Wed, January 2, 2008 (5:44pm EST)
Akihito Okano, the vocalist of rock band Porno Graffiti, announced to his fan club that he will be getting married soon. His partner is a woman in her 20s, but no name or other details were revealed. They intend to register their marriage during this month.
Wed, January 2, 2008 (5:31pm EST)
Singer Ayumi Shigemori is currently four months pregnant. She announced the news during a live program on NHK on Monday.
This will be Shigemori's second child. She married in April 2002 and gave birth to a son in June 2004.
This will be Shigemori's second child. She married in April 2002 and gave birth to a son in June 2004.
Wed, January 2, 2008 (5:23pm EST)
MY LITTLE LOVER vocalist akko and music producer Takeshi Kobayashi got divorced on New Year's Day, it was learned on Wednesday. The two were first reported to be discussing a divorce last May.
Wed, January 2, 2008 (4:45pm EST)
Actress Asami Mizukawa has been revealed as the female lead in Junji Sakamoto's action movie "Chameleon," which completed filming last month (more details here).
Mizukawa plays a woman with a dark past who makes a living as a fortune teller. She serves as the romantic interest for the protagonist, played by Tatsuya Fujiwara.
The movie opens this summer.
Mizukawa plays a woman with a dark past who makes a living as a fortune teller. She serves as the romantic interest for the protagonist, played by Tatsuya Fujiwara.
The movie opens this summer.
Wed, January 2, 2008 (3:53pm EST)
R&B singer AI has announced a performance at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles on January 31. Although AI was born in L.A. and learned singing and dancing there, this is her first concert in that city.
Tickets are being sold through Groove Tickets.
Tickets are being sold through Groove Tickets.
Wed, January 2, 2008 (3:26pm EST)
NHK's annual Kohaku Uta Gassen had 32.8% ratings for the first half of the show, rebounding from last year's 30.6%, which had tied for the lowest ratings ever. On the other hand, the show's second half had ratings of 39.5%, replacing last year's 39.8% as the second lowest in history.
The numbers in the Kansai region showed strong improvement over last year. The two halves had reached historical lows with 28.5% and 37.6% ratings, but they rose to 33.2% and 39.5% this time around.
The numbers in the Kansai region showed strong improvement over last year. The two halves had reached historical lows with 28.5% and 37.6% ratings, but they rose to 33.2% and 39.5% this time around.
Wed, January 2, 2008 (2:46pm EST)
According to Twitch, the Silent Movie Theatre in Los Angeles will hold a retrospective of director Takashi Miike during this month and next month.
Screenings will be held on Sunday nights, from January 6 to February 17. The films being shown are "Audition," "One Missed Call," "Big Bang Love, Juvenile A," "GOZU," "The Happiness of the Katakuris," "Visitor Q," "Ichi the Killer," "Fudoh," "The Great Yokai War," and "Zebraman."
Screenings will be held on Sunday nights, from January 6 to February 17. The films being shown are "Audition," "One Missed Call," "Big Bang Love, Juvenile A," "GOZU," "The Happiness of the Katakuris," "Visitor Q," "Ichi the Killer," "Fudoh," "The Great Yokai War," and "Zebraman."
