Tue, July 10, 2007 (4:57pm EDT)
Actress Mika Kaneda and J Leaguer Sota Nakazawa) are reportedly dating. The rumor started on Sunday after they both posted the same picture on their blogs. The two apparently met through a common friend and hit it off, and are currently in a relationship, even though Kaneda is in Tokyo and Nakazawa is in Osaka.
Kaneda's agency says that the two are just friends. When Nakazawa was asked about it after practice, he simply said, "I'm focusing on the game."
Kaneda's agency says that the two are just friends. When Nakazawa was asked about it after practice, he simply said, "I'm focusing on the game."
Tue, July 10, 2007 (4:35pm EDT)
Veteran actress Keiko Toda, who is currently co-starring with Taizo Harada in the musical "The Hit Parade," has announced plans to release her first album in 30 years.
Toda entered show business in 1974 at the age of 16, performing as an enka singer under the stage name Akemi Ayu. However, she became an actor and seiyu after her singles failed to sell well.
Her new album, titled "Actress," goes on sale September 5, one week before her 50th birthday.
Toda entered show business in 1974 at the age of 16, performing as an enka singer under the stage name Akemi Ayu. However, she became an actor and seiyu after her singles failed to sell well.
Her new album, titled "Actress," goes on sale September 5, one week before her 50th birthday.
Tue, July 10, 2007 (4:17pm EDT)
The popular "Nodame Cantabile" drama series is returning to Fuji TV next January. A two-night special will kick off the new year, taking place in Paris after the timeline of the original series. Juri Ueno and Hiroshi Tamaki will reprise their roles as Nodame and Chiaki, respectively.
The special will also include new characters that appear in Tomoko Ninomiya's manga.
Filming will take place overseas for a period of about three weeks this fall.
It has also been announced that the Nodame Orchestra will hold Christmas concerts from December 18 to 28 at the Le Theatre Ginza.
The special will also include new characters that appear in Tomoko Ninomiya's manga.
Filming will take place overseas for a period of about three weeks this fall.
It has also been announced that the Nodame Orchestra will hold Christmas concerts from December 18 to 28 at the Le Theatre Ginza.
Tue, July 10, 2007 (5:00am EDT)
Arashi member Sho Sakurai has been chosen to help host NTV's "ZERO x Senkyo 2007," a special program airing on the 29th regarding the upcoming House of Councillors elections. This is the first time a pop idol will host such a program.
Sakurai already serves as a Monday caster on the network's "NEWS ZERO" program, which airs on weeknights. This made him a perfect choice for a host in the eyes of the producers, who are hoping to reach out to politically apathetic youngsters.
The program is scheduled to air from 7:58pm to 2:00am. Although Sakurai will appear during the first half with the other hosts (including Shinsuke Shimada and Mao Kobayashi), his primary role will be to serve as the debate presenter during the program's second half (starting around 11:45).
Sakurai already serves as a Monday caster on the network's "NEWS ZERO" program, which airs on weeknights. This made him a perfect choice for a host in the eyes of the producers, who are hoping to reach out to politically apathetic youngsters.
The program is scheduled to air from 7:58pm to 2:00am. Although Sakurai will appear during the first half with the other hosts (including Shinsuke Shimada and Mao Kobayashi), his primary role will be to serve as the debate presenter during the program's second half (starting around 11:45).
Tue, July 10, 2007 (4:39am EDT)
Last summer, management firm Cyber Agent gathered several young actors and established a blog group on its Ameblo service. The group, known as PureBOYS, quickly grew in popularity, and now the actors have decided to form a boy band.
The seven-man unit consists of Masei Nakayama, Keisuke Minami, Yukihiro Takiguchi, Kouhei Takeda, Keisuke Kato, Toru Baba, and Ren Yagami. Although the members belong to different talent agencies, they will still be working together as one group.
PureBOYS has announced plans to release a CD, DVD, and photobook this fall.
The seven-man unit consists of Masei Nakayama, Keisuke Minami, Yukihiro Takiguchi, Kouhei Takeda, Keisuke Kato, Toru Baba, and Ren Yagami. Although the members belong to different talent agencies, they will still be working together as one group.
PureBOYS has announced plans to release a CD, DVD, and photobook this fall.
Tue, July 10, 2007 (3:33am EDT)
Actor Ebizo Ichikawa XI seems to have broken up with his new girlfriend. It was discovered in May that he had started dating a former TV Asahi employee the month before, but people close to Ichikawa say that he suddenly stopped seeing her in early June. The cause of the split has not yet been revealed.
Ichikawa's personal life continues to be in the spotlight. So far this year, he has broken up with Eriko Sato, was rumored to have reunited with Ryoko Yonekura, and spotted on a date with Saki Takaoka.
Ichikawa's personal life continues to be in the spotlight. So far this year, he has broken up with Eriko Sato, was rumored to have reunited with Ryoko Yonekura, and spotted on a date with Saki Takaoka.
Tue, July 10, 2007 (3:05am EDT)
The DVD of Goro Miyazaki's "Tales from Earthsea" sold approximately 147,000 units during its release this past week, easily reaching #1 in the DVD rankings. This figure represents the highest first-week sales out of all anime releases so far this year.
The coming week will see the launch of the DVD box set for "Hana Yori Dango 2." An impressive 62,500 units have been shipped for the Wednesday release. As far as drama DVDs go, an initial shipment of only 10,000 is generally considered to be a hit.
The coming week will see the launch of the DVD box set for "Hana Yori Dango 2." An impressive 62,500 units have been shipped for the Wednesday release. As far as drama DVDs go, an initial shipment of only 10,000 is generally considered to be a hit.
Tue, July 10, 2007 (2:45am EDT)
Erika Sawajiri's new single, "FREE," sold only about 50,000 copies during its initial week, but it was enough to reach #1 on the singles chart against little competition.
This is Sawajiri's first release under her new artist name ERIKA, but she already has another #1 release under her belt - last year, she sang "Taiyou no Uta" as the character Kaoru Amane in the drama of the same name.
With her new song, Sawajiri has become only the second solo female artist in Oricon's ranking history to achieve #1 with her first two singles (not counting artists who made solo debuts after being part of a group). The only other woman to do this was Hiroko Yakushimaru in the early '80s.
This is Sawajiri's first release under her new artist name ERIKA, but she already has another #1 release under her belt - last year, she sang "Taiyou no Uta" as the character Kaoru Amane in the drama of the same name.
With her new song, Sawajiri has become only the second solo female artist in Oricon's ranking history to achieve #1 with her first two singles (not counting artists who made solo debuts after being part of a group). The only other woman to do this was Hiroko Yakushimaru in the early '80s.
