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A couple of celebrity pregnancies were revealed yesterday. Popular actress Shinohara Ryoko (34, photo left) and her husband, stage actor Ichimura Masachika (58), are expecting their first child next spring. They've been married since December 2005. Shinohara said at a PR event back in early September that she had put on weight, in an effort to head off any questions about a possible pregnancy. As she was wearing high heels at the time, the media fell for her ruse. She has been in a couple of hits this year: the movie "Unfair" and the NTV drama series "Haken no Hinkaku".

Meanwhile, TV Asahi announcer Ishii Kiwa (29, photo right) is also four months pregnant. She married Shimada Toru, president of the Rakuten Eagles baseball team, in July and they held a wedding ceremony last month. Ishii quit her regular post on the "Yajiuma Plus" morning show in September and has since been making occasional appearances on other news shows. She says she plans to continue working after becoming a mother. Shimada is once-divorced and has a daughter from his first marriage.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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Oricon: who do you want to make your bento?
Wed, November 7, 2007 (5:11am EST)

Like spring, fall is a season of picnics and similar outings. One item associated with picnics is the bento (box lunch), and research firm Oricon decided to explore this topic. 500 men were asked, "Which female celebrity would you want to make your bento?"



Popular actress Masami Nagasawa received the most votes, chosen for reasons such as her smile and cuteness. Tied for second were Yui Aragaki and Misako Yasuda.

Other young actresses made the list: Satomi Ishihara, Aya Ueto, and Maki Horikita ranked fourth through sixth. Pop star Ai Otsuka was #7, followed by singer and well-known cooking lover Remi Hirano, the only woman on the list born before 1980 (she was born in 1947). At the bottom of the top ten were Megumi Yasu and Aoi Miyazaki, tied for ninth.

Which female celebrity would you want to make your bento?

1) Masami Nagasawa
2) Yui Aragaki
2) Misako Yasuda
4) Satomi Ishihara
5) Aya Ueto
6) Maki Horikita
7) Ai Otsuka
8) Remi Hirano
9) Megumi Yasu
9) Aoi Miyazaki

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Oricon: who do you want to make a bento for?
Wed, November 7, 2007 (5:44am EST)

In a companion survey to this poll, Oricon asked 500 women which male celebrities they would want to make a bento for.



The number one choice was Teppei Koike, chosen mainly for his smile. Tsuyoshi Domoto tied for second with Masaharu Fukuyama, just ahead of fellow KinKi Kids member Koichi Domoto.

The other men in the top ten were Shingo Katori, Satoshi Tsumabuki, Kenji Sakaguchi, Yo Oizumi, Shun Oguri, and Masaki Aiba (tied with Oguri).

Who do you want to make a bento for?

1) Teppei Koike (WaT)
2) Tsuyoshi Dohmoto (KinKi Kids)
2) Masaharu Fukuyama
4) Koichi Dohmoto (KinKi Kids)
5) Shingo Katori (SMAP)
6) Satoshi Tsumabuki
7) Kenji Sakaguchi
8) Yo Oizumi
9) Shun Oguri
9) Masaki Aiba (Arashi)

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Mizuki to star in "Yoshiwara Enjo" remake
Wed, November 7, 2007 (3:01pm EST)

Around the end of this year, TV Asahi plans to broadcast a remake of Hideo Gosha's 1987 film "Yoshiwara Enjo." Based on a story by author Shinichi Sato, the movie followed the lives of women in the Yoshiwara red-light district of Edo. It received a lot of attention for its nude scenes, particularly that of leading actress Yuko Natori.



In the drama version, Alisa Mizuki replaces Natori as the protagonist Hisano, a woman who became a prostitute at the age of 18. This is Mizuki's first appearance in a jidaigeki work.

The supporting cast includes Mari Hoshino, Sayuri Kokusho, Narimi Arimori, Waka Inoue, Mikihisa Azuma, Makoto Fujita, and Mariko Fuji (who played one of the main roles in the film).

No specific broadcast date has been announced yet.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Horikita to make anime seiyu debut in "Doraemon" movie
Wed, November 7, 2007 (6:03pm EST)



Maki Horikita will be an anime voice actress for the first time in the upcoming "Doraemon" movie, scheduled to hit theaters on March 8.

In "Doraemon: Nobita and the Legend of the Green Giant," Horikita plays a young princess of the "Green Planet," who transfers all of Earth's plants there because of the Earth's advancing environmental destruction.

Recordings for the trailer took place this month, while recordings for the film are scheduled to start in January.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Katori, Takeuchi to star in Fuji TV's 'Getsu 9'
Tue, November 13, 2007 (3:27pm EST)



Fuji TV's flagship "Getsu 9" drama time slot will feature SMAP member Shingo Katori in a starring role next season. The story, penned by popular screenwriter Shinji Nojima, is described as a "human love story." Katori's co-star will be actress Yuko Takeuchi.



"Bara no nai Hanaya" tells the story of Eiji Shiomi (Katori), the manager of a small flower shop. His wife has passed away, leaving him to raise their daughter Shizuku on his own. The drama depicts their various interactions with the people around them.



Takeuchi plays the female lead as the blind beauty Mio. Other cast members include Yumiko Shaku as Shizuku's homeroom teacher, Shota Matsuda as a young man freeloading off of Shiomi, Susumu Terajima as a cafe owner who falls for Shaku's character, Tomokazu Miura as the director of large hospital, and Junko Ikeuchi.

The series begins in January, airing on Mondays at 9:00pm.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Nagasawa, Fujiki awarded "Best Smile"
Thu, November 8, 2007 (4:19pm EST)



On Thursday, the Japan Dental Association announced the winners of its 2007 Best Smile of the Year awards. In the celebrity division, the winners were actress Masami Nagasawa and actor/musician Naohito Fujiki.

November 8 is annually celebrated as "Good Teeth Day" by the JDA.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Tanihara, Igawa named Best Formalist
Thu, November 8, 2007 (4:34pm EST)



The Japan Formalwear Association presented its Best Formalist awards on Thursday. This year, the winners were actor Shosuke Tanihara and actress Haruka Igawa.

Tanihara got married in March to Emi Miyake. During the award ceremony, he announced that Miyake gave birth to a daughter in mid-October, but he did not reveal the girl's birth date or name. This is Miyake's second child, as she has a son from her previous marriage with Issei Ishida.

Reporters also asked Igawa if she would be expecting any time soon, but she gently answered no. Igawa got married last November to fashion designer Ato Matsumoto.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Superfly to become solo project
Thu, November 8, 2007 (6:00pm EST)

The duo Superfly, which debuted in April, will be turning into a solo project. Guitarist Koichi Tabo is withdrawing from the group to focus on composing and producing music, leaving vocalist Shiho Ochi as the sole member.



Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Kigurumi gains two members
Thu, November 8, 2007 (6:21pm EST)

Kiddy pop unit Kigurumi has officially gained two new members. What started as a duo became just a solo act after Haruka left at the end of June. But now the group has become a trio.

Original member Rena Shimura is now joined by 5th grader Miki and 1st grader Kei. The three are releasing their first single together, "Tamagotchi," on November 21. The song is being used as the theme for the upcoming animated film, "Eiga de Tojo! Tamagotchi Doki Doki! Uchu no Maigotchi!?" which opens in theaters on December 15.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Tomoko Yamaguchi cast as voice in "Golden Compass"
Thu, November 8, 2007 (8:17pm EST)



Actress Tomoko Yamaguchi will be a voice actress for the Japanese dub of "The Golden Compass," which comes to Japan on March 1. This is only her second voice acting role, with the first being 14 years ago in the animated film "Coo: Tooi Umi Kara Kita Coo." In "The Golden Compass," she will be the voice of the sinister Mrs. Coulter, who is played by Nicole Kidman.

Meanwhile, actor Ken Ogata has also signed on for his first voice acting role. He will provide the voice of Iorek Byrnison, who is voiced by Ian McKellen in the original.

Yamaguchi, along with Riko Narumi and Mariya Nishiuchi, will attend the film's world premiere in London on the 27th.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Oricon: nice teeth
Thu, November 8, 2007 (6:48pm EST)

While the Best Smile of the Year awards were handed out on Thursday, Oricon published the results of a survey asking 1,000 men and women which celebrities they think have nice teeth.



Tsuyoshi Shinjo was the overwhelming favorite in the men's category. The next closest were Mikihisa Azuma, Masaharu Fukuyama, Kenji Sakaguchi, Mocomichi Hayami, Yuji Oda, Gackt, Koichi Domoto, Masaru Nagai, and Sanma Akashiya.



Meanwhile, Yukie Nakama's teeth topped the women's category, coming out ahead of #2 Juri Ueno and #3 Nanako Matsushima. The rest of the top ten were Aya Ueto, Masami Nagasawa (who won the Best Smile of the Year award), Saki Takaoka, Ayumi Hamasaki, Yui Aragaki, Masami Hisamoto, and Yu Yamada.

Nice teeth (men):

1) Tsuyoshi Shinjo
2) Mikihisa Azuma
3) Masaharu Fukuyama
4) Kenji Sakaguchi
5) Mokomichi Hayami
6) Yuji Oda
7) Gackt
8) Koichi Dohmoto (KinKi Kids)
9) Masaru Nagai
10) Sanma Akashiya

Nice teeth (women):

1) Yukie Nakama
2) Juri Ueno
3) Nanako Matsushima
4) Aya ueto
5) Masami Nagasawa
6) Saki Takaoka
7) Ayumi Hamasaki
8) Yui Aragaki
9) Masami Hisamoto
10) Yu Yamada

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Kyoko Fukada to star in Kudokan drama
Thu, November 8, 2007 (5:42pm EST)



Kyoko Fukada will star in a TV Asahi drama series next season, titled "Mirai Koushi Meguru." The comedy is an original story written by popular screenwriter Kankuro Kudo, his first since the 2005 "Tiger & Dragon."

Fukada plays Meguru Yoshida, an English teacher at a cram school. On her 24th birthday, she awakens to a new power - she can see 20 years ahead into the future of everyone around her.

This will mark the 12th consecutive year that Fukada has appeared in a drama series, stemming back to "FIVE" in 1997.

The series will air in TV Asahi's Friday 11:15pm time slot, starting on January 11.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Sonim, Akane Osawa form "tomboy"
Wed, November 7, 2007 (4:55pm EST)



Sonim and Akane Osawa are forming a new unit called "tomboy," it was announced on Wednesday. They will release their first single on November 14, a cover of the pop hit "Super Star" by Korean group Jewelry.

Sonim was once a member of EE JUMP, and has since then been active as an actress and solo artist. Osawa is primarily a model and TV personality, but she released one single, "Natsuhiboshi," in 2004.

Last fall, the two women appeared together on a special program on Fuji TV, which involved them training as cheerleaders. They hit it off, and Osawa suggested that they work on a project together.

The duo's version of "Super Star" has already been chosen as the closing theme for TV Tokyo's variety program "Sukibara." They will appear on "Utaban" on the 15th, then will hold a debut event at LAZONA Kawasaki Plaza on the 17th.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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As predicted here back in January, Leah Dizon's career in Japan is steamrolling ahead. The 21-year-old American pin-up girl/singer performed her first solo concert last night at O-East in Shibuya, one of the most popular districts for Tokyo's youth. The 90-minute set included 16 songs, several sexy outfits and minimal chat, though her Japanese skills have noticeably improved over the last year. Cosplay is a big part of her act, and yesterday's concert ended with her wearing the yellow cap, pleated miniskirt and backpack of a typical Japanese elementary school student. She only came to Japan for the first time in 2006 but already had a fan base here, largely from the cosplay photos she posted on her blog. 2006 saw the release of a best-selling photo book and Dizon's self-promotion included a home-made video of her singing an Amuro Namie hit. The whole thing went so smoothly that some started to ask whether she was really a Japanese after all. The half French-American, half Chinese-Philippina was born in Las Vegas and raised in Los Angeles. She made her official recording debut in February and has released three singles and an album. Sources say she has a good chance of being invited to appear on NHK's "Kohaku Uta Gassen" on New Year's Eve and maybe even being named Best Newcomer at the Japan Record Awards. Named after the Star Wars character Princess Leah, she is often referred to as the "gravurekai no kurofune" or "Black Ship of the Pin-up World", a reference to the Black Ships of Admiral William Perry that helped end Japan's centuries of isolation in the mid-1850s.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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Moving up in the popularity stakes are teen techno pop trio Perfume. On Wednesday night they played a show for 1,000 fans, their biggest audience yet, at the Liquid Room in Tokyo's Ebisu. The show was named "Seventh Heaven, Iikibun", a play on the 7-Eleven chainstore's catchphrase. The large turnout had member Aa-chan (18) in tears of happiness (and a runny nose!). The group's catchy single "Polyrhythm" entered the Oricon weekly chart at No.7 (see the promo video on our Forum). They've been featured on the 'serious' NHK show "Music Japan" and are considered candidates for an appearance on "Kohaku Uta Gassen" on New Year's Eve.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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Suzuki Emi (22), a popular model in the teen fashion magazine world, is said to be two-timing. Today's issue of weekly gossip magazine "Friday" says he is seeing both young actor Shibuya Kento (19) and a 33-year-old entrepreneur. A nervous Suzuki dodged questions about her love life at a PR event yesterday.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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NEWS tops album, single charts
Mon, November 12, 2007 (5:35pm EST)



Last week, pop group NEWS simultaneously released their 7th single and 2nd album. Both releases made it to the top of the charts, with their single "weeeek" selling 263,000 copies and their album "pacific" selling 196,000 copies.

This is the 10th time in Oricon history that an artist has been #1 on both charts, with the last occurrence achieved by KAT-TUN in April 2006. The only other artists to accomplish the feat are SMAP, KinKi Kids, Masaharu Fukuyama, Ayumi Hamasaki, WANDS, and Seiko Matsuda.

These two releases also extend NEWS' current streaks of chart-toppers - so far, all seven of their singles and both of their albums have entered the rankings at #1.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Wakako Shimazaki to star in first drama series
Fri, November 9, 2007 (1:08am EST)



After 19 years in show business, talento Wakako Shimazaki has landed her first lead role in a drama series. She will appear in the TBS daytime drama "Sandaime no Yome!" in which she plays a woman married to a senbei maker 7 years younger than her. The story focuses on her conflicts with her mother-in-law.

The series premieres on January 7, airing weekdays at 1:00pm.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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TBS producing drama about Yubari
Fri, November 9, 2007 (2:10am EST)

TBS is currently working on a drama special dealing with the troubles felt by residents in the bankrupt city of Yubari, Hokkaido.

Tentatively titled "Ofukuro-sensei no Yubari Shinryo Nikki," the story takes place between last summer, when the city officially went bankrupt, and January of this year. Pinko Izumi stars as a doctor assigned to the city.



Filming is already under way. The drama is scheduled to air sometime in the spring.

Source: www.tokyograph.com