Tue, July 17, 2007 (5:07pm EDT)
The Tanners' Council of Japan has revealed this year's winner of their Best Leathernist award: actress Chiaki Kuriyama. The title is given every year to a female celebrity who looks good in leather.
Kuriyama will be presented with her award on October 1.
Kuriyama will be presented with her award on October 1.
Tue, July 17, 2007 (5:01pm EDT)
Vocal group The Gospellers will appear in their first movie. The picture is tentatively titled "Let's! Salmon Gasshodan," directed by Makoto Tanaka and starring Kaho.
The story revolves around a high school chorus group. The five members of The Gospellers will appear as judges at a local chorus competition. Their parts will require some acting and dialogue.
Shooting begins in August. Theatrical release is slated for March.
The story revolves around a high school chorus group. The five members of The Gospellers will appear as judges at a local chorus competition. Their parts will require some acting and dialogue.
Shooting begins in August. Theatrical release is slated for March.
Tue, July 17, 2007 (4:51pm EDT)
As part of a promotional effort for the "Hanazakari no Kimitachi e" drama, Fuji TV has announced that it is putting together a "Hana Kimi Ouji" contest.
The competition is seeking out "ikemen" (good-looking guys) across Japan. There will be a group division and an individual division, and the individual winner will get a chance to appear as an extra on the show. The only requirement is that applicants look like high school students; even females can apply.
Another tie-in for the drama was carried out on Tuesday - promoters in Tokyo distributed 10,000 copies of a newspaper modeled after the school paper from the show.
The competition is seeking out "ikemen" (good-looking guys) across Japan. There will be a group division and an individual division, and the individual winner will get a chance to appear as an extra on the show. The only requirement is that applicants look like high school students; even females can apply.
Another tie-in for the drama was carried out on Tuesday - promoters in Tokyo distributed 10,000 copies of a newspaper modeled after the school paper from the show.
Tue, July 17, 2007 (4:35pm EDT)
TV Asahi has announced one of its fall drama series, titled "Oishii Gohan: Kamakura Kasugai Kometen." It will start in October, airing at 9:00pm on Thursdays.
The show is set in a rice shop in the city of Kamakura, Kanagawa. Tetsuya Watari stars as an old-fashioned man whose eldest son (Satoshi Tokushige) is forced to work in the shop. The son's wife is played by Norika Fujiwara, in her first renzoku drama role since she got married.
Ryota Kosawa ("Always: Sanchome no Yuhi") is in charge of the script. Shooting is already scheduled to begin on August 1.
The show is set in a rice shop in the city of Kamakura, Kanagawa. Tetsuya Watari stars as an old-fashioned man whose eldest son (Satoshi Tokushige) is forced to work in the shop. The son's wife is played by Norika Fujiwara, in her first renzoku drama role since she got married.
Ryota Kosawa ("Always: Sanchome no Yuhi") is in charge of the script. Shooting is already scheduled to begin on August 1.
Tue, July 17, 2007 (4:08pm EDT)
Jackie Chan will star in a new Chinese film directed by Derek Yee, set in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo. The film's title (新宿事件) translates into English as "Shinjuku Incident," though no official English title has been decided.
Not many details are known, but the story is apparently about Chinese immigrants living in Shinjuku. It is also said that Chan's role will emphasize drama more than action.
Filming is set to begin in November. Ken Watanabe and Hong Kong actor Daniel Wu are reportedly part of the cast.
Not many details are known, but the story is apparently about Chinese immigrants living in Shinjuku. It is also said that Chan's role will emphasize drama more than action.
Filming is set to begin in November. Ken Watanabe and Hong Kong actor Daniel Wu are reportedly part of the cast.
Tue, July 17, 2007 (3:31am EDT)
Free announcer Junko Kubo (formerly associated with NHK) will make her acting debut on the 26th, appearing in Fuji TV's drama and variety program, "Marumaru Chibi Maruko-chan." She will play the mother of a young boy that Maruko-chan meets.
Kubo says that she was initially surprised by the offer, but she accepted after she was encouraged by her 5-year-old daughter, who is a Maruko-chan fan.
Kubo says that she was initially surprised by the offer, but she accepted after she was encouraged by her 5-year-old daughter, who is a Maruko-chan fan.
Tue, July 17, 2007 (3:23am EDT)
Kenichi Takahashi, one half of the duo King of Comedy, has been arrested for allegedly molesting a high school girl while riding a crowded train last Wednesday.
As a result, his agency announced that his work is being put on hold. However, his partner Hiroki Konno will be continuing work without him.
As a result, his agency announced that his work is being put on hold. However, his partner Hiroki Konno will be continuing work without him.
