Mon, June 18, 2007 (6:35pm EDT)
A 46-year-old man was arrested last week for trespassing and violating the knife control law. On the 13th, the unemployed male forced his way into the apartment office of actress Naomi Kawashima's agency. Wielding a utility knife, he demanded that he be allowed to meet with Kawashima.
Others in the same apartment building called police, and they rushed to the scene to apprehend the suspect. The two staff members who were in the office were unharmed. Kawashima herself was out of the office at the time.
It is not clear yet what the man's motives were.
Others in the same apartment building called police, and they rushed to the scene to apprehend the suspect. The two staff members who were in the office were unharmed. Kawashima herself was out of the office at the time.
It is not clear yet what the man's motives were.
Mon, June 18, 2007 (6:15pm EDT)
35-year-old comedian Dayuu Koume has gotten married to a non-celebrity. The two have been living together since almost two years ago, before Koume got his big break on NTV's "The God of Entertainment."
Mon, June 18, 2007 (4:48pm EDT)
Singer Seiko Matsuda is teaming up with talento Takashi Fujii. Together, they will sing the theme song for the 2007 Women's Volleyball World Grand Prix tournament that begins on August 3.
Matsuda wrote a new song titled "Manatsu no Yoru no Yume," which goes on sale August 1. When it was decided that she and Fujii would be supporters for the volleyball tournament, she suggested that they sing a duet.
Matsuda and Fujii will hold a press conference on the 21st, where they will announce further details, including the name of their temporary unit.
Matsuda wrote a new song titled "Manatsu no Yoru no Yume," which goes on sale August 1. When it was decided that she and Fujii would be supporters for the volleyball tournament, she suggested that they sing a duet.
Matsuda and Fujii will hold a press conference on the 21st, where they will announce further details, including the name of their temporary unit.
Mon, June 18, 2007 (4:28pm EDT)
Asami Konno, who graduated from Morning Musume last July to focus on her studies, is making her return to show business.
Last year, Konno withdrew from Morning Musume to study for university exams. She was accepted to Keio University, and has been attending the Shonan Fujisawa Campus since April. At the time she graduated, she mentioned that if her studies went well, she wanted to continue with Hello! Project's futsal team, Gatas Brilhantes H.P. Now, it appears she is ready to return to the team.
On August 22, several members from Gatas Brilhantes H.P. will debut as a new unit with a single titled "Narihajimeta Koi no Bell." Konno will join Hitomi Yoshizawa, Rika Ishikawa, and others for the new song, and will also return to the stage with them at a Hello! Project concert in Nagoya on July 15. "Narihajimeta Koi no Bell" has also been chosen as the image song for Cirque du Soleil's "Dralion."
Konno stated that she will try her best to balance school and work, but her studies will take priority.
Last year, Konno withdrew from Morning Musume to study for university exams. She was accepted to Keio University, and has been attending the Shonan Fujisawa Campus since April. At the time she graduated, she mentioned that if her studies went well, she wanted to continue with Hello! Project's futsal team, Gatas Brilhantes H.P. Now, it appears she is ready to return to the team.
On August 22, several members from Gatas Brilhantes H.P. will debut as a new unit with a single titled "Narihajimeta Koi no Bell." Konno will join Hitomi Yoshizawa, Rika Ishikawa, and others for the new song, and will also return to the stage with them at a Hello! Project concert in Nagoya on July 15. "Narihajimeta Koi no Bell" has also been chosen as the image song for Cirque du Soleil's "Dralion."
Konno stated that she will try her best to balance school and work, but her studies will take priority.
Mon, June 18, 2007 (1:27pm EDT)
Last month, it was announced that tenor Masafumi Akikawa's hit song "Sen no Kaze ni Natte" is being used as the theme for a special Fuji TV drama project. The project consists of four episodes across four nights, with each story dealing with grief. Two nights (August 10-11) have already been set aside for the "Hadashi no Gen" drama adaptation announced last week, and the first night (August 3) will be based on a publicly submitted story.
The remaining episode (August 4), titled "Zou no Hanako," is based on the nonfiction children's book "Kawaisou na Zou" (roughly, "Those Poor Elephants"). In 1943, due to bombings during the war, animals from Tokyo's Ueno Zoo broke free and were ordered to be killed. While the original book focused on the plight of three elephants, the drama centers on the worker in charge of the elephants, who desperately tries to save them. The role will be played by actor Takashi Sorimachi.
Scenes involving the elephants will be filmed in Thailand, where an open set will be constructed to resemble the zoo.
Other cast members include Masaaki Sakai and Kazuki Kitamura.
The remaining episode (August 4), titled "Zou no Hanako," is based on the nonfiction children's book "Kawaisou na Zou" (roughly, "Those Poor Elephants"). In 1943, due to bombings during the war, animals from Tokyo's Ueno Zoo broke free and were ordered to be killed. While the original book focused on the plight of three elephants, the drama centers on the worker in charge of the elephants, who desperately tries to save them. The role will be played by actor Takashi Sorimachi.
Scenes involving the elephants will be filmed in Thailand, where an open set will be constructed to resemble the zoo.
Other cast members include Masaaki Sakai and Kazuki Kitamura.
