Sun, February 17, 2008 (6:18pm EST)
Talento Hitomi Nishina has landed the starring role in her first movie. Directed by Naoki Hashimoto, the picture is a family drama titled "Hikarisasu Kai, Boku no Fune." Filming has already started.
Nishina is the daughter of actor Hiroki Matsukata and actress Akiko Nishina, who divorced in 1998.
In the movie, Hitomi plays Nanako, a woman scarred by the loss of her younger brother. Her family is played by her mother, Akiko Nishina, and her older brother, Masaki Nishina.
"Hikarisasu Kai, Boku no Fune" opens in theaters this summer.
Nishina is the daughter of actor Hiroki Matsukata and actress Akiko Nishina, who divorced in 1998.
In the movie, Hitomi plays Nanako, a woman scarred by the loss of her younger brother. Her family is played by her mother, Akiko Nishina, and her older brother, Masaki Nishina.
"Hikarisasu Kai, Boku no Fune" opens in theaters this summer.
Sun, February 17, 2008 (5:33pm EST)
Yoji Yamada's "Kaabee" failed to take home a Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, which came to a close on Saturday, but three other Japanese films walked away with prizes.
Director Izuru Kumasaka won Best First Feature with his "Asyl - Park and Love Hotel." Naoko Ogigami's "Megane" was awarded the Manfred Salzgeber Prize, which recognizes a film "that broadens the boundaries of cinema today" and helps provide distribution for the film in Europe.
Koji Wakamatsu's "United Red Army" earned two prizes: the NETPAC Prize (given to an Asian film) and a CICAE Prize (awarded by the Confederation Internationale des Cinemas d'Art et d'Essai) for Best Film in the festival's Forum section.
The full list of awards and winners can be found at the festival's website.
Director Izuru Kumasaka won Best First Feature with his "Asyl - Park and Love Hotel." Naoko Ogigami's "Megane" was awarded the Manfred Salzgeber Prize, which recognizes a film "that broadens the boundaries of cinema today" and helps provide distribution for the film in Europe.
Koji Wakamatsu's "United Red Army" earned two prizes: the NETPAC Prize (given to an Asian film) and a CICAE Prize (awarded by the Confederation Internationale des Cinemas d'Art et d'Essai) for Best Film in the festival's Forum section.
The full list of awards and winners can be found at the festival's website.
Sun, February 17, 2008 (5:00pm EST)
"Baka" talento Suzanne will have her first acting role in a Fuji TV drama series next season. Tentatively titled "Muri na Renai," the drama was announced near the beginning of this month, and stars Masaaki Sakai and Yui Natsukawa.
The story revolves around a 60-year-old divorcee (Sakai) who falls in love with a 35-year-old actress named Kaede (Natsukawa). Suzanne plays Kaede's colleague Madoka, an actress who has good looks but whose acting is awful. This is similar to Suzanne's image as a talento on "Quiz! Hexagon II," where she is known for her lack of knowledge.
The story revolves around a 60-year-old divorcee (Sakai) who falls in love with a 35-year-old actress named Kaede (Natsukawa). Suzanne plays Kaede's colleague Madoka, an actress who has good looks but whose acting is awful. This is similar to Suzanne's image as a talento on "Quiz! Hexagon II," where she is known for her lack of knowledge.
Sun, February 17, 2008 (4:11pm EST)
The special episode for Fuji TV's "Proposal Daisakusen" drama series has been given a broadcast date. The show will air on March 25 at 9:00pm.
The original series aired last spring, starring Tomohisa Yamashita and Masami Nagasawa. The special episode continues the story, starting with a wedding in Hawaii for their friends, played by Nana Eikura and Gaku Hamada. Filming on location just wrapped up.
Nagasawa said that fans should be satisfied with the ending. It has also been reported that the episode will include a kiss scene between Yamashita and Nagasawa.
The original series aired last spring, starring Tomohisa Yamashita and Masami Nagasawa. The special episode continues the story, starting with a wedding in Hawaii for their friends, played by Nana Eikura and Gaku Hamada. Filming on location just wrapped up.
Nagasawa said that fans should be satisfied with the ending. It has also been reported that the episode will include a kiss scene between Yamashita and Nagasawa.
Sun, February 17, 2008 (3:25am EST)
About a week ago, rock band Maximum the Hormone announced that they will be performing in North America next month. On March 1-4, they will play four shows on the tour of American punk band Dropkick Murphys.
Dropkick Murphys have just finished touring the UK and will be playing in the U.S. before traveling to other European countries. Maximum the Hormone will join them for a short run on the West Coast:
See the band's official website for more details.
Dropkick Murphys have just finished touring the UK and will be playing in the U.S. before traveling to other European countries. Maximum the Hormone will join them for a short run on the West Coast:
- 3/1 - Reno, NV
- 3/2 - Anaheim, CA
- 3/3 - Phoenix, AZ
- 3/4 - Albuquerque, NM
See the band's official website for more details.
