Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part II]

whitedove · Post time 15-7-2008 05:47 PM

Mika Kano causes accident, injuring motorcyclist
Monday 14th July, 11:17 AM JST

TOKYO

whitedove · Post time 15-7-2008 05:49 PM

Hiroshi Tamaki stars in naval epic "Manatsu no Orion"
Mon, July 14, 2008 (1:59am EDT)

Actor Hiroshi Tamaki is taking the lead in an upcoming suspense film titled "Manatsu no Orion," directed by Tetsuo Shinohara. Based on the novel "Raigeki Shindo Juukyuu-ten-go" by Tsukasa Ikegami, the movie is set near Okinawa during World War II. While the main focus is a naval battle between a Japanese submarine and an American destroyer, the film also portrays the personal relationships among those involved.

Tamaki plays the warm-hearted captain of the submarine. His close friend and colleague is being played by CHEMISTRY's Yoshikuni Dochin, who is making his acting debut with this role.

Toho and TV Asahi are involved in production. Filming started on July 1, and next month some scenes will be shot in the U.S. using a preserved WWII-era destroyer. Theatrical release is scheduled for 2009.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 15-7-2008 05:51 PM

D-BOYS' Wada races in stage play
Mon, July 14, 2008 (11:02am EDT)

D-BOYS member Masato Wada will star in his first stage play, based on the Shion Miura novel "Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru." The story follows a group of students aiming to challenge the Hakone Ekiden, a major long-distance relay race held among universities every year.

Wada is known as a runner in real life, having participated in the Hakone Ekiden during his own university days. He also completed the Tokyo Marathon this past February in under three hours, finishing first out of all the celebrities who ran it.

The cast for "Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru" includes Masaya Kikawada and fellow D-BOYS member Hirofumi Araki. The play will run at Le Theatre Ginza from January 8 to 18 next year, followed by performances in Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and other cities.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 16-7-2008 05:22 PM

"CHANGE" ratings end on a high note
Tue, July 15, 2008 (12:29am EDT)

Fuji TV's Monday night drama series "CHANGE," starring Takuya Kimura, aired its final episode this week. It averaged a 27.4% rating in the Kanto area, making it the highest-rated drama episode so far this year. The previous highest was the premiere of "Gokusen 3," which achieved 26.4%. However, "Gokusen" still ranks #1 for the season average.

The finale of "CHANGE" reached its peak during the episode's second half, attaining a 31.2% peak.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 16-7-2008 05:23 PM

Nozomi Ando reveals she's married
Tue, July 15, 2008 (12:35am EDT)

25-year-old model and actress Nozomi Ando announced on her blog this week that she got married 5 months ago. She did not give any details about who her husband is, but she did mention that the couple registered their marriage on Valentine's Day.

Ando's filmography includes "Hanada Shonen" and "Tokyo Friends."

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 16-7-2008 05:25 PM

HYD tops box office for third straight week
Tue, July 15, 2008 (1:01am EDT)

"Hana Yori Dango Final" is still a hit at the box office. On Saturday and Sunday, while the movie's main cast flew around the country to promote the film, it took in an additional 580 million yen to rank #1 for the third weekend in a row. In the 16 days since its release, it has earned close to 3.8 billion yen, with more than 3 million fans having seen the film.

The movie is expected to finally be ousted from the #1 spot this coming weekend, when Studio Ghibli's "Gake no Ue no Ponyo" opens in theaters.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 16-7-2008 05:26 PM

Imawano's cancer battle continues
Tue, July 15, 2008 (1:31am EDT)

57-year-old rock musician Kiyoshiro Imawano announced on Monday that he is canceling all of his currently scheduled concerts due to the return of his cancer. He was diagnosed with cancer of the larynx in 2006 and underwent treatment, and he was finally able to make a comeback at the Nippon Budokan this past February. But last week it was discovered that the cancer had spread to his left ilium.

Imawano's agency said that he was experiencing pain in his leg, and he was diagnosed with cancer again. Since Wednesday, he has been making hospital visits for radiation treatment.

Five performances have been canceled, including appearances at the ap bank fes and the Fuji Rock Festival this month. Imawano is still aiming to return as a singer after his treatment is over.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 16-7-2008 05:28 PM

Coconuts Musume's Ayaka marries pro golfer Tanihara
Tue, July 15, 2008 (2:17am EDT)

It was revealed on Monday that former Coconuts Musume member Ayaka Kimura (26) is married to successful professional golfer Hideto Tanihara (29). The two had been dating for half a year before registering their marriage on July 8. They plan to hold a ceremony and reception soon.

The couple first met last October at a pro-amateur golf tournament in Hyogo, where Ayaka is from. (Golf is one of Kimura's hobbies, with her best score said to be 108.) After meeting, the two kept in touch, and they had their first date at the start of this year.

As a golfer, Tanihara has won 7 tournaments on the Japan Golf Tour and has competed in international tournaments. This past Saturday, he and Ayaka traveled with family and associates to England, where Tanihara will be playing in the Open Championship this coming weekend. He has participated in it since 2006, when he tied for 5th place.

In April, Ayaka became the last member to leave Coconuts Musume. She has been pursuing an acting career since then under the stage name Ayaka Nagate.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 16-7-2008 05:31 PM

Fuyuki Shindo novel being adapted to film
Tue, July 15, 2008 (10:53am EDT)

Kyoka Suzuki, Sadao Abe, and child actor Akashi Takei will be co-starring in a movie titled "Boku to Mama no Kiiroi Jitensha." The story is adapted from the popular novel "Boku no Yuku Michi" by Fuyuki Shindo ("Aru Ai no Uta," "Kuroi Taiyou").

Takei plays a young boy living with his father (Abe) in Tokyo. His mother is supposedly studying abroad in Paris, but he learns that she is actually on the island of Shodoshima in the Kagawa prefecture. Longing to see her again, he hops on his bicycle and begins his journey alone.

Shooting started last week under the supervision of director Keita Kono. The movie is expected to open in spring 2009. Singer-songwriter Masashi Sada has been recruited for the theme song.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 16-7-2008 05:36 PM

[J-ENT] Marty Friedman to tour Japan

Mainichi Daily News reported, 揟o most people in Japan who know TV personality Marty Friedman, he抯 a foreigner who speaks great Japanese, plays guitar really well, and seems to know a lot about J-pop. But to an entire generation of heavy metal fans around the world, Friedman is nothing less than a rock god.

whitedove · Post time 16-7-2008 05:40 PM

[J-ENT] Tamura Eriko promotes 揌EROES

whitedove · Post time 17-7-2008 05:23 PM

Season 7 of '24' to be screened in Daiba ahead of U.S. debut
Wednesday 16th July, 05:26 AM JST

TOKYO

whitedove · Post time 17-7-2008 05:24 PM

Norika Fujiwara gets big kiss scene in musical
Wednesday 16th July, 06:30 AM JST

TOKYO

whitedove · Post time 17-7-2008 05:27 PM

Wacoal signs up Hamasaki for underwear ads in Asian market
Wednesday 16th July, 10:21 AM JST

TOKYO

whitedove · Post time 17-7-2008 05:29 PM

Jun Akiyama left Johnny's
Wed, July 16, 2008 (12:51am EDT)

Former Musical Academy member Jun Akiyama is no longer with Johnny's Jimusho, it was revealed on Tuesday. Primarily active in stage musicals and plays, Akiyama was suspended since last summer after pictures of him and his girlfriend were posted online, violating the agency's strict no-girls policy. The actor finally decided to leave the company in March.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 17-7-2008 05:31 PM

"Maison Ikkoku" sequel scheduled for late July
Wed, July 16, 2008 (1:29am EDT)

On Tuesday, TV Asahi held a PR event for the upcoming "Maison Ikkoku" drama special, which has now been officially scheduled for July 26. The drama is the conclusion to last year's one-shot, starring Misaki Ito and Taiki Nakabayashi. Both episodes are based on the classic Rumiko Takahashi manga of the same name.

The main cast is the same as the first drama, except for idol Akina Minami replacing Nana Eikura as the character Kozue Nanao.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 17-7-2008 05:36 PM

Charts: Perfume achieves technopop's first #1 single
Wed, July 16, 2008 (12:36am EDT)

In April, Perfume became just the second technopop group, after Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1983, to top the albums chart. Now they have achieved what YMO could not - their newest single, "love the world," has taken #1 on the singles chart. Before this, the highest-ranked single by a technopop artist was YMO's "Kimi ni, Mune Kyun," which landed at 2nd place more than 25 years ago.

"love the world" sold close to 81,000 copies in its first week. The next closest was Maximum the Hormone's "Tsume Tsume Tsume / F" at 69,000, followed by Ikimono Gakari's "Bluebird" (32,000) and Berryz Koubou's "Yuke Yuke Monkey Dance" (30,000). Thelma Aoyama, Mai Kuraki, Korean group Super Junior, and BREAKERZ also had new releases in the top ten.

Meanwhile, ORANGE RANGE's "PANIC FANCY" sold 75,000 copies to become the group's third #1 album. Most of the previous week's top ten carried over, with the only other new entries being Def Tech's Micro (at #9) and American band Zebrahead (at #10).

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 17-7-2008 05:43 PM

Tegoshi revisits "Shabake" role
Wed, July 16, 2008 (1:11am EDT)

Fuji TV has announced that Yuya Tegoshi will be returning for a follow-up to last year's "Shabake" drama special, which marked his first lead role on television. Like the previous episode, "Uso Uso" is based on part of Megumi Hatakenaka's supernatural jidaigeki novel series "Shabake."

The "Shabake" drama was fairly successful with 14.4% ratings when it aired last November. A sequel was soon decided, and filming for "Uso Uso" began at the start of this month. Shosuke Tanihara and Hiroyuki Miyasako have also been confirmed as returning cast members.

Fuji TV plans to broadcast the special this winter.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 17-7-2008 05:47 PM

Spitz provides theme for "Sakura no Sono"
Wed, July 16, 2008 (10:55am EDT)

Spitz is coming out with their first new single in over a year. Named "Wakaba," the song will be used as the theme for Shun Nakahara's film remake, "Sakura no Sono." The band's last movie tie-in was about two years ago, when "Mahou no Kotoba" was used in "Honey and Clover."

More details about the film were announced in May. Theatrical release has been dated for November 8, and "Wakaba" will go on sale the same month.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 17-7-2008 05:49 PM

Fukuyama sings, shoots for Olympics
Wed, July 16, 2008 (10:56am EDT)

TV Asahi is the latest network to announce the theme song for their Olympic Games coverage. Popular singer Masaharu Fukuyama is providing a tune called "HIGHER STAGE," which he says is inspired by athletes such as swimmer Kosuke Kitajima and weightlifter Hiromi Miyake.

In addition, Fukuyama will be serving as an official cameraman for TV Asahi's broadcasts of the Games, like he did in 2000 and 2004.

"HIGHER STAGE" is expected to go on sale this autumn.

Source: www.tokyograph.com