Tue, October 30, 2007 (7:19pm EDT)
Two more cast members have been announced for the second live-action "Detective Conan" special, currently titled "Kudo Shinichi no Fukkatsu! Kuro no Soshiki to no Taiketsu." Yu Kashii will take on the role of Shiho Miyano (also known as Ai Haibara), while Kuranosuke Sasaki will play Gin of the Black Organization.
It was previously announced that Shun Oguri, Tomoka Kurokawa, and Takanori Jinnai are reprising their roles from the first drama.
No specific broadcast date has been revealed yet, but NTV reportedly plans to air it around the end of this year.
It was previously announced that Shun Oguri, Tomoka Kurokawa, and Takanori Jinnai are reprising their roles from the first drama.
No specific broadcast date has been revealed yet, but NTV reportedly plans to air it around the end of this year.
Tue, October 30, 2007 (7:03pm EDT)
Hip-hop group Ketsumeishi has signed on to provide the theme song for "Kagehinata ni Saku," a film based on the same-named best-seller by Hitori Gekidan. Directed by Yuichiro Hirakawa, the movie stars Junichi Okada and Aoi Miyazaki. It opens on January 26.
Although Ketsumeishi has been popular for years, they have never done a theme song for a movie or television drama until now. The song is titled "Deai no Kakera," but no release date has been set yet.
Ketsumeishi also announced a nationwide tour starting in February. It will be their first tour in three years.
Although Ketsumeishi has been popular for years, they have never done a theme song for a movie or television drama until now. The song is titled "Deai no Kakera," but no release date has been set yet.
Ketsumeishi also announced a nationwide tour starting in February. It will be their first tour in three years.
Tue, October 30, 2007 (2:53pm EDT)
TV Asahi is producing a drama special based on the Yukio Mishima play "Rokumeikan." It was previously made into a drama on NHK in 1970 and a film directed by Kon Ichikawa in 1986. TV Asahi's version will star Masakazu Tamura and Hitomi Kuroki, once again cast in the roles of a husband and wife. They previously played a couple in the drama series "Oyaji" (2000) and "Fuufu" (2004).
The story is set during the Meiji era at the Rokumeikan (also known as the Deer Cry Pavilion), a social center that ultimately became a symbol of the Westernization process in Japan. Tamura plays Count Kageyama, whose forceful political methods have earned him many enemies. Kuroki plays his wife Asako, a former geisha. The action mainly takes place at a ball that has been targeted for attack by activists.
"Rokumeikan" will air during the start of the new year.
The story is set during the Meiji era at the Rokumeikan (also known as the Deer Cry Pavilion), a social center that ultimately became a symbol of the Westernization process in Japan. Tamura plays Count Kageyama, whose forceful political methods have earned him many enemies. Kuroki plays his wife Asako, a former geisha. The action mainly takes place at a ball that has been targeted for attack by activists.
"Rokumeikan" will air during the start of the new year.
Tue, October 30, 2007 (5:18am EDT)
This year is the 10th anniversary of the singing career of actress Takako Matsu. In honor of that, NHK will air a documentary special, titled "Takako Matsu: Kanojo ga Utau Wake," on November 9. It will be shown in the network's "Premium 10" (10:00pm) programming slot.
Matsu grew up in a family of actors, and she made her own stage debut in 1993. However, she had dreamed of becoming a singer ever since she was a child, when she would sing Seika Matsuda tunes to herself while playing the piano. After becoming the youngest Kohaku Uta Gassen host at the age of nineteen in 1996, she finally started her music career the following year.
The documentary, which is a first for Matsu, features footage ranging from 1996, when she recorded her debut single "Ashita, Haru ga Kitara" in Los Angeles, to 2007, when she launched her first concert tour in four years. Much of the footage has never been seen by fans before.
Matsu grew up in a family of actors, and she made her own stage debut in 1993. However, she had dreamed of becoming a singer ever since she was a child, when she would sing Seika Matsuda tunes to herself while playing the piano. After becoming the youngest Kohaku Uta Gassen host at the age of nineteen in 1996, she finally started her music career the following year.
The documentary, which is a first for Matsu, features footage ranging from 1996, when she recorded her debut single "Ashita, Haru ga Kitara" in Los Angeles, to 2007, when she launched her first concert tour in four years. Much of the footage has never been seen by fans before.
Tue, October 30, 2007 (4:46am EDT)
A production of the musical "Mozart!" will run from November 19 to December 2 at Tokyo's Imperial Garden Theater. It stars a double cast of Yoshio Inoue and singer-songwriter Akinori Nakagawa as Mozart, while singer and former SPEED member hiro plays the role of his wife Constanze. This is hiro's first time in a theater role.
Other cast members include Tatsuki Kohju, Yumiko Takahashi, Mayo Suzukaze, and Yuichiro Yamaguchi.
Other cast members include Tatsuki Kohju, Yumiko Takahashi, Mayo Suzukaze, and Yuichiro Yamaguchi.
Tue, October 30, 2007 (4:29am EDT)
On Monday, Nippon Ham Fighters star Yu Darvish was given the Sawamura Award, presented annually to the best pro pitcher. His record during the regular season was 15-5 and he led the Pacific League with 210 strikeouts.
The Fighters are currently playing in the Japan Series against the Chunichi Dragons.
The Fighters are currently playing in the Japan Series against the Chunichi Dragons.
Tue, October 30, 2007 (12:32am EDT)
Akira Akasaka, once a member of Johnny's group Hikaru Genji, has been arrested for drug possession, it was learned on Tuesday. He stated that the drugs were only for personal use, and that he has been using them since this past spring.
Early in the morning on October 28, Akasaka was stopped on the road by a police officer. During standard questioning, the officer discovered that Akasaka was carrying approximately one gram of stimulants (the specific drug was not specified). Police are currently investigating the matter, trying to gain more information such as where the drug was obtained from.
Since Hikaru Genji's breakup in 1995, Akasaka has been active as a stage actor.
Early in the morning on October 28, Akasaka was stopped on the road by a police officer. During standard questioning, the officer discovered that Akasaka was carrying approximately one gram of stimulants (the specific drug was not specified). Police are currently investigating the matter, trying to gain more information such as where the drug was obtained from.
Since Hikaru Genji's breakup in 1995, Akasaka has been active as a stage actor.
