Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part II]

whitedove · Post time 5-9-2008 03:57 PM

Japanese pop culture festival to be held in Singapore
Thursday 04th September, 03:43 AM JST

SINGAPORE

whitedove · Post time 5-9-2008 03:57 PM

Beauty Week Award winners announced
Thursday 04th September, 10:39 AM JST

TOKYO

whitedove · Post time 5-9-2008 04:03 PM

YUI to release complete B-side album
Thu, September 4, 2008 (1:07am EDT)

Singer YUI, who recently announced that she will be taking a short break from work to re-energize herself, has revealed plans for a compilation album this fall. The title is currently unknown, but it will reportedly contain all of the coupling songs from her 12 singles released to date. It will also include one new song, said to be near completion.

The album goes on sale November 12.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 5-9-2008 04:13 PM

TV Asahi drama lets celebs create stories
Thu, September 4, 2008 (2:24am EDT)

A TV Asahi drama special called "Tsujitsuma" is being partly written by comedian Junichi Komoto, idol Shoko Nakagawa, and singer Ataru Nakamura.

The drama is comprised of three stories, each by one of the celebrity participants. Each of them was responsible for coming up with the general story, as well as establishing the first and last scenes. Of the three, only Komoto is involved in helping to write the script for his story.

Casting has not yet been announced, though Mitsuru Fukikoshi has been given the role of "storyteller." The show airs on September 26 at 11:15pm.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 5-9-2008 04:20 PM

AAA acts out Shakespeare
Thu, September 4, 2008 (1:34am EDT)

Kansai TV and Avex are producing a drama series this fall, tentatively titled "Mirai Seiki Shakespeare." The show will feature all 7 current members of the group AAA, marking their first drama appearance together.

The show will consist of several modern versions of Shakespeare's plays, with each story lasting 2 episodes. "Romeo and Juliet" and "The Merchant of Venice" have been confirmed for the series. The specific casting has not been revealed yet, but filming is expected to start in the next few days.

Kansai TV will air the series in a late-night time slot starting in October. The network has issued a press release on its website.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 8-9-2008 04:06 PM

Shizuka Kudo's art displayed at Nika Exibition in Tokyo
Friday 05th September, 05:07 AM JST

TOKYO

whitedove · Post time 8-9-2008 04:06 PM

Yukina Kino$hita introduces 'Ugly Betty' DVD
Friday 05th September, 05:46 AM JST

TOKYO

whitedove · Post time 8-9-2008 04:10 PM

22 female freelance TV presenters to hold poetry reading on stage
Friday 05th September, 10:22 AM JST

TOKYO

whitedove · Post time 8-9-2008 04:10 PM

SPEED's Imai has new movie role
Fri, September 5, 2008 (2:03am EDT)

Eriko Imai, of the recently reunited group SPEED, has been given her first film appearance since five years ago. The movie is "Yuzuriha ~Kimi mo Mata Tsugi no Kimi e~," directed by Kentaro Hayase.

The picture is a 60th-anniversary project of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf. Imai recently revealed that her 3-year-old son Raimu has hearing problems. In the movie, her role requires the use of sign language. She commented that she has been learning it for the past 5 months, and she recalled her joy when Raimu learned to call her "mama" in sign language just two months ago.

Imai's last movie role was in Yojiro Takita's "Onmyoji II" in 2003. "Yuzuriha" is being released next year.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 8-9-2008 04:17 PM

Chinese model Hu Bing cast in drama
Fri, September 5, 2008 (2:24am EDT)

Chinese model Hu Bing will be making an appearance in his first Japanese drama. NTV's "OL Nippon," starring Alisa Mizuki as a top-notch office worker, partly involves around a group of trainees from China, managed by Sadao Abe. Hu Bing will play Abe's work partner, who comes to Japan with high expectations, but learns that the reality is different.

Also appearing in the series are talento/gravure idol Rola Chen and a new actress who won a small talent audition held in Beijing.

"OL Nippon" premieres on October 8.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 8-9-2008 04:23 PM

"Itazura na Kiss" gets a theatrical adaptation
Fri, September 5, 2008 (3:16am EDT)

The popular shojo manga series "Itazura na Kiss" is being adapted to the stage. Galulu member Asami Abe is starring as the protagonist Kotoko, while Ren Yagami plays the male lead Naoki.

Performances will be held at the Theater Sun-Mall from November 27 to December 7.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 8-9-2008 04:24 PM

Lena Tanaka in first stage performance
Fri, September 5, 2008 (10:45am EDT)

Actress Lena Tanaka is participating in her first stage production this fall. It is an adaptation of Kuniko Mukoda's "Omoide Trump," with the script and direction being handled by Takahiro Tamura of the acting troupe ONEOR8.

The story is a human drama about the bonds between a woman and her family. Coincidentally, Tanaka was born in 1980, the same year that Mukoda won the Naoki Prize for several works, including "Omoide Trump." Mukoda died the following year in a plane crash.

Toshie Negishi, Ryoichi Yamaguchi, and Satomi Achiwa are part of the supporting cast. The play will be performed in Tokyo this October.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 8-9-2008 04:24 PM

Mariya Takeuchi songs inspire TV drama
Fri, September 5, 2008 (10:46am EDT)

Singer-songwriter Mariya Takeuchi, whose career turned 30 this year, is working with TBS on a 3-part drama series. The show's episodes will each be based on one of her songs, all of which are included on her upcoming best album "Expressions," being released October 1.

The drama is scheduled to air on three consecutive nights, from October 6 to October 8. The show focuses on women in love, with each episode's protagonist belonging to a different generation. Rosa Kato will lead off with "Camouflage." She will be followed by Misaki Ito in "Genki wo Da$hite" and Naomi Zaizen in "Junai Rhapsody."

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 8-9-2008 04:29 PM

Porno Graffiti to release two more best albums
Sat, September 6, 2008 (3:24pm EDT)

The band Porno Graffiti will be simultaneously releasing two best albums on October 29. "PORNO GRAFFITI BEST ACE" and "PORNO GRAFFITI BEST JOKER" will reportedly contain 13 songs each, though each includes a new song ("A New Day" and "Yakusoku no Asa," respectively).

Four years ago, the group simultaneously released their "RED'S" and "BLUE'S" best albums, which took the top 2 spots on the Oricon charts and together went on to sell 2 million copies.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 8-9-2008 04:30 PM

George Yamamoto's daughter takes up singing
Sat, September 6, 2008 (3:47pm EDT)

The daughter of singer George Yamamoto is following in his footsteps. The 21-year-old Kotono will make her debut on a song called "Kareha no Ballad," a duet with her father. It will be the coupling song to George Yamamoto's single coming out in January.

Yamamoto revealed in July that Kotono has been aiming to become a singer. She dropped out of junior college and began taking voice lessons three months ago. She has also started studying guitar, composition, and songwriting.

Kotono plans to start doing solo performances in November, followed by a solo single sometime next year.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 8-9-2008 04:32 PM

SEAMO handling first drama song
Sat, September 6, 2008 (7:06pm EDT)

SEAMO is doing a television drama theme song for the first time. The tune, titled "Continue," will be used in NTV's 2-hour special "Yume wo Kanaeru Zou," starring Shun Oguri and Arata Furuta.

The special airs on October 2, but it will continue as a full-length series with Asami Mizukawa as the lead. The series will also use "Continue" as its theme song.

The single goes on sale October 15.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 8-9-2008 04:36 PM

Actor Takashima Masanobu (41) said yesterday that he and model Mion (29) will register their marriage on September 8. The couple held a wedding ceremony on August 31 but chose next Monday to make it official as it marks six months since they decided in March to get married.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove · Post time 9-9-2008 03:06 PM

Kobukuro sings for Mocomichi drama
Sun, September 7, 2008 (1:47am EDT)

Popular duo Kobukuro will be in charge of the theme song for NTV's drama series "Oh! My Girl!!" The show was announced last month with actor Hayami Mocomichi in the starring role.

The song is called "Toki no Ashioto" and is scheduled to go on sale October 29 as the group's 16th single.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 9-9-2008 03:06 PM

Polysics to tour Europe, North America
Sun, September 7, 2008 (1:57am EDT)

POLYSICS recently announced a Europe tour that kicked off on Saturday in Portugal. They will play at least a dozen more shows in Europe throughout September.

The group will follow that up with a long U.S. tour in October and November, organized by the social networking site MySpace. That tour starts in Los Angeles on October 18 and returns to southern California for the final show in Pomona on November 14.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 9-9-2008 03:11 PM

girugamesh to play at Sakura-Con
Sun, September 7, 2008 (2:04am EDT)

JapanFiles.com has announced that the full catalog of rock band girugamesh is now available digitally through its online store. In addition, the band has been confirmed as a musical guest of honor at the next Sakura-Con, being held in Seattle on April 10-12, 2009.

More details can be found in the official press release.

Source: www.tokyograph.com