Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part II]

whitedove

Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' to return to London in kabuki-style
Wednesday 17th September, 03:00 AM JST

TOKYO

whitedove

Hideaki Ito introduces new disaster film '252'
Wednesday 17th September, 06:24 AM JST



TOKYO

whitedove

Miwa Asao back in public eye after sister's death
Wednesday 17th September, 10:40 AM JST



TOKYO

whitedove

GReeeeeN + BACK-ON = BAReeeeeeeeeeN
Wed, September 17, 2008 (1:29am EDT)



The identity of the new unit BAReeeeeeeeeeN has finally been revealed. With their song "Ashiato" making waves on USEN and chaku-uta charts, many have been speculating about the group. As widely believed due to the name, the group is indeed related to the popular band GReeeeeN, and the members are still refusing to reveal their faces.



BAReeeeeeeeeeN is actually a collaboration between GReeeeeN and the band BACK-ON. The two groups have a total of 9 members, but joining them as the producer and 10th member (and the 10th 'e') is JIN, the older brother of GReeeeeN leader HIDE.

"Ashiato" will be released as the unit's first single on October 1.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

Life of author Shiroyama turned into TV drama
Wed, September 17, 2008 (2:55am EDT)

TBS is producing a drama special called "Souka, Mou Kimi wa Inai no Ka," adapted from a book by author Saburo Shiroyama, who passed away last year. The story recounts Shiroyama's own experiences during his marriage and after his wife Yoko's death.

Yoko's father had been opposed to their marriage, and the couple faced many hardships during their life together. Yoko was later diagnosed with cancer, resulting in her death in 2000.

Shiroyama's writings on the subject were discovered this past December, almost a year after his death. It was published as a book by Shinchosha in January. The story was very successful, and TBS was just one of nearly twenty companies offering to do an adaptation.



Masakazu Tamura and Sumiko Fuji have been chosen to star as Shiroyama and his wife, while Rei Dan plays their daughter. For the flashback scenes, Kantaro Nakamura and Masami Nagasawa will play the younger versions of the two characters.



TBS has not yet decided on a broadcast date for the drama.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

RENTRER EN SOI to disband on Christmas
Wed, September 17, 2008 (1:30am EDT)



Rock band RENTRER EN SOI has announced that they will be breaking up this December, bringing their 7-year history to a close. According to the announcement on their official website, the band felt that it had fully achieved its motif of "return to oneself" (the meaning behind its name), and they decided to take the opportunity to disband.

The band has a mini-album titled "MEGIDDO" due out on October 22. It will be followed by a best album on November 19. The band has several upcoming shows scheduled, but their final concert is set for December 25 in Shibuya.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

Charts: Amuro finally beat, by Ayumi
Wed, September 17, 2008 (1:50am EDT)



After spending six weeks atop the album charts, Namie Amuro has finally been bumped down to #5 by a bunch of new releases. Leading the way is rival pop queen Ayumi Hamasaki with her singles collection "A COMPLETE ~ALL SINGLES~," the 14th number-one album of her career. It sold an impressive 539,000 copies within its first week, but that's only the fourth-highest opening of 2008, behind the best albums of Amuro, EXILE, and B'z.

American artists Ne-Yo and Metallica ranked #2 and #3, respectively, while Suga Shikao barely outsold Amuro to land at #4. "FUNKAHOLIC" is his 12th consecutive top-ten album starting with his debut, a streak equaled only by the late Yutaka Ozaki among male solo artists. Meanwhile, Onmyo-Za and Aya Kamiki managed to take the #9 and #10 spots.



On the singles chart, Mr.Children stayed at #1 with their "HANABI," which moved an additional 84,000 copies this week. GLAY's latest song came in second at 68,000 copies, followed by new releases from UVERworld, Ai Otsuka, Shoko Nakagawa, Dir en grey, and Kaela Kimura, in that order. Superfly also made the bottom of the top ten list.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

Sugai Kin has been a movie and TV actress for more than half a century and has worked with some of the greats, including Kurosawa Akira(1910-1998) and Naruse Mikio (1905-69). But only this year, at the age of 82, has she finally landed a starring role, and with it a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. She stars in the movie "Boku no Obaachan" (My Grandmother), which is due for release in December. Sugai attended a post-production event for the movie in Tokyo yesterday and was presented with a certificate by a Guinness representative. Sugai first appeared on stage in 1947 and made her movie debut in 1951. In the 1950s and 60s, she had supporting roles in several of Kurosawa's best-known movies, including "Ikiru" (1952), "Warui Yatsu Hodo Yoku Nemuru" (1960) and "Akahige" (1965). She also had a regular role in the long-running "Hissatsu Shiokinin" series, playing the mother-in-law of assassin Nakamura Mondo (played by Fujita Makoto).

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove

Talento Nishikawa Kanako (34) is on the verge of divorce, according to the Sports Hochi website. The daughter of veteran comedian Nishikawa Kiyoshi (62), she and pastry chef Hayashi Shigekazu (54) have been married since April 2005 and had a daughter just last year.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove

On the latest leg of his 4-country Asian PR tour, X Japan leader Yoshiki revealed that the group will have a sixth member for the upcoming "world tour." As he flew by private jet from Taiwan to Hong Kong, he told reporters that he met the musician in Los Angeles in August. He declined to give a name, saying he has yet to speak with the other band members, but said the musician would play a similar role to the late guitarist hide. Luna Sea guitarist Sugizo joined the band for their reunion concerts at Tokyo Dome in March and is expected to again be the fifth member. Yoshiki told fans in Hong Kong that their chance to see X Japan will come on January 17 at the Asia World Expo. He also said he was in discussions to reschedule the show planned for Madison Square Gardens in New York, as well as a concert in Germany.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove

Comedian Yoshio Kojima appears with python in film event
Thursday 18th September, 04:34 AM JST



TOKYO

whitedove

Ex-PM Koizumi lookalike comedian films DVD
Thursday 18th September, 10:35 AM JST



TOKYO

whitedove

Another anniversary release for Ringo Shiina
Thu, September 18, 2008 (2:16am EDT)



Ringo Shiina celebrated the 10th anniversary of her debut earlier this year, and to mark the occasion, she has already released a collection of B-sides and unreleased material, a music video DVD, and a live DVD. Now, she has announced another commemorative release titled "MoRa," due out on November 25.

"MoRa" comes in two flavors, a CD edition and a DVD edition. The 4-disc CD box set includes remastered versions of three albums - "Muzai Moratorium," "Shouso Strip," and "Karuki Zamen Kuri No Hana" - as well as the singles "Ringo no Uta," "Koufukuron," "Mayonaka wa Junketsu," and "STEM."

The DVD edition adds two discs to that, including the "Watashi to Houden" release from earlier this year. Both sets include several bonuses, such as an audio message triggered by opening the boxes, a 100-page booklet, stickers, art cards, and a poster.

In addition, "Muzai Moratorium" and "Shouso Strip" are being released in analog for the first time. Both will also go on sale November 25.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

Tamio Okuda to release B-side collection
Thu, September 18, 2008 (2:27am EDT)



Popular singer Tamio Okuda will be putting out a 2-disc anthology called "BETTER SONGS OF THE YEARS," a complete collection of all of his singles' B-sides that were never recorded for his albums. The collection features a total of 25 tracks and a booklet with musical commentary by Okuda himself.

"BETTER SONGS OF THE YEARS" goes on sale October 29. On the same day, Okuda will also release a Blu-Ray version of his "okuda tamio FANTASTIC TOUR 08" DVD that came out in July.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

Three AKB48 members debut as male idol group in TV Tokyo drama
Thu, September 18, 2008 (1:09am EDT)



TV Tokyo has announced a new drama series titled "Men-dol ~Ikemen Idol~." The show will star AKB48 members Haruna Kojima, Minami Takahashi, and Minami Minegishi, who recently formed together as the sub-unit No Sleeves.

The story revolves around three ordinary girls named Asahi, Nami, and Hinata who are aiming to become idols, but they repeatedly fail in their auditions. One day, they witness a serious crime, and they are forced to flee from the culprits. Fortunately, they are saved by a producer who is willing to let them debut, but they have to hide their true identities and dress up as boys instead.

The show's theme song will be "Relax!," the first single from No Sleeves. "Men-dol" will air in the late-night "Drama 24" time slot (Friday 12:12am), starting on October 10. The drama's official website is now open.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

"Sky Crawlers," "Crows Zero" to compete at Sitges
Thu, September 18, 2008 (1:52am EDT)



The Sitges Film Festival has unveiled the lineup for its competition category, the Oficial Fant鄐tic. Two Japanese films have been entered: Takashi Miike's "Crows ZERO" and Mamoru Oshii's "The Sky Crawlers," the only animated film in competition.

Also competing are Fernando Meirelles' international collaboration "Blindness" (in which Yoshino Kimura and Yusuke Iseya appeared) and the Japan-themed "Tokyo!" by directors Michel Gondry, Leos Carax, and Bong Joon-ho.

Sitges runs from October 2 to October 12. The festival's complete lineup will be revealed later this month.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

LesPros holds audition in Hawaii
Thu, September 18, 2008 (10:59am EDT)

Talent agency LesPros Entertainment - home to Yui Aragaki and Kyoko Hasegawa, among others - recently held a talent audition in Honolulu, Hawaii. 585 hopefuls entered the competition, but in the end, the winner was 16-year-old model Alessa Kiyohiro, a 4th-generation Japanese-American. Kiyohiro said she hopes to become as successful as the Hawaiian-born idol Agnes Lum, who rose to fame in the '70s and '80s.

Kiyohiro was announced as the winner by actress Hinano Yoshikawa, who also served as one of the judges. In addition to a contract with LesPros, the 2nd-year high schooler received $3,000 in prize money.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

There were some major announcements this week about the upcoming 21st Tokyo International Film Festival. Veteran Hollywood star Jon Voight was named as head of the jury, which also includes Chinese director Huo Jianqi ("Nuan"), U.S. producer Michael Gruskoff ("Young Frankenstein"), Brazilian cinematographer Cesar Charlone ("City of God"), Japanese actress Dan Fumi and screenwriter Takada Koji. The two Japanese entries among the 15 titles vying for the Tokyo Sakura Grand Prix at next month's festival are Watabe Atsuro's "Echo of Silence" (photo) and "School Days With a Pig" by Maeda Tetsu. They are also among the seven films having their world premiere at the event. The festival will open on October 18 with John Woo's Chinese historical epic "Red Cliff," and close with Disney/Pixar's animated hit "WALL-E" on the 26th. The TIFFCOM market, set for October 22-24, will feature 172 exhibitors, roughly half of them overseas companies, giving the event are international flavor than in previous years. "TIFF is still in its early stages compared with more established festivals such as Berlin, Cannes and Venice, so we have a lot of growing to do," said Takai Hideyuki, president of film industry lobby and TIFF organizer UniJapan. Among the wide selection of other events is the new Toyota-sponsored "natural TIFF" which screens "films that bring attention to the co-existence of men and nature."

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove

Singer Hino Teruko died of lung cancer at a Tokyo hospital on Tuesday. She was 63. A popular singer of Hawaiian music, her biggest hit was the million-selling "Natsu no Hi no Omoide" in 1965.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove

X Japan leader Yoshiki took his 4-country PR tour to Bangkok yesterday. He flew into the restless Thai capital amidst heavy security, but took time to meet the 1,000 fans who were there to greet him. He announced that X Japan will perform at the Supachalasai National Stadium on January 31.

Source: www.japan-zone.com