Thu, June 14, 2007 (6:06pm EDT)
Popular singer Mika Nakashima will be in charge of the theme song for Fuji TV's drama adaptation of the manga "LIFE," by Keiko Suenobu.
The song is also titled "LIFE." It will be sold as a single on August 22, though mobile downloads will begin at the end of this month. The drama itself starts on the 30th.
The song is also titled "LIFE." It will be sold as a single on August 22, though mobile downloads will begin at the end of this month. The drama itself starts on the 30th.
Thu, June 14, 2007 (6:01pm EDT)
TV Asahi announcer Kiwa Ishii is getting married to Toru Shimada, the president of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. They met each other last year through a mutual friend. The two will register their marriage on July 7, and a ceremony is planned for October.
Thu, June 14, 2007 (5:45pm EDT)
Singer Masako Mori will act in her first lead drama role in 22 years. The special episode "Okaasan, Boku ga Umarete Gomenasai" will air as part of Fuji TV's "Kinyo Prestige" drama slot (Friday 9:00pm) on July 13. In it, Mori will play the mother of a young boy with cerebral palsy.
The drama is inspired by a true story. In 1978, Mori sang a song on television composed by Minoru Endo. It was adapted from a poem written by a young boy who suffered from cerebral palsy and died three years earlier at the age of 15. He had been a big fan of Mori.
A book about the boy's life was published around that time. It was eventually read by producer Tadayuki Hazama, who decided that he wanted to make it into a drama but was unable to find an actress to play the part of the mother. As fate would have it, Mori made her return to acting in this year's "Dondo Bare" as the mother of the main character, and Hazama immediately offered her the role.
The rest of the main cast includes Naoki Watanabe as the young boy, Eiichiro Funakoshi as the father, and Saki Fukuda as an acquaintance of the boy.
The drama is inspired by a true story. In 1978, Mori sang a song on television composed by Minoru Endo. It was adapted from a poem written by a young boy who suffered from cerebral palsy and died three years earlier at the age of 15. He had been a big fan of Mori.
A book about the boy's life was published around that time. It was eventually read by producer Tadayuki Hazama, who decided that he wanted to make it into a drama but was unable to find an actress to play the part of the mother. As fate would have it, Mori made her return to acting in this year's "Dondo Bare" as the mother of the main character, and Hazama immediately offered her the role.
The rest of the main cast includes Naoki Watanabe as the young boy, Eiichiro Funakoshi as the father, and Saki Fukuda as an acquaintance of the boy.
Thu, June 14, 2007 (4:30pm EDT)
During a recent appearance on one of her regular television programs, talento Kaori Manabe denied the reports that she is currently dating comedian Akira Kawashima. According to Manabe, the two are just good friends. She said that they are definitely not living together, and she claimed that alleged statements from Kawashima's family were made up.
Thu, June 14, 2007 (4:22pm EDT)
Johnny's Jimusho's musical "Dream Boys," which started in 2004, will take place in September this year at the Imperial Garden Theater in Tokyo. While last year's performance featured all the members of KAT-TUN and Kanjani8, the upcoming production will focus on a main cast of three people: Kazuya Kamenashi, Koki Tanaka, and Tomoyuki Yara (of Musical Academy).
38 performances are scheduled from September 5 to September 30.
38 performances are scheduled from September 5 to September 30.
Thu, June 14, 2007 (3:46am EDT)
On Wednesday, talento Eriko Sato was presented with the Best Swimmer award, which is in its eighth year. The prize honors celebrities not for their actual swimming prowess, but for their contributions to promoting the activity.
At the award ceremony, Sato mentioned that swimming helped her get over her recent break-up with Ebizo Ichikawa.
Comedian Hanamaru Hakata and announcer Christel Takigawa also received awards.
At the award ceremony, Sato mentioned that swimming helped her get over her recent break-up with Ebizo Ichikawa.
Comedian Hanamaru Hakata and announcer Christel Takigawa also received awards.
Thu, June 14, 2007 (2:39am EDT)
Retired soccer star Hidetoshi Nakata will once again play in an official FIFA match next month. On July 1, he will join retired French player Christian Karembeu on the FIFA World Stars team at the Reunification Cup in Hong Kong. The exhibition tournament is a celebration of the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's transfer of sovereignty to China.
The World Stars team will play against a China team that includes Hong Kong players.
The World Stars team will play against a China team that includes Hong Kong players.
