Wed, April 25, 2007 (6:49pm EDT)
Futsal team XANADU loves NHC has recruited three members of idol group AKB48: Mai Ohshima, Tomomi Itano, and Tomomi Kasai.
The team, associated with talent agency Horipro, won the championships last year in the Sphere League. They recently appointed former baseball player Kazutomo Miyamoto (of the Yomiuri Giants) as the new director.
The new Sphere League season begins on May 4 with the Skylark Group Cup. There are now only 11 teams in the league, as Gatas Brilhantes H.P. recently announced its switch to the new Skylark Group League.
The team, associated with talent agency Horipro, won the championships last year in the Sphere League. They recently appointed former baseball player Kazutomo Miyamoto (of the Yomiuri Giants) as the new director.
The new Sphere League season begins on May 4 with the Skylark Group Cup. There are now only 11 teams in the league, as Gatas Brilhantes H.P. recently announced its switch to the new Skylark Group League.
Wed, April 25, 2007 (6:29pm EDT)
Talento Tomomi Eguchi fell from a motorcycle on Wednesday during a taping of the TBS variety show, "Shukan Asahi Journal."
The taping took place at the Nasu Buggy Park. Eguchi was riding a 125cc motorcycle when she collided with a wooden fence around one of the course's curves and was thrown off the bike. She remained conscious, but she suffered an injury to her right kidney that will take at least two weeks to heal.
The taping took place at the Nasu Buggy Park. Eguchi was riding a 125cc motorcycle when she collided with a wooden fence around one of the course's curves and was thrown off the bike. She remained conscious, but she suffered an injury to her right kidney that will take at least two weeks to heal.
Wed, April 25, 2007 (6:02pm EDT)
According to the latest issue of FRIDAY magazine, actress Kyoko Fukada and actor Ryuji Sainei are dating. Sainei is perhaps best known as DekaRed in "Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger." The relationship between the two apparently developed while they worked together on the drama series "Fugoh Keiji" in 2005 and 2006.
FRIDAY reports seeing the couple leaving Sainei's apartment and eating together the day after Valentine's Day. They also reportedly went on a date on White Day, and earlier this month they were seen holding hands.
Talent agency Horipro, which manages both celebrities, denied that the two are dating.
FRIDAY reports seeing the couple leaving Sainei's apartment and eating together the day after Valentine's Day. They also reportedly went on a date on White Day, and earlier this month they were seen holding hands.
Talent agency Horipro, which manages both celebrities, denied that the two are dating.
Wed, April 25, 2007 (5:46pm EDT)
NHK revealed the main cast for its 77th Asadora, "Chiritotechin," which begins airing on October 1.
Shihori Kanjiya plays the heroine Kiyomi Wada, a young woman who enters the world of rakugo. Her parents are played by Emi Wakui and Yutaka Matsushige, while her grandparents are Kyoko Enami and Masakane Yonekura. She also has an uncle (Masaki Kyomoto) and a younger brother (Atsushi Hashimoto). Her rakugo master is played by Tsunehiko Watase.
Other cast members include Jay Kabira, Megumi Sato, Munetaka Aoki, Sachie Hara, Takashi Matsuo, and Kichiya Katsura.
Shihori Kanjiya plays the heroine Kiyomi Wada, a young woman who enters the world of rakugo. Her parents are played by Emi Wakui and Yutaka Matsushige, while her grandparents are Kyoko Enami and Masakane Yonekura. She also has an uncle (Masaki Kyomoto) and a younger brother (Atsushi Hashimoto). Her rakugo master is played by Tsunehiko Watase.
Other cast members include Jay Kabira, Megumi Sato, Munetaka Aoki, Sachie Hara, Takashi Matsuo, and Kichiya Katsura.
Wed, April 25, 2007 (5:20pm EDT)
On Wednesday, Phantom Film announced that the movie "Funuke Domo, Kanashimi no Ai wo Misero" will be one of the seven films participating in the Critics Week portion of this year's Cannes Film Festival (May 16-27). The film stars popular talento Eriko Sato.
Critics Week focuses on new directors and allows only first or second films. "Funuke Domo" is Daihachi Yoshida's first feature-length movie.
Critics Week focuses on new directors and allows only first or second films. "Funuke Domo" is Daihachi Yoshida's first feature-length movie.
Wed, April 25, 2007 (4:58pm EDT)
Actress Mao Inoue will star in a Fuji TV drama special titled "Hanaikusa," taking on the role of a geisha for the first time.
Inoue plays the role of Mineko, a young maiko (apprentice geisha) in the Gion district of Kyoto. The story is loosely based on the autobiography of the famous retired geisha Mineko Iwasaki (who was one of the sources for Arthur Golden's "Memoirs of a Geisha"). Iwasaki is also involved in the drama by personally coaching Inoue in the ways of the geisha, and training the cast to speak the unique Gion dialect.
Other cast members include Toru Nakamura, Riona Hazuki, Naho Toda, and Yuko Natori. Filming has already completed. The drama is scheduled to air this fall.
Inoue plays the role of Mineko, a young maiko (apprentice geisha) in the Gion district of Kyoto. The story is loosely based on the autobiography of the famous retired geisha Mineko Iwasaki (who was one of the sources for Arthur Golden's "Memoirs of a Geisha"). Iwasaki is also involved in the drama by personally coaching Inoue in the ways of the geisha, and training the cast to speak the unique Gion dialect.
Other cast members include Toru Nakamura, Riona Hazuki, Naho Toda, and Yuko Natori. Filming has already completed. The drama is scheduled to air this fall.
Wed, April 25, 2007 (4:34am EDT)
Former pro wrestler Kayo Noumi announced on her official website that she got married on April 15. Her husband is Kazuyoshi Horiuchi, a member of the dance group PaniCrew. The two first met five years ago.
Noumi stated that she hopes to hold the ceremony and reception this autumn.
Noumi stated that she hopes to hold the ceremony and reception this autumn.
Wed, April 25, 2007 (4:24am EDT)
Actor Masakazu Tamura and NEWS member Tomohisa Yamashita will appear together in a new commercial for Toshiba notebook computers. Broadcast begins on the 27th.
