Thu, June 28, 2007 (6:28pm EDT)
"Namida Tsubo," a novella by Junichi Watanabe ("Ai no Rukeichi," "Shitsurakuen"), is being made into a movie.
The original work tells the story of a magazine editor who loses his wife to cancer, and he keeps her ashes in a jar. When he begins dating another woman, he becomes overwhelmed with guilt. For the movie version, the two women are sisters - Aiko Sato plays the younger sister who passes away, while Kanako Kojima plays the elder Tomoyo, co-starring with Issei Ishida.
"Namida Tsubo" is being directed by Takahisa Zeze, with a release scheduled for early 2008.
The original work tells the story of a magazine editor who loses his wife to cancer, and he keeps her ashes in a jar. When he begins dating another woman, he becomes overwhelmed with guilt. For the movie version, the two women are sisters - Aiko Sato plays the younger sister who passes away, while Kanako Kojima plays the elder Tomoyo, co-starring with Issei Ishida.
"Namida Tsubo" is being directed by Takahisa Zeze, with a release scheduled for early 2008.
Thu, June 28, 2007 (4:46pm EDT)
Actress Hitomi Kuroki will star in a drama special titled "Kazoku e no Love Letter," part of Fuji TV's 4-night project based on Masafumi Akikawa's hit song, "Sen no Kaze ni Natte."
Kuroki will play a mother of three who is diagnosed with terminal cancer and given only three months to live. It is based on a true story, chosen from approximately 4,000 public submissions.
The episode will air on August 3. The other two dramas in the "Sen no Kaze ni Natte"-themed project are "Zou no Hanako" (starring Takashi Sorimachi) on August 4, and the two-night "Hadashi no Gen" adaptation (starring Kiichi Nakai and Yuriko Ishida) on August 10-11.
Kuroki will play a mother of three who is diagnosed with terminal cancer and given only three months to live. It is based on a true story, chosen from approximately 4,000 public submissions.
The episode will air on August 3. The other two dramas in the "Sen no Kaze ni Natte"-themed project are "Zou no Hanako" (starring Takashi Sorimachi) on August 4, and the two-night "Hadashi no Gen" adaptation (starring Kiichi Nakai and Yuriko Ishida) on August 10-11.
Thu, June 28, 2007 (4:24pm EDT)
Hikaru Utada and DJ OZMA will battle it out this summer in the theaters, singing theme songs for two popular anime franchises.
Utada has been chosen to sing the theme for the first of the upcoming "Evangelion" films. On September 1, "Evangelion Shin Gekijo Ban: Jo" will make its theatrical premiere. Utada's single, titled "Beautiful World," will go on sale three days earlier, on August 29.
However, DJ OZMA will have a head start singing for a more recent anime series. His "Lie-Lie-Lie" (on sale August 1) is the theme song for "Naruto Shippuden: The Movie," which opens in theaters on August 4.
Utada has been chosen to sing the theme for the first of the upcoming "Evangelion" films. On September 1, "Evangelion Shin Gekijo Ban: Jo" will make its theatrical premiere. Utada's single, titled "Beautiful World," will go on sale three days earlier, on August 29.
However, DJ OZMA will have a head start singing for a more recent anime series. His "Lie-Lie-Lie" (on sale August 1) is the theme song for "Naruto Shippuden: The Movie," which opens in theaters on August 4.
Thu, June 28, 2007 (1:56pm EDT)
In a recent survey regarding manga, Oricon decided to focus on the supporting cast for a change. 1,000 people were asked, "Who do you think is the greatest supporting character in a manga?"
The #1 answer was the bullyish but ultimately good-hearted Takeshi Goda from "Doraemon." Tied for second place were Inspector Zenigata ("Lupin III") and Kuririn/Krillin ("Dragonball"), with the latter getting his support almost entirely from male respondents.
Nobita, also from "Doraemon," ranked in at 4th, and Nezumi Otoko of "Gegege no Kitaro" rounded out the top five. The rest of the list includes Lupin's sidekick Daisuke Jigen at #6; Kaede Rukawa ("Slam Dunk"), L ("Death Note"), and Ojii-chan ("Chibi Maruko-chan") tied at #7; Rerere Oji-san ("Tensai Bakabon"), Raoh ("Fist of the North Star"), and Char Aznable ("Mobile Suit Gundam") tied at #10.
The #1 answer was the bullyish but ultimately good-hearted Takeshi Goda from "Doraemon." Tied for second place were Inspector Zenigata ("Lupin III") and Kuririn/Krillin ("Dragonball"), with the latter getting his support almost entirely from male respondents.
Nobita, also from "Doraemon," ranked in at 4th, and Nezumi Otoko of "Gegege no Kitaro" rounded out the top five. The rest of the list includes Lupin's sidekick Daisuke Jigen at #6; Kaede Rukawa ("Slam Dunk"), L ("Death Note"), and Ojii-chan ("Chibi Maruko-chan") tied at #7; Rerere Oji-san ("Tensai Bakabon"), Raoh ("Fist of the North Star"), and Char Aznable ("Mobile Suit Gundam") tied at #10.
Thu, June 28, 2007 (4:40am EDT)
Keita Motohashi's "Tobo Kusotawake" has been invited to the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (also known as PiFan), which begins on July 12.
The movie is based on Akiko Itoyama's novel of the same name, which was nominated for the Naoki Prize. Hisashi Yoshizawa and model/actress Minami star as the depressive Nago-yan and the manic Hana-chan, who run away from a hospital to embark on an aimless adventure.
The movie is based on Akiko Itoyama's novel of the same name, which was nominated for the Naoki Prize. Hisashi Yoshizawa and model/actress Minami star as the depressive Nago-yan and the manic Hana-chan, who run away from a hospital to embark on an aimless adventure.
