Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part II]

whitedove · Post time 14-7-2008 05:08 PM

Actress Alisa Mizuki joins water parade at USJ
Friday 11th July, 05:20 AM JST

OSAKA

whitedove · Post time 14-7-2008 05:09 PM

"Love and Honor": a well-crafted, low-impact samurai tale

Movie review: "Love and Honor" (completing Yoji Yamada's samurai trilogy that includes "The Twilight Samurai" and "The Hidden Blade") may disappoint anyone looking for fast-paced samurai action, but it's an exquisitely crafted melodrama, moving with stately grace toward an understated yet forceful quest for revenge.

Now 76 and still at the top of his game, Yamada subtly focuses on class divisions and fading tradition in the engrossing story of Shinnojo (Takuya Kimura), a proud samurai who's grown weary of his low-level post as a food-taster for the shogun lord of his clan. When he is blinded by a sampling of toxic, out-of-season shellfish, his devoted wife, Kayo (Rei Dan), seeks financial relief from a corrupt clan official who demands sexual favors in return. Outraged by this affront to his wounded pride, Shinnojo impulsively divorces Kayo and demands a sword fight with his skillful opponent.

The climactic confrontation is as brief as it is satisfying; with expert character development, first-class production values, flawless casting and a humanitarian perspective on the plight of the underdog, Yamada brings us to that moment

whitedove · Post time 14-7-2008 05:13 PM

ISSA injured, DA PUMP halts tour
Fri, July 11, 2008 (1:23am EDT)

During a rehearsal on Thursday, DA PUMP member ISSA suffered a serious injury to his right leg. The incident has forced the group to postpone their first nationwide tour in four years, which was scheduled to start on the 13th.

According to the group's agency, ISSA was performing a backflip but failed to land properly, falling on his right thigh. He was quickly taken to a hospital, where it was discovered that he had fractured his femur.

ISSA is scheduled to undergo surgery within the next few days. His doctor says that two months of hospitalization will be necessary, followed by rehabilitation. It is estimated that his complete recovery will take 6 months.

As a result, all 4 dates of DA PUMP's tour have been canceled. Tickets are being refunded until the end of this month.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 14-7-2008 05:21 PM

Leah Dizon releasing new album, launching first tour
Fri, July 11, 2008 (1:43am EDT)

It was learned on Thursday that idol Leah Dizon will be releasing a new album, which will be followed by her first Japan tour.

The album, titled "Communication!!!," goes on sale August 20. Out of the 12 songs included, Dizon wrote the lyrics for 10 of them, and she even did composition for two rock numbers called "Lost at Sea" and "BxKxRxxx." Those two songs will also feature her playing guitar - she is said to have first learned the instrument as a child, and she started practicing it again last summer.

Dizon's tour starts in October and will take her to 4 major cities.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 14-7-2008 05:22 PM

Versailles at Anime USA
Fri, July 11, 2008 (1:49am EDT)

According to music site JaME, promoter Tainted Reality has revealed that Versailles is coming back to the U.S. The band will reportedly be performing at Anime USA in Arlington, Virginia, which is being held on October 10-12.

Versailles is also said to be planning a concert in New York, but further details are still unknown.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 14-7-2008 05:30 PM

Ringo Shiina writes for TOKIO
Fri, July 11, 2008 (2:03am EDT)

TOKIO's next single "Amagasa" is a collaboration with musician Ringo Shiina. Shiina wrote and composed the song, which is scheduled for release in September.

"Amagasa" has been chosen as the theme song to the NTV drama series "Yasuko to Kenji." Premiering this Saturday, the drama stars TOKIO member Masahiro Matsuoka.

This isn't the first time that TOKIO has worked with a notable artist for their music. The group previously released songs written by Miyuki Nakajima, Yoshihiro Kai, and Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 14-7-2008 05:31 PM

Fishing manga "Tsurikichi Sanpei" comes to life
Fri, July 11, 2008 (2:46am EDT)

Takao Yaguchi's classic fishing manga "Tsurikichi Sanpei" is going the live-action route with a movie coming out next year. It will be directed by Yojiro Takita and written by Ryota Kosawa, with visuals provided by special effects team Shirogumi.

The manga was originally serialized in Shonen Magazine from 1973 to 1983, and an anime series was produced by Nippon Animation from 1980 to 1982.

13-year-old Kenta Suga has been tapped for the lead, a young boy with a gift for fishing. Tsunehiko Watase has been cast as his grandfather, while Takashi Tsukamoto plays his brother, a pro angler who has returned from the U.S.

According to Toei, plans for a live-action film have been brought up almost every year since the manga started. It is said that even Hollywood offered to turn it into a movie, under the name "Crazy Fishing Boy." Toei finally decided to go ahead with the film, and is hoping to expand it into a popular series like Shochiku's "Tsuribaka Nisshi."

Filming starts on the 25th, with scenes being shot in Akita, Yamagata, and Tokyo. Theatrical release is planned for spring 2009.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 14-7-2008 05:36 PM

Hitomi remarried, pregnant
Fri, July 11, 2008 (1:05am EDT)

32-year-old singer hitomi has entered her second marriage, and is already expecting her first child. She announced the news on Thursday night through her official website.

On June 30, hitomi and stage actor Masayoshi Haneda (31) formally registered their marriage. They met last summer when they performed together in the play "Waiting for the Sun," and it led to a serious relationship around January. With hitomi currently four months pregnant, the pair decided to tie the knot.

hitomi previously married a former member of hip-hop group GAS BOYS in November 2002, but they divorced last November after five years of matrimony. The couple never had children.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 14-7-2008 05:42 PM

Otakon welcomes The Underneath, MarBell, and the Kano Sisters
Fri, July 11, 2008 (11:18am EDT)

The Otakon convention has announced that The Underneath will be attending as a musical guest. The band will headline a concert on Sunday, August 10, with MarBell opening for them.

Otakon also revealed last week that Pony Canyon is bringing Kyoko Kano and Mika Kano (known as the Kano Sisters) as special guests.

Previously announced guests include JAM Project (who will perform on August 8) and Madhouse founder Masao Maruyama. Otakon is being held on August 8-10 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 14-7-2008 05:44 PM

Keisuke Koide undergoes surgery for appendicitis
Sun, July 13, 2008 (1:37am EDT)

Actor Keisuke Koide had an emergency appendectomy on Thursday. He was filming for the TBS drama series "ROOKIES" on Wednesday when he began feeling stomach pains, and after being taken to a nearby hospital, he was diagnosed with appendicitis. He was given medication to alleviate the pain, but after showing no improvement, he underwent surgery the next day.

Sources said that Koide will likely return to work by the start of the week.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 14-7-2008 05:49 PM

Member of idol group BLuck arrested
Sun, July 13, 2008 (12:05pm EDT)

21-year-old talento Koji Hirano has been arrested on suspicion of lewd acts with a minor. Hirano is one of the five members of BLuck, a male idol group active in Hokkaido that formed in 2004.

According to investigators, Hirano met a 17-year-old girl from Sapporo through a mobile phone site, and is suspected of committing sexual acts with her at her home in mid-January. Hirano has denied the charges.

BLuck's agency says they are also gathering more information about the matter. According to the group's website, BLuck is currently suspending their activities.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 14-7-2008 05:50 PM

Documentary show "Ururun" to end
Sun, July 13, 2008 (7:05pm EDT)

TBS's long-running documentary program "Sekai Ururun Taizaiki" is coming to an end this fall. Since 1995, the show has chronicled the adventures of various celebrities sent to do short homestays in various parts of the world. Over the years, more than 450 celebrities have participated and more than 150 countries have been visited. Network representatives said that they feel that the show has finished serving its role, leading to the decision to end its run.

In April 2007, the show underwent changes and was retitled "Sekai Ururun Taizaiki Renaissance." This past April, it was revamped again, gaining its current name, "Sekai Ururun Taizaiki 2008."

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 14-7-2008 05:56 PM

80_pan had to cancel London show after being denied entry
Sun, July 13, 2008 (8:28pm EDT)

Fans who had hoped to see 80_pan in concert at the London Calling event last month (June 19-20) were disappointed when the group never showed up. No reason for their absence was given at the time, but the duo finally updated their blog on July 4 explaining that they had been denied entry to the country.

The two girls, Tomomi Ogasawara and Mako Okina, arrived at Heathrow Airport on the night of June 18. They were traveling with their cameraman and a visual staff member at the time. 80_pan was not being paid a guarantee for the London show, so when they were asked about the purpose of their visit, they had decided to say they were just a group of friends doing some sightseeing.

However, because of the age difference between the girls and the staff members, immigrations officers became suspicious and began interrogating them. In the end, they were detained overnight, and it was discovered that the group was actually in London for business purposes. Although both the Japan consulate and the English embassy were of the opinion that no business visa was needed, the officers in charge disagreed, especially since the group had repeatedly lied during the questioning.

80_pan and the staffers were ultimately denied entry, and they were forced to return to Japan without being able to participate in London Calling. This was the group's first trip to England.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 14-7-2008 05:57 PM

DMC's Death Records becomes reality
Sun, July 13, 2008 (12:43pm EDT)

The "Detroit Metal City" movie, opening on August 23, is getting a series of music tie-ins. It was already announced last month that a single would be released, but now the project has been taken a few steps further.

Death Records, the fictional company from the original manga, has now been established as a real record label. Prior to the movie's opening, the label will put out several releases based on songs from the comic, starting with the previously announced "SATSUGAI / Amai Koibito" on August 6.

On August 13, four singles will be simultaneously released. One is "Maou / Raspberry Kiss," which consists of one Detroit Metal City song and one Soichi Negishi song, just like "SATSUGAI / Amai Koibito." The remaining three singles will be by other fictional bands from the manga: "Detarame Mother-Com Cherry Boy" by Kintama Girls, "From NY City" by MC KIVA, and "Sally My Love" by Tetrapot Melon Tea.

Although the songs are mentioned in the manga, complete lyrics and original compositions had to be created for the singles. Musician Hideki Kaji was in charge of the Soichi Negishi songs and "Sally My Love." K DUB SHINE handled "From NY City," while Shokichi Ishida did composition and production on "Maou."

On August 20, right before the movie opens, Death Records will release Detroit Metal City's first album, "Makai Yuugi." The album contains 10 tracks, with 4 of the songs composed by Shokichi Ishida. More information is available on the Death Records website.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 14-7-2008 06:03 PM

[J-ENT] Miyavi to perform in Shanghai

CRIEnglish.com reported, 揓apanese rock guitarist Miyavi will be in Shanghai for a solo concert next Friday.

whitedove · Post time 15-7-2008 05:41 PM

Fuji TV apologizes for Mona Yamamoto's scandal
Monday 14th July, 11:58 AM JST

TOKYO

whitedove · Post time 15-7-2008 05:42 PM

Yu Shirota leaves D-BOYS, partly
Mon, July 14, 2008 (12:30am EDT)

A few weeks ago, popular actor Yu Shirota announced at the end of a D-BOYS performance that he would be graduating from the group. On July 6, he wrote on his official blog that he had just graduated, but he followed it up with another post this past Friday saying a bit more about his status.

According to Friday's entry, Shirota claims that there won't be any significant changes, and that he still expects to be working with the other D-BOYS members. He also mentioned that he had heard that some fans were shocked, but he urged them to not take it so seriously and to think of it as just another step as an adult.

The D-BOYS website itself still lists Shirota as a member and does not include his graduation under the news topics. It is not yet clear how much impact Shirota's graduation will actually have.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 15-7-2008 05:43 PM

Shokotan to open Girl Pop Factory
Mon, July 14, 2008 (12:31am EDT)

The concert event Girl Pop Factory has announced a new addition to its lineup: idol Shoko Nakagawa will be making an appearance as the opening act.

This year's Girl Pop Factory features Kumi Koda, Perfume, HALCALI, Ikimono Gakari, and Thelma Aoyama. It is being held at Zepp Tokyo on August 3.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 15-7-2008 05:44 PM

Hiroyuki Ikeuchi cast in HK martial arts film
Mon, July 14, 2008 (12:35am EDT)

Actor Hiroyuki Ikeuchi is appearing in his first foreign film, having been cast in a Hong Kong movie directed by Wilson Yip. The movie, which has a tentative English title of "Yip Man," is a semi-documentary about the life of martial arts master Yip Man, known as the teacher of Bruce Lee and many others.

Ikeuchi plays a Japanese military officer named Miura who eventually has a showdown with Yip Man, played by Donnie Yen. Ikeuchi is reportedly the only Japanese actor appearing in the film.

Ikeuchi shot his scenes in Shanghai during April and May, after being offered the part only two weeks earlier. Fortunately, Ikeuchi had already been preparing to audition for overseas films since January, when he started attending an English conversation school.

"Yip Man" will be released throughout Asia, starting with China in December. The Japanese release has not yet been scheduled.

Source: www.tokyograph.com