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Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part IV]
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D-BOYS unit finds fifth member, plans CD debut
Mon, September 20, 2010 (11:47am EDT)
The new D-BOYS sub-unit D?DATE will make their CD debut by the end of this year, it has been announced. The group, first unveiled in March, just finished selecting its fifth member through a lengthy audition.
D?DATE consists of current D-BOYS members Koji Seto (22), Yuichi Nakamura (22), Shunji Igarashi (24), and Hirofumi Araki (27). They started auditioning for a fifth member earlier this summer, and the final round of the audition was held on Sunday. The winner, chosen from roughly 30,000 candidates, was 18-year-old Arata Horii, a third-year high school student from the Tokyo area.
The new group plans to release its first CD this year. More details will be announced at a later date.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Kansai idol group JK21 goes major
Mon, September 20, 2010 (12:09pm EDT)
Kansai-based idol group JK21 will release their first major-label single on December 15, tentatively titled "I ? KANSAI" (pronounced "Ai Ai Kansai"). The group, produced by actor and former baseball player Yasuhito Shimao (42), revealed the news on Sunday.
JK21 was formed in 2008, comprised of junior high and high school students from the Kansai region. In November 2008, they released their second single "WIN! WIN! Tigers" as an official support song for the Hanshin Tigers, and they released their first album last December. The group has mainly been active in Osaka, performing there about twice a week. Although the name "JK21" originally referred to "joshi-kousei 21" (21 female high school students), it is now being changed to mean "Japan, Kansai, 21st Century."
As their first major-label release, "I ? KANSAI" will only feature six of the group's members: leader Yukari Jojima (19), Ayumi Matsuda (17), Rina Tanaka (16), Misaki Aoi (18), Momona Arakaki (17), and Minami Tsubaki (16).
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Peaky SALT stops activities
Mon, September 20, 2010 (12:47pm EDT)
Rock band Peaky SALT announced on Monday through their official website that they are putting their activities on hold. The group's three members are each looking to try other things, such as producing.
Peaky SALT started out in 2002, when three of its members were classmates in junior high school. They later added drummer Suzan and released their major label debut single "Itoshi Setsuna Namida" in November 2008. The group initially received much attention due to the vocalist Yuu being the son of actor Tomokazu Miura and singer Momoe Yamaguchi.
The band followed up their debut with two more singles, a mini-album, and a full album, but at the end of April 2010 their contract with record label Vap ended. Suzan then left the group in June, and the band has had little activity since then.
The remaining members insist that this is not a breakup and that they plan to reunite as Peaky SALT in the future. They have not specified when they hope to resume activities.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Saki Aibu, Manami Higa co-star in volleyball drama
Mon, September 20, 2010 (1:37pm EDT)
 
Saki Aibu (25) and Manami Higa (24) will co-star in a TBS drama special titled "Ashita mo Mata Ikite Ikou." The drama will depict the friendship between volleyball players Saori Kimura (24) and Yumika Yokoyama. In April 2008, Yokoyama passed away at the age of 21 due to a rare form of cancer.
Kimura and Yokoyama will be played by Aibu and Higa, respectively. The two athletes were one year apart at the same high school, and they were said to have been as close as sisters. Yokoyama's death occurred just one month before Kimura and the rest of Japan's national team competed in the preliminaries for the 2008 Summer Olympics.
The drama is based on Yokoyama's writings, which were later published as a book by the title "Ashita mo Mata Ikite Ikou." The story begins during their time in high school, when the highly talented Kimura was selected for the national team and the promising Yokoyama was diagnosed with cancer.
To play the parts, Aibu and Higa received volleyball training under the guidance of former national team member Mari Ochiai (28).
"Ashita mo Mata Ikite Ikou" will air on October 25, just a few days before Japan's national women's tournament begins.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Masaharu Fukuyama announces best album
Mon, September 20, 2010 (8:16pm EDT)
Masaharu Fukuyama (41) is celebrating the 20th anniversary as a singer with the release of a best album on November 17, titled "THE BEST BANG!!" This will be his first best album since 1999, and it will include songs throughout his career, regardless of record label.
"THE BEST BANG!!" will consist of three CDs, featuring songs selected personally by Fukuyama from his 26 singles and 10 original albums released so far. The songs will be re-recorded for this release. Currently, the tracklist is expected to include tunes such as "IT'S ONLY LOVE," "HELLO," "Sakurazaka," and "Hatsukoi."
The DVD edition of the collection will include unreleased music videos. Another edition will come with a special towel.
Fukuyama has also scheduled four concerts in Yokohama on December 27, 28, 30, and 31.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Singer K to suspend activities
Mon, September 20, 2010 (8:31pm EDT)
Korean singer K (26) is going on hiatus as a musician at the end of November due to Korea's conscription law, it was learned on Monday. After he finishes his military service in approximately two years, he plans to resume his singing activities in Japan.
Military service is a constitutional duty for males in Korea, required by the age of 30. K turns 27 in November, so he is nearing the time limit for him to fulfill his duty.
K announced in July that he would celebrate the 5th anniversary of his debut with a concert at Nippon Budokan on November 30, though he will not be holding his usual Christmas concert this year. The Nippon Budokan show will be his last performance before stopping his activities.
Before that, he will release the single "dear..." on October 27.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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J-pop group SMAP's concerts in Shanghai postponed over safety concerns
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Concerts scheduled next month in Shanghai by the Japanese pop group SMAP will be postponed until yet-to-be decided dates, the group's agent, Johnny & Associates, said Tuesday, citing the necessity to ensure the safety of the audiences.
The agent made the decision after considering "the recent situation," it said in a statement.
The announcement follows reports that ticket sales in China for the concerts scheduled for Oct. 9 and 10 have been suspended, possibly due to an ongoing row between the two countries over Tokyo's arrest earlier this month of a Chinese boat skipper involved in collisions at sea off the disputed Senkaku Islands.
Johnny & Associates said it will make an announcement as soon as it reschedules the concerts and will refund those who have already bought tickets between Saturday and Oct. 31.
The planned concerts in a major stadium in Shanghai would be the first-ever overseas performance by the five-member all-male group since its establishment in 1988.
SMAP was initially scheduled to take part in an event at the Shanghai World Expo in June, but the Chinese authorities canceled it citing security considerations, given the large number of fans expected.
The Chinese side and the SMAP agent then agreed to hold the concerts in October at the Shanghai Stadium.
The Japan Coast Guard arrested the captain of a Chinese fishing boat Sept. 8 for allegedly causing his vessel to collide a day earlier with Coast Guard vessels near the disputed Senkaku Islands. The arrest sparked protests from China, which has repeatedly called for the captain's immediate release.
(Mainichi Japan) September 21, 2010
Source: http://mdn.mainichi.jp/arts/news/20100921p2g00m0et081000c.html |
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Johnny's says SMAP's Shanghai concerts will be rescheduled
Tuesday 21st September, 06:48 PM JST
TOKYO —
Concerts scheduled next month in Shanghai by the Japanese pop group SMAP will be postponed until yet-to-be decided dates, the group’s agent, Johnny & Associates, said Tuesday, citing the necessity to ensure the safety of the audiences.
The agent made the decision after considering ‘‘the recent situation,’’ it said in a statement.
The announcement follows reports that ticket sales in China for the concerts scheduled for Oct 9 and 10 have been suspended, possibly due to an ongoing row between the two countries over Tokyo’s arrest earlier this month of a Chinese boat skipper involved in collisions at sea off the disputed Senkaku Islands.
Johnny & Associates said it will make an announcement as soon as it reschedules the concerts and will refund those who have already bought tickets between Saturday and Oct 31.
The planned concerts in a major stadium in Shanghai would be the first-ever overseas performance by the five-member all-male group since its establishment in 1988.
SMAP was initially scheduled to take part in an event at the Shanghai World Expo in June, but the Chinese authorities canceled it citing security considerations, given the large number of fans expected.
The Chinese side and the SMAP agent then agreed to hold the concerts in October at the Shanghai Stadium.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Erika Sawajiri cancels product launch appearance at last minute
Wednesday 22nd September, 04:26 AM JST
TOKYO —
Actress Erika Sawajiri, 24, canceled her scheduled appearance at a Syoss hair care product launch on Monday, due to poor health. The event’s promoter contacted media outlets by fax after 8 p.m. to report the cancellation.
The fax stated that the last-minute drop out was due to a high fever. Sawajiri’s agency, on the other hand, said they had been informed of the cancellation just after 7 p.m. for reasons unknown. A source close to Sawajiri was also in the dark and said, “Whether or not she really has fever, I can’t say.”
However, the tabloid media on Tuesday hinted that we may be seeing a return of Sawajiri’s “difficult” behavior.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Tokyo film festival to open with 'The Social Network' and close with 'The Town'
Wednesday 22nd September, 05:59 AM JST
TOKYO —
The Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) announced Tuesday that “The Social Network,”
by the highly acclaimed director, David Fincher, has been selected as the opening film
for the 23rd TIFF. The film tells the story of Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of the world’s
biggest social-networking website, “Facebook,” and stars Jessy Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield,
and Justin Timberlake.
The closing film, “The Town,” the second directorial feature by Ben Affleck, is a compelling and powerful suspense-action film starring Ben Affleck, Jeremy Renner, and Blake Lively.
The 23rd TIFF will be held from Oct 23-31, 2010 at Roppongi Hills and other venues in Tokyo.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Mizushima Hiro Quits Acting to Write
September 22, 2010
Popular young actor Mizushima Hiro (26) is giving it all up to be a writer, according to the Sankei Sports newspaper. Mizushima's former management at Kenon Group acknowledged the report, saying that he had quit the agency. They said his interest in novels and other forms of writing was something he had made known for some time. Mizushima started working as a model while a student at the prestigious Keio University in Tokyo. His breakthrough as an actor came when he landed the lead role in the action hero TV series "Kamen Rider Kabuto." He most recently worked on the manga adaptation movie "Beck," which is scheduled for release this month.
Kenon also represents Mizushima's wife, singer Ayaka (22). Though she is on an extended sabbatical as she battles with Graves' disease, her husband's decision doesn't affect her existing contract. The couple tied the knot in February of 2009.
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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Paris Hilton Stopped at Narita
September 22, 2010
US socialite Paris Hilton was stopped by immigration officials at Tokyo's Narita airport as she flew in from Las Vegas yesterday, a day after pleading guilty to cocaine charges, media reports said. The 29-year-old hotel heiress arrived at Narita by a chartered flight and the officials were interviewing her and considering refusing her entry because of a suspended sentence she received for the charges, Jiji news agency said. She spent the night at an airport hotel (the Hilton?) before facing further questioning today.
A court in Las Vegas on Monday gave her two six-month suspended jail terms for possessing cocaine and lying about it, but said she would be jailed for a year if she was arrested again. The sentence also included a $2,000 fine, completion of a substance abuse program and 200 hours of community service.
Hilton arrived in Tokyo at about 5:30pm, the Asahi Shimbun reported on its online edition. The Narita branch of the Tokyo immigration control office told Jiji that a person on a suspended jail term was not allowed to enter Japan except for "special reasons."
Hilton had been scheduled to attend an event with her sister Nicky, 26, in Tokyo on Wednesday to promote her original brand for handbags and accessories. But the event has been canceled, Jiji said. (AFP)
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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Shinsuke Ordered to Pay for Assault
September 22, 2010
Popular TV host Shimada Shinsuke (54) has been ordered to pay a major sum in compensation for an assault that almost ended his career several years ago. A Tokyo District Court judge yesterday decided that Shimada and the Yoshimoto Kogyo talent agency were liable for ¥10 million in damages for the injuries and humiliation suffered by a female Yoshimoto employee in 2004. The plaintiff had sought ten times that amount.
The incident happened backstage at an Osaka TV studio in June 2004. Shimada was angered by the words and attitude of the woman, 40 at the time and the manager of commentator Katsuya Masahiko. He is said to have taken her to another room to lecture her on manners and became infuriated when she talked back. He allegedly pulled her hair, hit her face against a wall and spat on her. When the case blew up in the media, he gave a tearfully apologetic press conference and stepped down from several regular TV slots. A few months later, an Osaka court ordered Shimada to pay a ¥300,000 fine. The woman was put on extended leave by Yoshimoto for more than 18 months, during which time she underwent treatment for stress-related problems. After the leave finished in June 2006, she claimed, she was fired.
But for a star of Shimada's stature, the media has a short memory and he eventually returned to being one of the busiest and best-paid celebrities on TV. He is sometimes mentioned as a potentially strong political candidate. The latest court decision will make only the tiniest dent in his substantial wealth, but the case will forever hang over any plans to run for public office.
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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D'espairsRay going on hiatus
Tue, September 21, 2010 (10:42am EDT)
The band D'espairsRay has announced that they will go on indefinite hiatus after they finish their current world tour. They explained that vocalist HIZUMI has been receiving medical treatment for a condition with his vocal cords for over a year, but it has still not been fully healed, so he will be taking time off to focus on treatment.
D'espairsRay just kicked off their tour in Russia on September 18. The tour includes 11 shows in Russia and several European countries, followed by 16 shows across Japan. The tour ends on November 22 in Tokyo.
The band stated that HIZUMI is aiming to resume singing as soon as possible.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Yasushi Akimoto launches "ojisan" unit OJS48
Tue, September 21, 2010 (11:00am EDT)
After finding success with AKB48's family of idol groups, producer Yasushi Akimoto is experimenting with a slightly different formula for a new male unit called OJS48. The "OJS" in the name stands for "ojisan," referring to the fact that the average age of the group's 16 members is over 60.
OJS48 consists of 16 former police officers and detectives. At the center of the group is 63-year-old Mitsuo Nakatani, who made his solo debut as an enka singer last October with the single "Naniwa Deka Blues." Working with Akimoto, he gathered 15 of his friends to form OJS48.
The group's debut single is titled "Shinkokyuu." It will be released on October 13, though digital distribution will begin on September 29. The official YouTube channel of Victor Entertainment posted the song's music video on Tuesday.
OJS48 will hold a free live performance in Osaka on October 16.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Chidori's Nobu enters fatherhood
Tue, September 21, 2010 (11:28am EDT)
Comedian Nobuyuki Hayakawa (30), better known as Nobu of the duo Chidori, became a father last week. His first son was born on the morning of September 18.
Nobu announced the news that same day on the duo's regular show "Seyanen!" on MBS. He also notified his fans through Twitter that day.
Nobu has been married since 2008 to a former high school classmate whom he dated for about 11 years.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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First child on the way for Haraguchi, Fukushita
Tue, September 21, 2010 (12:28pm EDT)
 
Comedian Akimasa Haraguchi (34) and talento Megumi Fukushita (26) will soon become parents. Sources reported on Tuesday that Fukushita is currently five months pregnant and is due to give birth in March 2011.
Haraguchi and Fukushita got married earlier this year on March 14 (White Day). They first met five years ago through a television show, but their relationship turned into a romance just about a year before they tied the knot.
Fukushita will soon go on maternity leave, but she plans to resume working after the child is born.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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NMB48's first audition completed
Tue, September 21, 2010 (12:45pm EDT)
AKB48's new sister group NMB48 completed its audition process on September 20. The names of the girls that passed the audition have now been posted on the group's official website, in Japanese alphabetical order.
The 39 girls are:
Riona Ota
Mayu Ogasawara
Ayaka Okita
Kanako Kadowaki
Rena Kawakami
Rika Kishino
Haruna Kinoshita
Momoka Kinoshita
Mayu Kusaka
Riho Kotani
Arisa Koyanagi
Sara Kondo
Rina Kondo
Mari Saito
Kanna Shinohara
Kei Jonishi
Miru Shiroma
Ayaka Suzuki
Rina Tanaka
Mami Tsukiyama
Sari Nishikawa
Mizuki Hara
Ayame Hikawa
Rina Hyoda
Aina Fukumoto
Miyuki Furukawa
Shiori Matsuda
Erika Maruyama
Ayaka Murakami
Ayaka Mori
Rei Mori
Minami Yasaka
Ayaka Yamauchi
Natsumi Yamagishi
Yuuki Yamaguchi
Nana Yamada
Sayaka Yamamoto
Akari Yoshida
Miyuki Watanabe
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Keiichiro Koyama to star in "0 Go Shitsu no Kyaku" stage play
Tue, September 21, 2010 (9:02pm EDT)
Fuji TV's mini-drama "0 Go Shitsu no Kyaku" will be performed as a stage play this fall, starring NEWS member Keiichiro Koyama (26). The drama told six different stories featuring various Johnny's Jimusho artists, but the play will focus only on Koyama's segment.
The play is titled "0 Go Shitsu no Kyaku ~Kaette Kita Otoko~." Like the drama, the center of the story is a hotel with a mysterious "Room 0" that can reveal a person's "score" as a human being.
Other cast members include Haru (19), Sei Ando (26), and Keisuke Horibe (44). Kanjani8's Yu Yokoyama (29) will also appear in a video during the performance.
The play has been scheduled from November 13 to December 5 at The Globe Tokyo and from December 17 to 20 at the Sankei Hall Breeze in Osaka.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Mayumi Uchida claims center in AKB48's "janken senbatsu"
Tue, September 21, 2010 (9:59am EDT)
On Tuesday night, idol group AKB48 held its "janken senbatsu" at the Nippon Budokan to determine the members for its new single in December. The results have now been confirmed, and Team K's Mayumi Uchida (16) has won the #1 spot.
AKB48's current official lineup of 47 members participated in the contest, along with 4 members chosen from the group's kenkyuusei (research students). The 51 girls battled their way to the final 16, who will participate on the group's 19th single, set for release on December 8. They also competed for the coveted center position on the single, and Uchida prevailed at the end of the three-hour-long event.
Several of AKB48's more well-known members failed to make the cut, including top member Yuko Oshima. Atsuko Maeda ended up at #15, giving her the opportunity to be on the single, but she will not be part of the "media senbatsu" that is limited to the top 12 winners of the competition.
The 16 members for the single are:
Mayumi Uchida
Haruka Ishida
Haruna Kojima
Haruka Nakagawa
Ami Maeda
Sumire Sato
Natsuki Sato
Aki Takajo
Tomomi Nakatsuka
Asuka Kuramochi
Kana Kobayashi
Miku Tanabe
Tomomi Kasai
Sakiko Matsui
Atsuko Maeda
Rina Chikano
It was also revealed that AKB48's 18th single, set for release on October 27, is titled "Beginner."
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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