Wed, October 31, 2007 (8:29pm EDT)
On February 3, LUNA SEA member Ryuichi Kawamura will hold a special concert at the Nippon Budokan titled "70 no Monogatari." Sponsored by Sports Nippon, the show celebrates the 10th anniversary of his solo career. Kawamura will perform every song recorded for one of his six original albums, amounting to a 70-song set expected to last about four and a half hours.
Aiming for an audience of 8,000, promoters are organizing bus tours from major cities across Japan. Concert tickets will sell for 6,300 yen, starting at 10:00am on December 29. More details have been announced on his official website.
Aiming for an audience of 8,000, promoters are organizing bus tours from major cities across Japan. Concert tickets will sell for 6,300 yen, starting at 10:00am on December 29. More details have been announced on his official website.
Wed, October 31, 2007 (7:11pm EDT)
Music publisher Lantis, which deals primarily with anime and video game soundtracks, has finally entered the iTunes market. On Wednesday, the company made 241 tracks available through the iTunes Japan store, including songs by popular artists such as ALI PROJECT and Minami Kuribayashi. The standard price per download is 200 yen.
On November 7, Lantis will add 566 more songs, including "Bouken Desho Desho?" and "Hare Hare Yukai" from the hit anime series "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya."
Lantis plans to add more music from time to time, including unpublished works. The firm aims to have a thousand songs on iTunes before the end of the year.
On November 7, Lantis will add 566 more songs, including "Bouken Desho Desho?" and "Hare Hare Yukai" from the hit anime series "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya."
Lantis plans to add more music from time to time, including unpublished works. The firm aims to have a thousand songs on iTunes before the end of the year.
Wed, October 31, 2007 (6:51pm EDT)
Pitcher Yu Darvish of the Nippon Ham Fighters has opted for Japanese nationality, which will allow him to represent Japan at next year's Olympics in Beijing.
Darvish, who is half-Iranian, half-Japanese, was holding dual citizenship. According to Japanese law, dual citizens are required to choose a single nationality by the age of 22. Darvish turns 22 next August.
Darvish, who is half-Iranian, half-Japanese, was holding dual citizenship. According to Japanese law, dual citizens are required to choose a single nationality by the age of 22. Darvish turns 22 next August.
Wed, October 31, 2007 (6:38pm EDT)
SMAP's Goro Inagaki and actress Koyuki will co-star in an original drama series on TBS this winter.
"Sasaki Fusai no Jingi Naki Tatakai" is described as a love comedy. Inagaki and Koyuki play the Sasakis, two lawyers with opposite personalities. They've been married for three years, but their heated quarrels lead them to the courtroom to settle a possible divorce, with the two representing themselves.
Their domestic battles are one of the highlights of the show, says producer Masanao Takahashi. He mentioned that the couple nearly gets into fistfights. Viewers will even get a chance to see Inagaki in a wrestling uniform (his character was part of his university's wrestling club).
TBS has lined up a supporting cast that includes Keisuke Koide, Wakana Sakai, Masahiko Nishimura, and Makoto Fujita as staff members of the legal office. Koji Yamamoto has been cast as one of Inagaki's university classmates, while Arata Furuta plays one of Koyuki's close friends, a gay masseur.
Filming begins at the end of November. The show will air on Sundays at 9:00pm, starting in January.
"Sasaki Fusai no Jingi Naki Tatakai" is described as a love comedy. Inagaki and Koyuki play the Sasakis, two lawyers with opposite personalities. They've been married for three years, but their heated quarrels lead them to the courtroom to settle a possible divorce, with the two representing themselves.
Their domestic battles are one of the highlights of the show, says producer Masanao Takahashi. He mentioned that the couple nearly gets into fistfights. Viewers will even get a chance to see Inagaki in a wrestling uniform (his character was part of his university's wrestling club).
TBS has lined up a supporting cast that includes Keisuke Koide, Wakana Sakai, Masahiko Nishimura, and Makoto Fujita as staff members of the legal office. Koji Yamamoto has been cast as one of Inagaki's university classmates, while Arata Furuta plays one of Koyuki's close friends, a gay masseur.
Filming begins at the end of November. The show will air on Sundays at 9:00pm, starting in January.
Wed, October 31, 2007 (5:02pm EDT)
Nippon Broadcasting System's 33rd Radio Charity Musicthon will be hosted by KAT-TUN members Jin Akanishi and Junnosuke Taguchi. The annual event takes place from noon on December 24 until noon on Christmas Day.
The two are currently hosts on the station's "KAT-TUN Style." The network felt that the group has the popularity to attract a strong response, and many of the show's listeners expressed their desire to have the two host the event.
The other members of KAT-TUN will also participate in the musicthon.
The two are currently hosts on the station's "KAT-TUN Style." The network felt that the group has the popularity to attract a strong response, and many of the show's listeners expressed their desire to have the two host the event.
The other members of KAT-TUN will also participate in the musicthon.
Wed, October 31, 2007 (4:36pm EDT)
Ex-Hikaru Genji member Akira Akasaka has been divorced since March 28 of this year, it was revealed on Wednesday. The announcement was made by a legal adviser for Johnny's Jimusho, which formally dismissed Akasaka on Monday after his recent arrest for drug possession. According to the lawyer, Akasaka's divorce was kept secret out of consideration for his family and ex-wife, but the present circumstances led to the decision to go public.
Akasaka married his wife, a former office worker, in November 2001. They both attended Horikoshi High School, though she is two years older than him. In June 2002, they had a son, who is now in custody of the wife.
It has been reported that Akasaka first obtained the drugs in April, and it is possible that he was using them to cope with the divorce.
Akasaka married his wife, a former office worker, in November 2001. They both attended Horikoshi High School, though she is two years older than him. In June 2002, they had a son, who is now in custody of the wife.
It has been reported that Akasaka first obtained the drugs in April, and it is possible that he was using them to cope with the divorce.
Wed, October 31, 2007 (5:28am EDT)
"Shimotsuma Monogatari" author Novala Takemoto went on trial Wednesday for cannabis possession. The hearing concluded the same day with the judge handing Takemoto an eight-month jail sentence, suspended for three years.
According to the prosecution's statements, Takemoto first used the drug about five years ago at a friend's house. Since then, he purchased cannabis through his friend eight times, and this past June, he bought some from a dealer in San Francisco.
On September 2, a police officer stopped Takemoto on the street while he was walking alone in the Kabukicho district. During questioning, Takemoto was found to be carrying cannabis, leading to his arrest. A later search of his home turned up more of the drug.
During the hearing, Takemoto said that he had tried the drug out of curiosity. He apologized, expressing shame at betraying his fans. He also declared that he wants to use his future works to help discourage drug use.
According to the prosecution's statements, Takemoto first used the drug about five years ago at a friend's house. Since then, he purchased cannabis through his friend eight times, and this past June, he bought some from a dealer in San Francisco.
On September 2, a police officer stopped Takemoto on the street while he was walking alone in the Kabukicho district. During questioning, Takemoto was found to be carrying cannabis, leading to his arrest. A later search of his home turned up more of the drug.
During the hearing, Takemoto said that he had tried the drug out of curiosity. He apologized, expressing shame at betraying his fans. He also declared that he wants to use his future works to help discourage drug use.
Wed, October 31, 2007 (4:37am EDT)
On the morning of October 29, movie director Senkichi Taniguchi died of aspiration pneumonia at a hospital in Setagaya, Tokyo. He was 95.
Taniguchi made his directorial debut in 1947 with "Ginrei no Hate." Also known as "Snow Trail," the film starred Toshiro Mifune and was written by Akira Kurosawa. He worked with them again for "Jakoman to Tetsu" in 1949, and with just Kurosawa for "Akatsuki no Dassou" ("Escape at Dawn") in 1950. He continued to direct many more films throughout the '50s and '60s.
Taniguchi was married to actress Kaoru Yachigusa.
Taniguchi made his directorial debut in 1947 with "Ginrei no Hate." Also known as "Snow Trail," the film starred Toshiro Mifune and was written by Akira Kurosawa. He worked with them again for "Jakoman to Tetsu" in 1949, and with just Kurosawa for "Akatsuki no Dassou" ("Escape at Dawn") in 1950. He continued to direct many more films throughout the '50s and '60s.
Taniguchi was married to actress Kaoru Yachigusa.
Wed, October 31, 2007 (3:04am EDT)
The newest sensation in the reggae scene is male singer Ailie, who has already been selected for three television theme songs before his major label debut next year.
Ailie released his first album on an indie label in June. When the staff of Fuji TV's "Gout Temps Nouveau" heard his music, they asked him to provide a theme song. His "Daijoubu" began appearing on the show this month, sending the song to the top of the reggae category in the mobile ringtone rankings.
On December 3, his "Nagareboshi ni" will be the theme song for the TBS drama special "Suisei Monogatari," adapted from the Teru Miyamoto novel of the same name. Then in the winter, another one of Ailie's songs will be used in a drama series.
Ailie won a reggae competition in 2002, then traveled alone to Jamaica for a year. Having released his first solo album this past June, he is now in negotiations with several major labels to possibly debut in the spring.
Ailie released his first album on an indie label in June. When the staff of Fuji TV's "Gout Temps Nouveau" heard his music, they asked him to provide a theme song. His "Daijoubu" began appearing on the show this month, sending the song to the top of the reggae category in the mobile ringtone rankings.
On December 3, his "Nagareboshi ni" will be the theme song for the TBS drama special "Suisei Monogatari," adapted from the Teru Miyamoto novel of the same name. Then in the winter, another one of Ailie's songs will be used in a drama series.
Ailie won a reggae competition in 2002, then traveled alone to Jamaica for a year. Having released his first solo album this past June, he is now in negotiations with several major labels to possibly debut in the spring.
Wed, October 31, 2007 (2:27am EDT)
Variety has details on the Hollywood-produced film starring the all-girl "entertainment ska" sextet ORESKABAND. The film, titled "Lock and Roll Forever," is a co-venture between T&C Pictures and Sony Music Entertainment Japan. The project is being headed by "High School Musical" producers Barry Rosenbush and Bill Borden, with T&C's Arata Matsushima as executive producer.
Chris Grismer, who has primarily worked in television, is directing. Peter Barsocchini, who also worked on "High School Musical," is in charge of the script. Kaz Utsunomiya is music producer.
Aside from the members of ORESKABAND, the film features Lucas Grabeel, Ike Barinholtz, Taylor Negron, Brad Dourif, and Naoko Nozawa.
Chris Grismer, who has primarily worked in television, is directing. Peter Barsocchini, who also worked on "High School Musical," is in charge of the script. Kaz Utsunomiya is music producer.
Aside from the members of ORESKABAND, the film features Lucas Grabeel, Ike Barinholtz, Taylor Negron, Brad Dourif, and Naoko Nozawa.
