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Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part II]
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news: artistes/movie
Porno Graffiti ties up with "Flying Rabbits"
Tue, May 13, 2008 (11:08am EDT)
This fall, Porno Graffiti is releasing a new single titled "Gift," which will be used as the theme song to director Takahisa Zeze's movie "Flying Rabbits," in theaters on September 13.
The movie was first announced last July. It is based on a novel by writer Yusuke Fukada about the women's basketball team JAL Rabbits (affiliated with the airline JAL). Satomi Ishihara is playing the lead role.
Porno Graffiti will be heading into their 10th year since their debut on September 8. The duo has several other projects lined up this year to commemorate the occasion, including another single, "Itai Tachi Ichi," that goes on sale June 25. They also have concerts lined up at Yokohama Stadium on September 6-7 and at the Akashi Kaikyo National Government Park in Awaji on September 14-15.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: movie
"Crows Zero" sequel confirmed
Tue, May 13, 2008 (1:50am EDT)
Last year's hit manga-to-film adaptation "Crows ZERO" has been confirmed to be getting a sequel, it was learned on Monday. Director Takashi Miike is again taking the helm, and popular actor Shun Oguri is reprising his role as the protagonist Genji Takaya.
Oguri has already begun training for the movie, which starts filming in July. The story is set about 8 months after the first movie. Genji is close to graduation at Suzuran High School, but one last matter must be settled with a rival school.
According to producer Mataichiro Yamamoto, there was never any intention to end the story after only one film. However, this sequel is reportedly the story's conclusion. Kyosuke Yabe is also returning, though other cast members from the first movie (such as Takayuki Yamada) have not yet been mentioned.
"Crows ZERO 2" will open in 2009.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news:movie
[J-ENT] Tokiwa Takako to play heroine in 揟suribaka Nisshi擺/b]
JapanToday.com reported, 揊ilm maker Shochiku says the 19th movie in the popular fishing series 揟suribaka nisshi擺/b] will star Takako Tokiwa, 36, as the 21st heroine in the long-running series. The films are about a salaryman (Toshiyuki Nishida, 60) and his president (Rentaro Mikuni, 85) who travel nationwide for their fishing hobby. The 19th film is set in Oita Prefecture. |
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news: dorama
23.8% ratings for "CHANGE" premiere
Wed, May 14, 2008 (12:31am EDT)
The premiere episode of the Fuji TV drama series "CHANGE" aired on Monday night. It received a respectable 23.8% rating, though it was surely lower than the network had hoped for (especially with a promotional campaign giving away a free car). It failed to beat out NTV's "Gokusen 3" which started out last month at 26.4%. This is the first time since the 1998 drama "Nemureru Mori" that a Takuya Kimura series has not had the highest-rated first episode of the season.
On the other hand, the series can also be seen as a minor triumph in an era of declining ratings, given that it has the highest-rated premiere for an original series in the past 3 years.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: idols
AKB48 hosts "reality-documentary-variety" show
Wed, May 14, 2008 (1:48am EDT)
Theater idol group AKB48 is getting a show on satellite television called "AKB48 Nemousu TV," billed as a "reality-documentary-variety" program. The show captures the unit's members as they are forced to participate in various activities, such as attending their first goukon (group date).
The show will run on the Family Gekijo channel at 1:00am on Sunday nights, starting on July 13.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: event
Artists unite for Olympic support song
Wed, May 14, 2008 (2:10am EDT)
A group of top musicians is collaborating on a song titled "Waratte Misete Kure," meant to be a show of support for the Japanese athletes competing in this year's Olympics.
The Japanese Olympic Committee invited music producer Yoshiyuki Sahashi to handle the song. He recruited the vocal talent of 10 artists, including his wife Takako Matsu, whom he married in December. This is their first work together since they married.
The rest of the lineup features Kosuke Atari, Kenji Okahira, Kazumasa Oda, Chikuzen Sato, Tortoise Matsumoto, Ayaka Hirahara, Fumiya Fujii, Bonnie Pink, and Kazufumi Miyazawa. Together, the entire group is taking on the name "Band for 'Sanka'".
Sahashi worked with Oda and Matsumoto to provide the lyrics and composition, and Sahashi was also in charge of arrangement and the song's guitar accompaniment. The song will be released as a single on June 25.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: dorama
Meisa Kuroki starring in drama version of "Danso no Reijin"
Wed, May 14, 2008 (2:31am EDT)
TV Asahi is producing a drama special about the life of Yoshiko Kawashima, a Manchu princess who became a spy for the Kwantung Army and was eventually executed by the Chinese government. Her story was partly responsible for the coining of the phrase "danso no reijin" ("beauty in male attire"), referring to her inclination to dress as a man. Though Kawashima has been depicted in various media throughout the years, including TV Asahi's "Ruten no Ouhi" in 2003 (where Kawashima was played by Makiko Esumi), this will be the first television dramatization focusing on her life.
The drama, currently titled "Danso no Reijin ~Kawashima Yoshiko no Shogai~," stars young actress Meisa Kuroki. Kuroki, who prepared for the part with lessons in Chinese and horseback riding, will play Kawashima between the ages of 14 and 35. Yuki Yagi is taking over for the childhood scenes, and Miki Maya is acting out the later stages of Kawashima's life.
 
Filming started in mid-April. TV Asahi plans to broadcast the drama by the end of this year.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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survey
Oricon: Nakama again named celebrity with best black hair
Wed, May 14, 2008 (11:06am EDT)
Oricon repeated its survey from last year that asked the public who they think looks best with black hair, though this time around the survey divided the choices for male and female celebrities.
Not surprisingly, the female list was very similar to the previous results, with Yukie Nakama once again in the lead. Mika Nakashima and Chiaki Kuriyama traded places, ranking at #2 and #3, respectively, while Yui Aragaki moved up one place to #4 and Meisa Kuroki jumped three places to land at #5.
Best black hair (female):
1) Yukie Nakama
2) Mika Nakashima
3) Chiaki Kuriyama
4) Yui Aragaki
5) Meisa Kuroki
On the men's list, Junichi Okada took the top spot, ahead of Ryo Nishikido, who was the only male in last year's top 10 (he was #9). Hiroshi Tamaki ranked 3rd, while Jun Matsumoto tied with Satoshi Tsumabuki for 4th.
Best black hair (male):
1) Junichi Okada
2) Ryo Nishikido
3) Hiroshi Tamaki
4) Jun Matsumoto
4) Satoshi Tsumabuki
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: movie
Yuichi Sato now working on "Shugotenshi," starring Cunning Takeyama
Wed, May 14, 2008 (11:08am EDT)
Director Yuichi Sato, known for his recent hit "Kisaragi" and a multitude of television dramas, is at work on a new film titled "Shugotenshi" ("Guardian Angel"). The movie stars comedian Cunning Takeyama in his first lead role, acting opposite the more experienced Shinobu Terajima.
The comedic story (written by author Yu Uemura) originally won the Japan Love Story Award in 2006. Takeyama plays a balding, unattractive, and uncool middle-aged salaryman. During his commute to work, he becomes instantly attracted to a high school girl, and when he ends up saving her from trouble, it regains him the affection of his wife (Terajima).
The supporting cast includes Kuranosuke Sasaki, Ren Osugi, and Shiro Sano. Shooting began at the end of March and is currently in progress in the Kanto area. The movie is targeted for release in spring 2009.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: dorama
Teppei leads first drama with "Shibatora" adaptation
Wed, May 14, 2008 (12:57am EDT)
"Shibatora," a manga written by Tadashi Agi (under the pen name Yuma Ando) and illustrated by Masashi Asaki, is being turned into a live-action series this summer. The popular comic currently runs in Weekly Shonen Magazine and has so far sold 420,000 volumes.
The comical story revolves around a young-looking detective named Taketora Shibata (nicknamed Shibatora). Because of his appearance, he is able to easily blend in with the juvenile delinquents he deals with on a regular basis.
Tsuguaki Tatematsu, the Fuji TV producer in charge of planning for the series, said that after reading the comic, his only choice for the lead role was WaT's Teppei Koike. Koike happily agreed to play the part, which will be his first time starring in a television series.
Nikkan Sports reports that Suzuka Ohgo will play the heroine, while Muga Tsukaji (of Drunk Dragon) plays a former genius hacker. Miki Maya and Daisuke Miyagawa play Shibatora's co-workers. Tsukaji's comedy partner, Taku Suzuki, is also in the cast, along with Koji Imada as a guest actor.
Fuji TV will air the drama on Tuesdays at 9:00pm, starting in July.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: music
JASRAC has announced the biggest royalty-earning songs from last year. The Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers based its rankings not just on CD sales but also things like digital downloads and karaoke. The top five earners were:
1. Flavor of Life - Utada Hikaru
2. Evangelion BGM
3. Lovers Again - Exile
4. DragonballZ BGM
5. Nada Sou Sou - Natsukawa Rimi, Begin, Moriyama Ryoko
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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news: CM
Pop queen Koda Kumi (25) has been replaced as the pitchwoman for Kirin's chuhai brand. She appeared in commercials for "Kirin Chuhai Hyoketsu" for several years but the spots were all dropped back in February after Koda said some things she shouldn't have on a radio show. A Kirin spokesperson said simply, "Ms. Koda's contract was originally until this spring." She has been replaced by actress Fukuda Kyoko (25).
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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news: celebrities
[J-ENT] Yamada Yu releases new album and confesses her love with Oguri Shun
 
Mainichi Daily News reported, 揂ctress-model Yu Yamada |
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news: idols
H!P news: Taiwan audition, new unit High-King starts PR
Thu, May 15, 2008 (1:44am EDT)
At the end of this month, Hello! Project is starting an audition in Taiwan, called the "Hello! Project New Star Audition." It will reportedly run for three months and aired on TV in Taiwan, with the winners getting their chance to debut in Japan as part of Hello! Project.
In separate news, the PR campaign has begun for H!P's newest project High-King, a temporary group composed of five stars from the company's major units. Morning Musume's Ai Takahashi and Reina Tanaka are being joined by Berryz Koubou captain Saki Shimizu, C-ute leader Maimi Yajima, and Hello! Pro Egg Yuuka Maeda. Tsunku says he chose the members for their dancing ability, as their debut song "C/C (Cinderella Complex)" is a rhythmic tune that is also being described as different from Hello! Project's usual fare.
Scheduled for release on June 11, "C/C" is a support song for the upcoming "Cinderella the Musical," a production being done in collaboration with the Takarazuka Revue. Details were announced in March, and it takes the stage this August.
Including major groups, soloists, shuffle units, and temporary groups, High-King is reportedly the 83rd act to come out of Hello! Project. Tsunku said that even though using the word "queen" in the group's name would've been appropriate, he opted for "king" because it had more punch.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: musician
BUCK-TICK guitarist gets hitched
Thu, May 15, 2008 (1:48am EDT)
Hisashi Imai, the 42-year-old guitarist of rock band BUCK-TICK, recently gotten married. The band's website announced that Imai formally submitted his marriage registration on February 29, though he did not reveal any details about his new bride.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: event
Fuji Rock Festival comes to DVD
Thu, May 15, 2008 (2:11am EDT)
 
On Thursday, the 2008 Fuji Rock Festival made its sixth lineup announcement, adding artists such as Denki Groove and MONGOL800 to an already impressive roster (full list at the official website). Accompanying the announcement is the news that the festival will see its first DVD release in late July, around the time of the festival (July 25-27). The DVD, titled "FUJIROCKERS: The History of the Fuji Rock Festival," will feature documentary footage from 1997 to 2007, as well as clips of live performances by approximately 100 major artists.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: singers
BON-BON BLANCO loses a member
Thu, May 15, 2008 (10:39am EDT)
The all-girl band BON-BON BLANCO is down to only four members now that IZUMI, the conga player for the group, has left. According to the band's website, management had a discussion with the members about the direction of the group, but IZUMI had her own personal plans.
Also known as B3, the band made their debut in 2002. The remaining members plan to continue with their activities.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: artiste
Ringo Shiina to release two collections for 10th anniversary
Thu, May 15, 2008 (2:39am EDT)
On May 27, rocker Ringo Shiina celebrates the 10th anniversary of her major label debut. In honor of the milestone, she will release two collections on July 2. One is titled "Watashi to Houden" and will consist of B-sides and unreleased material, while the other is a video clip DVD called "Watashi no Hatsuden."
"Watashi to Houden" features 22 songs across 2 discs, kicked off by "Suberidai" and "Unconditional Love." "Watashi no Hatsuden," on the other hand, contains the music videos for all 11 singles between her debut song "Koufukuron" and last year's "Kono Yo no Kagiri," plus the video for a new song "Merou" that appears on the CD collection.
Shiina has more in store for her anniversary year, including a special concert in November at the Saitama Super Arena. Special advance tickets will be available through a lottery from those who buy the first press editions of the two July releases.
Starting on the anniversary day (May 27), a new site will open at http://www.ringo10th.com/. In addition to news, clips, and other features, the site will carry a special video message from the singer herself on the day the site launches.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Post time 20-5-2008 03:34 PM
