Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part II]

whitedove · Post time 22-4-2008 06:04 PM

Oricon: if you could become an anime character
Thu, April 17, 2008 (10:26am EDT)

Oricon surveyed 900 men and women with the question, "If you could turn into a main character of an anime series, who would it be?"

Not surprisingly, the super-powerful Son Goku of "Dragonball" was the top pick. At #2 was Doraemon with his fourth-dimensional pocket, and his popularity extended to his pal Nobita, who ranked #4. Monkey D. Luffy of "One Piece" came between them at #3.

Detective Conan tied for 5th with Usagi Tsukino ("Sailor Moon"). Heidi, the young girl of the Swiss Alps, made an unexpected appearance at #7, placing ahead of Lupin III. Three characters tied for #9: Minami Asakura ("Touch"), Satoshi/Ash ("Pokemon"), and Kyon ("The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya").

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 22-4-2008 06:06 PM

At yesterday's premiere of "Kakushi Toride no Sanakunin - The Last Princess" in Tokyo, it was announced that the movie will be screened in the U.S. later this month. A remake of the 1958 Kurosawa Akira classic, known internationally as "The Hidden Fortress," it was a major influence on George Lucas when he was making "Star Wars." So the new version is to be shown at the Norris Theater at the University of Southern California, the director's alma mater, on April 27. After yesterday's premiere at the JCB Hall, star Matsumoto Jun (24) said he was very excited about attending the event in California along with director Higuchi Shinji. "This movie is a mix that includes some of the best elements of the past 50 years of western cinema. I think it's turned out great and should be well received in America." With a cast that also includes Nagasawa Masami, Abe Hiroshi, and Shiina Kippei and a poster designed by famous manga-ka Inoue Takehiko, the movie opens at theaters in Japan on May 10.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove · Post time 22-4-2008 06:08 PM

Hajime Chitose (29) is to provide the theme song for the big movie of the summer, "Climber's High". The song "Hotaru" was written for her by Sukima Switch member Tokita Shintaro (30) after he watched a preview of the movie. Hajime said of the song, "It will melt in your heart, especially if you listen to it in the evening. I hope it will encourage people to think about their families and the important things in life." The movie, based on a best-seller by Yokoyama Hideo about journalists covering the fatal JAL airliner crash of 1985, stars Tsutsumi Shinichi (43) and is set to be one of the major movies of the summer. It is scheduled to open on July 5, while Hotaru goes on sale July 2.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove · Post time 22-4-2008 06:09 PM

A segment of the TBS anime series "Code Geass" was mistakenly leaked on the Web this week. About five minutes of episode three of "Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2", due to air on Sunday, was accidentally uploaded to a video sharing site by an employee of Bandai Channel on Tuesday. The company is in charge of online distribution of the anime. Ironically, the employee is said to have been checking for illegal video postings at the time.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove · Post time 22-4-2008 06:10 PM

[JAPAN] Oshikiri Moe promotes Volkswagen Beetle

Japantoday.com reported, 揗odel Moe Oshikiri, 28, appeared at an event this week to introduce Volkswagen抯揘ew Beetle

whitedove · Post time 23-4-2008 05:24 PM

Japan remakes internet drama "Prom Queen"
Fri, April 18, 2008 (12:19am EDT)

"Prom Queen," an internet drama series that became popular through MySpace last year, is getting a Japanese adaptation. Like the original, "Tokyo Prom Queen" will be presented in 80 daily installments, each lasting only 90 seconds.

The story follows a group of college students (high school students in the original drama) who experience love, friendship, and betrayal in the events surrounding a pre-graduation "prom." Director Futoshi Sato ("Indian Summer") said that it was difficult to adjust the story, particularly because Japanese people are not very familiar with proms.

Viewers will be able to watch the series for free on the internet and on mobile phones. Several video sites such as YouTube will carry the show, but its center of operations will be the community site Mixi, which will release each episode at midnight. The cast members will also keep journals on Mixi, giving fans the potential to interact with them. The show will also be tied in commercially to fashion magazine JJ and to Coca-Cola.

Leah Dizon is doing the show's theme song, titled "Under the Same Sky." Dizon will also make a guest appearance in the show as the character Naomi, the previous year's prom queen who makes her singing debut.

The main cast includes Shinobu Otsuka ("The Longest Night in Shanghai"), Kiki Sugino, Hidenori Tokuyama, Yurei Yanagi, Kyoko Tsujisawa, and Haruna Yabuki. Episodes will start being released on May 7.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 23-4-2008 05:29 PM

Oguri's "Jounetsu Tairiku" heads to DVD
Fri, April 18, 2008 (12:48am EDT)

Actor Shun Oguri is releasing his first "personal" DVD this year through Geneon Entertainment. Labeled "Jounetsu Tairiku x Oguri Shun," it will be the first time that TBS's documentary program "Jounetsu Tairiku" is released on DVD.

The television show takes an in-depth look at the lives of celebrities by following them for many days. Oguri's 200-day documentary was featured on November 11 and 18 of last year, which was the first time that two episodes were spent on one person.

Oguri's DVD will contain a re-edited version of the documentary, along with unaired footage. The limited premium edition will also have a bonus disc with an approximately half-hour interview. The DVD goes on sale July 25.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 23-4-2008 05:30 PM

Anime North brings Halko Momoi to Toronto
Fri, April 18, 2008 (1:06am EDT)

The 2008 Anime North convention has announced that seiyu/singer Halko Momoi will be performing as a guest of honor.

Anime North is being held on May 23-25 in Toronto, Ontario.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 23-4-2008 05:35 PM

Perfume song gets "Super Robot Wars" tie-in
Fri, April 18, 2008 (1:22am EDT)

Technopop unit Perfume has been given a video game tie-in with the popular "Super Robot Wars" series. "Butterfly," from the group's newest album "GAME," will be used to promote "Mugen no Frontier: Super Robot Wars OG Saga" for the Nintendo DS starting next week.

The game goes on sale on May 29. "Butterfly" will play in the television commercials, as well as the in-store promotional videos.

This is the fourth song from "GAME" to get a tie-in. Released this week, the album entered Oricon's daily charts at the #1 spot.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 23-4-2008 05:36 PM

Norika Fujiwara taking on her first musical
Fri, April 18, 2008 (1:58am EDT)

Actress Norika Fujiwara has been given the starring role in her first appearance in a production of a Broadway musical. The work is Bob Martin and Don McKellar's "The Drowsy Chaperone," which is currently in the middle of a tour across North America.

The Japanese production will be put on by noted director Amon Miyamoto. Fujiwara and Miyamoto both visited the U.S. last December to watch the musical in person. After that, Fujiwara began training herself for the part of the protagonist Janet, taking singing lessons twice a week and dance lessons once a week.

The musical will begin its run in Japan next January at the Nissay Theatre in Tokyo.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 23-4-2008 05:40 PM

Katsunori Takahashi gets "promoted" for drama special
Fri, April 18, 2008 (10:52am EDT)

Katsunori Takahashi will star in an NTV drama special this June. The show is "Kacho Shima Kosaku," based on a popular manga series by Kenshi Hirokane that has gone through various incarnations in its 25-year history, including four live-action specials on Fuji TV starring Shin Takuma and a 1992 movie starring Toshihiko Tahara.

"Kacho Shima Kosaku" revolves around the life of a salaryman. Takahashi is no stranger to the genre, having previously starred as an ordinary employee in the 1999 film adaptation of "Salaryman Kintaro" and as a chief clerk in the "Tokumei Kakarichou Tadano Hitoshi" dramas. This time, he will move up in rank, playing the section chief Kosaku Shima.

While the original manga was set in the pre-bubble era, this special will take place in the present day. Ryoichi Kimizuka ("Odoru Daisousasen") is writing the script.

NTV will broadcast "Kacho Shima Kosaku" at 9:00pm on June 25.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 23-4-2008 05:41 PM

Cawaii model to release first single
Fri, April 18, 2008 (10:53am EDT)

Hisayo Inamori, a teenage model for Cawaii! magazine, will release her debut single "GIRLS STYLE" on May 7. Inamori won the "Dreamgirls Audition" in March 2007, which earned her the opportunity to make her singing debut.

The music video for "GIRLS STYLE" comes in two flavors: a regular "front" version and a special "back" version, which features Inamori in outfits from popular brands in Shibuya. Both versions can be seen at her official website.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 23-4-2008 05:48 PM

Wakako Shimazaki announces 20th anniversary album
Fri, April 18, 2008 (10:55am EDT)

Actress and singer Wakako Shimazaki is celebrating the 20th year of her showbiz career with a best album on May 7. The tracklist of the two-disc "Wakako Shimazaki 20th anniversary BOX" will include her debut single "Yowacchaunda" and her "My life is ..." (released under the name Risky). The additional DVD includes footage from her pre-debut days and from her time as a young idol. The box set also contains several other bonuses.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 24-4-2008 05:02 PM

New H!P group forms
Sat, April 19, 2008 (12:01pm EDT)

Four trainee members of Hello! Project Kansai have officially graduated and formed a new unit called SI-NA (pronounced like "she-na"). The group's name comes from the initials of the members: Ai Suma, Manami Iwashima, Nana Nakayama, and Asami Abe (not to be confused with the sister of Natsumi Abe who has the same name).

Suma was a finalist in the 2005 Morning Musume audition, which was won by Koharu Kusumi.

The group has been hosting a weekly radio show from the Amerikamura studio of Kiss-FM since late February. Titled "Girls Kiss," the program has a blog, and videos of the shows can be watched on the Amerikamura TV website.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 24-4-2008 05:04 PM

Anna Tsuchiya, AI collaborate on "Crazy World"
Sat, April 19, 2008 (2:30pm EDT)

Anna Tsuchiya and AI are working together on a new single titled "Crazy World." The song goes on sale June 11.

The two singers both had minor roles as prisoners in the 2006 film "Memories of Matsuko" (directed by Tetsuya Nakashima). They became friends after that, and Tsuchiya came up with the offer to do a collaboration. This is her first time working with another artist on one of her own songs.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 24-4-2008 05:15 PM

Chemistry's Kawabata to become a father
Sat, April 19, 2008 (2:36pm EDT)

Chemistry member Kaname Kawabata revealed during a performance on Friday that his wife, model Miki Takahashi, is currently pregnant with their first child.

Kawabata and Takahashi just got married on March 6. They first met in June of last year.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 24-4-2008 05:18 PM

Horikita to judge in short film festival
Sat, April 19, 2008 (2:54pm EDT)

Popular actress Maki Horikita has been named as a guest judge for Asia's largest short film festival.

This year, the Short Shorts Film Festival & ASIA is establishing a new Online category. Horikita be one of the judges for that section.

The festival takes place in Harajuku, Tokyo, this June. More details about the event can be found at the official website.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 24-4-2008 05:24 PM

Nanase Iwai retiring from showbiz
Sat, April 19, 2008 (3:15pm EDT)

18-year-old talento and former fashion model Nanase Iwai wrote on her blog on Friday that she is retiring from show business. According to her, she had made the decision years ago, but she never mentioned it due to various circumstances.

Iwai said that she wants the freedom to try other things. She also borrowed a line from the idol group Candies (when they announced their breakup), saying that she would be an ordinary girl from now on.

Iwai made her entertainment debut after winning an Itoh Company audition in 1999. She started out as a model but also became active in film and television. Her credits include "Warau Mikaeru," "Genius Party," and "Sh15uya."

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 24-4-2008 05:31 PM

"Pokemon" producers win Fujimoto Prize
Sun, April 20, 2008 (2:51am EDT)

The winners of the 27th Fujimoto Prize, an award given in recognition of producers and directors, were announced on Friday. This year, the top prize went to Masakazu Kubo and Kenjiro Ito, who have both produced films for the "Pokemon" franchise.

Other prizes were given to "Megane" director Naoko Ogigami and to "Koizora" producers Masayuki Morikawa and Atsushi Nasuda. Noriyasu Hirakata ("Oka ni Agatta Gunkan") earned the newcomer award.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove · Post time 24-4-2008 05:40 PM

Jero to release cover album
Sun, April 20, 2008 (3:00am EDT)

New enka sensation Jero announced that he will be releasing a cover album, titled "COVERS," on June 25. This is his second release, following up on his debut single "Umiyuki" that came out in February.

The "COVERS" tracklist is said to include Cho Yong-pil's "Pusankou e Kaere" (also known as "Come Back to Busan"), Akio Kayama's "Hisame," and Frank Nagai's "Kimi Koishi."

Source: www.tokyograph.com