Wed, July 18, 2007 (5:17pm EDT)
Talento Shinji Uchiyama's management agency announced on Wednesday that the lawsuit against him has been settled.
Uchiyama's ex-girlfriend had sued him for breaking their "naien kankei" (the rough equivalent of a common-law marriage), seeking 5 million yen in damages. The two began living together in 1999 and separated earlier this year after Uchiyama was found to be having an affair, though Uchiyama claimed that they broke up years ago, before he began dating the other woman.
No details of the settlement were revealed.
Uchiyama's ex-girlfriend had sued him for breaking their "naien kankei" (the rough equivalent of a common-law marriage), seeking 5 million yen in damages. The two began living together in 1999 and separated earlier this year after Uchiyama was found to be having an affair, though Uchiyama claimed that they broke up years ago, before he began dating the other woman.
No details of the settlement were revealed.
Wed, July 18, 2007 (5:03pm EDT)
This fall, Arashi's Masaki Aiba will star in the first stage adaptation of the 1993 film "Untamed Heart" (which starred Christian Slater and Marisa Tomei). In this love story, Aiba plays Adam, a shy young man with a heart defect.
The work is being directed by Keiko Miyata. In 2005, Miyata also directed "Tsubame no Iru Eki," the last play that Aiba starred in.
Natsuki Kato plays Adam's love interest Caroline, and Mayuko Iwasa plays Caroline's friend Cindy.
Performances will be held at The Globe Tokyo on October 22 to November 11, then at Osaka's Theater BRAVA! on November 16-18.
The work is being directed by Keiko Miyata. In 2005, Miyata also directed "Tsubame no Iru Eki," the last play that Aiba starred in.
Natsuki Kato plays Adam's love interest Caroline, and Mayuko Iwasa plays Caroline's friend Cindy.
Performances will be held at The Globe Tokyo on October 22 to November 11, then at Osaka's Theater BRAVA! on November 16-18.
Wed, July 18, 2007 (4:49pm EDT)
Satomi Ishihara has been chosen to star in a new film by Takahisa Zeze, which is currently being referred to by two temporary titles, "Jump! Girl" and "Flying Girls." The story is a comedy about a JAL flight attendant.
The film was inspired by the novel "Tobe! Rabbits," which tells of two members of women's basketball team JAL Rabbits who played on Japan's national team in the 2004 Olympics. The book was written by Yusuke Fukada, who also wrote the basis for the 1983 drama series "Stewardess Monogatari."
Ishihara stars as a new employee at JAL. She also plays for the Rabbits, and part of the movie will depict her playing basketball with fellow freshmen (played by Yoko Maki, Saori Takizawa, Arina Watanabe, and others). To train for the role, Ishihara worked under the guidance of former pro player Takako Kato. Kato and current Rabbits players will appear in some scenes.
The movie is scheduled to open in early summer 2008.
The film was inspired by the novel "Tobe! Rabbits," which tells of two members of women's basketball team JAL Rabbits who played on Japan's national team in the 2004 Olympics. The book was written by Yusuke Fukada, who also wrote the basis for the 1983 drama series "Stewardess Monogatari."
Ishihara stars as a new employee at JAL. She also plays for the Rabbits, and part of the movie will depict her playing basketball with fellow freshmen (played by Yoko Maki, Saori Takizawa, Arina Watanabe, and others). To train for the role, Ishihara worked under the guidance of former pro player Takako Kato. Kato and current Rabbits players will appear in some scenes.
The movie is scheduled to open in early summer 2008.
