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Youki Kudoh gets first domestic starring role in 17 years
Thu, October 25, 2007 (9:18pm EDT)



Actress Youki Kudoh is starring in a new movie titled "Haruyokoi," directed by Kenki Saegusa. It is her first lead role in a Japanese film since Tadashi Imai's "Sensou to Seishun" in 1991. Since then, she has been active mainly in the U.S., appearing in works such as "Snow Falling on Cedars." She returned to Japan two years ago.

"Haruyokoi" is set in the Saga Prefecture during the 1980s. Kudoh plays a woman living an ordinary life with her husband and son. However, the husband disappears after he accidentally kills someone.

Kazuki Koshimizu plays the son. Filming starts on November 6, with theatrical release set for next spring.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Former Hikaru Genji member arrested on drug charges
Tue, October 30, 2007 (12:32am EDT)



Akira Akasaka, once a member of Johnny's group Hikaru Genji, has been

arrested for drug possession, it was learned on Tuesday. He stated that the

drugs were only for personal use, and that he has been using them since this

past spring.

Early in the morning on October 28, Akasaka was stopped on the road by a

police officer. During standard questioning, the officer discovered that

Akasaka was carrying approximately one gram of stimulants (the specific drug

was not specified). Police are currently investigating the matter, trying to

gain more information such as where the drug was obtained from.

Since Hikaru Genji's breakup in 1995, Akasaka has been active as a stage

actor.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Actor Uchino Masaaki (39) and former top Takarazuka star Ichiro Maki (42)

held their wedding reception at a historical Tokyo restaurant yesterday.

Helping them celebrate was their 1-year-old daughter Rio, and the guest list

included a host of theatrical and TV celebrities. The couple first started

dating when working together on the stage musical "Elizabeth" in 2000. They

announced their engagement in May 2006 and registered their marriage the

following July. Ichiro left the all-female theatrical troupe in 1996 and has

performed on stages around the world. She and Uchino met when they played

together in the musical "Elizabeth" in 2000. Ichiro appeared in the 1997 NHK

taiga historical drama, while Uchino is playing the lead role of medieval

warrior Yamamoto Kansuke in this year's production, "Fuurinkazan". His busy

schedule working on the series was the main reason for the delay in holding

their reception. The event was held at the Ogasawara Hakushaku-tei, a 75-

year-old Spanish villa-style addition to what was the home of the Count

Ogasawara in the Edo Period.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

[ Last edited by  whitedove at 1-11-2007 12:14 PM ]

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Nissan's new song: Superfly meets Jet
Thu, October 25, 2007 (9:43pm EDT)



Nissan's collaborative "CUBE LOVES MUSIC" project has lined up its third

song. This time, the artists involved are new unit Superfly and

popular Australian rock band Jet. Jet's two full albums have sold

roughly 6 million copies worldwide, compared to Superfly's two major label

singles that have only sold about 60,000.

The song is called "High Five," arranged and written by Jet. The new

Nissan commercials will start airing on November 8, followed by the single's

release on the 28th.

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SHOGO denies Kosaka rumor
Thu, October 25, 2007 (10:11pm EDT)



The new issue of Josei Seven that went on sale on Thursday reported that

175R's SHOGO is dating gravure idol Yuka Kosaka. Later that

day, SHOGO posted a message on the band's official website denying the

rumors.

SHOGO said that everything reported is untrue - he did not spend a night

with Kosaka, has never been alone with her, and has not traded spare keys

with her. He apologized for all the trouble caused by the news, but also

expressed that he was upset by it.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Oricon: which celebrity would you want to be?
Fri, October 26, 2007 (4:01pm EDT)



Oricon ran a survey asking 500 high school girls, "If you could become a particular celebrity for only a day, who would you be?" Out of female celebrities, the number-one answer was pop star Ayumi Hamasaki, apparently perceived as having a glamorous lifestyle.

At number two was Maki Horikita, partly chosen because of her role in the "Hana Kimi" drama series, where she was surrounded by good-looking men. Kumi Koda tied for second with Horikita.

Erika Sawajiri, still recovering from bad press, ranked fourth, ahead of popular actress Masami Nagasawa. Ai Otsuka and Karina were not far behind, tied for sixth.



The survey also covered male celebrities. "Waratte Iitomo" host Tamori surprisingly topped the list. Many girls commented that they wanted to experience his work. The always-popular Takuya Kimura came second. L'Arc~en~Ciel's hyde made the list at #3, along with Tomohisa Yama#a. Fifth place saw a three-way tie among Masahiro Nakai, Kazuya Kamenashi, and Minomonta.

Which celebrity would you want to be? (female)

1) Ayumi Hamasaki
2) Maki Horikita
2) Kumi Koda
4) Erika Sawajiri
5) Masami Nagasawa
6) Ai Otsuka
6) Karina

Which celebrity would you want to be? (male)

1) Tamori
2) Takuya Kimura (SMAP)
3) hyde (L'Arc~en~Ciel)
3) Tomohisa Yama$hita (NEWS)
5) Masahiro Nakai (SMAP)
5) Kazuya Kamenashi (KAT-TUN)
5) Minomonta

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Bonnie Pink to begin selling in Sweden
Fri, October 26, 2007 (7:25pm EDT)



Singer-songwriter Bonnie Pink performed at the Nippon Budokan on Friday. During the show, she announced that she will be making her CD debut in Sweden next year.

Bonnie Pink has previously traveled to Sweden for recordings. She first visited there in 1996 and now views the country as a second home. She was last there this past spring recording her latest album, "Thinking Out Loud," which was released in July. While there, she also held a live studio performance over the Internet for her fans back in Japan.

"Thinking Out Loud" will be released in Sweden during February of next year.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Masahiko Kondo becomes a father
Fri, October 26, 2007 (6:52pm EDT)



Masahiko Kondo's first child has been born, it was learned on Friday. His wife, whom he married in June 1994, gave birth to the boy on the afternoon of October 8. Kondo was scheduled to appear at a traffic safety event on the same day. Immediately after the event, he rushed to the hospital, but missed the birth by less than five minutes.

The child was expected to be born in mid-December. He is currently in an incubator at the hospital, but is said to be developing healthily. He will likely be released in about a month.

Kondo named the child Gosuke. The name was chosen partly for its stroke count, but also for its symbolism. The kanji for "go" is made of three of the same character, each meaning "car" - Kondo is the owner and director of a racing team. He also explained that the bottom two characters represent him and his wife, supporting the third character on top, representing the child.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Lawyer reveals Akasaka's divorce
Wed, October 31, 2007 (4:36pm EDT)



Ex-Hikaru Genji member Akira Akasaka has been divorced since March 28 of this year, it was revealed on Wednesday. The announcement was made by a legal adviser for Johnny's Jimusho, which formally dismissed Akasaka on Monday after his recent arrest for drug possession. According to the lawyer, Akasaka's divorce was kept secret out of consideration for his family and ex-wife, but the present circumstances led to the decision to go public.

Akasaka married his wife, a former office worker, in November 2001. They both attended Horikoshi High School, though she is two years older than him. In June 2002, they had a son, who is now in custody of the wife.

It has been reported that Akasaka first obtained the drugs in April, and it is possible that he was using them to cope with the divorce.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Kamejiro, Chiba to take "Fuurinkazan" to stage
Sat, October 27, 2007 (5:22am EDT)

The NHK taiga drama "Fuurinkazan" is being turned into a stage production next year. While the television series centers on the character of Yamamoto Kansuke (played by Masaaki Uchino), the play will instead revolve around Takeda Shingen.



Kabuki actor Kamejiro Ichikawa will not only play the role of Shingen (as he does in the drama series), but will also play the part of Kansuke. He is involved in directing as well.



One other confirmed cast member is Shinichi Chiba, who is also reprising his role from the drama, as Itagaki Nobukata. He recently announced that he would quit acting under the name "Shinichi Chiba," but he agreed to participate at Ichikawa's request. It is his first stage role in 22 years.

The play will run from April 5 to 27 at Tokyo's Nissay Theatre.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Maki Goto to graduate from Hello! Project
Sun, October 28, 2007 (6:02pm EDT)



Former Morning Musume member Maki Goto ended her tour on Sunday with a show at Saitama's Sonic City. During the concert, she revealed that she is graduating from Hello! Project. The news comes barely a week after her younger brother Yuki was arrested for theft.

Yuki turned himself into the police on October 20, admitting that he and accomplices broke into a construction site in July to steal one million yen worth of electric cable.

Right after the incident became public, Goto and her management had a discussion. Because of the trouble caused by the scandal, and disagreements over the direction of Goto's career, it was decided that she would no longer be a part of Hello! Project. She will continue her solo career, but hopes to become a serious music artist rather than just an idol. She is reportedly remaining with Up-Front Agency.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Another Kurosawa remake, MatsuJun to star
Sun, October 28, 2007 (7:21pm EDT)



Akira Kurosawa's 1958 film "The Hidden Fortress" ("Kakushi Toride no San Akunin") is getting a remake, directed by special effects specialist Shinji Higuchi. This version will star Arashi member Jun Matsumoto in his first jidaigeki role, with a supporting cast that includes popular actress Masami Nagasawa.

The original film starred Toshiro Mifune as the defeated general Rokurota trying to secretly escort a princess and her wealth to safety. Along the way, he is joined in the journey by two peasants. In Higuchi's version, the story's protagonist is the peasant Takezo (played by Matsumoto), rather than the general.



Masami Nagasawa plays the role of the princess, while Hiroshi Abe plays Rokurota. According to Sports Hochi, comedian Daisuke Miyagawa is also part of the cast, and Kazuki Nakashima is handling the adaptation of the script.

The movie reportedly has a budget of 1.5 billion yen. Filming starts next month and lasts until the end of the year, with theatrical release set for May 10, 2008.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Another former MoMusu member, Abe Natsumi (26), was apologizing to fans yesterday, too. At a show in Osaka that kicked off her latest tour, she said she was sorry for "worrying" fans with the trafic accident she caused earlier in the month. Meanwhile, the news is brighter for the current MoMusu lineup. A 10th anniversary collection of the group's hits has made No.1 in the latest Oricon album chart. With 11 albums now having made the Top 10, they share top spot for a female group with top 1980s band Princess Princess.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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Talento Rinka (34) is reaching out to all those Japanese women with a broken heart. She was chosen to record a cover of Blondie's 1999 song "Maria" as the theme tune for the Japan release of Korean movie "200 Pounds Beauty". The movie is based on a Japanese manga by Suzuki Yumiko, "Kanna-san Daiseikou Desu!" Producers say they chose Rinka because of her popularity among young Japanese women and her "dramatic life". The recently revealed breakup with her boyfriend of six years no doubt influenced Rinka as she wrote her own Japanese lyrics for the song. Blondie keyboard player Jimmy Destry also took part in the project. "Maria" goes on sale December 12 and the movie opens in Japanese theaters on December 15.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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[JAPAN] Kitano Takeshi to have special on TV about Japanese educational system



Kitano Takeshi (aka Beat Takeshi) will have a special on Fuji TV on the Japanese educational system according to a Televiews column by Daily Yomiuri抯 Wm. Penn.

Penn writes, 揙n Saturday, Oct. 27, Takeshi is broadcasting his third annual white paper on Japanese education. This year, the theme of Takeshi no Kyoiku Hakusho 2007, a live, five-hour Fuji TV special running from 7 p.m. to 11:55 p.m., is sekinin (responsibility) and how to define it in terms of the nation抯 education system.

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Charts: BUMP takes top two, MoMusu ties album record
Mon, October 29, 2007 (11:17pm EDT)



Rock band BUMP OF CHICKEN released two singles last week, and both songs led the charts. "Hana no Na" sold 177,000 copies, followed closely by "Mayday" with 171,000 in sales. BUMP is the 7th artist to simultaneously take the top two spots - the last group to do it was RAG FAIR in 2002.

On the albums chart, the Morning Musume collection, "Morning Musume All Singles Complete ~10th Anniversary~," sold 31,000 copies to debut at #6. This is their 11th top ten album, tying the all-time record with Princess Princess from the '80s and '90s.

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Sambomaster sings theme for 2nd "Bleach" movie
Mon, October 29, 2007 (11:50pm EDT)



Rock trio Sambomaster has been chosen to do the theme song for "Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion," the second feature film in the popular "Bleach" franchise. The song, titled "Hikari no Rock," goes on sale December 12, ten days before the movie's release.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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hiro gets first stage role in "Mozart!"
Tue, October 30, 2007 (4:46am EDT)



A production of the musical "Mozart!" will run from November 19 to December 2 at Tokyo's Imperial Garden Theater. It stars a double cast of Yoshio Inoue and singer-songwriter Akinori Nakagawa as Mozart, while singer and former SPEED member hiro plays the role of his wife Constanze. This is hiro's first time in a theater role.

Other cast members include Tatsuki Kohju, Yumiko Takahashi, Mayo Suzukaze, and Yuichiro Yamaguchi.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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NHK to air special on Takako Matsu's singing career
Tue, October 30, 2007 (5:18am EDT)



This year is the 10th anniversary of the singing career of actress Takako Matsu. In honor of that, NHK will air a documentary special, titled "Takako Matsu: Kanojo ga Utau Wake," on November 9. It will be shown in the network's "Premium 10" (10:00pm) programming slot.

Matsu grew up in a family of actors, and she made her own stage debut in 1993. However, she had dreamed of becoming a singer ever since she was a child, when she would sing Seika Matsuda tunes to herself while playing the piano. After becoming the youngest Kohaku Uta Gassen host at the age of nineteen in 1996, she finally started her music career the following year.

The documentary, which is a first for Matsu, features footage ranging from 1996, when she recorded her debut single "A#a, Haru ga Kitara" in Los Angeles, to 2007, when she launched her first concert tour in four years. Much of the footage has never been seen by fans before.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Mishima's "Rokumeikan" gets drama treatment
Tue, October 30, 2007 (2:53pm EDT)



TV Asahi is producing a drama special based on the Yukio Mishima play "Rokumeikan." It was previously made into a drama on NHK in 1970 and a film directed by Kon Ichikawa in 1986. TV Asahi's version will star Masakazu Tamura and Hitomi Kuroki, once again cast in the roles of a husband and wife. They previously played a couple in the drama series "Oyaji" (2000) and "Fuufu" (2004).

The story is set during the Meiji era at the Rokumeikan (also known as the Deer Cry Pavilion), a social center that ultimately became a symbol of the Westernization process in Japan. Tamura plays Count Kageyama, whose forceful political methods have earned him many enemies. Kuroki plays his wife Asako, a former geisha. The action mainly takes place at a ball that has been targeted for attack by activists.

"Rokumeikan" will air during the start of the new year.

Source: www.tokyograph.com