Thu, January 3, 2008 (5:10pm EST)
Singer Yayoi, the older sister of actress Koyuki, has signed a contract with record company Avex. Last July, Koyuki joined Avex's new talent management agency.
Yayoi made her singing debut in 2004 with an album titled "SUNRISE," released through BMG Japan. She is now attached to Avex's tearbridge production label, and will release her first single on March 5, titled "Togirenai Ai no Message." Yayoi wrote the lyrics, set to music composed by Kunio Tago.
"Togirenai Ai no Message" is being used as an insert song in the TBS drama series "Daisuki!!," which begins airing on the 17th.
Yayoi made her singing debut in 2004 with an album titled "SUNRISE," released through BMG Japan. She is now attached to Avex's tearbridge production label, and will release her first single on March 5, titled "Togirenai Ai no Message." Yayoi wrote the lyrics, set to music composed by Kunio Tago.
"Togirenai Ai no Message" is being used as an insert song in the TBS drama series "Daisuki!!," which begins airing on the 17th.
Thu, January 3, 2008 (4:39pm EST)
Singer-songwriter YUI is providing the theme song for the TV Asahi drama series "4 Shimai Tantei Dan," which stars teen actress Kaho. The song, "Namidairo," is YUI's first to use a title in Japanese, though it is still romanized.
Described as a ballad with a painful melody, "Namidairo" goes on sale as a single on February 27. The drama series starts on January 18.
Described as a ballad with a painful melody, "Namidairo" goes on sale as a single on February 27. The drama series starts on January 18.
Thu, January 3, 2008 (4:04pm EST)
Actress Mimura is starring in Shun Nakahara's "Rakugo Musume," due out this summer. This is her first lead movie role since "One Missed Call 2" in 2005.
The story is based on Toshiya Nagata's novel of the same name about a woman struggling to establish herself in the male-dominated world of rakugo. Mimura plays the protagonist Kasumi, while Masahiko Tsugawa plays her master.
Filming took place about half a year ago. To play her part, Mimura trained under rakugoka Kyotaro Yanagiya for about a month prior to filming.
The story is based on Toshiya Nagata's novel of the same name about a woman struggling to establish herself in the male-dominated world of rakugo. Mimura plays the protagonist Kasumi, while Masahiko Tsugawa plays her master.
Filming took place about half a year ago. To play her part, Mimura trained under rakugoka Kyotaro Yanagiya for about a month prior to filming.
Thu, January 3, 2008 (3:30pm EST)
During the press conference for the recently announced Fuji TV drama "Isshun no Kaze ni Nare," it was revealed that Hiroki Uchi and Hironori Kusano have officially graduated from their "trainee" status within Johnny's Jimusho.
Both Uchi and Kusano were removed from their groups and demoted to trainees after being caught for underage drinking. They finally returned to action in last year's musical "PLAYZONE."
"Isshun no Kaze ni Nare" marks Uchi's graduation from being a trainee. Johnny's currently plans for him to go forward with a solo career. Meanwhile, Kusano is still attending Hosei University, but preparations are being made for his own full-fledged return. No definite plans have been announced yet.
At the press conference, it was also revealed that Saki Fukuda will co-star with Uchi in "Isshun no Kaze ni Nare," and Ryo Nishikido will make a guest appearance.
Both Uchi and Kusano were removed from their groups and demoted to trainees after being caught for underage drinking. They finally returned to action in last year's musical "PLAYZONE."
"Isshun no Kaze ni Nare" marks Uchi's graduation from being a trainee. Johnny's currently plans for him to go forward with a solo career. Meanwhile, Kusano is still attending Hosei University, but preparations are being made for his own full-fledged return. No definite plans have been announced yet.
At the press conference, it was also revealed that Saki Fukuda will co-star with Uchi in "Isshun no Kaze ni Nare," and Ryo Nishikido will make a guest appearance.
Thu, January 3, 2008 (6:02am EST)
Oricon conducted a survey of a thousand men and women that asked, "Of all the movies you've seen so far, which one made you laugh the most?"
Men and women both ranked Koki Mitani's "The Uchoten Hotel" (also known as "Suite Dreams") as #1. The movie also ranked first across all surveyed age groups, except among those in their 30s, who listed the movie as #2.
Overall, #2 was "Maiko Haaaan!!!" and #3 was "Trick." They were followed by two American films, "Home Alone" and "The Mask."
Men and women both ranked Koki Mitani's "The Uchoten Hotel" (also known as "Suite Dreams") as #1. The movie also ranked first across all surveyed age groups, except among those in their 30s, who listed the movie as #2.
Overall, #2 was "Maiko Haaaan!!!" and #3 was "Trick." They were followed by two American films, "Home Alone" and "The Mask."
Thu, January 3, 2008 (5:43am EST)
The starring cast of Korean director Kim Ki-duk's next film, "Bi-mong," has been revealed. Joe Odagiri will team up with popular actress Lee Na-young for the movie, which explores an intersection between dreams and reality.
The story involves a man (Odagiri) who dreams that he causes a car accident. He discovers that an actual accident occurred at the place in his dream, and the police trace it to a woman with a sleepwalking disorder (Lee).
Filming starts in Korea on the 4th and is expected to finish later this month. Odagiri alluded to the film during his press conference last week regarding his pending marriage to actress Yu Kashii.
The story involves a man (Odagiri) who dreams that he causes a car accident. He discovers that an actual accident occurred at the place in his dream, and the police trace it to a woman with a sleepwalking disorder (Lee).
Filming starts in Korea on the 4th and is expected to finish later this month. Odagiri alluded to the film during his press conference last week regarding his pending marriage to actress Yu Kashii.
Thu, January 3, 2008 (3:05am EST)
Former NEWS member Hiroki Uchi is making his return to the small screen with a lead role in a Fuji TV drama mini-series. Titled "Isshun no Kaze ni Nare," the show will air for four consecutive nights at 11:00pm, starting on February 25.
The drama is based on a novel by author Takako Sato that was published in 3 volumes in 2006. Last year, it won the Honya Taisho and the Eiji Yoshikawa Cultural Prize. It was also turned into a manga illustrated by Tsuyoshi Yasuda that is currently being serialized in Kodansha's Magazine Special.
The story revolves around a high schooler who enters the world of track and field.
The drama is based on a novel by author Takako Sato that was published in 3 volumes in 2006. Last year, it won the Honya Taisho and the Eiji Yoshikawa Cultural Prize. It was also turned into a manga illustrated by Tsuyoshi Yasuda that is currently being serialized in Kodansha's Magazine Special.
The story revolves around a high schooler who enters the world of track and field.
