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Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part IV]
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Manga-ka Sued for Affair With Doctor
July 02, 2010
Popular manga-ka Sakamoto Mimei (44) has been sued for an alleged affair with a married doctor. The lawsuit was filed at the Tokyo District Court by the wife of the doctor who heads a clinic where Sakamoto had been undergoing treatment for collagen disease, and where she organized a charity event in May. The doctor's wife is seeking ¥11 million in damages. Management for Sakamoto has denied that there was any affair, saying "There has been a series of misunderstandings and we hope to deal with this in good faith."
Real name Anzai Akemi, Sakamoto made her artistic debut in 1989 and married the same year. A year later she was divorced but gradually built up a following through her manga strips in women's comics. She later became the autor of erotic novels and has posed nude for a book in 2003. She is a regular commentator on the NTV morning show "Sukkiri!!"
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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SMAP Album, Tour and Sports Drink
News has come out of a concert tour to support the first album by super-aidoru group SMAP in two years. The double album "We are SMAP!" is due for release on July 21. It features collaborations with such artists as Daniel Powter, Rip Slyme and Love Psychedelico. The group have also collaborated with the Asahi Inryo beverage company to produce a new sports drink by the same name. The initial launch will see 10 millions bottles sold. A similar tie-up with Kirin Beverage in 2002 saw the sale of 8.4 million bottles of the "Drink! SMAP!" soft drink.
The "We are SMAP! Tour 2010" will kick off on July 31 with two nights at Sapporo Dome, followed by four nights each at the Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan, Nagoya, and Kyocera (Osaka) domes, and finishes with five nights at Tokyo Dome.
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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FunMon Hits Album Best Seller So Far in 2010
It's an indication of the current state of CD album sales that the biggest release of the year has only broken the half-million mark. "Funky Monkey Babys Best," the greatest hits album by the hip hop trio, is the best-selling album of the last six months, according to Oricon. But the album, which was released in February, to date has sold about 548,000 copies.
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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Yukorin to be Grilled in Court?
July 01, 2010
Talento Ogura Yuko (26, photo left) has been sued for breach of contract, according to today's issue of weekly magazine "Shuukan Shincho." The court case was initiated by the owner of a yakiniku (Korean barbecue) company with whom Ogura was contracted to lend her name and image to a restaurant in the Kabukicho entertainment district of Tokyo. When the premises were vacated, it was understood that they would be completely renovated before reopening for business. But the restaurant opened without any renovation work being carried out. The company owner and the building landlord have sought ¥25 million in damages from Ogura. Reporting on the case, the Sankei Sports newspaper said they got no response from Ogura's management agency.
NHK Unsure About Sumo Broadcast
Amid the ongoing scandal that has rocked the sumo world, NHK is still on the fence about whether they will broadcast the upcoming tournament live from Nagoya. The two-week event, one of six held annually, starts on June 11. NHK chairman Fukuchi Shigeo (76, photo right) said at his regular press conference yesterday that the network will make a decision after the Japan Sumo Association reports on its emergency board meeting on June 5. NHK has aired live coverage of every tournament since it began, with the only exception being in the case of natural disaster. The latest scandal to hit Japan's national sport involves illegal gambling on baseball and association with yakuza underworld figures.
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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New Orleans rocker Myself launches new album in Japan
Saturday 03rd July, 05:00 AM JST
TOKYO —
New Orleans rocker and songwriter Myself’s new album went on sale in Japan on Saturday. “Punk Floyd” is a mix of classic psychedelic rock, punk, new wave and ska reggae.
Myself has worked with multiple platinum and Grammy winners such as Arrested Development, The Roots, Public Enemy and blues maestro Chris Thomas King. He will celebrate the launch of “Punk Floyd” with a gig at Crocodile club in Harajuku on July 8.
“Punk Floyd” is available at Tower Records & Disk Union Stores and online at Tower Records, HMV & Amazon.co.jp.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Maki Horikita to make stage debut in 'Jeanne d'Arc'
Sunday 04th July, 04:37 AM JST
TOKYO —
Actress Maki Horikita, 21, will take on her first stage role as the title character in “Jeanne d’Arc,” which will be performed at Akasaka ACT Theater starting Nov 30.
Commenting on her theater debut in a lead role, Horikita said she felt uneasy but that she hoped to do her best. Co-star Hideaki Ito, 34, told the actress, “Just have a good time.”
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Traditional Japanese instruments played at Ravello Festival in Italy
Sunday 04th July, 08:47 AM JST
RAVELLO, Italy, —
A group of traditional instrumentalists from northeastern Japan received roars of ‘‘bravo’’ from the local audience at the Ravello Festival in southern Italy on Saturday. Ten kimono-clad men and women, led by Reishu Suzuki, a 61-year-old master shakuhachi flutist and chief priest at a Buddhist temple in Akita, created a mysterious oriental atmosphere with instruments that also included koto harps and a Japanese drum in an hour-long outdoor concert.
Event organizers said the group of instrumentalists from Akita, Aomori and Yamagata prefectures were the first to perform Japanese musical instruments at the annual summer festival of music and arts, which has been staged since 1953. A total of over 100,000 spectators are expected to show up at the July 1-Sept 26 event, also known as ‘‘Wagner Festival,’’ marking the visit to the Italian town by 19th-century German composer Richard Wagner.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Irish filmmaker Neil Jordan to be jury president for Tokyo International Film Festival
Monday 05th July, 05:24 AM JST
TOKYO —
The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) organizing committee announced this week that award-winning Irish filmmaker Neil Jordan will be the jury president for the International Competition at this year’s festiva.
Jordan is one of the most highly acclaimed filmmakers in the world and his films have been honored with numerous awards worldwide including an Oscar (“The Crying Game”) and BAFTAs (“The Crying Game,” “The End Of The Affair”).
The 23rd edition of the Tokyo International Film Festival will take place Oct 23-31.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Meisa Kuroki to perform first solo live concert in October
Monday 05th July, 06:00 AM JST
TOKYO —
Actress-singer Meisa Kuroki will perform her first live concert at Tokyo’s Ebisu Garden Place on Oct 6. While Kuroki, 22, did perform at a music event in May, this will be her first solo show since her debut as a singer in June 2008.
At the May event, she only performed two songs, but she wowed crowds with her sexy dancing and powerful voice. A rush of fans called on her to perform another show, leading to the sudden decision to hold another performance in October, her agency said.
Kuroki will sing 10 numbers, including the new single “5-Five-.”
“You only get the chance to perform your first solo show once,” said the actress, “and right now, I’m working hard at rehearsals to get ready for the real thing.”
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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A Fresh Start for Takaoka Saki
July 05, 2010
Actress Takaoka Saki (37, photo left) is expecting a baby in the autumn, according to the Sankei Sports newspaper. Sources say she has been dating a 43-year-old Nagoya property company owner since the end of last year. The couple are said to be already living together but plan to wait until after the baby is born to officially tie the knot. Takaoka was previously married to actor Hosaka Naoki (42), with whom she had two children before they divorced in 2004. She has since been romantically linked to several other actors.
Takaoka changed her management to the major Avex label at the beginning of 2008. She appeared in a Ninogawa Yukio-directed stage production at the end of that year, and last year put her English language skills to good use in the U.S.-Japanese movie "The Hariyama Bridge."
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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m-flo's Taku launches new label
Thu, July 1, 2010 (9:32am EDT)
Taku Takahashi (also known as ?Taku from the hip-hop group m-flo) has launched a new record label called TCY Recording, which aims to globally introduce promising artists in the dance music scene. Taku is said to have personally discovered the artists (both inside and outside Japan) through MySpace.
The label's first release on June 23 made the music of four artists available on various sites, including the iTunes Music Store, BEATPORT, WASABEAT, and Juno Records. The artists are Booty Bronx, Hoshina Anniversary, TeddyLoid, and LaTourette.
To commemorate the label's launch, a 4-city event tour started on June 25 in Tokyo.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Enka idol Ai Nishida to debut
Thu, July 1, 2010 (10:12am EDT)
Composer and musician Masaaki Hirao is producing a new "enka idol" named Ai Nishida (21), who will make her major label debut on July 7 with the song "Yurete Toohanabi."
Nishida, who hails from Kagoshima, was scouted in August 2008 during an audition at Hirao's music school. She underwent voice training and is now ready to launch her career under Hirao's supervision.
Nishida said she dreams of singing a solo of the national anthem at a soccer match for Japan's national team within the next ten years. In addition to her singing, she also possesses skills such as professional-level nail artistry and experiences such as two years of language study in New Zealand.
Nishida will attend an event for her debut on July 7 at Tokyo Dome City. Her record label, Nippon Crown, has already uploaded a video of her to its YouTube channel, which includes a short preview of "Yurete Toohanabi."
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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World Cup match sets new ratings record for TBS
Thu, July 1, 2010 (10:53am EDT)
Broadcaster TBS experienced its highest-ever ratings with Tuesday night's broadcast of the World Cup match between Japan and Paraguay. During the match's scheduled broadcast time, ratings averaged 57.3% and peaked at 64.9%.
This was TBS's first time doing a live broadcast of a Japan match in the World Cup. The 57.3% average set a new record for the network, which has been operating since 1955. The previous record was 56.3%, set on December 21, 1972, by the drama series "Arigatou."
TBS's live coverage of the match started at 10:40pm. Just before the 11:00pm kickoff, ratings rose to 50%, then reached 60% five minutes later. The peak of 64.9% came just before the end of the first half.
The 57.3% average was measured between 10:40pm and 1:10am, which was the match's scheduled time slot. However, because the score was still tied at 0-0 after the second half, the game went into extended time. The extended time and the subsequent penalty shootout were counted under a separate time slot, but even that period averaged 53.5% ratings. Overall, the match reached an estimated 77.8% of the television-viewing audience.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Akiko Hinagata, Kosei Amano dating?
Thu, July 1, 2010 (6:58pm EDT)
http://www.facebook.com/profile/ ... 91KKmYiN2V8CqYBAmzg
The latest issue of FRIDAY reports that love is in the air for actress Akiko Hinagata (32) and actor Kosei Amano (32), who is best known for his role in the 2004 series "Kamen Rider Blade."
The pair met in 2007 when Hinagata starred in the TBS daytime drama "Ai no Uta!" and Amano was part of the cast. However, FRIDAY says that the two did not start dating until about a year later. In its article, the magazine published pictures of the two taken this past April, riding in a taxi together towards Amano's apartment.
Hinagata's agency says that Amano is a good friend, while Amano's agency simply stated that this is a private matter.
Hinagata got married in 1998 (when she was 20 years old) to a commercial director 11 years older than her. She gave birth to a daughter in 2000, but she divorced in 2003.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Eita, Ryuhei Matsuda star in "Mahoro Ekimae Tada Benrikan"
Thu, July 1, 2010 (7:20pm EDT)
The first project for Eita (27) since his recent marriage announcement with singer Kaela Kimura (25) has been decided. He will co-star with Ryuhei Matsuda (27) in an adaptation of the Naoki Prize-winning novel "Mahoro Ekimae Tada Benrikan" by author Shion Miura.
The story is set in a fictional Tokyo suburb called Mahoro. Eita plays a "benriya" (someone available for hire for odd jobs) who one day is reunited with a former high school classmate (Matsuda). The classmate begins working as his assistant, and the two begin to build a friendship as they take on various jobs.
Eita and Matsuda have appeared together in three films before this - "Aoi Haru" in 2002, "9 SOULS" in 2003, and "Ahiru to Kamo no Coin Locker" in 2007.
The film is being directed by Tatsushi Omori, who is the brother of actor Nao Omori. This is Tatsushi's third full-length film, following on the heels of the currently-playing "Kenta to Jun to Kayo-chan no Kuni." Filming will start later this month, with theatrical release expected next spring. A producer stated that he hopes to turn the movie into a series, especially since the original novel is getting a sequel.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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AKB48 gets TV show for a month
Thu, July 1, 2010 (7:43pm EDT)
16 popular members of idol group AKB48 will be the focus of a new show on NTV planned to run until the end of this month. Titled "AKB600sec.," the show will air on Mondays through Thursday at 1:29am at night, starting on July 5 and ending on July 29.
As the title suggests, the show is ten minutes long, with each of the 16 episodes focusing on a different member of AKB48. Each subject is followed by camera for a single day, offering a glimpse into her daily life. The 16 members to be featured have not yet been announced.
Although each episode is edited down to only 10 minutes, 90-minute versions will be sold on MicroSD cards through the NTV Web shop on the same day the episode airs.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Ninomiya case sent to prosecutor's office
Fri, July 2, 2010 (9:05am EDT)
Last month, Arashi member Kazunari Ninomiya (27) caused a traffic accident, resulting in minor injuries for a female bicyclist. On July 2, it was learned that the Meguro police have have sent the case to the public prosecutor's office.
On June 4, at around half past noon at an intersection in the Meguro ward, Ninomiya's vehicle bumped into a woman riding a bicycle. The woman suffered an injury in her left leg which reportedly took a week to fully heal.
Ninomiya is suspected of negligent driving resulting in injury, as it is believed that he was not paying proper attention to the road ahead of him. Police say that Ninomiya has already acknowledged his fault in the accident. The public prosecutor's office will decide whether to take the case to court.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Comedian Nezucchi gets married
Fri, July 2, 2010 (9:25am EDT)
Comedian Nezucchi (35), of the popular duo W Colon, announced on his blog that he has just tied the knot. On June 30, he registered his marriage with his 41-year-old girlfriend. It is said that their are no plans for a wedding ceremony.
The woman was married once before, reportedly to a Portuguese man. Nezucchi met her a long time ago through a group date, and the two have already been living together for about five years. He publicly proposed to her in late June during a television program, and she happily accepted.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Puffy AmiYumi to headline NYAF music showcase
Fri, July 2, 2010 (12:06pm EDT)
The 2010 New York Anime Festival has announced that Puffy AmiYumi will headline the convention's Far East To East Showcase, an event featuring artists from both America and Japan. The showcase is being held on October 10 at the Irving Plaza.
In addition to the music showcase, Puffy will participate in panel discussions and autograph sessions throughout the weekend. New York Anime Festival (and New York Comic Con) is taking place on October 8-10 at the Javits Center.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Kis-My-Ft2's first commercial
Fri, July 2, 2010 (7:11pm EDT)
The Johnny's group Kis-My-Ft2 will appear together in a television commercial for the first time. The ad, which promotes the music distribution and mobile content site Dwango, begins airing across the country on July 5.
There will be two varieties of the commercial, each with a different image and using a different Kis-My-Ft2 song. Both songs, "FIRE BEAT" and "Inori," will become exclusively available through Dwango's chaku-uta full service on the same day the commercials begin.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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