Mon, December 10, 2007 (5:23pm EST)
Actress Nao Minamisawa and AKB48 member Atsuko Maeda are co-starring in an NTV drama series this winter.
"Shiori to Shimiko no Kaiki Jikenbo" is based on the "Shiori to Shimiko" manga series by popular writer Daijiro Morohoshi. Described as a "surreal horror comedy," the story follows two girls named Shiori (Minamisawa) and Shimiko (Maeda) who become involved in strange incidents in their town.
The series will air late on Saturday nights, at 12:50am. The first episode will be broadcast on January 5.
"Shiori to Shimiko no Kaiki Jikenbo" is based on the "Shiori to Shimiko" manga series by popular writer Daijiro Morohoshi. Described as a "surreal horror comedy," the story follows two girls named Shiori (Minamisawa) and Shimiko (Maeda) who become involved in strange incidents in their town.
The series will air late on Saturday nights, at 12:50am. The first episode will be broadcast on January 5.
Mon, December 10, 2007 (5:09pm EST)
New rock unit Superfly is doing its first theme song for a television drama. Titled "Ai wo Komete Hanataba wo," it will be used in TBS's "Edison no Haha," which stars Misaki Ito.
The song was originally written while guitarist Koichi Tabo (who has left the group) was still in his teens, but it was completed in 2005 when Superfly moved to Tokyo to pursue a professional career. They have regularly performed it during their live shows during the past year. However, the song's arrangement will apparently be redone for the drama, and the new version will be released as a single in February.
The song was originally written while guitarist Koichi Tabo (who has left the group) was still in his teens, but it was completed in 2005 when Superfly moved to Tokyo to pursue a professional career. They have regularly performed it during their live shows during the past year. However, the song's arrangement will apparently be redone for the drama, and the new version will be released as a single in February.
Mon, December 10, 2007 (4:00pm EST)
Actor Arata Furuta is starring a film titled "Komori Kachou no Yuuga na Hibi," directed by Ikki Katashima. Although Furuta has appeared in many supporting roles throughout his 24-year career, this is his first time taking the lead in a movie.
The film is adapted from the 2004 novel of the same name by Hikaru Murozumi. The humorous story follows a man (Furuta) who takes justice into his own hands by killing wrongdoers, but as a result, others begin worshiping him as a religious figure.
Furuta is the latest in a string of established supporting actors to finally be given a starring role. Sadao Abe starred in "Maiko Haaaan!!!" earlier this year, while Yoichi Nukumizu is starring in Masatoshi Akihara's "Ito no Hanashi," to be released in April. Fumiyo Kohinata was also given his first lead role in next season's drama series "Ashita no Kita Yoshio."
The supporting cast of "Komori Kachou no Yuuga na Hibi" includes Chiaki Kuriyama, Shugo Oshinari, Narimi Arimori, Shiro Sano, and Kosuke Toyohara. The movie is scheduled for release in fall 2008.
The film is adapted from the 2004 novel of the same name by Hikaru Murozumi. The humorous story follows a man (Furuta) who takes justice into his own hands by killing wrongdoers, but as a result, others begin worshiping him as a religious figure.
Furuta is the latest in a string of established supporting actors to finally be given a starring role. Sadao Abe starred in "Maiko Haaaan!!!" earlier this year, while Yoichi Nukumizu is starring in Masatoshi Akihara's "Ito no Hanashi," to be released in April. Fumiyo Kohinata was also given his first lead role in next season's drama series "Ashita no Kita Yoshio."
The supporting cast of "Komori Kachou no Yuuga na Hibi" includes Chiaki Kuriyama, Shugo Oshinari, Narimi Arimori, Shiro Sano, and Kosuke Toyohara. The movie is scheduled for release in fall 2008.
Mon, December 10, 2007 (3:20pm EST)
Actress Nanako Matsushima, wife of actor Takashi Sorimachi, announced on Monday that she has already given birth to her second child. The baby girl was born on November 30, ahead of her December due date. The couple already has a 3-year-old daughter.
Comedian Jun Nagura (of Neptune) and talento Marina Watanabe also revealed on Monday that they have become proud parents. Watanabe gave birth to a boy on Sunday night. She and Nagura have been married since 2005.
To top things off, TBS announcer Ayano Toyoda declared that she gave birth to her first child, a boy, on December 5. She married a producer from the same network this past May.
Comedian Jun Nagura (of Neptune) and talento Marina Watanabe also revealed on Monday that they have become proud parents. Watanabe gave birth to a boy on Sunday night. She and Nagura have been married since 2005.
To top things off, TBS announcer Ayano Toyoda declared that she gave birth to her first child, a boy, on December 5. She married a producer from the same network this past May.
Mon, December 10, 2007 (1:47am EST)
Actress Rina Uchiyama was presented with the 5th annual Kimono Award on Sunday. The prize is sponsored by Kimono Seikatsu Network.
Previous winners are Tamao Nakamura, Ryuji Harada, Pinko Izumi, and Ryoko Yonekura.
Previous winners are Tamao Nakamura, Ryuji Harada, Pinko Izumi, and Ryoko Yonekura.
Mon, December 10, 2007 (1:35am EST)
The ceremony for the 55th Kan Kikuchi Prize was held on December 7. The winners this year were author Hiroyuki Agawa, kabuki actor Danjuro Ichikawa XII, rakugo artist Sanshi Katsura, actor Shoichi Ozawa, bookstore Matsuno Shoten, and a project by Kodansha called Zenkoku Homon Ohanashi-tai, which travels across the country providing book readings and other reading opportunities for children.
Mon, December 10, 2007 (1:08am EST)
Mangaka Gosho Aoyama, best known for his "Detective Conan" series, has reportedly divorced his wife. Aoyama was married to seiyu and TWO-MIX vocalist Minami Takayama, who happens to voice the character of Conan in the "Detective Conan" anime.
Aoyama and Takayama married in May 2005. Distance grew between them due to their busy work schedules. No details of their divorce have been officially revealed, and when asked about it, Aoyama said he was unable to comment.
Aoyama and Takayama married in May 2005. Distance grew between them due to their busy work schedules. No details of their divorce have been officially revealed, and when asked about it, Aoyama said he was unable to comment.
Mon, December 10, 2007 (12:51am EST)
Ai Takabe will star in a television drama for the first time this winter, in TV Tokyo's comedy series "Cosplay Yurei Guren Onna."
The drama is based on the novel of the same name by Nobuyuki Joko. Takabe plays a high school teacher who has no friends due to her gloomy personality. Trying to find a reason for living, she spends her nights dressing up as the "guren-onna," a fictional ghost, and terrifying other people. However, she begins running into actual ghosts.
Takabe's makeup for the part of the "guren-onna" is said to take four hours to apply.
The series premieres on January 11, airing every Friday night at 12:12am.
The drama is based on the novel of the same name by Nobuyuki Joko. Takabe plays a high school teacher who has no friends due to her gloomy personality. Trying to find a reason for living, she spends her nights dressing up as the "guren-onna," a fictional ghost, and terrifying other people. However, she begins running into actual ghosts.
Takabe's makeup for the part of the "guren-onna" is said to take four hours to apply.
The series premieres on January 11, airing every Friday night at 12:12am.
