Sat, February 23, 2008 (5:11pm EST)
France's prestigious Cesar Awards were presented on Friday. Japanese-born cinematographer Tetsuo Nagata earned his second award for Best Cinematography, recognized for his work on the Edith Piaf biography "La Mome" (also known as "La Vie En Rose"). That film won a total of five awards, including Best Actress honors for Marion Cotillard.
Nagata won his first Cesar Award in 2002 for Francois Dupeyron's "La chambre des officiers" ("The Officers' Ward").
Hollywood Reporter has a full list of this year's winners.
Nagata won his first Cesar Award in 2002 for Francois Dupeyron's "La chambre des officiers" ("The Officers' Ward").
Hollywood Reporter has a full list of this year's winners.
Sat, February 23, 2008 (4:55pm EST)
Comedy duo Cream Stew is moving to golden time in April, TV Asahi has announced. The network is shuffling their variety show "Cream Nantoka" from its Monday night time slot to Wednesdays at 7:00pm, where it will compete against Fuji TV's highly popular "Quiz! Hexagon II."
"Cream Nantoka" started in October 2004 and was the first show hosted by the pair. It was originally a 30-minute program airing after midnight, but its success during its first year led TV Asahi to expand it to a full hour, starting at 11:15pm. It now has average ratings of 10.7%, reaching its highest (14.2%) last month.
"Cream Nantoka" started in October 2004 and was the first show hosted by the pair. It was originally a 30-minute program airing after midnight, but its success during its first year led TV Asahi to expand it to a full hour, starting at 11:15pm. It now has average ratings of 10.7%, reaching its highest (14.2%) last month.
Sat, February 23, 2008 (4:35pm EST)
16-year-old actress Rin Asuka has been cast as the lead in "Kuchisake-Onna 2," the follow-up to last year's horror flick "Kuchisake-Onna" that starred Eriko Sato. However, this smaller production is more of a prequel, depicting the birth of the legendary "slit-mouthed woman."
Asuka plays Mayumi, a cheerful high-schooler on the track and field team who is the youngest of three sisters. One day, her older sister's ex-boyfriend disfigures her face with sulfuric acid, leading her to soon become a terrifying killer.
The movie, which has already been completed, opens on March 22.
Asuka plays Mayumi, a cheerful high-schooler on the track and field team who is the youngest of three sisters. One day, her older sister's ex-boyfriend disfigures her face with sulfuric acid, leading her to soon become a terrifying killer.
The movie, which has already been completed, opens on March 22.
Sat, February 23, 2008 (3:54pm EST)
Actor Takeshi Yamazaki died of respiratory failure at a Tokyo hospital on Friday afternoon. He was 63.
Yamazaki appeared in several television series, including "Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari" and multiple NHK taiga dramas.
Yamazaki appeared in several television series, including "Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari" and multiple NHK taiga dramas.
Sat, February 23, 2008 (3:47pm EST)
The children's song "Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun" (sung by Masato Shimon) has recently seen a comeback in popularity, thanks to new stuffed toys that began appearing in UFO catchers last year. First released in 1975, the song sold an estimated 4.55 million copies during its time.
With new toys and merchandise on the way this April, Pony Canyon also decided to re-release the song, this time on CD. It goes on sale on March 5 with the same features as the original release, including the cover art, bonus illustration, and B-side (Kenichi Nagira's "Ippon Demo Ninjin"). The only new addition is a DVD that includes an animation that aired on Fuji TV's kids show "Hirake! Ponkikki."
While Pony Canyon was preparing for the re-release, staff members suggested submitting the song for inclusion in the Guinness Book of World Records. They contacted the Japanese branch, asking if there was a "children's song" or "food song" category. When the branch asked the head office in England, they found out that the song qualified for the title of "Japan's best-selling single."
Although the song's success was well-known throughout Japan, no one had ever submitted it to Guinness before. At last, it will be officially recognized in the 2009 edition of the Guinness book. A certification ceremony will take place later this month.
The 64-year-old Shimon, who is now retired, received only 50,000 yen for the original recording in 1975. In response to the good news about the song, Pony Canyon relayed that he had no comment.
With new toys and merchandise on the way this April, Pony Canyon also decided to re-release the song, this time on CD. It goes on sale on March 5 with the same features as the original release, including the cover art, bonus illustration, and B-side (Kenichi Nagira's "Ippon Demo Ninjin"). The only new addition is a DVD that includes an animation that aired on Fuji TV's kids show "Hirake! Ponkikki."
While Pony Canyon was preparing for the re-release, staff members suggested submitting the song for inclusion in the Guinness Book of World Records. They contacted the Japanese branch, asking if there was a "children's song" or "food song" category. When the branch asked the head office in England, they found out that the song qualified for the title of "Japan's best-selling single."
Although the song's success was well-known throughout Japan, no one had ever submitted it to Guinness before. At last, it will be officially recognized in the 2009 edition of the Guinness book. A certification ceremony will take place later this month.
The 64-year-old Shimon, who is now retired, received only 50,000 yen for the original recording in 1975. In response to the good news about the song, Pony Canyon relayed that he had no comment.
Sat, February 23, 2008 (3:16pm EST)
Masatoshi Hamada of comedy duo Downtown will star in his first television drama in six years.
"Yume no Mitsukekata Oshietaru!" casts Hamada as an unconventional teacher, modeled after the stories of Katsuhiko Imamura. Imamura was once a teacher, but has gone on to become an author, musician, and education critic.
The cast includes Ryoko Hirosue and Mirai Moriyama as fellow teachers.
Fuji TV will air the drama on March 8. It will be preceded by a documentary about teachers on March 7, which includes an appearance by Imamura himself.
"Yume no Mitsukekata Oshietaru!" casts Hamada as an unconventional teacher, modeled after the stories of Katsuhiko Imamura. Imamura was once a teacher, but has gone on to become an author, musician, and education critic.
The cast includes Ryoko Hirosue and Mirai Moriyama as fellow teachers.
Fuji TV will air the drama on March 8. It will be preceded by a documentary about teachers on March 7, which includes an appearance by Imamura himself.
Sat, February 23, 2008 (7:51am EST)
Rock bands noodles and the pillows have announced a short U.S. tour. The "Delicious Bump Tour in USA 08" consists of three shows:
- March 13 - El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles
- March 17 - Slim's, San Francisco
- March 21 - Blender Theatre at Gramercy, New York
