On November 21, Vision Factory released a two-disc compilation album titled "Christmas Harmony," featuring a total of 14 artists such as w-inds., Lead, and DA PUMP. On Thursday, the company revealed details of its special lottery for fans who purchased the album.

Each of the 14 groups and artists has prepared a Christmas "present" to be given away to a fan. For example, one person will get to co-star with w-inds. in a short drama that will be broadcast on Vision Factory's mobile site Vision Cast.

Other gifts include a phone call from Lead on Christmas Eve, a Christmas cake from MAX, and a hat from ISSA.

Toho has announced production of "Homeless Chugakusei," a screen version of the best-selling autobiography by Kirin comedian Hiroshi Tamura. The story depicts his life of poverty during his junior high days.

Tamura's novel is the second best-selling book of this year, despite being released only three months ago. It achieved 1 million sales in just two months. Several other studios also fought for the film rights, but Toho was able to secure the deal.

Casting for the film will be revealed at the start of 2008. No director has been announced yet. The film opens in June.

This spring, NHK will broadcast an 8-episode drama series titled "Top Sales," starring Yui Natsukawa and Kippei Shiina. The story is set in 1974 and follows a female employee of a successful company who becomes a car salesperson.

The cast includes Keizo Kanie and Daijiro Harada. 18 classic automobiles have also been gathered for the show, with some of museum quality.

"Top Sales" will air on Saturdays at 9:00pm, starting in April.

Popular gravure idol Aki Hoshino has ventured into the world of horse racing and will be hosting two new racing programs on Fuji TV, starting in January.

"Super Keiba" (Sundays, 3:00pm) will end its 21-year run on December 23, to be replaced by "Minna no Keiba" on January 6. Producers want the new show to be more friendly to novices, rather than just targeting existing fans. Talento Shunichi Kawai will serve as the show's knowledgeable host, while Hoshino will represent the beginners.

The network's late-night prediction show, "Umanade" (Saturdays, 1:15am), is also being overhauled. On January 12 it will turn into "Minna no Uma Kurabu," also hosted by Hoshino.

Actor Kenichi Matsuyama is currently taking a break from the filming of "The Legend of Kamui" (directed by Yoichi Sai) after suffering an injury at the end of last month.

On November 28, a sword fight scene was being shot in Kyoto. Matsuyama was struck strongly on his right thigh, leaving a bruise that is said to take three weeks to fully recover. He still attended the opening day press event for "Tsubaki Sanjuro" on December 1, but he concealed the pain from his injury.

Because of his many action scenes in "The Legend of Kamui," Matsuyama is taking a break to recover. His scenes have been postponed until the start of the year, but filming will continue without him. Producers are still aiming to wrap up filming in February, as Matsuyama has to begin working on the "Detroit Metal City" movie, which is scheduled for a summer release.

"The Legend of Kamui" is based on Sanpei Shirato's manga of the same name ("Kamui Gaiden"). The movie will be released in 2009.

Talento Yuji Takeuchi died of rectal cancer at a Kobe hospital on Monday afternoon. He was 36.

Managed by Yoshimoto Kogyo, Takeuchi appeared on television shows such as ABC TV's "Quiz! Shinsuke-kun," where he was part of the "Naniwa Totsugekitai."

A funeral service was held on Thursday in Tamba, Hyogo.