Fri, March 9, 2007 (7:53pm EST)
46-year-old actor Arthur Kuroda recently married a 23-year-old woman. They first met through a friend over a year ago, and Kuroda proposed to her last October. The couple registered their marriage on Valentine's Day, then traveled to Hawaii to hold their wedding on February 25.
Fri, March 9, 2007 (5:22pm EST)
Ken Hirai's enka composition "Onna no Wakaremichi" has unexpectedly found its way to the top of the charts.
Hirai composed the song for Yuki Amami's character in the ongoing drama series "Enka no Joou." The tune was first made available on mobile download service Chaku-Uta on January 24. After the song's chorus was performed on the show for the first time on February 17, the song rose to #2 on Chaku-Uta's enka charts. By the March 3 broadcast, the song acquired the #1 spot, where it has remained for six consecutive days, outperforming established enka artists such as Saburo Kitajima and Ichiro Toba.
So far, 15,000 copies have been downloaded, an impressive number for a song that has only appeared in a drama series. The complete song will be made available on Chaku-Uta Full on March 17, the date of the drama's final episode. As a bonus, the first 1,000 downloads will be free.
Hirai composed the song for Yuki Amami's character in the ongoing drama series "Enka no Joou." The tune was first made available on mobile download service Chaku-Uta on January 24. After the song's chorus was performed on the show for the first time on February 17, the song rose to #2 on Chaku-Uta's enka charts. By the March 3 broadcast, the song acquired the #1 spot, where it has remained for six consecutive days, outperforming established enka artists such as Saburo Kitajima and Ichiro Toba.
So far, 15,000 copies have been downloaded, an impressive number for a song that has only appeared in a drama series. The complete song will be made available on Chaku-Uta Full on March 17, the date of the drama's final episode. As a bonus, the first 1,000 downloads will be free.
Fri, March 9, 2007 (4:56pm EST)
Talento Hinano Yoshikawa is making a brief return to singing for the debut album of young idol group 9nine. The album, titled "first 9," includes a cover of her 1997 debut single, "Heart Gata no Namida." She will provide guest vocals for the new version.
Yoshikawa last worked as a singer in 2001 as part of the unit Spica with Munehisa Sakurada. She has not done any solo work since 1999 when she released "Mellow Pretty."
Yoshikawa last worked as a singer in 2001 as part of the unit Spica with Munehisa Sakurada. She has not done any solo work since 1999 when she released "Mellow Pretty."
Fri, March 9, 2007 (3:45pm EST)
On Friday, the Nippon Budokan was filled with 11,500 fans as the climax scene of the final "Hana Yori Dango 2" episode was filmed. The popular series has recently overtaken "Karei Naru Ichizoku" as the highest-rated drama this season.
To thank the show's fans, TBS took applications for extras through the Internet. More than 150,000 people applied, including some over the age of sixty. 70% of the applicants were female.
Fans have been requesting for the series to continue, and the cast members commented that they would also like to see it happen. However, no plans have yet been made.
The final episode airs on March 16.
To thank the show's fans, TBS took applications for extras through the Internet. More than 150,000 people applied, including some over the age of sixty. 70% of the applicants were female.
Fans have been requesting for the series to continue, and the cast members commented that they would also like to see it happen. However, no plans have yet been made.
The final episode airs on March 16.
Fri, March 9, 2007 (1:40pm EST)
This spring, NTV will broadcast a new drama series titled "Shinu ka to Omotta" ("I Thought I Would Die"). The series is scheduled for 13 episodes, with each one telling a different story and featuring a different cast. The episodes will cover a wide range of genres.
The first episode stars Ryuta Sato playing two roles - a doctor and a thief. Sato will reportedly be wearing a different hairstyle from his typical large-volume look.
The series begins on April 7 and will run during late night on Saturdays (12:50am regularly, 1:20am for the first episode).
The first episode stars Ryuta Sato playing two roles - a doctor and a thief. Sato will reportedly be wearing a different hairstyle from his typical large-volume look.
The series begins on April 7 and will run during late night on Saturdays (12:50am regularly, 1:20am for the first episode).
Fri, March 9, 2007 (2:21am EST)
On Wednesday, NHK revealed the titles and lead actors of the next five series in its "Mokuyo Jidaigeki" time slot (Thursday 8:00pm). The dramas are:
- "Yagyu Jubei Nanaban Shobu: Saigo no Tatakai" (April 5-May 31) - Hiroaki Murakami
- "Natsugumo Agare" (June 7-July 5) - Yuma Ishigaki
- "Kagero no Tsuji ~Inemuri Iwane Edo Zoshi~" (starts in July) - Koji Yamamoto
- "Kaze no Hate" (starts in October) - Koichi Sato
- "Kurama Tengu" (starts in January 2008) - Mansai Nomura II
Fri, March 9, 2007 (2:03am EST)
NHK has announced a new short drama series titled "Shin Machiben." The series will air in the Saturday 9:00pm time slot, starting on June 30. It will last for six episodes.
The cast and story will be different from the first "Machiben" series, which aired last year. This time, the series revolves around three men past retirement age who decide to start their own law office. Tetsuya Watari, Koji Ishizaka, and Takeo Chii will play the lead roles. Chiriko Sakashita is also a part of the main cast, and Rie Tomosaka is given a voice role.
NHK's announcement also mentions some of the guests for the first episode: Hitomi Kuroki, Fumiyo Kohinata, Shingo Tsurumi, and Shigeru Koyama.
The cast and story will be different from the first "Machiben" series, which aired last year. This time, the series revolves around three men past retirement age who decide to start their own law office. Tetsuya Watari, Koji Ishizaka, and Takeo Chii will play the lead roles. Chiriko Sakashita is also a part of the main cast, and Rie Tomosaka is given a voice role.
NHK's announcement also mentions some of the guests for the first episode: Hitomi Kuroki, Fumiyo Kohinata, Shingo Tsurumi, and Shigeru Koyama.
Fri, March 9, 2007 (1:35am EST)
NTV has opened its official site for the two Shakespeare drama specials, "Ousama no Shinzou ~King Lear Yori~" and "Romeo to Juliet ~Surechigai~."
The "King Lear" special will air on April 6 at 9:00pm, and stars Toshiyuki Nishida and Mao Inoue. Other cast members include Mayumi Wakamura, Tomoko Nakajima (of Othello), Ryoko Sakaguchi, and Hiroyuki Nagato.
The "Romeo and Juliet" special airs the next day (April 7) at 9:00pm. Hideaki Takizawa and Masami Nagasawa play the lead roles. The rest of the cast includes Tomokazu Miura, Misako Tanaka, and Shinji Yamashita.
The "King Lear" special will air on April 6 at 9:00pm, and stars Toshiyuki Nishida and Mao Inoue. Other cast members include Mayumi Wakamura, Tomoko Nakajima (of Othello), Ryoko Sakaguchi, and Hiroyuki Nagato.
The "Romeo and Juliet" special airs the next day (April 7) at 9:00pm. Hideaki Takizawa and Masami Nagasawa play the lead roles. The rest of the cast includes Tomokazu Miura, Misako Tanaka, and Shinji Yamashita.
