Sun, November 25, 2007 (10:38pm EST)
Keio University recently held its annual Mita Festival, which included the popular Miss Keio Contest on Saturday. This year's winner was 18-year-old Miyu Fujii, a first-year law student. The semi-grand prize was awarded to 22-year-old Mayuko Horiguchi, who is in her fourth year of policy studies.
When asked if she had any interest in becoming a TV announcer, Fujii said that she has always been studying to become a lawyer, but admitted that she isn't entirely sure about her future.
Actor Shun Shioya served as a special judge for the contest.
When asked if she had any interest in becoming a TV announcer, Fujii said that she has always been studying to become a lawyer, but admitted that she isn't entirely sure about her future.
Actor Shun Shioya served as a special judge for the contest.
Sun, November 25, 2007 (10:10pm EST)
Veteran actor Kinya Kitaoji will star in TV Tokyo's new jidaigeki series "Genjuro Hissatsuken," which airs this winter. Kitaoji is no stranger to period dramas; he has starred in many throughout his career, including at least one every year since 2001.
"Genjuro Hissatsuken" is adapted from the novel "Meifu no Shikaku" by Yuichiro Kurosaki. Kitaoji plays Genjuro, a former official who murders a colleague and is sentenced to death. He escapes punishment by having another criminal take his place, then restarts his life as a swordsman who faces off against evildoers.
The series will air on Fridays at 8:00pm, starting on January 18.
"Genjuro Hissatsuken" is adapted from the novel "Meifu no Shikaku" by Yuichiro Kurosaki. Kitaoji plays Genjuro, a former official who murders a colleague and is sentenced to death. He escapes punishment by having another criminal take his place, then restarts his life as a swordsman who faces off against evildoers.
The series will air on Fridays at 8:00pm, starting on January 18.
Sun, November 25, 2007 (8:56pm EST)
The finals of the 32nd Horipro Talent Scout Caravan were held on Sunday. A pool of 51,923 applicants had been narrowed down to 11 finalists, and the grand prize went to 15-year-old Rika Adachi, a third-year middle schooler from the Mie Prefecture.
Adachi was chosen unanimously by the judges, who said that her smile was one of the main reasons behind their decision. The girl commented that she wants to do various kinds of work, particularly modeling. She stated that one person she admires is model and talento SHEILA.
A special judges' prize was given to 17-year-old Mari Iriki, a high schooler from Kagoshima.
Adachi was chosen unanimously by the judges, who said that her smile was one of the main reasons behind their decision. The girl commented that she wants to do various kinds of work, particularly modeling. She stated that one person she admires is model and talento SHEILA.
A special judges' prize was given to 17-year-old Mari Iriki, a high schooler from Kagoshima.
Sun, November 25, 2007 (8:39pm EST)
Producer Chihiro Kameyama and screenwriter Ryoichi Kimizuka are working together on a new film, it was learned on Sunday. The pair gained fame for their work on the popular police drama series "Odoru Daisousasen" (also known as "Bayside Shakedown") - the second movie in that franchise currently holds the record for the highest-grossing Japanese film in history at more than 17.3 billion yen.
Their upcoming movie, titled "Daremo Mamotte Kurenai," also falls within the police genre, but combines it with social issues rather than with comedy. Koichi Sato stars as the detective Katsuura. He is placed in charge of a junior high schooler named Saori (Mirai Shida), whose older brother has been arrested on suspicion of murder. In order to protect the family from judgment by the rest of society, the police have changed their names, temporarily removed them from work and school, and separated them. Katsuura's job is both to protect Saori and to extract some evidence from her, but at the same time, his own family is on the verge of collapse.
Kimizuka is directing the flick. Other cast members include Toshiro Yanagiba, Yuriko Ishida, and Kuranosuke Sasaki. Theatrical release is scheduled for next fall.
Their upcoming movie, titled "Daremo Mamotte Kurenai," also falls within the police genre, but combines it with social issues rather than with comedy. Koichi Sato stars as the detective Katsuura. He is placed in charge of a junior high schooler named Saori (Mirai Shida), whose older brother has been arrested on suspicion of murder. In order to protect the family from judgment by the rest of society, the police have changed their names, temporarily removed them from work and school, and separated them. Katsuura's job is both to protect Saori and to extract some evidence from her, but at the same time, his own family is on the verge of collapse.
Kimizuka is directing the flick. Other cast members include Toshiro Yanagiba, Yuriko Ishida, and Kuranosuke Sasaki. Theatrical release is scheduled for next fall.
Sun, November 25, 2007 (4:37pm EST)
On Sunday, it was announced that Arashi member Sho Sakurai will star in the upcoming live-action "Yatterman" movie, which is based on the popular 1970s anime series of the same name.
Sakurai will play the hero Gan Takada, one half of the Yatterman team. The actress playing Ai (Gan's girlfriend and the other half of Yatterman) will be decided in December, while the cast of villains will be decided in January.
The movie, directed by Takashi Miike, opens in the spring of 2009. A new anime series was also announced earlier this year, and that will be aired on NTV starting on January 14.
Sakurai will play the hero Gan Takada, one half of the Yatterman team. The actress playing Ai (Gan's girlfriend and the other half of Yatterman) will be decided in December, while the cast of villains will be decided in January.
The movie, directed by Takashi Miike, opens in the spring of 2009. A new anime series was also announced earlier this year, and that will be aired on NTV starting on January 14.
Sun, November 25, 2007 (3:03am EST)
Singer Kenji Sawada is facing possible charges after causing a traffic accident that resulted in a minor injury, it was learned on Sunday.
At around 8:00pm on November 23, Sawada was driving his car in the Ebisu area of Shibuya. When he attempted to back his car into a parking space on the side of the road, his vehicle came in contact with a minibike passing by on the opposite lane. The bike's driver, a woman in her twenties, lost her balance and collided with a parked police car. Fortunately, she suffered only a bruise on her left leg.
Sawada said that he had not been sufficiently careful at the time. Police said that they plan to send the case to prosecutors, which means Sawada will likely face trial for negligent injury while operating a motor vehicle.
At around 8:00pm on November 23, Sawada was driving his car in the Ebisu area of Shibuya. When he attempted to back his car into a parking space on the side of the road, his vehicle came in contact with a minibike passing by on the opposite lane. The bike's driver, a woman in her twenties, lost her balance and collided with a parked police car. Fortunately, she suffered only a bruise on her left leg.
Sawada said that he had not been sufficiently careful at the time. Police said that they plan to send the case to prosecutors, which means Sawada will likely face trial for negligent injury while operating a motor vehicle.
