Tue, December 11, 2007 (4:49pm EST)
Director Shinobu Yaguchi ("Swing Girls," "Water Boys") is working on his first feature-length film since 2004. Tentatively titled "Happy Flight," the movie will be a comedy set in the airline industry.
The story centers on a flight from Japan to Honolulu and deals with a variety of characters, such as a scatterbrained cabin attendant, a scary instructor, and a young mechanic.
Yaguchi conducted research for the movie through ANA during the spring of 2006. Filming is set to begin in April, and there is a possibility that some of it may be shot with a real airplane. Yaguchi is aiming for theatrical release in the fall. Auditions for the cast are currently under way.
The story centers on a flight from Japan to Honolulu and deals with a variety of characters, such as a scatterbrained cabin attendant, a scary instructor, and a young mechanic.
Yaguchi conducted research for the movie through ANA during the spring of 2006. Filming is set to begin in April, and there is a possibility that some of it may be shot with a real airplane. Yaguchi is aiming for theatrical release in the fall. Auditions for the cast are currently under way.
Tue, December 11, 2007 (3:55pm EST)
Watanabe Entertainment is preparing to launch its next audition to recruit new members for acting group D-BOYS. Unlike typical talent searches, the audition is making use of video website YouTube to reach applicants all across Japan.
This will be the group's 5th audition. The first two auditions took applications only by mail. When Watanabe Entertainment began allowing photo applications through cell phones for the third audition in 2006, the number of contestants grew by more than 4,000. With the addition of YouTube as a means of applying, it is likely that the number will again significantly increase.
This will be the group's 5th audition. The first two auditions took applications only by mail. When Watanabe Entertainment began allowing photo applications through cell phones for the third audition in 2006, the number of contestants grew by more than 4,000. With the addition of YouTube as a means of applying, it is likely that the number will again significantly increase.
Tue, December 11, 2007 (3:28pm EST)
It was revealed on Tuesday that actress Saki Fukuda has been cast as the female lead in the upcoming live-action "Yatterman" movie, based on the 1970s anime series.
Arashi member Sho Sakurai has already been announced in the starring role of Gan. Fukuda plays his girlfriend Ai, and together they form the team of Yatterman.
The movie, directed by Takashi Miike, is slated for a spring 2009 release.
Arashi member Sho Sakurai has already been announced in the starring role of Gan. Fukuda plays his girlfriend Ai, and together they form the team of Yatterman.
The movie, directed by Takashi Miike, is slated for a spring 2009 release.
Tue, December 11, 2007 (3:17pm EST)
The popular Fuji TV drama series "Proposal Daisakusen," which aired this past spring, is getting a special episode. Starring Tomohisa Yamashita and Masami Nagasawa, the episode will take place after the original series.
According to the network, the ambiguous ending led to thousands of phone calls and e-mails from viewers, asking about the rest of the story and whether a continuation was planned.
As a result, a two-hour special is in the works. Filming begins in late January and will include scenes in Hawaii. Producer Madoka Takiyama says that the story will start there, with the friends Tsuru (Gaku Hamada) and Eri (Nana Eikura) holding their wedding ceremony.
Yuta Hiraoka, Naohito Fujiki, and Hiroshi Mikami will return for the special, which is scheduled to air this coming spring.
According to the network, the ambiguous ending led to thousands of phone calls and e-mails from viewers, asking about the rest of the story and whether a continuation was planned.
As a result, a two-hour special is in the works. Filming begins in late January and will include scenes in Hawaii. Producer Madoka Takiyama says that the story will start there, with the friends Tsuru (Gaku Hamada) and Eri (Nana Eikura) holding their wedding ceremony.
Yuta Hiraoka, Naohito Fujiki, and Hiroshi Mikami will return for the special, which is scheduled to air this coming spring.
Tue, December 11, 2007 (1:17pm EST)
As expected, rock duo B'z took the top spot in the albums chart this week with their latest original album, "ACTION," which sold 293,000 copies. This is their 13th consecutive #1 album. It is also their 21st overall, which finally brings them to a tie with Yumi Matsutoya for the all-time record for most #1 albums. B'z already holds five other major records: most album sales, most single sales, most #1 singles, most million-selling albums, and most million-selling singles. This makes them the first artist to hold all six records in Oricon history.
Yui Aragaki stood no chance against B'z, but her first album "Sora" managed to sell 73,000 copies to take the #3 spot. She is the first actress-turned-singer to reach the top three with a debut album since Kou Shibasaki in 2004.
Other new albums this past week included AI (#4), DJ OZMA (#7), and Hitomi Shimatani (#11).
On the singles chart, Keisuke Kuwata stood on top with 94,000 copies of "Darling." As a solo artist, it is his 6th consecutive chart-topper. The last three were released this year, which is the most so far by a solo artist in 2007. In total, he has 7 number-ones, tying for the record with Kyosuke Himuro among solo male singers who originally came from a group.
abingdon boys school and SID entered the charts at #2 and #4, respectively. MISIA barely made the cutoff for the top ten, followed closely by Aya Hirano (#11), The Birthday (#12), and Yo Hitoto (#13).
Yui Aragaki stood no chance against B'z, but her first album "Sora" managed to sell 73,000 copies to take the #3 spot. She is the first actress-turned-singer to reach the top three with a debut album since Kou Shibasaki in 2004.
Other new albums this past week included AI (#4), DJ OZMA (#7), and Hitomi Shimatani (#11).
On the singles chart, Keisuke Kuwata stood on top with 94,000 copies of "Darling." As a solo artist, it is his 6th consecutive chart-topper. The last three were released this year, which is the most so far by a solo artist in 2007. In total, he has 7 number-ones, tying for the record with Kyosuke Himuro among solo male singers who originally came from a group.
abingdon boys school and SID entered the charts at #2 and #4, respectively. MISIA barely made the cutoff for the top ten, followed closely by Aya Hirano (#11), The Birthday (#12), and Yo Hitoto (#13).
Tue, December 11, 2007 (4:32am EST)
Oricon conducted a survey of a thousand men and women, asking them which celebrity they would want to play video games with. Otaku (and gamer) idol Shoko Nakagawa easily topped the survey, ranking #1 among male respondents and #2 among females.
#2 overall was Shinya Arino of comedy duo Yoiko, who hosts the gaming show "Game Center CX" on Fuji TV. He was followed in the rankings by Shingo Katori and Becky, neither of whom are known for playing video games but were both chosen mainly for their cheerful personalities.
Pop star Hikaru Utada, who is also known as a Tetris fanatic, ranked 5th, though she was the #1 choice among those in their twenties. The rest of the top ten were Sanma Akashiya (#6), Masaharu Fukuyama, Koichi Domoto, and Aya Ueto (all tied for #7), and Kaori Manabe and Kazunari Ninomiya (tied for #10).
#2 overall was Shinya Arino of comedy duo Yoiko, who hosts the gaming show "Game Center CX" on Fuji TV. He was followed in the rankings by Shingo Katori and Becky, neither of whom are known for playing video games but were both chosen mainly for their cheerful personalities.
Pop star Hikaru Utada, who is also known as a Tetris fanatic, ranked 5th, though she was the #1 choice among those in their twenties. The rest of the top ten were Sanma Akashiya (#6), Masaharu Fukuyama, Koichi Domoto, and Aya Ueto (all tied for #7), and Kaori Manabe and Kazunari Ninomiya (tied for #10).
