25-year-old said during the event also joined by other actors including Hidetoshi Nishijima and the director, who goes by the name Sabu.

Matsuda plays the role of a laborer on a crab cannery boat that incites other workers aboard to rise up against exploitation in the film inspired by the novel of the same name released in 1929 by writer Takiji Kobayashi. Matsuda also expressed sentiment that labor-related problems of today could be more serious than those at the time Kobayashi released the book depicting the hardship of crab-canning workers on a boat in the North Sea. "I think it might be possible that today's laborers are suffering greater pain as it is hard for them to find a clear enemy to beat in a complicated economy-led society, unlike the workers in Kobayashi's novel", Matsuda said.

Source: www.japantoday.com

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Free magazine publisher jazzes up Kansai area
Sunday 12th April, 05:51 AM JST

OSAKA -
A jazz-crazed graphic designer is trying to boost cultural activities related to the music in Osaka and its vicinity, publishing a free magazine and providing detailed information on his website.

Takao Fujioka also has his own studio in Osaka dealing exclusively with jazz-related works and an independent label to release jazz CDs in the Osaka-centered Kansai area, the second-largest business area in Japan following Tokyo.

But Fujioka is a newcomer among jazz aficionados as it was only several years ago that the 30-year-old became interested in the music after listening to the sounds of electric trumpets by jazz giant Miles Davis and Pat Metheny's guitars.

??I was also impressed with record covers in the 1950s and 1960s, especially those of the Blue Note label,?? Fujioka said.

When Fujioka, an Osaka Prefecture native, wanted to go to jazz clubs to see live performances, he found there was only a limited amount of information about the local jazz scene in the Kansai area.

After starting to present the information about clubs and jazz musicians he personally collected on his website, Jazzyanen Kansai, Fujioka realized that he was not the only one who was thirsty for such information. The website's name means "It's jazz" in the Kansai dialect.

"The number of hits on my website was much larger than I expected. I thought there were many people who were craving jazz information," Fujioka said.

On April 1, Fujioka started to distribute 7,000 copies of the monthly magazine Way Out West at locations such as jazz clubs, CD shops and music stores free of charge in the Kansai area.

The magazine, named after a renowned album by saxophonist Sonny Rollins, features live schedules at clubs mainly in Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures, record and concert reviews and interviews.

Fujioka produces, edits and prints the free magazine by himself, saying, "I want to reactivate the jazz culture in the Kansai area to make more people feel the music closely."

Source: www.japantoday.com

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Survey: who do you want to marry?
Mon, April 13, 2009 (2:24am EDT)

The Japanese version of matchmaking site match.com announced the results of the latest edition of its regular survey: "Which celebrity would you want as your marriage partner?" 500 men and women between the ages of 20 and 44 in four major regions participated in the survey.



The always-popular Masaharu Fukuyama (40) ranked 1st on the men's list. On the female list, actress Haruka Ayase (24) ranked highest, based on characteristics such as her calmness, her cheerfulness, and her smile.

Men:

   1. Masaharu Fukuyama
   2. Hiro Mizushima
   3. Shinichi Tsutsumi
   4. Tsuyoshi Kusanagi
   5. Satoshi Tsumabuki

Women:

   1. Haruka Ayase
   2. Aya Ueto
   3. Yukie Nakama
   4. Suzanne
   5. Mao Kobayashi

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Sho Aikawa honored in Nice Couple Awards
Mon, April 13, 2009 (2:57am EDT)



The 2009 Nice Couple Awards were presented on Saturday. The awards are part of the Nice Couple Day campaign surrounding April 22 (which can be read as "yoi fufu," or "nice couple").

This year, one of the honored couples was actor Sho Aikawa (47) and his wife, former actress Kumi Aochi (49). The other couple receiving the prize was actor Hiroshi Katsuno (59) and talento Kathy Nakajima (57).

Source: www.tokyograph.com