Sun, July 29, 2007 (5:39pm EDT)
On early Sunday, talento Sanma Akashiya appeared on Fuji TV's "27 Hour Television" special. During a talk with host Masahiro Nakai, Akashiya revealed that he will co-star with Masami Nagasawa in a TBS drama series this fall.
TBS has not yet made an official announcement regarding the drama. Akashiya acknowledged that the network will likely be angry about his leak. No other details about the show were revealed.
TBS has not yet made an official announcement regarding the drama. Akashiya acknowledged that the network will likely be angry about his leak. No other details about the show were revealed.
Sun, July 29, 2007 (5:14pm EDT)
Record label Nippon Crown, known primarily for its stable of enka artists, wrapped up an audition for new talent on Sunday. The competition was held to commemorate the company's 45th anniversary.
26-year-old Kumiko Imamura was presented with the grand prize. She was chosen from 1,646 participants. According to her, she left her junior college in Osaka eight years ago to pursue her dream of becoming a singer. One of her role models, enka singer Eiko Segawa, served as a judge for the competition.
Imamura is scheduled to make her debut next year.
26-year-old Kumiko Imamura was presented with the grand prize. She was chosen from 1,646 participants. According to her, she left her junior college in Osaka eight years ago to pursue her dream of becoming a singer. One of her role models, enka singer Eiko Segawa, served as a judge for the competition.
Imamura is scheduled to make her debut next year.
Sun, July 29, 2007 (4:40pm EDT)
On Saturday, rock band Ginnan Boyz performed at the Formoz Festival in Taipei, Taiwan. At one point in the show, vocalist Kazunobu Mineta began removing his clothes. Finally, he dropped his shorts, exposing the bare lower half of his body. Police were alerted, and he was taken in for questioning. He may face charges for offending public morals, with the possibility of a prison term.
Mineta has been in trouble before for this form of self-expression. In 2005, at the Rock in Japan Festival in Ibaraki, he stripped completely naked during the band's performance. He was detained, but later released without charges.
Mineta has been in trouble before for this form of self-expression. In 2005, at the Rock in Japan Festival in Ibaraki, he stripped completely naked during the band's performance. He was detained, but later released without charges.
Sun, July 29, 2007 (1:46am EDT)
Actress Nene Otsuka will star in a TBS drama special titled "Saihate no Himawari" ("The Farthest Sunflower"), about families whose bonds have been damaged.
The story revolves around two pairs: a lawyer (Otsuka) and her son (Arashi Fukasawa), who experience a small strain in their relationship; and an estranged father (Katsuo Nakamura) and son (Yoshiyoshi Arakawa) who happen to meet again after many years.
The drama will be broadcast on September 16 at 2:00pm.
The story revolves around two pairs: a lawyer (Otsuka) and her son (Arashi Fukasawa), who experience a small strain in their relationship; and an estranged father (Katsuo Nakamura) and son (Yoshiyoshi Arakawa) who happen to meet again after many years.
The drama will be broadcast on September 16 at 2:00pm.
