Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part II]

whitedove · Post time 30-7-2008 02:43 PM

Comedian Tamura Kenji (35) had to adopt a very different persona yesterday as he gave a press conference to apologize for an incident of food poisoning at one of his restaurants. Tamura, who performs in a loin cloth, aviator shades and carrying a dancing lion puppet, donned a gray suit as he apologized for the incident that led to the closure of the Nagoya branch of his Sumibi Yakiniku Tamura chain. Four customers suffered food poisoning and one was briefly hospitalized after eating at the restaurant, which was closed by Nagoya city authorities yesterday. Tamura apologized to reporters and TV cameras, bowing deeply and saying the incident was the result of his naivety regarding the hazards of serving raw food products during the hot summer months.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove · Post time 30-7-2008 02:43 PM

Japan-based Brazilian stage actress Marcia (39) is to return to her recording career. She won a newcomer award following the success of her debut single, "Furimuke Yokohama" in 1989 and was one of the top ballad singers of the early 1990s. But she released her last single in 1998 and has since been working in stage musicals. The daughter she had with her ex-husband, actor Otsuru Gitan, is now 10 years old, and Marcia says she's ready to get back to what she loves. She hopes to perform in Brazil and on NHK's annual New Year's Eve show "Kohaku Utagassen."

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove · Post time 30-7-2008 05:32 PM

Hiroshi Abe to star in Kiyoshi Shigematsu adaptation
Tue, July 29, 2008 (1:34am EDT)

Kiyoshi Shigematsu's novel "Aoi Tori" is being turned into a movie, with established actor Hiroshi Abe as the star. Abe plays a middle school teacher who, despite being ridiculed because of his constant stammering, tries to calmly deal with the issue of bullying in his class.

The movie opens in theaters in late November. Shohei Kotaki has been named as a producer, but the director and other cast or staff members have not yet been reported.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 30-7-2008 05:34 PM

Mariya Takeuchi announces best album
Tue, July 29, 2008 (2:11am EDT)

To mark the 30th anniversary of her debut as a singer, Mariya Takeuchi is releasing the 3-disc best-of collection "Expressions."

The collection consists of 42 songs. 40 of them were chosen by fan votes from her full discography, spanning from her 1978 debut "Modotte Oide Watashi no Jikan" to last year's "Chance no Maegami." The remaining two songs were taken from her most recent single, "Shiawase no Monosashi." All of the tracks were digitally remastered by her husband, musician and producer Tatsuro Yama#a.

"Expressions" will retail for 3,980 yen, starting on October 1.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 30-7-2008 05:43 PM

Fuji TV announcer accused of affair
Tue, July 29, 2008 (2:39am EDT)

Fuji TV apparently has another scandal on its hands. Less than three weeks after announcer Mona Yamamoto, 32, was suspended for her second alleged affair, "ikemen" announcer Kazuhiro Watanabe, also 32, has found himself in a similar position.

Watanabe has been married for only a year. According to this week's issue of Shukan Asahi, Watanabe started a relationship with a different woman this past March, and he became further guilty of mixing business with pleasure when he paid her round-trip airfare so she could participate in an audition that he was judging. While in Tokyo, the two were also seen together at a hotel.

Fuji TV representatives say the accusations are false, insisting that Watanabe has not done anything improper. For the time being, Watanabe's schedule remains unaffected.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 30-7-2008 05:44 PM

Kusanagi joins Nakai in "Shellfish"
Tue, July 29, 2008 (12:58am EDT)

Masahiro Nakai is getting some company from a fellow SMAP member in his next movie. It was announced last year that he would be playing the lead in Katsuo Fukuzawa's remake of "Watashi wa Kai ni Naritai" ("I Want to Be a Shellfish"), but now it has been revealed that Tsuyoshi Kusanagi is part of the cast.

The story deals with a man (Nakai) unjustly sentenced to death as a war criminal. Kusanagi plays a fellow prisoner awaiting execution. His role is minor, however, and his scenes were shot in two days during March.

The movie also features Yukie Nakama as Nakai's wife. Theatrical release is set for November 22.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 30-7-2008 05:48 PM

Main cast assembled for Avex musical
Tue, July 29, 2008 (11:08am EDT)

On Monday, a PR event was held for Avex's jukebox musical "Kokoro no Kakera" (announced last month). The main cast was assembled for the event, revealing that TRF's YU-KI is taking the lead. Ami Suzuki is playing her "love rival."

The cast also includes Takahiro Nishijima (AAA), Hiroki Aiba, Mitsuyoshi Shinoda, and Hiroaki Ogasawara. Performances will run from September 15 to September 29 at the Aoyama Theatre.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 30-7-2008 05:49 PM

Oricon: summer beauties
Tue, July 29, 2008 (11:09am EDT)

A few weeks ago, Oricon conducted a survey of a thousand people, asking them which female beauties they think of when they hear the word "summer." Given the natural tendency to think of swimsuits, it wasn't too surprising that model Yuri Ebihara topped the list. She was ranked highest by both men and women.

Ayumi Hamasaki was next in line, taking the #2 spot on both sexes' lists. Kumi Koda had to settle for 3rd, with Yu Yamada and beach volleyballer Miwa Asao right behind her.

The rest of the list consisted of mostly singers: Maki Ohguro, aiko, Misato Watanabe, and Ai Otsuka, followed by a three-way tie for #10 among Aya Ueto, Aya Matsuura, and Chinatsu Wakatsuki.

Summer beauties:

1) Yuri Ebihara
2) Ayumi Hamasaki
3) Kumi Koda
4) Yu Yamada
5) Miwa Asao
6) Maki Ohguro
7) aiko
8) Misato Watanabe
9) Ai Otsuka
10) Aya Ueto
10) Aya Matsuura
10) Chinatsu Wakatsuki

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 30-7-2008 05:52 PM

Japan will have a strong presence at this year's Venice International Film Festival. The latest works from Kitano Takeshi (61), Miyazaki Hayao (67) and Oshii Mamoru (56) have all been chosen to compete for the top prize. Miyazaki's "Gake no Ue no Ponyo" (Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea), and Oshii's "Sukai Kurora" (The Sky Crawlers) are the only animated features among the 21 entries. It'll be the first visit to Venice for both anime directors in four years. Miyazaki's "Hauru no Ugoku Shiro" (Howl's Moving Castle) had its world premiere at Venice in 2004, winning the Golden Osella Award for Technical Achievement, while Oshii's "Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence" was entered in the main competition. Meanwhile Kitano will be hoping that his latest, "Akiresu to Kame" (Achilles and the Tortoise), can achieve the success of 1997 Golden Lion winner "Hana-bi." All three directors are planning to attend the festival which runs from August 27 to September 6. Oshii will be accompanied by the main voice actors in his film, Kase Ryo (33) and last year's Oscar nominee Kikuchi Rinko (27). Actor Odagiri Jo will also be on screen, appearing in Lik-wai Yu's multinational film "Plastic City."

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove · Post time 31-7-2008 05:19 PM

Kelly Chen arrives but her baggage doesn't
Tuesday 29th July, 03:07 PM JST

TOKYO

whitedove · Post time 31-7-2008 05:21 PM

Takako Uehara wears Y700 mil wedding outfit
Wednesday 30th July, 06:08 AM JST

TOKYO

whitedove · Post time 31-7-2008 05:25 PM

Koji Yakusho, Anna Tsuchiya introduce fantasy film
Wednesday 30th July, 12:00 PM JST

TOKYO

whitedove · Post time 31-7-2008 05:27 PM

Fuji announcer Kazuhiro Watanabe apologizes for scandal
Wednesday 30th July, 12:06 PM JST

TOKYO

whitedove · Post time 31-7-2008 05:30 PM

"Shikisoku Generation" cast announced
Wed, July 30, 2008 (12:42am EDT)

The main cast of "Shikisoku Generation" was revealed at a press conference on Tuesday. The movie, directed by Tomorowo Taguchi, is an adaptation of Jun Miura's semi-autobiographical novel of the same name.

A few rock musicians have been cast, starting with Daichi Watanabe as the main character Jun. Watanabe is the vocalist of the unsigned punk band Kuroneko Chellsea, whose name also seems to be romanized as Kuroneco Chelcy according to their MySpace page. He managed to land the part through an audition that had roughly 2,000 applicants.

Watanabe is joined by Quruli vocalist Shigeru Kishida and Ging Nang Boyz frontman Kazunobu Mineta. Unlike the other two, Mineta has appeared in a few movies before, including a starring role in Taguchi's previous film "Iden & Tity" (which was also a Jun Miura adaptation).

The rest of the cast includes writer Lily Franky and talento Chiemi Hori (both were announced last week), as well as fashion model Asami Usuda.

Distributor Stylejam expects to release the film in June 2009.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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

Charts: no competition for Hey! Say! JUMP, EXILE
Wed, July 30, 2008 (1:32am EDT)

Johnny's act Hey! Say! JUMP captured their third #1 ranking this week, with their single "Your Seed" selling more than 160,000 copies. The song is being used to promote the Japanese version of the hit animated movie "Kung Fu Panda," which opened this past weekend.

aiko's "KissHug" came in second at 75,000 in sales. Little competition allowed the "Gake no Ue no Ponyo" theme song to climb up to #3, ahead of the newest releases by FUNKY MONKEY BABYS (#4), Megumi Hayashibara (#6), and Park Yong-ha (#7).

Meanwhile, EXILE dominated the albums chart, racking up more than 400,000 in sales for "EXILE ENTERTAINMENT BEST." The closest competition was GReeeeN's latest album at under 40,000 copies, though it has already been out for over a month.

The only other new albums in the top 10 were all soundtracks: "Persona 4 Original Soundtrack" (#5), "Naruto SUPER HITS 2006-2008" (#7), and "THE IDOLM@STER Vacation for you!" (#10).

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 31-7-2008 05:39 PM

Riko Narumi gets first true comedy role
Wed, July 30, 2008 (2:50am EDT)

Young actress Riko Narumi is starring in a new movie called "Tsumi Toka Batsu Toka," directed and written by Keralino Sandorovich (also known as KERA). Last year, she appeared in the comedy series "Enka no Joou," but this is her first time playing a comedic lead.

In "Tsumi Toka Batsu Toka," Narumi is an unsuccessful idol who takes on the role of "police chief for a day," a common PR opportunity for budding talents. But when a robbery takes place at a local convenience store, she actually attempts to resolve the incident. Kento Nagayama co-stars as a police officer who is also her ex-boyfriend.

Narumi has been acting in dramas since the age of 7, when she appeared in "Trick." She got her first starring role in the 2005 series "Ruri no Shima," and since then she has been gaining a reputation as a serious actress. With this movie she is expanding into comedy, and next year she will take on her first actual horror role in Naoto Takenaka's "Yamagata Scream."

"Tsumi Toka Batsu Toka" already finished filming last month. It is expected to be ready for a spring 2009 release.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 31-7-2008 05:40 PM

Kai Band returns with nationwide tour
Wed, July 30, 2008 (1:12am EDT)

In April, singer Yoshihiro Kai indicated that his former group, Kai Band, would be reuniting this year. Their return is now official, as they have scheduled a large-scale tour starting this October, accompanied by the release of two DVDs.

Kai Band debuted in 1974 and broke up in 1986. They have had temporary reunions since then and toured as recently as 2001, but their last nationwide tour was when they originally disbanded. This past December, they put out a best-of collection and reissued 17 of their older albums. They reunited for a single concert, and one of the tickets fetched a price of 400,000 yen in an online auction.

With fans repeatedly asking for the band to tour again, the group decided to go all out. They plan to be on the road at least from October to February, with 17 shows currently scheduled up until the start of 2009. 10 more dates are expected to be added soon.

Prior to the tour, the band will release two DVDs on September 26. One is a collection of music videos, while the other consists of live concert video, including the first public footage of their 1981 concert at the Kintetsu Hanazono Rugby Stadium.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 31-7-2008 05:46 PM

Nakanomori Band to release post-breakup best album
Wed, July 30, 2008 (11:17am EDT)

The recently disbanded Nakanomori Band will be releasing a best album called "GIRLS ROCK BEST" on September 24. The collection contains 20 tracks, including all of their singles and an unreleased song titled "Knock Ouch." The latter is apparently taken from a demo tape made before the group's major label debut, and it has never been performed in public.

The first press edition of the album comes with a special DVD packed with concert footage and the promo clips for their singles.

Nakanomori Band announced their breakup just last month. They originally formed in 2004 and released their first single in 2005.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 31-7-2008 05:47 PM

Pinkii to Kirazu (Pinky and the Killers) are a five-member group that formed in 1968. With their trademark bowler hats, they immediately broke through with the hits "Koi no Kisetsu" and "Namida no Kisetsu." Last night in Tokyo they performed together for the first time since their 1972 breakup, when vocalist Kon "Pinky" Yoko decided to go solo. At a press conference to announce their temporary re-formation yesterday, Kon said of the breakup, "I was just 20 at the time and very full of myself. I was just a kid." In recent years she has worked mainly as a TV and stage actress. The group will make a live appearance on an NHK concert in mid-September, and they say they are aiming for a slot on the network's annual "Kohaku Utagassen" special on New Year's Eve. They appeared on the show each year from 1968-71.

Source: www.japan-zone.com