Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part II]

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More shows added to Miyavi tour, including Chile, Paris
Sun, April 20, 2008 (3:21am EDT)



Miyavi has recently added more stops to his upcoming World Tour. He will be playing a show in Chile on May 21, then in Sao Paolo, Brazil on May 24. He has also set a date for Paris on July 6.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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"Hana Yori Dango" coming to DS
Sun, April 20, 2008 (3:42am EDT)



The popular manga "Hana Yori Dango" will be getting a video game this summer. Konami is bringing "Hana Yori Dango -Koi Seyo Otome!-" to the Nintendo DS on July 10, about two weeks after the live-action movie "Hana Yori Dango Final" opens in theaters on June 28.

Players will be immersed in the environment of Eitoku Gakuen, taking on the role of a young girl entering the school. While the player will be able to form a friendship with the main character Tsukushi Makino, the game appears to revolve more around the interaction with the members of F4 and the possibility for romance.

Several famous voice actors have been tapped for the game, including Takahiro Sakurai and Megumi Toyoguchi.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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63 bands named in first Rock in Japan 2008 lineup announcement
Sat, April 19, 2008 (12:27pm EDT)

The first official lineup of the Rock In Japan Festival 2008, which takes place August 1-3 at Ibaraki's Hitachi Seaside Park, has been announced. Like previous years, there will be 4 concert stages (Grass Stage, Lake Stage, Sound of Forest, and Wing Tent). The festival will announce the timetable and additional artists at a later date.

Day 1: 175R, AIR, Kaela Kimura, GOOD 4 NOTHING, GO!GO!7188, The 50 Kaitenz, Sambomaster, Jinn, STRAIGHTENER, SUNEOHAIR, Sparta Locals, Spitz, TRICERATOPS, B-DASH, FoZZtone, Hoff Dylan, Polysics, UNISON SQUARE GARDEN, LUNKHEAD, RYUKYUDISKO

Day 2: asphalt frustration, ART-SCHOOL, UNCHAIN, Elephant Kashimashi, 8otto, Captain Straydum, Kinniku Shojotai, Kazuyoshi Saito, SEAMO, Zunou Keisatsu, SOIL & "PIMP" SESSIONS, dustbox, tobaccojuice, chatmonchy, Tsubakiya Quartette, the telephones, PUFFY, the HANGOVERS, BIGMAMA, Fujifabric, BRAHMAN, bonobos, MARS EURYTHMICS, monobright

Day 3: APOGEE, Tamio Okuda, Otogibanashi, GRAPEVINE, GOING UNDER GROUND, SNOWKEL, Takeuchi Denki, Tsuru, Dragon Ash, NICO Touches the Walls, Northern19, THE NOVEMBERS, HiGE, People In The Box, Magokoro Brothers, MO'SOME TONEBENDER, YOUR SONG IS GOOD, YO-KING, RIZE

Starting April 17, advance ticket reservations are being done by postcard lottery. The second lineup announcement is scheduled for June 1.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Tamaki, Shimatani's relationship already over
Sun, April 20, 2008 (2:23am EDT)



Hiroshi Tamaki and Hitomi Shimatani have broken up, it was learned on Saturday. They reportedly started dating around last September, but it looks like their busy careers caused them to split after only half a year.

Since the start of this year, Tamaki was occupied with filming for the drama series "Shikaotoko Aoniyoshi" and with recording a new album and single. Meanwhile, Shimatani also released her own new single and starred in a musical. According to one source, the couple was rarely able to meet due to their schedules, and they finally decided to break up at the end of March.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Martial arts fighter Masato (29, photo left) and actress Yazawa Shin (27, right) held a lavish wedding reception at a Tokyo hotel yesterday. The couple actually got married in February 2007 after a 6-year relationship. Sunday's event was attended by about 200 celebrities, including actress Koike Eiko and her husband, wrestler Sakata Wataru. Masato, the first Japanese to be K-1 World Max champion, said he had left the reception arrangements entirely to his wife as he was in training for a recent fight. He won the April 9 bout by KO over South African Virgil Kalakoda.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove

Singer T. M Revolution (aka T.M.R., aka Nishikawa Takanori) made a guest appearance at the 3rd annual New York Comic Con on Saturday. He performed 14 songs in about an hour and a half, including his next single. He announced that the "Resonance" CD will be the world's first to go on sale with a complimentary BluRay disc. In his third stage show in the U.S. following appearances at anime conventions in 2003 and 2004, the singer known to anime fans for his Gundam theme song "Invoke" was in unusually hyper mode. He spoke to the 4,000 fans in English, ending with "I'll be back!" He was also in huge demand for autographs and T.M.R. goods flew off the shelves at a special booth.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

whitedove

Talento Manabe Kaori (27) has all but acknowledged her relationship with comedian Kawashima Akira (29), one half of the duo Kirin. In the recently published autobiography "Joshi!? Gokoro" she says she is enjoying a very relaxed romantic life. Kirin have been increasingly popular in the last year, thanks partly to Kawashima's good looks and deep voice and partner Tamura Hiroshi (28) publishing a million-selling book about his days as a homeless schoolboy.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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[JAPAN] Ayase Haruka in 揗y Girlfriend is a Cyborg擺/b]



JapanToday.com reported, 揂ctress Haruka Ayase, 23, gets to beat up guys in her new film, 揗y Girlfriend Is a Cyborg.擺/b] In the film, directed by South Korean Kwak Jae-Yong, 48, and co-starring Keisuke Koide, 24,, Ayase plays a female cyborg who becomes Koide抯 girlfriend. 揃ecause I don抰 have an opportunity to punch men, I enjoyed doing it during production,

ct_subang

tamaki ngn Hitomi???shiraaa.....

xpelaa dh break pon..kekeke

whitedove

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

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Charts: Perfume becomes first technopop group at #1 since YMO
Wed, April 23, 2008 (12:05am EDT)



In a close race for the #1 spot on the album charts this past week, Perfume emerged victorious with 154,000 copies sold of their second album, "GAME." They are only the second technopop group to top the charts, which was last achieved by Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1983.

Right behind them was the band HY, whose "HeartY" had 150,000 in sales. Yuzu's newest ranked third with 103,000. Also in the top 10 were Mariah Carey (#7) and ACIDMAN (#9). Meanwhile, EXILE's "EXILE CATCHY BEST" broke the million mark, becoming the first album of 2008 to do so.



On the singles chart, the always-popular B'z had their 41st consecutive #1 single with "Burn -Fumetsu no Face-," selling 142,000 copies. The group recently announced that they are releasing two best albums this year.

Shuchishin surprised many by staying at the #2 spot from last week, beating out new releases from Morning Musume (#3), "Kamen Rider Den-O" (#4), YUKI (#5), and Ikimono Gakari (#7).

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Saki Fukuda, Ryo Ishikawa win award for teeth
Mon, April 21, 2008 (1:14am EDT)




The 2nd annual "Good Teeth and Eating Habits Awards," established by a dental association last year, were presented on Saturday. This year, 17-year-old actress Saki Fukuda and 16-year-old pro golfer Ryo Ishikawa were given the honors.

Last year's winners were Aya Ueto and Bae Yong Joon.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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"Gokusen 3" starts at 26.4%[/]
Mon, April 21, 2008 (10:38am EDT)



The NTV drama series "Gokusen 3" premiered on Saturday, and viewership numbers released by Video Research Ltd. showed that it kicked off the season at 26.4% in the Kanto region. This is only slightly lower than the 26.5% start of "Gokusen 2," which went on to average 27.8% over its entire run.

Meanwhile, the TBS series "ROOKIES," which also deals with a teacher working with delinquent students but involves baseball as well, started out with only 12.2% ratings. The show premiered the same day as "Gokusen" but aired an hour earlier.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Takayuki Yamada stars in "Kamogawa Horumo"
Mon, April 21, 2008 (12:58am EDT)

"Kamogawa Horumo," a best-seller by author Manabu Makime, is being turned into a movie. Last summer, Makime earned a Naoki Prize nomination for his "Shikaotoko Aoniyoshi," which was adapted as a television drama last season.

Makime debuted as an author in 2006 with "Kamogawa Horumo." The story, set in Kyoto, is a supernatural coming-of-age comedy about a group of college students who play a game known as "Horumo," in which they compete using their ability to manipulate shikigami (a type of spirit), which are referred to as "oni."



Takayuki Yamada stars as a new Kyoto University student named Akira Abe. (The name is a reference to the historical figure Abe no Seimei, who was said to be adept at controlling shikigami.) He becomes instantly attracted to another student (Sei Ashina), and ends up involved in a mysterious club.

Yamada's character is apparently similar to his role as an "otaku" in "Densha Otoko." Some of the comedic highlights include his "transformation poses" and his use of "oni-go" slang.

Katsuhide Motoki is directing. Other cast members revealed so far are Takuya Ishida as Yamada's rival Mitsuru Ashiya (a reference to Abe no Seimei's opponent Ashiya Douman), Gaku Hamada, and Yoshiyoshi Arakawa.

Filming started early this month. Shochiku plans to distribute the movie in 2009.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

whitedove

Japan's best-selling rock artists, B'z have no shortage of hits to choose from for a pair of compilation albums to mark their 20th anniversary. And their new single "Burn" has added to the list, entering the Oricon charts at No.1 this week. That extends their double record of 41 consecutive No.1 releases over 19 consecutive years. In this memorial year, they started a 17-city arena tour at the weekend, which will be followed by a 3-city stadium tour in September. And yesterday they announced a follow up to their 1998 release of a pair of hits albums - "Pleasure" and "Treasure" between them sold more than 9 million copies. "B'z The Best - Ultra Pleasure," which goes on sale June 18, includes no less than 12 million sellers and the 27 singles on the album have between them sold over 25 million copies. The album will come with a bonus mini album containing "Itsuka no Merry Christmas" and reworked versions of "Bad Communication" and "Pleasure." The first issue of the album will also include a 10-track live DVD that includes footage of the legendary Chiba Marine Stadium show in 2000, when they band performed outdoors during a thunder storm. The second album, "B'z The Best - Ultra Treasure," will be released in September and, like the 1998 version, will be made up of tracks requested by fans.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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[CONCERT] A.I. to return to So. Cal. for benefit concert - June 2008



Before the stardom, before the concert tours, and before the mega recording contract, there was one individual who recognized that Ai Carina Uemura had a gift that should be shared with the world. That person was her ojiichan (grandfather) Masami Endo.

Today, 26-year old Ai is a top recording artist in Japan and is frequently compared to Beyonc

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Jun Kaname has a girlfriend
Tue, April 22, 2008 (12:47am EDT)



Actor Jun Kaname, 27, is currently in a relationship. According to this week's issue of Shukan Josei, the woman is a 23-year-old dental assistant who resembles actress Izumi Inamori. Introduced through a friend, the pair started dating about half a year ago.

A reporter for the magazine asked Kaname directly whether he had a girlfriend, and he confirmed that he does. Kaname's management also verified the news.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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"Endless Shock" wins Kazuo Kikuta Award
Tue, April 22, 2008 (12:47am EDT)



The 33rd Kazuo Kikuta Drama Awards for theater were presented on Monday. The Grand Prize this year was given to Koichi Domoto's production "Endless Shock," which has been put on every year since 2005.

Other awards were given to Masaaki Sakai, Mayo Suzukaze, Yoshio Inoue, Keiko Horiuchi, and director Yumi Suzuki.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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monobright picks up first movie theme song
Tue, April 22, 2008 (1:20am EDT)



The Hokkaido-hailing band monobright is doing its first theme song for a film. "Ano Tomeikan to Shonen" is being used in Kenji Uchida's "After School," which was first announced last July. Starring Yo Oizumi, the movie opens in theaters on May 31.



Oizumi also appears in the music video for "Ano Tomeikan to Shonen," which is directed by Uchida. The tune is being recorded as part of a 6-song mini-album that monobright will release on May 21.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Sweet Vacation to make major label debut
Tue, April 22, 2008 (1:32am EDT)



Electro/house duo Sweet Vacation, who released their second album "More the Vacation!!" last week, announced that they will make their major label debut this summer with Victor Entertainment. It was also revealed that they will release a record in Taiwan.

More details will be announced in the future through their official website.

Source: www.tokyograph.com