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Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part V]
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Nissan fumes over BBC TV program 'Top Gear'
ENTERTAINMENT AUG. 04, 2011 - 10:00AM JST ( 103 )
LONDON —
Jeremy Clarkson, the outspoken presenter of popular British motoring show “Top Gear” on Wednesday defended an episode of the series in which he deliberately runs out of power in Japanese automaker Nissan’s Leaf electric car.
Clarkson drew a furious response from Nissan after Sunday’s episode of the BBC program showed him being pushed along in a Leaf car after its battery went flat.
The presenter, who has whipped up controversy on numerous occasions in the past, was left stranded in the eastern English city of Lincoln where there are no public recharging points for electric cars.
He ended the show with the comment that electric cars “are not the future.”
Nissan blasted the episode as misleading because the car was not fully charged before starting the journey, but in comments to the Times newspaper on Wednesday Clarkson refused to apologise, saying: “That’s how TV works.”
“The piece was about the difficulties of recharging the electric car,” he added.
“At no point did we mislead the viewers. ‘Top Gear’s’ job is to say to everybody, ‘Just a minute, do not believe electric cars can be run as simply as you have been told. Charging them up is a pain in the arse.’”
In an interview after the episode, Andy Palmer, Nissan’s executive vice-president, accused “Top Gear” of deceiving viewers, saying there were safeguards in place to stop Leaf drivers running out of power.
He pointed out that a device sending Nissan updates showed Clarkson had started the day with the battery only 40” charged and said the car appeared to have been driven in loops in Lincoln until the battery was flat.
Andy Wilman, “Top Gear’s” executive producer, denied the show had misled viewers, saying it was intended to highlight the “patchy” recharging infrastructure for electric cars in Britain
In February, the BBC was forced to apologize to the Mexican ambassador to London after a “Top Gear” presenter described Mexicans as “lazy,” “feckless” and “flatulent” in a segment about a sportscar made by Mexican firm Mastretta.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Yukina Kinoshita spends day as station master
ENTERTAINMENT AUG. 05, 2011 - 04:49AM JST ( 10 )
TOKYO —
TV personality Yukina Kinoshita, 23, was appointed honorary station master this week at Kokuritsu-Kyogijo Station on Tokyo’s Oedo subway line. It was part of a publicity drive by public transport point service ToKoPo.
Dressed in her station master’s uniform, Kinoshita performed some common station duties like checking the tracks, making announcements and greeting commuters who arrived at the station. She says she liked her uniform and emailed a photo of herself to her husband, comedian Toshifumi Fujimoto, who replied that she looked cute.
The ToKoPo system, linked to commuters’ PASMO IC travel charge cards, apportions points for journeys made using Tokyo’s public transport system. One point is worth one yen, and charges of 10 yen or above can be used towards travel or other purchases.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Charts: B’z, SKE48, KinKi Kids
Posted on August 3, 2011 by tokyograph
As announced earlier this week, rock duo B'z ranked #1 this week with their album “C'mon,” reaching a milestone of 70 total number-ones and more than 80 million albums and singles sold.
B'z – C'mon – 272,397
JUJU – YOU – 48,496
Momoiro Clover Z – Battle and Romance – 23,697
Lady Gaga – Born This Way – 22,152
Kariyushi58 – Kariyushi58 Best – 21,281
Makihara Noriyuki – Heart to Heart – 20,108
MISIA – SOUL QUEST – 19,894
Various Artists – Rurouni Kenshin Complete Collection – 19,202
Shoujo Jidai – GIRLS' GENERATION – 17,547
Arashi – Beautiful World – 13,251
In singles, AKB48’s sister group SKE48 achieved their second #1 with the single “Pareo wa Emerald,” their first release since moving to Avex. At nearly 379,000 copies sold, they now hold the record for the best first week sales by an AKB48-related artist, not including AKB48 themselves.
SKE48 – Pareo wa Emerald – 378,747
Amuro Namie – NAKED / Fight Together / Tempest – 60,254
Idoling!!! – Don't think. Feel!!! – 38,999
FTIsland – Let it go! – 33,418
Kaoru to Tomoki, Tama ni Mook – Maru Maru Mori Mori! – 33,056
flumpool – Donna Mirai ni mo Ai wa Aru / Touch – 32,029
D?DATE – DAY BY DAY – 16,677
Sphere – LET ME DO!! – 15,231
NMB48 – Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo – 14,421
AK-69 – 69 (P.O.R.S.C.H.E. MUSIC) – 14,248
KinKi Kids also made sales chart headlines for their latest concert DVD, “KinKi Kids 2010-2011 ~Kimi mo Domoto FAMILY~.” It sold roughly 80,000 copies to take #1 in the rankings and to set a new record for most music DVDs to top the overall charts. They were previously tied with Utada Hikaru and Arashi at 8 DVDs.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Ayase Haruka, Fujiki Naohito head to Rome for “Hotaru no Hikari” movie
Posted on August 3, 2011 by tokyograph
The NTV drama series “Hotaru no Hikari” will get a movie in 2012, it has been announced. The movie’s title has not yet been decided, but the story is planned to take place in Rome, Italy, and will be shot on location.
Based on Hiura Satoru’s manga of the same name, “Hotaru no Hikari” had its first season as a television drama in 2007, averaging a 13.7% rating. In 2010, it returned for a second season and improved to a 15.5% average rating.
“Hotaru no Hikari” stars Ayase Haruka (26) as an office worker who has no interest in love and spent her free time idly at home. Her lifestyle is forced to change when she unexpectedly begins living with her boss, played by Fujiki Naohito (39). Love develops between them, and they eventually marry. The movie will take place a couple years after the second season of the drama, when the two take a trip together to Rome.
Shooting will start in the middle of this month. Yoshino Hiroshi, one of the directors of the television series, will be in charge of the film. Returning cast members include Itaya Yuka (36) and Yasuda Ken (37).
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Ninomiya Kazunari returns for “Freeter” drama special
Posted on August 3, 2011 by tokyograph
Arashi’s Ninomiya Kazunari (28) will reprise his role as a freeter for a special episode of the drama series “Freeter, Ie wo Kau.” The original show aired on Fuji TV during fall of last year and averaged a 17.1% rating.
“Freeter, Ie wo Kau” is an adaptation of a novel by Arikawa Hiro. The story revolves around the growth of an unambitious part-timer named Seiji (Ninomiya) who becomes driven to work towards buying a house for the sake of his family. Karina (27) played the part of Manami, the heroine and love interest whom Seiji meets through the construction company he works for.
At the end of the drama series, Seiji successfully buys a home. The special episode will take place a year later, and it will focus on the conclusion of the love story between Seiji and Manami, who have been leading separate lives due to their work.
The special episode will bring back the same production team as the original series, who also worked on the recent hit series “Marumo no Okite” (starring Ashida Mana).
The episode will air this fall, but the exact broadcast date and time have not been announced.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Romance rumor: Perfume’s A~chan, ONE OK ROCK’s Taka
Posted on August 3, 2011 by tokyograph
 
The latest issue of Josei Seven hints that Perfume member Nishiwaki Ayaka (22), also known as A~chan, and ONE OK ROCK vocalist Taka (23) may be in a romantic relationship.
The magazine says that in late July, A~chan took a taxi late at night to Taka’s apartment building, and she was seen wearing a hat and mask to conceal her identity as she entered. She went into Taka’s apartment and turned on the lights, and Taka arrived shortly after that. However, a little later, they were joined by a friend, and A~chan and the friend stayed there until past 5:00am.
A neighborhood resident claims that A~chan has been frequently seen there lately. “She is always hiding her face with a hat and mask, so she actually stands out even more. It seems that she has a spare key, so she freely goes in and out by herself whether it’s early in the morning or late at night.”
Their management agency, Amuse, states that the two are just good friends, but denies that they are dating or that A~chan keeps a spare key. According to the company, on the night in question Taka’s throat was in poor condition, so A~chan went to drop off some medicine.
A mutual friend was quoted in the magazine’s article, saying that the two get along well because they belong to the same agency and are close in age. Both of them had apparently been in separate relationships for a long time, but they both broke up around the same time. As a result, they quickly became even closer, and in July they began visiting each other’s apartments frequently.
ONE OK ROCK recently announced a new album coming out on October 5 and two concerts at Yokohama Arena on January 21-22, 2012.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Live-action “Yamikin Ushijima-kun” gets a movie
Posted on August 4, 2011 by tokyograph
The TBS drama series “Yamikin Ushijima-kun” is being turned into a movie, scheduled for release in 2012. Like the television drama, the film stars actor Yamada Takayuki (27) as a ruthless loan shark named Ushijima and depicts the human drama of people deep in debt.
“Yamikin Ushijima-kun” originally aired during fall of last year. The story is based on a manga by Manabe Shohei that has been running in Shogakukan’s Weekly Big Comic Spirits magazine since 2004.
Yamaguchi Masatoshi, who directed the television series, will also be in charge of the movie. This is his first time directing a theatrical film.
Supporting cast details have not yet been announced.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Miyazaki Hayao’s next film to be autobiographical
Posted on August 4, 2011 by tokyograph
On Wednesday, Studio Ghibli producer Suzuki Toshio attended a talk event at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, which is currently holding an exhibit for Canadian director Frederic Back. During the event, Suzuki surprised the audience by unexpectedly revealing that the next work from director Miyazaki Hayao will be autobiographical.
The event mainly consisted of Suzuki telling behind-the-scenes stories of the production of Miyazaki’s previous films, such as “Spirited Away” and “Howl's Moving Castle.” However, he also revealed to the audience of 200 people that Miyazaki’s next work is an autobiography. Studio Ghibli later said that the staff were also surprised by Suzuki’s sudden announcement.
The studio said that it currently has nothing more to announce beyond what Suzuki mentioned at the event, but it apparently confirmed that the new work will indeed be animated. It is still unclear whether it is a short film or a feature-length film, and when the movie is expected to be finished.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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“Kaibutsu-kun” to get special drama episode as prequel to movie
Posted on August 4, 2011 by tokyograph
The popular drama series “Kaibutsu-kun,” starring Arashi member Ohno Satoshi (30), will be coming back to television for another special episode this fall. The special is said to be an “episode 0? to lead up to the story of the big-budget 3D movie version that will be released on November 26, 2011, which happens to be Ohno’s 31st birthday.
The “Kaibutsu-kun” drama series averaged around 14% ratings during its broadcast run in April-June 2010. It got a special episode just two weeks after the series ended. This new special episode, with the working title “Kaibutsu-kun Shinsaku SP!,” is expected to air before the movie’s premiere but does not yet have an official broadcast date.
Besides Ohno, returning cast members that have been confirmed include Yashima Norito (40), Ueshima Ryuhei (50), Choi Hong Man (30), Kawashima Umika (17), Matsuoka Masahiro (34), Hamada Tatsuomi (10), Inamori Izumi (39), Kaga Takeshi (50), and Becky (27).
Filming for the special is planned to take place in September.
Last month, advance tickets for the “Kaibutsu-kun” movie went on sale, and 105,762 tickets were sold in the first two days.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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TOKIO’s Joshima spotted on late-night date
Posted on August 4, 2011 by tokyograph
This week’s issue of FRIDAY reveals details and photos of TOKIO leader Joshima Shigeru (40) enjoying a night on the town. In late July, he was seen bar-hopping in Tokyo’s Nishi-Azabu district and eventually returning to his apartment with a young woman.
According to the magazine, Joshima met up with a beautiful woman in her 20s at a girls bar on a night in late July. Over the course of the night, they ate at a Chinese restaurant and went drinking at multiple places, including a high-class members-only club. In the end, at around 3:00am, they took a taxi back to Joshima’s apartment. Joshima was apparently heavily drunk, so the woman took Joshima’s key and helped him into the elevator.
The woman is said to be a glamorous and stylish beauty who works for a fashion-related company. Joshima’s management says that the two are just friends.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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24th Tokyo International Film Festival to open with 'The Three Musketeers'
ENTERTAINMENT AUG. 06, 2011 - 04:00AM JST ( 2 )
TOKYO —
The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) committee has announced that “The Three Musketeers,” directed by Paul W.S. Anderson (“Resident Evil” and “Mortal Kombat”), has been selected as the official opening film for the 24th festival. Based on the classic novel by Alexandre Dumas, the film is a powerful action adventure update in 3-D, starring Logan Lerman, Milla Jovovich, Orlando Bloom and Christoph Waltz.
Organizers said that Jovovich, 35, and Lerman will attend the opening ceremony at Roppongi Hills. The festival runs from Oct 22 until Oct 30. “The Three Musketeers” will open nationwide on Oct 28.
The rest of the film festival’s line-up will be announced in September.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Hirose Alice stars in horror movie “Lost Harmony”
Posted on August 5, 2011 by tokyograph
Actress Hirose Alice (16) has been given her first starring movie role in a horror film titled “Lost Harmony.” The movie is directed by Toki Yoshimasa and is scheduled for release in theaters this December.
“Lost Harmony” focuses on the 7 members of a girls’ high school chorus group, along with their teacher. In order to prepare for an upcoming competition, they lodge together at a lakeside bungalow, where they soon find themselves surrounded by strange and eerie phenomena.
Hirose, who plays the leader of the chorus, said that for some of the scary scenes, she actually cried during filming. She also described the movie as being “very deep,” as it also includes scenes of friendship and jealousy among the students.
Hirose’s supporting cast includes Yoshitani Ayako (19) and Takahata Mitsuki (19).
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Walt Disney Pictures to adapt “Tuxedo Gin” manga
Posted on August 5, 2011 by tokyograph
Walt Disney Pictures is adapting Matsuura Tokihiko’s manga series “Tuxedo Gin” as a movie under the title “Tux,” it has been learned. It is not entirely clear whether the film will be live-action or animated, though reports so far seem to suggest the former.
“Night at the Museum” co-writer Robert Ben Garant will be handling the screenplay. Paul Young and Peter Principato will produce, along with VIZ Media’s Jason Hoffs and Shogakukan’s Ichiro Takase.
The story follows a “young street fighter who falls into a coma and learns that he has lived his life so selfishly that he only has enough karma points to be reincarnated as an animal 15 pounds or less.” He ends up choosing to become a penguin because it is his girlfriend’s favorite animal, and he is determined to carry out enough good deeds to earn back his former body.
The deal for the movie rights reportedly took almost two years to close. There are no details yet on when the movie is planned for release.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Emi Takei has her sights set on Hollywood
ENTERTAINMENT AUG. 07, 2011 - 05:31AM JST ( 17 )
TOKYO —
Actress Emi Takei, 17, is keen to work in Hollywood. After finishing a voice acting assignment for the Japanese version of the forthcoming “Wild Speed: Mega Max,” she says she would love to be in a Hollywood action movie. She says voice acting for films was a challenge “because it is hard to match the mood of the characters on screen with your own.”
Speaking about the movie’s rough-and-tumble lead character, played by Vin Diesel, Takei said she likes wild guys who can take control. “The character may look a little dangerous, but he has a good heart. Men like that appeal to me,” she said.
“Wild Speed: Mega Max” is directed by Justin Lin. It opens in Japan on Oct 1.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Sakai Masaaki gets married on 65th birthday
Posted on August 6, 2011 by tokyograph
Actor Sakai Masaaki turned 65 on Saturday, and on the same day he officially registered his marriage with his girlfriend, who is 22 years younger. This is Sakai’s third marriage.
Sakai and his wife were first reported to be in a relationship in March 2003 when they were seen enjoying a vacation together in Bali, Indonesia. Sources say they met through a close friend in 2002 and their love developed over the past 8 years.
Sakai first married in 1974 and divorced in 1980. In 1989, he remarried to actress Okada Miri (aka Millie Okada), and they gave birth to two daughters before divorcing in 2001.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Kitagawa Keiko, Ashida Mana voice leads of animated film “Magic Tree House”
Posted on August 6, 2011 by tokyograph
Kitagawa Keiko (24) has been given her first work as a voice actress. She will voice the lead of the animated film “Magic Tree House,” a young boy named Jack. It has also been decided that child star Ashida Mana (7) will join her as the voice of Jack’s younger sister Annie.
“Magic Tree House” is an award-winning series of children’s fantasy books by American author Mary Pope Osborne. The series has sold more than 92 million copies worldwide, and the Japanese editions alone have sold over 3.5 million copies. The books tell the adventures of a brother and sister named Jack and Annie who have a magical tree house and visit different regions and time periods around the world.
Kitagawa and Ashida first worked together before for the NTV drama special “Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni” that just aired on August 5.
The animated film “Magic Tree House” is scheduled for release in theaters on January 7, 2012.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Kumi Koda to sing theme song for 'Second Virgin'
ENTERTAINMENT AUG. 08, 2011 - 05:44AM JST ( 11 )
TOKYO —
Singer Kumi Koda will sing the theme song for the upcoming film “Second Virgin.” The film is an adaptation of a series by the same name that ran on NHK last year (for which she also sang the theme song). The film and series both touch on the issue of adultery.
In a statement released by her music label, Koda said, “It’s never too late to love,” explaining the mood of the film, which stars Kyoka Suzuki, Hiroyuki Hasegawa and Kyoko Fukada. “You don’t need a reason to love someone. This film really showed me that.”
The film focuses on Suzuki’s character, a renowned producer, and her love affair with an Internet stock broker 17 years her junior.
Koda, who recorded the theme song, “Ai wo Yamenaide” specifically for the film, reportedly left 100 demos on the cutting room floor as she tried to find the perfect sound to represent the film’s story. She settled on a love ballad. “I wanted a song that captures the sadness of a forbidden love,” she said.
The single will be released on Sept 21 and the movie opens on Sept 23.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Rock vocalist Joe Yamanaka dies at 64
Posted on August 7, 2011 by tokyograph
Rock singer Joe Yamanaka (real name Yamanaka Akira) passed away on Sunday morning at 6:56am at a hospital in Yokosuka, Kanagawa. He was 64 years old. The cause of death was lung cancer, which he was diagnosed with in March 2010. A funeral service will be held in Shinagawa, Tokyo, on August 12.
Yamanaka was best known as the vocalist of the rock group Flower Travellin' Band, which was formed in 1968. After the band broke up in 1973, Yamanaka went solo. He also made appearances on television and in movies, including the 1977 film “Ningen no Shoumei” and the 1989 version of “Zatoichi.”
Yamanaka was also active with charity and volunteer work both overseas and in Japan. He recently participated in fund-raising activities and a charity concert for the earthquake and tsunami relief efforts in the Tohoku region. However, in late July, he was hospitalized after a cardiopulmonary arrest.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Kitano Kie to succeed Shinohara Ryoko in special episode of “Unfair”
Posted on August 7, 2011 by tokyograph
Actress Kitano Kie (20) will be playing a police detective for the first time as the lead role in a special episode of the Fuji TV drama series “Unfair.” Her character, a rookie officer, will be partnered with Terajima Susumu’s (47) character, forming an unlikely combination.
Starring Shinohara Ryoko (37), the action/suspense series “Unfair” originally aired in 2006 and got its first special episode later that year. In 2007, a theatrical film titled “Unfair the movie” was released. Then in May of this year, it was announced that the franchise will return with another movie, titled “Unfair the answer,” scheduled for release on September 17.
Kitano’s character, named Mochizuki Akira, will appear in the new television special that is set for broadcast this fall. It is tentatively titled “Unfair the special ~Double Meaning Niju Teigi~.” Mochizuki is a rookie detective who joins the force as a successor to Shinohara’s character Yukihira Natsumi.
Other confirmed cast members include Abe Sadao (41), Kato Masaya (48), and new addition Yamamoto Koji (34). Although no longer the star, Shinohara will make a special appearance. Sato Koichi (50), who has been cast in the “Unfair the answer” movie, will also appear in the special.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Actress Ryo to star in first drama in new NHK time slot
Posted on August 7, 2011 by tokyograph
This October, NHK is launching a new television drama time slot on Tuesday nights, called “YoruDora.” The first show to fill the slot will be titled “Bittersugar,” starring actress Ryo (38). Although Ryo has been acting since 1996, this will be her first time playing the lead role in a television series.
The drama is based on author Oshima Masumi’s novel “Nijiiro Tenki Ame” and its sequel “Bittersugar.” The story portrays three women around the age of 40 whose friendship is damaged in an incident, leading them to tell each other how they truly feel.
Ryo plays a freelance writer. The other two main characters are being played by Wakui Emi (40) and Suzuki Sawa (38). Cunning Takeyama, Hakamada Yoshihiko, Oshinari Shugo, Arakawa Chika, Inoue Waka, Togi Hideki, and Toyohara Kosuke will also appear in the series.
The “YoruDora” time slot will be on Tuesday nights from 10:55pm to 11:24pm. “Bittersugar” will premiere on October 18 and run for 10 episodes.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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