Fri, March 2, 2007 (7:12pm EST)
Del Rey has scheduled the release of its English edition of the "Densha Otoko" novel for April 24. The novel will be released in hardcover with more than 400 pages. The MSRP is $13.95.
Fri, March 2, 2007 (7:08pm EST)
Hayao Miyazaki's script for "Howl's Moving Castle" has been nominated for the Scripts category in the 2006 Nebula Awards. It will be up against the scripts for "Batman Begins," "Unfinished Business" (Battlestar Galactica), and "The Girl in the Fireplace" (Doctor Who).
The Nebula Awards Weekend will take place on May 11-13 in New York City.
The Nebula Awards Weekend will take place on May 11-13 in New York City.
Fri, March 2, 2007 (6:56pm EST)
It appears that talento Ai Iijima (34) will be retiring from show business as early as the end of this month, due to health reasons.
Iijima is one of the few people to have successfully transitioned from the adult entertainment industry to mainstream television. She is currently is a regular on 4 television programs.
Near the end of last year, Iijima went on leave, supposedly from a cold and fever. But on her blog, she reported other symptoms, such as back pain and weak kidneys. The exact condition of her health has not yet been revealed.
Broadcaster TBS is already planning for a special retirement episode on "Masahiro Nakai's Kinyoubi no Sumatachi e," where she is a regular.
Iijima is one of the few people to have successfully transitioned from the adult entertainment industry to mainstream television. She is currently is a regular on 4 television programs.
Near the end of last year, Iijima went on leave, supposedly from a cold and fever. But on her blog, she reported other symptoms, such as back pain and weak kidneys. The exact condition of her health has not yet been revealed.
Broadcaster TBS is already planning for a special retirement episode on "Masahiro Nakai's Kinyoubi no Sumatachi e," where she is a regular.
Fri, March 2, 2007 (6:28pm EST)
On Friday, the Kobe branch of the Bank of Japan reported that the recent wedding between Norika Fujiwara and Tomonori Jinnai may have boosted the local economy by up to 12 billion yen.
Visitors to the Ikuta Shrine have increased dramatically, along with general tourism to the Kobe region. At the start of the year, the shrine received more than 1.7 million visitors, almost nine times its usual count of 200,000 visitors.
It is estimated that the local economy will increase by 3.6 to 8.0 billion yen in the period from January to May. Requests for weddings at the Ikuta Shrine are expected to bring in an additional 2.0 to 4.0 billion yen.
Visitors to the Ikuta Shrine have increased dramatically, along with general tourism to the Kobe region. At the start of the year, the shrine received more than 1.7 million visitors, almost nine times its usual count of 200,000 visitors.
It is estimated that the local economy will increase by 3.6 to 8.0 billion yen in the period from January to May. Requests for weddings at the Ikuta Shrine are expected to bring in an additional 2.0 to 4.0 billion yen.
Fri, March 2, 2007 (6:08pm EST)
On March 16, singer/actress Kyoko Koizumi will appear in her first live performance in three and a half years. Her performance is part of an event known as "AP BANG! Tokyo Creators Meeting," which will be held at Studio Coast in Shin-Kiba, Tokyo.
Koizumi, who debuted 25 years ago, will also be releasing a best album on the 21st.
Koizumi, who debuted 25 years ago, will also be releasing a best album on the 21st.
Fri, March 2, 2007 (5:39pm EST)
Three more high schools were visited by surprise musical performances during their graduation exercises on Friday. The band Ikimono Gakari made two appearances in the Kanagawa prefecture, showing up at both Atsugi High School (alma mater of Yoshiki Mizuno and Hotaka Yamashita) and Ebina High School (alma mater of Kiyoe Yoshioka).
Meanwhile, singer-songwriter Angela Aki returned to her home prefecture of Okayama to appear at Kotoura High School's ceremony. The event was bittersweet, however - the school will sadly be closing the books on its 70-year history at the end of this month. Aki performed a set of three songs, which included her debut single "HOME" in honor of her hometown.
Meanwhile, singer-songwriter Angela Aki returned to her home prefecture of Okayama to appear at Kotoura High School's ceremony. The event was bittersweet, however - the school will sadly be closing the books on its 70-year history at the end of this month. Aki performed a set of three songs, which included her debut single "HOME" in honor of her hometown.
Fri, March 2, 2007 (4:54pm EST)
On Friday, talento Nori Horikoshi opened the doors of her nail salon, Glamorous, in Roppongi, Tokyo. Horikoshi began studying to become a nailist two and a half years ago. Last November, she completed her certification as a 1st-rank nailist.
Fri, March 2, 2007 (4:16pm EST)
Spiritual counselor Hiroyuki Ehara will team up with idol group Arashi for a live TV special at the end of this month. The program is tentatively titled "Hiroyuki Ehara & Arashi: Gendaijin no Nayami wo Sukue! Kinkyuu Nama Housou SP!! ~Ashita he no Tobira~" and will last for a total of four and a half hours.
Fuji TV will air the program on March 31. It will be divided into two parts. The first segment, from 3:30pm to 5:30pm, will feature Ehara explaining the history of Spiritualism. In the second segment, from 6:30pm to 8:54pm, Ehara and the members of Arashi will discuss and give advice about problems sent in from viewers.
Jun Matsumoto, who is a fan of Ehara, said that he had wanted to meet Ehara someday, so he was delighted to be doing a show together.
Ehara commented that March 31 was a meaningful date for the program, referring to the event that led to the creation of Spiritualism.
Fuji TV will air the program on March 31. It will be divided into two parts. The first segment, from 3:30pm to 5:30pm, will feature Ehara explaining the history of Spiritualism. In the second segment, from 6:30pm to 8:54pm, Ehara and the members of Arashi will discuss and give advice about problems sent in from viewers.
Jun Matsumoto, who is a fan of Ehara, said that he had wanted to meet Ehara someday, so he was delighted to be doing a show together.
Ehara commented that March 31 was a meaningful date for the program, referring to the event that led to the creation of Spiritualism.
Fri, March 2, 2007 (12:36pm EST)
Gravure idol Haruna Yabuki will star in a drama series for the first time. "Bishoujo Celeb" is a tokusatsu drama where a seemingly ordinary housewife transforms into a superhero. TV Tokyo will broadcast the show on Tuesdays at 5:30pm, starting on April 3.
