Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part II]

whitedove · Post time 3-9-2008 04:12 PM

'Best Jeanists' announced
Tuesday 02nd September, 11:00 AM JST

TOKYO

whitedove · Post time 3-9-2008 04:30 PM

DJ OZMA moves to Avex
Tue, September 2, 2008 (1:54am EDT)

Among the surprises at this year's a-nation concerts was the appearance of DJ OZMA. He took the stage on Saturday and revealed that he has officially transferred to Avex, explaining that he had just signed the contract backstage. According to the Avex website, DJ OZMA's first release as an Avex artist is scheduled for this fall.

It was also announced earlier in the week that he and the comedy duo Tunnels will be forming a temporary unit and releasing a CD through Avex.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 3-9-2008 04:32 PM

SCANDAL making major label debut
Tue, September 2, 2008 (12:56am EDT)

The four-girl pop-rock band SCANDAL finished off their first nationwide tour with a show in Shibuya on Friday. During the performance, they announced that they will be making their major label debut this fall through Epic Records.

The Osaka-based SCANDAL was formed two years ago when the girls were in middle school. This year, they released three singles through Tower Records that topped the indies charts, including the theme song to the movie "Corazon de Melon." They also held successful concerts in the U.S., France, and Hong Kong before releasing the mini-album "YAH!YAH!YAH! HELLO SCANDAL" and going on tour last month.

Their debut single, titled "DOLL," goes on sale October 22.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 3-9-2008 04:36 PM

Japanese films win at Montreal
Tue, September 2, 2008 (1:32am EDT)

The awards of the Montreal World Film Festival, which ended on Monday, have been publicly announced. This year, the top prize - the Grand prix des Americas - was won by Yojiro Takita's "Okuribito." Based on a story by author Shinmon Aoki, the film stars Masahiro Motoki and Ryoko Hirosue in a tale about a man adjusting to his new job of preparing bodies for coffins.

The last Japanese movie to win the same award was Eiji Okuda's "A Long Walk" in 2006.

Japan was also represented in the Best Screenplay category, where director Ryoichi Kimizuka and Satoshi Suzuki won for co-writing "Daremo Mamotte Kurenai," though they shared the prize with the Spanish film "Bienvenido a Farewell-Gutmann." "Daremo Mamotte Kurenai," a socially-conscious police drama starring Koichi Sato and Mirai Shida, will be released in Japanese theaters this coming January.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 3-9-2008 04:37 PM

Musician Daigo (30) is enjoying a high profile these days. The grandson of former prime minister Take#a Noboru (1924-2000), he is also the vocalist of rock band Breakerz. Their song "Shakunetsu" (literally "red hot") is to be used as the closing theme for the Japanese dub of the Hollywood comic book adaptation "Wanted." Daigo also dubbed the lead role of Wesley Gibson, played by James McAvoy (29), who was on the PR trail in Tokyo on Monday.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove · Post time 3-9-2008 04:42 PM

Musician Daigo (30) is enjoying a high profile these days. The grandson of former prime minister Take#a Noboru (1924-2000), he is also the vocalist of rock band Breakerz. Their song "Shakunetsu" (literally "red hot") is to be used as the closing theme for the Japanese dub of the Hollywood comic book adaptation "Wanted." Daigo also dubbed the lead role of Wesley Gibson, played by James McAvoy (29), who was on the PR trail in Tokyo on Monday.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove · Post time 4-9-2008 04:14 PM

Foreign artists receive prizes at Japan's Int'l Manga Award
Wednesday 03rd September, 05:10 AM JST

TOKYO

whitedove · Post time 4-9-2008 04:16 PM

Ryoko Yonekura relishes villainous role in TV Asahi special drama
Wednesday 03rd September, 10:28 AM JST

TOKYO

whitedove · Post time 4-9-2008 04:27 PM

Koyuki, Ayase swing into action for Viera TV ads
Wednesday 03rd September, 10:46 AM JST

Actresses Koyuki, 31, and Haruka Ayase, 23, got to experience some action scenes in their new ads for Panasonic抯 Viera TV sets and Diga Blu-ray recorder. The two appear in scenes 揷opied

whitedove · Post time 4-9-2008 04:29 PM

Park Jin-young Writes Song for SMAP's New Album

Singer and producer Park Jin-young has written a song for Japanese group SMAP's 21st studio album, to be released on September 23. JYP Entertainment said it will be Park's second contribution to the group's album since its 42nd single "White Message," which was released earlier this year in March.

The management agency said SMAP has responded positively to Park's music style and that his latest song will be an upbeat dance track with lyrics that show the gratitude SMAP members feel toward their fans.

Source: http://english.kbs.co.kr

whitedove · Post time 4-9-2008 04:40 PM

AKB48 members form new trio
Wed, September 3, 2008 (1:24am EDT)

Three members of AKB48's Team A have formed a new unit called No Sleeves, which is apparently being abbreviated as "no3b." The group consists of Haruna Kojima, Minami Takahashi, and Minami Minegishi.

The unit's name supposedly comes from the fact that they will be casting aside the typical AKB48 uniforms in favor of more casual attire. While AKB48 has produced a few other sub-units in the past, this will be the first one to consist entirely of Team A members.

No Sleeves will release their first single, titled "Relax!," on November 26. Their official website is now open.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 4-9-2008 04:40 PM

Kazumasa Oda to be oldest artist to hold dome tour
Wed, September 3, 2008 (1:53am EDT)

Singer Kazumasa Oda has announced an extension to his current tour, which has been going on since April 5. With tickets in high demand for all 52 shows on the tour, Oda has tacked on four dome concerts. He will play at Tokyo Dome on November 26-27, Nagoya Dome on December 6, and Osaka Dome on December 20.

When he starts that leg of the tour, he will be 61 years and 2 months old, qualifying him as the oldest solo artist to hold a dome tour. This barely beats Kenji Sawada, who turned 60 in June and had announced dome performances in Osaka and Tokyo for later this year.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 4-9-2008 04:47 PM

Haruka Kinami to play Kyoko in "20th Century Boys"
Wed, September 3, 2008 (2:18am EDT)

23-year-old actress Haruka Kinami has landed her biggest role yet, playing the key character Kyoko in the second chapter of the "20th Century Boys" movie trilogy. The film is scheduled for release on January 31, 2009.

In the story, Kyoko is a schoolmate of Kanna (played by Airi Taira), the niece of the protagonist Kenji (Toshiaki Karasawa). Kyoko becomes an important character in unraveling the mystery of the "Friend" organization, whom Kenji and his friends are trying to stop. She appears briefly at the end of the first movie, which is currently playing in theaters. According to producers, Kyoko will have just as much importance as Kanna in the film.

Kinami has had numerous minor roles in television dramas, including "Dandori ~Dance Drill~" and "Asakusa Fukumaru Ryokan 2."

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 4-9-2008 04:49 PM

Tetsudo Musume cast includes Ami Tokito, members of Idoling and AKB48
Wed, September 3, 2008 (2:48am EDT)

Late last month, it was confirmed that Tetsudo Musume, a line of figures produced by Tomytec, would be turned into a live-action drama series, titled "Tetsudo Musume ~ Girls be ambitious." Now, cast details have been revealed, and idol Ami Tokito has been named as one of the main characters.

The drama is an omnibus series, portraying the lives of women working at railroad companies. Tokito plays an employee of Keisei Electric Railway, while Rin Takanashi plays an apprentice railroad idol. The rest of the main cast members are Idoling's Mai Endo, Erika Tonooka, and Erika Yazawa, along with AKB48's Tomomi Kasai and Sae Miyazawa.

"Tetsudo Musume" will air on six UHF networks, including TV Kanagawa, Television Saitama, and Chiba TV. Broadcast begins in October.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 4-9-2008 04:52 PM

Ayaka Hirahara to make acting debut in "Kaze no Garden"
Wed, September 3, 2008 (1:39am EDT)

Singer Ayaka Hirahara is set to make her full-fledged acting debut with a role in the upcoming Fuji TV drama series "Kaze no Garden," penned by popular screenwriter Sou Kuramoto.

Announced back in April, the drama stars Kiichi Nakai as a doctor who lost his wife to suicide. After learning that he has terminal cancer, he returns home to Hokkaido to live with his aging father (Ken Ogata), bringing his two children with him (Meisa Kuroki, Ryunosuke Kamiki). Hirahara plays a young woman who meets the doctor through a medical examination, and the two become lovers.

In addition to appearing throughout the whole series, Hirahara has been given the task of providing the show's theme song and an insert song. In 2005, Hirahara sang the theme song for Sou Kuramoto's "Yasashii Jikan."

"Kaze no Garden" airs on Thursday nights at 10:00pm, starting on October 9.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 4-9-2008 04:53 PM

Charts: Amuro, KinKi Kids extend their streaks
Wed, September 3, 2008 (1:11am EDT)

Pop star Namie Amuro has achieved her 5th consecutive week atop the charts with "BEST FICTION." The album is still selling well at 63,000 copies, though the lack of other high-profile releases has also helped her keep the #1 spot. And with total sales reaching 1.25 million, the album has now surpassed EXILE's "CATCHY BEST" as the best-selling album of 2008.

The last album to top the charts for 5 weeks was GLAY's 1997 collection "REVIEW ~BEST OF GLAY~," while the last female solo artist to do it was Akina Nakamori with "Best Akina Memoirs" in 1983, back before the CD era.

A few other artists made the top ten with new releases: DJ MAKIDAI of EXILE (#3), livetune with virtual idol Miku Hatsune (#5), and RSP (#7).

Meanwhile, KinKi Kids unsurprisingly took the singles chart, selling 187,000 copies of "Secret Code." They now have 27 consecutive #1 singles since their debut, extending their Guinness World Record. L'Arc~en~Ciel unfortunately released "NEXUS 4 / SHINE" at the same time, which means they ended up at #2 even though their single sold 110,000 copies.

The rest of the top ten included new songs by Acid Black Cherry (#4), comedy trio Hisoukan (#5), Shonannokaze (#6), AAA (#9), and Every Little Thing (#10).

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 4-9-2008 04:57 PM

Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr. (43) was in Tokyo yesterday to promote the movie "Iron Man," attending a press conference at the Shinagawa Prince Hotel. The movie has been a smash hit worldwide, putting Downey back on top in Hollywood after drugs and prison had almost put an end to his career. The last time he was in Japan was before all that, when he was promoting his Oscar-nominated role in "Chaplin" in 1993. When asked why he went for the role of a superhero, the actor regarded as one of the best of his generation said, "I got tired of making movies that nobody saw. And I figured that after 25 years of making movies, I was bound to have one good year.

whitedove · Post time 4-9-2008 04:58 PM

Last night, Oshii Mamoru's "The Sky Crawlers" was the last of the three Japanese entries to be screened in the competition at the Venice International Film Festival. The movie has been far less of a commercial success at home than "Gake no Ue no Ponyo," the summer's other big anime release from Miyazaki Hayao and a favorite for the Golden Lion. But it received an enthusiastic standing ovation from the Venice audience, who enjoyed the mix of beautiful imagery and philosophical themes. Some said however that they had trouble following the story. Oshii, who attended along with actress Kikuchi Rinko and actor Kase Ryo, said, "I was touched by the long ovation. I had a good time. Now we just wait for awards announcement."

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove · Post time 4-9-2008 05:01 PM

NHK is to air a documentary that offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at Japan's best-selling rock band. "B'z" is to air on October 6 and will feature long interviews with guitarist Matsumoto Takahiro (47) and singer Inaba Koji (43). The show is also the first time the duo have allowed TV cameras backstage. B'z have sold over 80 million CDs over a 20-year career and recently became the first ever Asian artists inducted into the Hollywood Rock Walk.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove · Post time 4-9-2008 05:03 PM

Less than a year since her debut, singer Nishino Kana (19) is to be the opening act on Cyndi Lauper's upcoming Japan tour. Still a student at university, Nishino released her debut single "I" in Japan and the U.S. in February. Though she recently performed a mini concert in Tokyo as part of a PR visit, Lauper (55) will start her first Japan tour in 12 years at the Grand Cube Osaka on September 23. The following night, Nishino will be warming up the audience at none other than the venerable Nippon Budokan.

Source: www.japan-zone.com