Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part II]

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Oricon: who would you want as a child?
Mon, June 16, 2008 (2:22am EDT)

In a Father's Day-related survey, Oricon chose to ask a group of fathers to name the celebrities they considered to be ideal sons and daughters.

In the sons' category, baseball icon Ichiro was ranked #1, making the fathers proudest. Hideki Matsui was #2, but he tied with actor Kotaro Koizumi (the son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi) and golfer Ryo Ishikawa. The #5 spot was a tie among several people, including Sho Sakurai, Mocomichi Hayami, and Teppei Koike.



There were also a couple of ties in the daughters category, with Aya Ueto and Yui Aragaki sharing the #1 seat. Talento Becky was just as popular as Masami Nagasawa to rank 3rd, while Haruka Ayase was by herself at #5.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Mai Hoshimura shines light on "Tomorrow"
Mon, June 16, 2008 (2:34am EDT)



Singer Mai Hoshimura will be handling the theme song of the TBS drama series "Tomorrow." Although she has done several themes for variety shows and anime series, this is her first drama tie-in since "Rikon Bengoshi II" in 2005.

The new tune, a ballad titled "Hikari," is scheduled to go on sale on August 20.

"Tomorrow" stars Yutaka Takenouchi and Miho Kanno as a surgeon and a nurse who attempt to rejuvenate a struggling hospital. The show premieres on July 6.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Oricon: sexy men
Mon, June 16, 2008 (11:08am EDT)

A recent Oricon survey took a look at the sex appeal of male celebrities, asking 500 high schoolers (both male and female) which men they considered to be sexy.



KAT-TUN's Jin Akanishi came out on top, beating out the older Masaharu Fukuyama (#2) and Takuya Kimura (#3). Mocomichi Hayami has recently been getting more attention with his role in "Zettai Kareshi," placing him in 4th with L'Arc~en~Ciel frontman hyde.

Hiro Mizushima has also been rising in popularity, and he ended up at #6 on the list. The rest of the top 10 were Hiroshi Tamaki, Gackt, Jun Matsumoto, and Yu Shirota (tied with Matsumoto).

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Aki Shimizu now a mother
Mon, June 16, 2008 (11:09am EDT)



29-year-old talento Aki Shimizu entered motherhood earlier this month. She wrote on her blog that she gave birth to a baby boy on June 6.

Shimizu, a model and a reporter for the TBS show "King's Brunch," got married earlier this year.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Japan's techno pioneers Yellow Magic Orchestra performed in London yesterday. The show at the Royal Festival Hall was their first in the U.K. in 28 years. The long-awaited return was the idea of popular local band Massive Attack. Hosono Haruomi (60), Takahashi Yukihiro (56) and Sakamoto Ryuichi (56) received a standing ovation from the 3,000-strong audience, which was about 20% Japanese. Among them was the London-based video director Takashiro Tsuyoshi (43), though there was no sign of his girlfriend, actress Sawajiri Erika (22). YMO played their first ever overseas gig in Los Angeles, but London was where they started their first world tour in October 1979. They were better received in Europe than at home, and are often grouped with German techno band Kraftwerk. Recently they have been active again in Japan, using the name HASYMO, though they used their original moniker for the London show. They performed 18 songs, including the 2007 reworking of classic track "Rydeen" and their latest tune "Tokyo Town Pages."

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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A Japanese animated short has won the top award at the recently finished Annecy International Animated Film Festival in France. The Annecy Cristal went to "Tsumiki no Ie" (House of Blocks) directed by Kato Kunio (31). It tells the story of an old widower who lives in a house of blocks and reflects on memories of his life and family. The 12-minute film also won the Junior Jury Award award in the short film category. Yamamura Koji, whose quirky "Atamayama" (Mountain Head) won in 2003, was the only previous Japanese winner. The Annecy festival is referred to as the "Cannes of Animation."

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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[J-ENT] Yonekura Ryoko and Kawamura Ryuichi to star in Japanese musical adaption of 揅hicago擺/b]



Japantoday.com reported, 揟he popular American musical 揅hicago擺/b] will be staged in Japanese at Akasaka ACT Theater in Tokyo from Oct 8 to Nov 2, with actress Ryoko Yonekura, 32, in the role of Roxie Hart.

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Charts: Kyosuke Himuro back on top, GLAY beats Kumi Koda
Wed, June 18, 2008 (3:00am EDT)



In a relatively slow week for music, Kyosuke Himuro's 20th anniversary best album sold over 81,000 copies to achieve #1 on the charts. This is his 10th chart-topping album, though the last one was "IDEA" in 1997.

Asian Kung-fu Generation's new album earned them the #2 spot with 52,000 in sales. Only two other new releases made it into the top 10, both of which were by overseas artists: Offspring (#3) and Coldplay (#5).



On the singles chart, GLAY was able to secure #1 with "VERB," with fans picking up 98,000 copies during the week. It was enough to outsell Kumi Koda's "MOON" (88,000 copies), which was her first release since her suspension earlier this year.

UVERworld managed to show at #3, one spot ahead of T.M.Revolution's new song. Also making the charts were the Hello! Project unit High-King (#6), hip-hopper DOHZI-T (#7), Sukima Switch member Takuya Ohashi (#8), and rock band Angelo (#9).

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Yuzu's Kitagawa loses his father
Tue, June 17, 2008 (1:31am EDT)



Yujin Kitagawa, one half of the folk duo Yuzu, has been in mourning since last week. It was learned that his father passed away due to illness last Tuesday. He was 76.

Yuzu has been on tour since April, and they happened to have a short break after a show in Shizuoka on the 7th. Kitagawa's father died three days later. A funeral service was held yesterday in Kanagawa.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Oricon: intellectual women
Tue, June 17, 2008 (1:51am EDT)



Who is the most intellectual woman in show business? Oricon polled 500 high school students to see what they thought, and the leading choice was announcer and talento Mona Yamamoto, largely due to her frequent appearances on quiz shows. Incidentally, it was announced last week that Fuji TV is giving Yamamoto another opportunity as a news reporter, which will be her first such role since 2006, when she left TBS's "News 23" after her affair with DPJ politician Goshi Hosono was discovered.

#2 in the rankings was actress and talento Kuniko Asagi, who has also gained a smart image through her quiz show appearances. Actress Rei Kikukawa was third, followed by Kaori Manabe and Ayako Hatta.

The others in the top 10 were young actress Mari Sekine, doctor Ayako Nishikawa, actress Miki Maya, talento Miho Takagi, and actress Yoshiko Miyazaki.

Who is the most intellectual woman in show business?

1) Mona Yamamoto
2) Kuniko Asagi
3) Rei Kikukawa
4) Kaori Manabe
5) Ayako Hatta
6) Mari Sekine
7) Ayako Nishikawa
8) Miki Maya
9) Miho Takagi
10) Yoshiko Miyazaki

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Nicolas Cage among Astro Boy voice cast
Tue, June 17, 2008 (2:00am EDT)



Anime News Network reports that Imagi Studios has revealed more details about its planned CG-animated "Astro Boy" film. In addition to Freddie Highmore as Astro Boy, the voice cast now includes Nicolas Cage, Donald Sutherland, Nathan Lane, Bill Nighy, and Eugene Levy.

Imagi has also revealed that they will be handling distribution in Japan, Hong Kong, and China, while Summit Entertainment will distribute in other countries worldwide. The movie is scheduled for a 2009 release.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Maha Hamada about to be a mama
Tue, June 17, 2008 (11:06am EDT)



33-year-old actress Maha Hamada recently got married to a 31-year-old office worker, her agency announced on Tuesday. Hamada is currently 6 months pregnant and is due to give birth in November.

The couple met in 2001 at a wedding for one of Hamada's friends, but they didn't start dating until 2005. They held their own wedding in Hawaii this past April.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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X Japan officially confirms that concerts are postponed
Tue, June 17, 2008 (1:20am EDT)



X Japan formally announced on Tuesday that they are postponing the three international concerts that they have scheduled so far. With Yoshiki in Los Angeles recovering from a slipped disc and tendinitis, the other three members of the band held a press conference in Tokyo to discuss the postponement.

The band emphasized that they will continue with their concerts as soon as possible. They were originally scheduled to perform in Paris on July 5, in Taiwan on August 2, and in New York on September 13. No specific dates have been chosen yet for the rescheduled concerts.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Hirosue wins 1.2 million in defamation lawsuit
Tue, June 17, 2008 (11:28am EDT)



Last spring, actress Ryoko Hirosue filed a lawsuit against publisher Shogakukan for alleged defamation. On Tuesday, a Tokyo court ruled in favor of Hirosue, awarding her 1.2 million yen in damages.

Shogakukan's weekly magazine Josei Seven had published an article in March 2007 claiming that Hirosue, still married at the time, was having an affair with an actor. Hirosue denied the rumors and subsequently took her complaint to court, demanding 23 million yen. The judge agreed that the article was very likely false and had negatively affected the actress' image. However, he also explained that the impact was not as significant as Hirosue claimed, given her prior reputation for being free-spirited.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Toray model Nakabeppu to star in "Walkin' Butterfly" drama series
Wed, June 18, 2008 (1:28am EDT)

Teen model Aoi Nakabeppu, who is currently serving as this year's Toray Swimwear Campaign Girl, will be starring in her first drama series this summer.

The series, "Walkin' Butterfly," is based on a manga of the same name by Chihiro Tamaki. Nakabeppu plays a young woman aiming to be a model, but she has a complex about being too tall.

The show is also getting an unusual crossover with a major movie. The film is Takahisa Zeze's "Flying Rabbits" (in theaters September 13), which revolves around the women's basketball team JAL Rabbits. Several of the film's stars, including Satomi Ishihara and Saori Takizawa, will make guest appearances in the drama as their characters from the movie.



"Walkin' Butterfly" will air on TV Tokyo in the late-night Friday 12:12am time slot, starting on July 11.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Yuichi Kimura directs first full-length film
Wed, June 18, 2008 (2:37am EDT)



Comedian and talento Yuichi Kimura is taking the director's seat for his first feature-length film, titled "Nisesatsu." Kimura previously directed a short as part of a Yoshimoto Kogyo project last summer.



Kimura's debut is based on a major money counterfeiting case that took place in the Yamanashi prefecture shortly after the end of World War II. Mitsuko Baisho stars as an honest vice principal of an elementary school who becomes a complicit witness of a counterfeiting operation. Kimura himself will play one of the criminals.

Filming began at the start of this month, and the movie is scheduled for release in 2009.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Erena Mizusawa, Koji Seto to star in "Koizora"
Wed, June 18, 2008 (2:19am EDT)



TBS' drama adaptation of "Koizora" now has its leads confirmed. From more than a thousand people auditioning for the parts, 16-year-old model Erena Mizusawa and 20-year-old D-BOYS actor Koji Seto were chosen to star in the series.

Originally based on a mobile phone novel, the story was turned into a hit movie last year starring Yui Aragaki and Haruma Miura. When it was announced in May that the drama version would have a different cast, producers were said to be looking for a pair with relatively little acting experience.

Mizusawa, a model for the magazine SEVENTEEN, just made her acting debut in BS-i's "Koisuru Nichiyoubi" drama program this past March. On the other hand, Seto has been with the acting troupe D-BOYS for about two and half years, and is currently gaining plenty of exposure as the hero of "Kamen Rider Kiva."

"Koizora" starts on August 2, airing Saturday nights around 8:00pm.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Osamu Dazai's "Shayo" being turned into film
Wed, June 18, 2008 (11:15am EDT)

On Wednesday, it was publicly announced that Osamu Dazai's best known novel, "Shayo" ("The Setting Sun"), will be turned into a motion picture. Director Masatoshi Akihara is in charge of the adaptation, which is set to start filming this November.

The novel, first published in 1947 a year before Dazai's death, examined the need for social change in postwar Japan.



The cast has already been decided. Eriko Sato, said to be a big Dazai fan, is starring as the heroine Kazuko. The supporting cast includes Yoichi Nukumizu, Yosuke Ito, Sera Rinka, Kota Masago, Ichiro Ogura, and Hitomi Takahashi. The classical Gothic Lolita band Kokusyoku Sumire is in charge of the film's music.

"Shayo" is currently slated for a May 2009 release.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Yesterday, veteran singer Suizenji Kiyoko (62) performed her first concert since undergoing throat surgery. In her first ever acoustic show, the singer known by the nickname "Cheetah" said she was fully recovered from the February surgery to remove a polyp. She performed a song written for her by top lyricist Kawauchi Kouhan shortly before his death in April. She said, "I regret that we never had a chance to meet. We said we'd wait until after I recovered from my surgery."

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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FLIP-FLAP's older twin married
Thu, June 19, 2008 (12:59am EDT)



FLIP-FLAP, a singing/acting/modeling duo composed of twins YUKO and AIKO, publicly revealed on Wednesday that the older sister, YUKO, is married. The 28-year-old tied the knot back in November, though no details about her husband were mentioned.

Source: www.tokyograph.com