Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part II]

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"Okuribito" breaks 6 billion
Mon, April 13, 2009 (1:50am EDT)



Film distributor Shochiku announced on Monday that Yojiro Takita's "Okuribito" ("Departures") has surpassed the 6 billion yen mark in its 31st week at the box office. Shochiku said that as of April 12, the movie has been seen in theaters by approximately 5.25 million people.

In February, "Okuribito" won the prize for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards. At that time, the film had made 3.2 billion yen at the box office, but since then it has made an additional 2.8 billion.

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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It seems that the frank nature of Kansai comedians just keeps getting them into trouble. Popular talento Kitano Makoto (50, photo left) has been taken off the air indefinitely, according to his Shochiku Geino management agency. The specific reason has not been made clear but it is believed to have been something he said on his long-running radio show "Makoto no Psychic Seinendan." The show was abruptly taken off the air last month, three weeks earlier than scheduled, after a run of 21 years. A regular on several TV shows, in each case Kitano has either already made his final appearance or will not be renewing his contract. A popular celebrity for the last two decades, his mouth has often gotten him into trouble. One famous incident was in 1993 when his scathing comments about a nude photo book published by Yamamoto Linda (58), a popular singer but well past her prime, led to a ?100-million slander case.

Meanwhile, it looks like the "when in Rome" adage doesn't apply to TV celebrities indulging in drugs. The Ministry of Health and Welfare's narcotics control department in the Kinki district announced last Friday that it issued a formal warning to the Osaka-based Asahi Housou TV network over a segment aired back in January. The "Sekai no Mura de Hakken!" show featured comedian Chihara Seiji (39, photo right) on a visit to Bolivia. At one point he stopped and asked the lady at a street stall, "Is this coca leaf?" and then tried chewing some. The scene even featured subtitles that made it clear what it was he was chewing on. Though the Bolivian government actively supports the plant's agriculture - president Evo Morales, a former coca growers union leader, says that "coca is not cocaine" - it is strictly illegal in Japan. A TV Asahi spokeserson said, "We were trying to reflect the different culture of a foreign country, but we should have been more prudent." The network has checked that none of the program's staff brought coca leaves back to Japan. And if a repeat of the show is broadcast, the offending scene will be cut.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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International stars Hangry&Angry release their new digital-only single today on JapanFiles.com, titled 'SadisticDance..

April 11, 2009 by Dennis Amith
Free Japan Travel Guide - Learn More
A J!-ENT Exclusive!

The single is available at the same time as Hangry&Angry's appearance at Sakura-Con in Seattle, WA. The artists make their North American performance debut this weekend at the yearly Japanese cultural event, held April 10-12, 2009, at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in downtown Seattle.



Source: www.nt2099.com/J-ENT

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Idoling!!! and AKB48 perform together for first time as AKB Idoling!!!

Tuesday 14th April, 02:00 AM JST



TOKYO -

Pop groups Idoling!!! and AKB48 performed together for the first time this week under the name AKB Idoling!!!, a new group formed with eight members from each of the original groups. The 16 girls sang 6 songs in front of about 2,000 fans at ShinKiba Studio Coast, including their debut single 'Chuu shiyou ze!' or 'Let's kiss!,' which was at No. 2 on the Oricon Style singles charts as of Monday.

Mai Oshima, 21, who will retire from AKB48 after their performance at NHK Hall in Shibuya on April 26, said: "I'm really happy to finish with these memories." Erika Tonooka, 17, said of the new group: "If we put out a lot of songs, we can change the members and everyone can perform as AKB Idoling!!!"

Source: www.japantoday.com

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Norika Fujiwara reveals that the fatigue from her divorce and work had made her ill

April 13, 2009 by J!-ENT
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A J!-ENT Exclusive!



Fujiwara Norika (37) has been keeping a low profile since her divorce last month,  but the actress talks about how the divorce and the fatigue of constant working has kept her fatigued and even made her ill with gastritis and enteritis.

With the anxiety of her personal life, her obligations as ambassador to Africa and shooting for the NHK drama 'Tsure ga Utsu ni Narimashite', her body just gave out.

Her lymphocite count has decreased and immune system very low, the actress had to go to the hospital and receive treatment and get better.

Source: www.nt2099.com/J-ENT

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ANIME EXPO ANNOUNCES MUSICAL COMPOSER OF BLAZBLUE AND GUILTY GEAR PRODUCER TO ATTEND ANIME EXPO AS AN OFFICIAL GUEST OF HONOR

April 13, 2009 by J!-ENT
A J!-ENT Exclusive!

Anaheim, California and Tokyo, Japan (April 13, 2009) - Anime Expo is proud
to announce the attendance of the world re-known South African born producer
and composer Daisuke Ishiwatari to the nation's largest anime and manga
convention held July 2-5, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. More
information can be found on the website www.anime-expo.org
<http://www.anime-expo.org> .

Mr. Daisuke Ishiwatari is famed for single-handedly creating the first
GUILTY GEAR game, but he says it wasn't all just him and shares this credit,
"That is not quite true. In fact, it is a big misunderstanding. The core
development team consisted of about five people. I was entertained by the
idea that I could create a game, and got my toes wet in areas like concept,
planning, direction, design, music, writing, and voice acting, so that may
be where the rumors stem from. However, by no means did I 'single-handedly'
create this game' In fact, I often came to my colleagues for help."

Mr. Ishiwatari is currently working on the Aksys Games title BLAZBLUE as its
composer.

Daisuke Ishiwatari joins Toshimichi Mori and Morning Musume as official
Anime Expo 2009 Guests of Honor.

Attendees, Press and Industry Members are also encouraged to view the video
coverage site of the 2008 convention at www.AXBackstage.org
<http://www.AXBackstage.org> .

Red & Black Sponsors include: FUNimation, Silver Sponsors include: Anime
News Network and Digital Manga Press, Patron Sponsors include: COPIC,
Central Park Media and The Right Stuf, Media Sponsors include: ImaginAsian
TV, Animation Magazine, Anime Insider Magazine and Anime News Network.

But Fujiwara compared her life to the photograph of a weeping cherry blossom tree and that when the time comes, she will bloom again.

Source: www.nt2099.com/J-ENT

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Kii Kitano appointed 'New employee for a day' at Asahi Soft Drinks sampling event

Tuesday 14th April, 10:19 AM JST



TOKYO -

Actress [bpKii Kitano, 18, took part in a sampling event held by Asahi Soft Drinks in Marunouchi on Monday, at which she was appointed 'New employee for a day.' At the event, she handed out new WONDA coffee and Mitsuya Cider samples with 20 new Asahi Soft Drinks employees.

Kitano, who appears in the commercial for the new Mitsuya Cider product and who graduated from high school last month, said it was her first time to wear a suit. She said: "I'm pretty happy about getting my own business card. Also, I often appear on stage by myself, so I enjoyed working with other people today."

When asked what kind of employee she?d like to be if she were to work for a large company, she said: "I'd like to fire up the other employees and have a good time. I'd also like to experience being the kind of woman who is so busy she doesn't have time for breakfast."

Source: www.japantoday.com

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Takayuki Yamada plays "narcissistic stalker" in new film
Tue, April 14, 2009 (1:11am EDT)



Actor Takayuki Yamada (25) has been cast in the upcoming movie "Oarai ni mo Hoshi wa Furu Nari," directed by Yuichi Fukuda ("33-pun Tantei"). The film is an adaptation of a 2006 play produced by Fukuda's theatrical troupe, Bravo Company.

The story is set at the beach in winter, where seven quirky men are competing for the affection of one "madonna." As their efforts unfold, various truths about the men come to light. The colorful cast includes a shark maniac and a "choiwaru oyaji" (a middle-aged man who is a bit of a bad boy), as well as Yamada's character, a young man named Sugimoto. Sugimoto is a narcissist, believing that he is the only man who suits the "madonna." But as the plot progresses, it is discovered that Sugimoto has been peeking into her mail every day, making him seem like a stalker.

The complete cast has not yet been announced. "Oarai ni mo Hoshi wa Furu Nari" is expected to open in the fall.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Reiji Nakagawake marries piano instructor
Tue, April 14, 2009 (1:27am EDT)

Reiji Nakagawake (37), the younger brother in comedy duo Nagakawake, got married last week. His wife is a 30-year-old piano instructor from Aichi whom he had been dating for about a year and a half. They were already living together by the time they registered their marriage on April 8.

This is the second marriage for Reiji, who previously wedded in 1998.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Mizutani falsely accused of groping in Fuji TV dramaO/bP
Tue, April 14, 2009 (3:31am EDT)



Actor Yutaka Mizutani (56), perhaps best known for his co-starring role in the detective series "Aibou," will star in a one-shot drama special on Fuji TV. Tentatively titled "Dareka ga Uso wo Tsuiteiru," the drama will revolve around a false accusation of groping, similar to Masayuki Suo's award-winning film "Soredemo Boku wa Yattenai."

Mizutani plays a salaryman arrested on charges of groping a high school girl on a train. He pleads innocent, but during the opening trial he is found guilty by the judge. As he appeals the decision and continues his battle against the false accusation, the drama takes a documentary-like look at the people surrounding the case, including his family.

Fuji TV plans to broadcast the drama sometime this year.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Rie Miyazawa's marriage made official
Tue, April 14, 2009 (2:03am EDT)



In February, it was learned that actress Rie Miyazawa (36) was pregnant and engaged. Now, it has been revealed that Miyazawa officially registered her marriage earlier this month. It was initially just reported that her husband is a businessman, but newer reports say that he is also a former professional surfer currently living in Hawaii. He is said to be in his forties.

The two had a "garden wedding" in Aoyama, Tokyo, on April 2nd with family and close friends attending. Her agency stated that the pair filed their marriage registration papers around the same time.

Currently 8 months pregnant, Miyazawa's last appearance before her maternity leave was on March 7th, at the opening of her latest movie, "Gelatin Silver, Love."

There are rumors that Miyazawa will give birth in Hawaii, but her management explained that she is still in Japan. Regarding her future career, it is said that she has no plans to retire. As for the honeymoon, her agency continued, "Her stomach is pretty big now, so it should probably wait until after her condition has settled down."

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Teppei Koike stars in "Black Gaisha"
Tue, April 14, 2009 (2:34am EDT)

One of the many films recently unveiled by Asmik Ace is "Black Gaisha ni Tsutometerundaga, Mou Ore wa Genkai Kamoshirenai," the next effort from director Yuichi Sato ("Kisaragi"). Like the 2005 hit "Densha Otoko," the movie is based on a popular thread from internet forum 2channel that was later published as a book.



Teppei Koike stars as a 26-year-old NEET who has been living with his mother ever since dropping out of high school. After his mother dies, he sets out to get a job as a computer programmer, but with no real education or work experience, he winds up working for a "black gaisha," a term referring to a company that severely overworks its employees. Pushed to his limits, the naive young man is forced to grow as a person, with support and criticism from his fellow 2channel posters.



Koike's supporting cast includes model Maiko, Kei Tanaka, comedian Hiroshi Shinagawa, and Seiichi Tanabe. Filming starts on April 19, aiming for a theatrical release this coming winter.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Ballet dancer adds modern dimension to traditional exercise routine

Wednesday 15th April, 03:02 AM JST



TOKYO -

Popular ballet dancer Kazuhiro Nishijima has added modern moves to a traditional exercise routine in Japan which started to be aired on the radio nationwide 80 years ago.

In his new DVD fitness manual, Nishijima, 37, demonstrates a series of moves for 'Radio Taiso' (exercise) to the accompaniment of piano and violin, adding a modern style to the exercise routine that started in 1928 under a government project to improve fitness. If people try to do this routine more elegantly by stretching their fingers, they will find they behave more gently in other situations such as putting something on a table, Nishijima said.

The exercise routine is aired everyday by public broadcaster NHK.

Source: www.japantoday.com

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Second-tier celebrity Ogasawara Masaya (33) has been arrested for having sex with an underage schoolgirl. Tokyo Metropolitan Police said they arrested the comedian at the Tachikawa police station on April 12, though the crime dates back to June of last year. Ogasawara is said to have met the 16-year-old high school student through a mobile game website and, though he knew she was underage, had sex with her at his home in the Tokyo suburb of Suginami. He has admitted to the offense and is to be sent to the Tokyo District Court today. Though one of the lesser known comedians in the Yoshimoto Kogyo (profile) stable, Ogasawara appeared quite regularly on the variety show circuit. Before entering Yoshimoto's training school in 2002, he practiced the family business of fortune telling in his hometown of Sapporo and he used that background in his comedy after graduating from the school in 2004. As in the case of comedian Yamamoto Keiichi, who was arrested for rape in 2006, a return to show business is unlikely.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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Actor Nakamura Shunta (31) has been released with a suspended indictment following his recent drug arrest. The son of actor Nakamura Masatoshi (58) and actress Igarashi Junko (56) was nabbed by police in Tokyo on April 4 for possession of marijuana. But the Tokyo District Court decided that as it was a first offense, the amount of the drug was small, and perhaps most importantly he showed the required remorse, he would not be prosecuted. On his release yesterday afternoon, he bowed deeply to reporters outside the Takaido police station and muttered a one-word apology, "Sumimasen" (sorry). He was then bundled into a waiting car by his managers and lawyer, who said he plans to formally apologize at a press conference in the next few days. His parents did not visit him during his 10-day detention, but they issued a statement yesterday. "We heard that he received leniency and was released. His lawyers tell us that he is both physically and mentally drained by the incident. We will give him some time and then talk with him about he should repent, apologize and get on with his life." Masatoshi, who is also president of the management agency that handles him, originally said he would see that his son gave up show business. His name has been taped over on posters promoting the movie "Kondo no Nichiyobini," which opened last Saturday, though his scenes have not been cut.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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Details still haven't emerged as to what exactly talento Kitano Makoto (50) said on air to get himself into so much trouble. But his Shochiku Geino management agency and the Asahi Housou network have resigned from the Japan Association of Music Enterprises as a result. Shochiku has also taken internal disciplinary measures against several employees. JAME has said that the problem is not just Kitano's remarks about a particular individual. They said that, during the more than 20 years that his "Makoto no Seinendan" show has been on ABC radio, he has a history of inappropriate and slanderous remarks. They filed a formal complaint with the two companies in March. JAME has about 100 talent agencies and 40 broadcast networks among its membership. A popular and well-known celebrity, Kitano has been dropped from all of his regular TV and radio shows and his show business future is in doubt.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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Meanwhile, more trouble over at TBS. The network was ordered to compensate a man identified without permission during a live morning show in January 2007. The Mino Monta-hosted "Asa Zuba!" show included a live segment on a murder scene where a Tokyo woman had killed her husband and dismembered his body. The face of the man who sued the network was clearly visible during the broadcast and he was identified as a garbage truck driver. At the Tokyo District Court, he sought ?11 million in damages from TBS and Mino, claiming that the unwanted exposure had led to his son being bullied and forced to change elementary schools. The court ordered TBS to pay 1.2 million but said that Mino bore no responsibility.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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Successful surgery for AKB48's Oshima
Wed, April 15, 2009 (12:44am EDT)



On Tuesday, AKB48's official blog revealed that Team K member Yuko Oshima (20) has just received a successful throat surgery, though the reason for the operation was not fully explained.

The blog post included a picture of Oshima holding up the peace sign while lying in a hospital bed with a respirator. She is said to be back to her normal self with the exception of being unable to speak.

It is unknown when Oshima will return to work. Oshima was also briefly hospitalized last December when she underwent surgery for acute appendicitis.

Source: www.japantoday.com

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"Atashinchi no Danshi" made into manga
Wed, April 15, 2009 (1:00am EDT)

The Fuji TV comedy series "Atashinchi no Danshi," which just premiered on Tuesday night, is being turned into a manga. New artist Minami Mizuno is doing the artwork for the two-part comic.



Starring Maki Horikita, the drama tells the story of a young woman burdened by her father's debt. Reduced to homelessness, she meets a wealthy man who offers to take care of her debt if she marries him and raises his six adopted sons.

The manga version is being labeled as an "episode 0," telling a part of the story that does not appear in the television series. The comic is running in Shueisha's Bessatsu Margaret magazine, with the first part printed in the May issue (currently on sale), and the second part to follow in the June issue (on sale May 13).

According to Video Research Ltd., the first episode of "Atashinchi no Danshi" achieved ratings of 14.1% in the Kanto region.

Source: www.tokyograph.com