Mon, April 16, 2007 (10:10pm EDT)
Toshihiko Takamizawa of THE ALFEE has announced that he will be active again as a solo artist this summer. His last solo activity was in 1991.
In July, he will release a new album. He has recruited a talented staff to create the songs, including Sho Ayanokoji (of Kishidan), Kankuro Kudo, Tsunku, and Lily Franky.
Takamizawa will then hold his first national tour in August, encompassing 8 performances in 7 cities. The final two shows are at the Ariake Coliseum, which has a capacity of 10,000.
While Takamizawa is busy with his solo work, fellow band member Konosuke Sakazaki will be forming a unit with composer Kazuhiko Kato. The other member of THE ALFEE, Masaru Sakurai, is said to be looking forward to enjoying a summer break.
In July, he will release a new album. He has recruited a talented staff to create the songs, including Sho Ayanokoji (of Kishidan), Kankuro Kudo, Tsunku, and Lily Franky.
Takamizawa will then hold his first national tour in August, encompassing 8 performances in 7 cities. The final two shows are at the Ariake Coliseum, which has a capacity of 10,000.
While Takamizawa is busy with his solo work, fellow band member Konosuke Sakazaki will be forming a unit with composer Kazuhiko Kato. The other member of THE ALFEE, Masaru Sakurai, is said to be looking forward to enjoying a summer break.
Mon, April 16, 2007 (9:39pm EDT)
Oricon's charts for the past week showed strong sales by Johnny's artists.
Kanjani8's sixth single, "Zukkoke Otokomichi," sold 197,000 copies in its initial week, ranking solidly in first place. With this achievement they now hold three enka-related records (the group is classified as modern enka). They already held the record for highest first-week sales with last year's "Kanfuu Fighting." Now they have the most #1 singles (three), and are tied for the most consecutive #1 singles (two).
Also doing well for the week was KAT-TUN, whose "Live of KAT-TUN Real Face" topped the DVD rankings with 175,000 copies.
Endlicheri Endlicheri (Tsuyoshi Domoto's solo project) sold 78,000 copies of his album "Neo Africa Rainbow Ax," but it was only good enough to come in second on the charts. YUI kept her top spot for the second week in a row.
Kanjani8's sixth single, "Zukkoke Otokomichi," sold 197,000 copies in its initial week, ranking solidly in first place. With this achievement they now hold three enka-related records (the group is classified as modern enka). They already held the record for highest first-week sales with last year's "Kanfuu Fighting." Now they have the most #1 singles (three), and are tied for the most consecutive #1 singles (two).
Also doing well for the week was KAT-TUN, whose "Live of KAT-TUN Real Face" topped the DVD rankings with 175,000 copies.
Endlicheri Endlicheri (Tsuyoshi Domoto's solo project) sold 78,000 copies of his album "Neo Africa Rainbow Ax," but it was only good enough to come in second on the charts. YUI kept her top spot for the second week in a row.
Mon, April 16, 2007 (8:27pm EDT)
"CROWS," Hiroshi Takahashi's popular manga about juvenile delinquents, is being turned into a live-action film, directed by Takashi Miike. Shun Oguri, Takayuki Yamada, and Kyosuke Yabe will star in the movie, which is scheduled for release this fall.
Mon, April 16, 2007 (6:35pm EDT)
Actress Yukie Nakama and talento Hikomaro appear in two new commercials for Asahi's canned coffee drink, Wonda After Shot. The ads begin airing on the 17th.
Mon, April 16, 2007 (5:57pm EDT)
Actress Kou Shibasaki has been chosen to star in "Shaolin Girl," directed by Katsuyuki Motohiro and produced by Stephen Chow. The movie fits in the same mold as Chow's popular "Shaolin Soccer," a comedy action flick combining martial arts and sports. This time, the sport is lacrosse. (Earlier reports elsewhere have stated that the sport is ice hockey.)
A few years ago, Chow was considering a sequel to "Shaolin Soccer." He happened to meet Chihiro Kameyama, head of Fuji TV's motion picture department. The two hit it off, and they developed the idea for a movie set in Japan with a female lead. Shibasaki was eventually asked to take the part, and she enthusiastically agreed.
The story follows a girl named Rin (Shibasaki), who returns to Japan after 9 years of studying in China to be the successor of her grandfather's dojo. An unexpected incident leads to her involvement in a university lacrosse team.
The cast will feature actors from "Shaolin Soccer," including Lam Tze Chung and Tin Kai Man. Shooting begins later this month, and the theatrical release is scheduled for next year.
A few years ago, Chow was considering a sequel to "Shaolin Soccer." He happened to meet Chihiro Kameyama, head of Fuji TV's motion picture department. The two hit it off, and they developed the idea for a movie set in Japan with a female lead. Shibasaki was eventually asked to take the part, and she enthusiastically agreed.
The story follows a girl named Rin (Shibasaki), who returns to Japan after 9 years of studying in China to be the successor of her grandfather's dojo. An unexpected incident leads to her involvement in a university lacrosse team.
The cast will feature actors from "Shaolin Soccer," including Lam Tze Chung and Tin Kai Man. Shooting begins later this month, and the theatrical release is scheduled for next year.
Mon, April 16, 2007 (4:48pm EDT)
Kazunari Ninomiya of Arashi will star in a TBS drama special this fall, adapted from the popular 2005 Korean movie "Marathon." The movie is based on the true story of a young man with autism who trains to become a marathon runner.
Actress Misako Tanaka will play the role of his mother, while TOKIO's Masahiro Matsuoka will play his coach.
Actress Misako Tanaka will play the role of his mother, while TOKIO's Masahiro Matsuoka will play his coach.
Mon, April 16, 2007 (6:06am EDT)
Tokyo MX announced that it will broadcast a tokusatsu drama series this summer titled "Jikuu Keisatsu Wecker Signa," starring five young idols as "dimension detectives."
"Jikuu Keisatsu Wecker" was originally a 3-episode DVD series in 2001. The following year, it was made into a drama series on TV Asahi, which included Yui Ichikawa and Yuko Ogura among the starring cast.
The new third series stars Ai Hazuki, Ryo Shihono, Takaou Ayatsuki, Miu Nakamura, and Honoka Ayukawa. It will be aired on Fridays at 11:30pm, starting on July 6.
"Jikuu Keisatsu Wecker" was originally a 3-episode DVD series in 2001. The following year, it was made into a drama series on TV Asahi, which included Yui Ichikawa and Yuko Ogura among the starring cast.
The new third series stars Ai Hazuki, Ryo Shihono, Takaou Ayatsuki, Miu Nakamura, and Honoka Ayukawa. It will be aired on Fridays at 11:30pm, starting on July 6.
Mon, April 16, 2007 (1:12am EDT)
Komekome Club will sing their first movie theme in 13 years. The song, titled "Goryaku," will be used in "Tsukigami," an adaptation of Jiro Asada's period piece of the same name.
The movie is being directed by Yasuo Furuhata and stars Satoshi Tsumabuki. The movie opens in theaters on June 23, and the single goes on sale three days earlier.
The movie is being directed by Yasuo Furuhata and stars Satoshi Tsumabuki. The movie opens in theaters on June 23, and the single goes on sale three days earlier.
Mon, April 16, 2007 (12:03am EDT)
Young idol and actress Kie Kitano has been chosen as the new commercial character for popular soft drink C.C. Lemon. It begins airing on the 17th.
