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news: dorama
Top watched dramas of 2007
Fri, December 21, 2007 (5:08am EST)
Video Research Ltd. has published a top 10 list of the highest-rated television dramas this year. The list includes both tanpatsu and renzoku dramas, though only the top episode counted for the latter.
#1 was the final episode of "Karei Naru Ichizoku" (30.4%), which starred Takuya Kimura and other popular celebrities. TBS ran the show during the winter, the same season it aired "Hana Yori Dango 2," which ranked #2 with its finale (27.6%). NTV also had a hit that season with "Haken no Hinkaku," whose closer was third on the list at 26.0%.
"Dondo Bare" was #4 (24.8%), slightly ahead of the "Galileo" opener (24.7%). #6 was the first part of the Seicho Matsumoto adaptation "Ten to Sen" that marked Beat Takeshi's return to TV drama.
In August, NTV aired "Kimi ga Kureta Natsu" as part of its "24 Hour Television" charity program, and the starring pair of Hideaki Takizawa and Kyoko Fukada brought in ratings of 23.3%.
The February 4 episode of "Fuurinkazan" scored 22.9% to rank 8th on the list. This was followed by Fuji TV's repeat of the "HERO Special" in September (22.1%). The "Hanazakari no Kimitachi e" finale and the "Iryu 2" premiere tied for 10th with 21.0% ratings.
Top watched dramas of 2007:
1) Karei-Naru Ichizoku - 30.4%
2) Hana Yori Dango 2 - 27.6%
3) Haken no Hinkaku - 26.0%
4) Dondo Bare - 24.8%
5) Galileo - 24.7%
6) Ten to Sen Part 1
7) Kimi ga Kureta Natsu SP - 23.3%
8) Fuurinkazan - 22.9%
9) HERO SP repeat - 22.1%
10) Hanazakari no Kimitachi e - 21.0%
10) Iryu 2 - 21.0%
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: celebrities
Hosokawa, Ninagawa become mothers
Fri, December 21, 2007 (8:11pm EST)
Talento Fumie Hosokawa gave birth to her first child at a hospital in Oita on Thursday afternoon. The baby boy was not expected to arrive until early January, but he is said to be healthy. Hosokawa has been married to businessman Hisato Endo since November 1.
Photographer Mika Ninagawa also became a mother recently. Her father, director Yukio Ninagawa, revealed on "Mezamashi TV" that she gave birth to a boy on December 11. Mika has a common-law husband and is not formally married.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: artistes
Polysics heads to Europe
Fri, December 21, 2007 (8:55pm EST)
Polysics has announced a big European tour for early 2008. Most of the 17 dates are in the UK, Italy, and France, but single stops in Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland are included. The tour kicks off on February 9 in London.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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survey
Oricon: popular celebrity bloggers
Sat, December 22, 2007 (2:56pm EST)
Lots of celebrities in Japan have their own blogs. Oricon tapped public opinion to see which celebrity bloggers gained in popularity this year, and found that otaku idol Shoko Nakagawa was ranked #1 across all age groups. Similarly, Chinatsu Wakatsuki was ranked second by all groups.
Other popular bloggers this year were comedian Lou Oshiba, actress Saeko, boxer Shinji Takehara, comedian Hiroshi Shinagawa, actress Rie Tomosaka, talento Kaori Manabe, actor Yusuke Kamiji, and pop star BoA.
The survey was conducted in early November, before idol Yui Aragaki launched her blog, which quickly secured a spot near the top of the Ameblo rankings.
Popular celebrity bloggers:
1) Shoko Nakagawa
2) Chinatsu Wakatsuki
3) Lou Oshiba
4) Saeko
5) Shinji Takehara
6) Hiroshi Shinagawa
7) Rie Tomosaka
8) Kaori Manabe
9) Yusuke Kamiji
10) BoA
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: artiste
Rie fu to make Europe debut
Sun, December 23, 2007 (7:18pm EST)
22-year-old singer-songwriter Rie fu is set to release her music in Europe next year.
Rie, whose real last name is Funakoshi, graduated this past summer from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London. While studying art there, she made her Japanese music debut with "Rie who!?" in 2004.
The singer apparently received an offer from a local label, and she will release an album titled "Who is Rie fu?" in mid-February. Although the label is based in England, the album will be sold in other European countries as well.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: actress
Saki Takaoka heads to Avex
Sun, December 23, 2007 (6:57pm EST)
Actress Saki Takaoka is joining Avex's new talent management agency, it was learned on Sunday. She had left From First in late November, which prompted rumors that she was retiring from show business. In reality, she is in the final stages of negotiating a contract with Avex.
The record label started its management division in June of this year and is currently in charge of celebrities such as Shido Nakamura and Koyuki.
Takaoka is expected to be officially tied to Avex at the start of next year, and may begin filming for a movie as early as the beginning of January.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: artiste
Senri Oe pauses career to study jazz in NY
Sun, December 23, 2007 (5:32am EST)
On Saturday, singer-songwriter Senri Oe announced on his blog that he plans to put his music career on hold in Japan. According to the notice, he will be moving to New York to study jazz.
Oe emphasized that he is not retiring, but he may be abroad for a long time, possibly several years. However, he mentioned that he plans to continue writing songs while he is there.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: celebrities
Romance rumors that circulated during the summer about SMAP leader Nakai Masahiro (35) and "ero-kakkoii" pop singer Koda Kumi (25) are true after all. Today's issue of the weekly women's magazine "Josei Seven" includes photos of the couple at Nakai's plush Tokyo apartment, which he moved into just in October. The photos were taken on December 5, after the couple had both appeared on a Fuji TV music show. Koda was a guest on the Fuji show "Utaban", co-hosted by Nakai and comedian Ishibashi Takaaki, in late September and they both tried to laugh off the rumors. But with SMAP being the kings of the J-pop world and Koda being the top-selling artist of the last few years, the media are now referring to them as a "chou biggu kappuru" (super big couple). And with Nakai in the role as emcee for the female Red Team at this year's Kohaku Uta Gassen on New Year's Eve, he will have to introduce his own girlfriend on stage for the most widely viewed show of the year. And she's scheduled to perform the song "Ai no Uta" (Song of Love). That's just the kind of publicity that NHK have been praying for as the show has seen a slump in ratings over the recent years.
Source: www.japan-zone.com
Koda-Nakai relationship confirmed?
Mon, December 24, 2007 (3:46pm EST)
The rumored romance between Kumi Koda and SMAP's Masahiro Nakai seems to have finally been confirmed, according to the latest issue of Josei Seven.
The magazine snapped pictures of the couple on December 5, after the live broadcast of Fuji TV's music show "FNS Kayousai." They were seen returning together to Nakai's apartment, which he just moved into two months ago. Then on the 11th, Koda was seen carrying groceries to the apartment.
News of a possible romance first surfaced in August, but so far, neither side has denied the rumors.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: movie
Yu Yamada stars in Japan's own "200 Pounds Beauty"
Mon, December 24, 2007 (4:54pm EST)
Actress Yu Yamada has landed her first starring role in a movie, titled "Kanna-san, Daiseikou Desu!" Directed by Koichi Inoue, the film draws from the same source as last year's Korean hit comedy "200 Pounds Beauty," which starred Kim Ah-jung.
"Kanna-san, Daiseikou Desu!" is originally a manga by Yumiko Suzuki. It tells the story of an unattractive woman named Kanna who undergoes plastic surgery and becomes a pop star. Yamada, who plays Kanna, is said to be a fan of the comic.
While the Korean adaptation was a romantic comedy, the Japanese version will stay truer to the manga and focus more on Kanna's relationship with her friend Kabako, played by comedian Shizu-chan of Nankai Candies.
The idea for an adaptation came up three years ago. The story will be animated up until Kanna's plastic surgery, after which the film changes entirely to live-action. Filming started this past October and wrapped up about a month later. Theatrical release is scheduled for fall 2008.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: celebrities
Matsu Takako Married
December 29, 2007
The year-end wedding rush continues, with the latest announcement coming from actress Matsu Takako (30). She and musician Sahashi Yoshiyuki (46) chose yesterday, an auspicious "taian" day on the traditional calendar, to tie the knot on a relationship of six years. Messages of congratulation came from Matsu's father, actor Matsumoto Koshiro (65), and brother, kabuki actor Ichikawa Somegoro (36) as well as a host of other celebrities. The couple first started going out when Sahashi took part in Matsu's nationwide concert tour in 2001. He also participated in the recording of her latest album,"Cherish You", which was released in April. Matsu told the president ofher management agency of their wedding plans at the end of September.Yesterday's announcement was sent to the media by fax and the couple have no plans to hold a press conference, wedding ceremony or reception. It is the second marriage for Sahashi, who divorced in 1998.
Odagiri Jo, Kashii Yuu to Wed
[December 28, 2007]
The media was caught off guard by yesterday evening's press conference by top actor Odagiri Jo (31) and young actress Kashii Yuu(20). The two announced that after a relationship of two years they are planning to get married in the New Year. As well known for his radical fashion sense as for his various critically acclaimed movie appearances, a clearly nervous Odagiri sported his recent "late-period John Lennon" look. By giving a formal press conference rather than announcing the news by fax, and such revelations as Kashii's strictly enforced 10pmcurfew, the image of a young couple in love seemed to override the11-year age difference between them. The media are referring to the musing such terms as "seijitsu" (sincere, honest) and "junai" (pure and innocent love), a reaction perhaps to the many shotgun weddings and short-lived marriages that are common in the showbiz world. When asked about her ideal husband, Kashii said she'd like to marry someone like her own father, who she described as "very strict and stubborn". Odagiri, who was raised by his mother, echoed his fiancee by saying he hoped to live up to that image. He added that he has seen Kashii as a future marriage partner since they started dating. Asked about the timing of the announcement, he said that he will be filming overseas at the beginning of next year and wanted Kashii to feel at ease while he is away. The two, who met on the set of the 2005 movie "The Pavillion Salamandre", share the same birthday, February 16. That seems as likely a date for their wedding as any.
Odagiri got his break on TV in the title role of "Kamen Rider Uga" in 2000. He won a Japan Academy Award as best newcomer for the2003 movie "Azumi". He was romantically linked with actress Mizuno Miki(33), but they split in 2005. Kashii, whose grandfather is American,spent her elementary school years in Singapore. She started out as a fashion model before making her TV debut in Fuji TV's hugely popular series "Waterboys" in 2003. She appeared in the first "Death Note"movie in 2006.
Source: http://www.japan-zone.com |
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news: artiste
[December 28, 2007]
Glay vocalist Teru (36) and his wife, Puffy member Ohnuki Ami (34), were involved in a minor traffic accident earlier this month, it was revealed yesterday. Teru was making a right turn in Tokyo's Aobadai area when he collided with a young woman on a bicycle. Police are planning to prosecute him for accidental infliction of injury.
Source: http://www.japan-zone.com/ |
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news: movie
Yakusho, Miyazaki cast in "Tsurugidake"
Tue, December 25, 2007 (4:14am EST)
 [img]
 [/img]
On Monday, Toei announced two additions to the movie "Tsurugidake: Ten no
Ki." Koji Yakusho and Aoi Miyazaki are both joining a cast
that stars Tadanobu Asano, Teruyuki Kagawa, Ryuhei Matsuda and Toru
Nakamura.
Based on a novel by Jiro Nitta, the film is the directorial debut of veteran
cinematographer Daisaku Kimura. The story, set in the Meiji era, focuses on
an exploration team in the Hida Mountains.
Filming has been under way since April and is scheduled to continue until
July 2008. Yakusho and Miyazaki will join around the end of March.
The movie is expected to open in 2009.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: singer/dorama
Ken Hirai sings "Hachikuro" theme
Tue, December 25, 2007 (4:28am EST)
Ken Hirai is providing the theme song for the "Honey and Clover" ("Hachimitsu to Kuroba") drama series that starts on Fuji TV next month. Titled "Canvas," the song will be released as a single on February 20.
Hirai already performed the song for the first time at a concert on Sunday. |
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news: artistes
Nanamusica goes on hiatus
Tue, December 25, 2007 (4:43am EST)
Female duo Nanamusica announced through their blog on Friday that they are suspending their activities as a group. Both women will be pursuing their own personal goals as musicians.
Member Yuri Matsufuji mentioned that she is considering studying music abroad.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: movie
Some "L change the WorLd" updates
Tue, December 25, 2007 (5:03am EST)
The official website of the "Death Note" spinoff (titled "L change the WorLd") recently posted several updates, including the second full trailer for the movie.
One announcement mentions that the first two movies, "Death Note" and "Death Note: The Last Name," will be aired on television on February 1 and February 8, respectively. "L change the WorLd" opens in theaters on February 9.
Several characters from the previous movies appear in the upcoming film. One character, the detective Matsuda (played by Sota Aoyama), was initially included, but the final version of the film cut all of his scenes. However, the removed footage is being combined with some additional scenes to make a TV special, tentatively titled "Spinoff Matsuda." It is planned for broadcast just before the release of "L change the WorLd."
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: artistes/anime
Ayano Tsuji teams with Beat Crusaders for "Keroro Gunso" theme
Tue, December 25, 2007 (5:13am EST)
 
Singer-songwriter Ayano Tsuji and rock band BEAT CRUSADERS are collaborating for the theme song to the third movie of the anime series "Keroro Gunso" (also known as "Sgt. Frog"), which opens in Japan on March 1.
Their song will be titled "Arienai Kurai Kiseki" and will be released on February 20. Tsuji handled the composition and lyrics, while Beat Crusaders was in charge of the production.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: singer
Singer Takahashi Yuya (28) was released on bail yesterday after 40 days in police detention. The second son of actress Mita Yoshiko (66), he was arrested in mid-November for possession and use of amphetamines. He was released by the Tokyo District Court on |
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news: celebrity
Someone else not having a happy Christmas was comedian Taka (31) of the duo Taka and Toshi. He called in to a live late-night Fuji TV variety show hosted by Akashiya Sanma (52) on Christmas Eve to say that he had been dumped by his girlfriend of eight years. He ironically won a trip for two to Paris and said that he wanted to get back together and use the prize as a honeymoon. A big reason for the split is no doubt the photos that were published in a weekly magazine back in August of Taka and reporter Suzuki Natsuko (30) at a hotel.
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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news: actress
Yuka Itaya expecting first child
Wed, December 26, 2007 (3:35pm EST)
Actress Yuka Itaya is currently four months pregnant with her first child, her agency announced on Tuesday. Her due date is in early June.
Itaya and stylist Hirohiko Furuta got married in February. As a Tuesday newscaster on NTV's "NEWS ZERO," Itaya mentioned the good news on the air. She will take maternity leave in the spring, and plans to return to work after the child is born.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Post time 27-12-2007 04:39 PM
![[MBC/Netflix] My Dearest - Nam Goong Min, Ahn EunJin, Lee Hak Joo, Lee Da In, Lee Chung Ah](https://uf.cari.com.my/forumx/mforum/forum/202309/13/151506jb1z53job49636o6.jpeg)
