Tue, March 20, 2007 (5:48pm EDT)
16-year-old figure skater Mao Asada will be cheered on by actress Mao Inoue as she participates in the ladies' free skating portion of the 2007 World Figure Skating Championships. Inoue will be at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium for the event on the 24th.
Inoue expressed her admiration for Asada's ability to put all of her effort towards a single goal.
Inoue was asked to be a special guest on Fuji TV's broadcast of the competition. The broadcast will also likely include Inoue and Asada's first meeting after the event.
Inoue expressed her admiration for Asada's ability to put all of her effort towards a single goal.
Inoue was asked to be a special guest on Fuji TV's broadcast of the competition. The broadcast will also likely include Inoue and Asada's first meeting after the event.
Tue, March 20, 2007 (5:20pm EDT)
Dreams Come True's popular 1989 song "Mirai Yosouzu II" has become the basis for a movie. The song, which tells about the love between a once-wild couple, remains to this day a staple at karaoke bars and even at weddings.
The film, titled "Mirai Yosouzu," is being directed by Hiroshi Chono and distributed by Shochiku. The idea for the film began in late 2004 when producer Masanobu Kobayashi was listening to the song on the radio. He approached Dreams Come True in January of last year, but it took six months of talks before the duo gave him the go-ahead.
Actress Nao Matsushita will play the lead female, a role which requires her to appear as young as 20 and as old as 30. Auditions are currently running for the lead male. Filming is scheduled to begin this June in Barcelona, Spain, and the theatrical release is slated for fall.
Dreams Come True member Masato Nakamura will oversee the music. It has already been decided that "Mirai Yosouzu II" and "Mirai Yosouzu" will be the theme songs.
The film, titled "Mirai Yosouzu," is being directed by Hiroshi Chono and distributed by Shochiku. The idea for the film began in late 2004 when producer Masanobu Kobayashi was listening to the song on the radio. He approached Dreams Come True in January of last year, but it took six months of talks before the duo gave him the go-ahead.
Actress Nao Matsushita will play the lead female, a role which requires her to appear as young as 20 and as old as 30. Auditions are currently running for the lead male. Filming is scheduled to begin this June in Barcelona, Spain, and the theatrical release is slated for fall.
Dreams Come True member Masato Nakamura will oversee the music. It has already been decided that "Mirai Yosouzu II" and "Mirai Yosouzu" will be the theme songs.
Tue, March 20, 2007 (3:43pm EDT)
Hong Kong's first Asian Film Awards were held on Tuesday to kick off the 31st Hong Kong International Film Festival. Korean horror film "The Host" came out on top, winning four awards: Best Film, Best Actor (Song Kang-ho), Best Cinematographer (KIM Hyung-goo), and Best Visual Effects (The Orphanage).
Japanese actress Miki Nakatani won Best Actress for her performance in "Memories of Matsuko."
Jia Zhangke earned Best Director for his "Still Life." Best Screenwriter went to Iran's Mani Haghighi for "Men at Work" and Best Production Designer went to Tim Yip for "The Banquet." Indonesia's Rahayu Supanggah won Best Composer ("Opera Jawa"), while Thailand's Lee Chatametikool picked up Best Editor for "Syndromes and a Century."
A special achievement award was presented to Hong Kong actress Josephine Siao Fong-Fong for her "outstanding contribution to Asian cinema." A similar award was given to American film scholar David Bordwell.
Japanese actress Miki Nakatani won Best Actress for her performance in "Memories of Matsuko."
Jia Zhangke earned Best Director for his "Still Life." Best Screenwriter went to Iran's Mani Haghighi for "Men at Work" and Best Production Designer went to Tim Yip for "The Banquet." Indonesia's Rahayu Supanggah won Best Composer ("Opera Jawa"), while Thailand's Lee Chatametikool picked up Best Editor for "Syndromes and a Century."
A special achievement award was presented to Hong Kong actress Josephine Siao Fong-Fong for her "outstanding contribution to Asian cinema." A similar award was given to American film scholar David Bordwell.
Tue, March 20, 2007 (3:00pm EDT)
Pop duo GAM (Aya Matsuura and Miki Fujimoto) has been chosen to do this year's official cheering song for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. The song is titled "Daisuki Rakuten Eagles."
This is the third year in a row that Hello! Project has been in charge of the cheering song. In 2005, the Rakuten Eagles used Morning Musume's "The MANPOWER!!!" and in 2006, they used DEF.DIVA's "LET'S GO Rakuten Eagles."
This is the third year in a row that Hello! Project has been in charge of the cheering song. In 2005, the Rakuten Eagles used Morning Musume's "The MANPOWER!!!" and in 2006, they used DEF.DIVA's "LET'S GO Rakuten Eagles."
Tue, March 20, 2007 (3:28am EDT)
I've Sound has put together a special unit to sing the theme song for the upcoming "Shakugan no Shana" movie, based on the popular anime series.
The group is called Love Planet Five. It consists of KOTOKO, Eiko Shimamiya, Mami Kawada, MELL, and Kaori Utatsuki.
The theme song, titled "Tenjou wo Kakeru Monotachi," is written by KOTOKO. It will be released as a single on April 4, preceding the movie's April 21 release date.
The group is called Love Planet Five. It consists of KOTOKO, Eiko Shimamiya, Mami Kawada, MELL, and Kaori Utatsuki.
The theme song, titled "Tenjou wo Kakeru Monotachi," is written by KOTOKO. It will be released as a single on April 4, preceding the movie's April 21 release date.
