Sun, March 16, 2008 (10:46pm EDT)
14-year-old Asami Tanaka, a model for SEVENTEEN magazine, will make her acting debut next month. She has been added to the cast of the NTV drama special "Sensei wa Erai!"
The drama stars Hey! Say! JUMP members Yuto Nakajima, Ryosuke Yamada, Yuri Chinen, and Daiki Arioka as middle schoolers who try to turn a dull teacher (Yusuke Santamaria) into a charming man. Tanaka will play one of their classmates.
The young model won the Miss Seventeen competition last year and made her debut in September. In addition to this drama, she has been signed to two commercial contracts this spring. She will also make her big screen debut in the summer movie "Jersey no Futari," directed by Yoshihiro Nakamura and starring Makoto Ayukawa and Masato Sakai.
"Sensei wa Erai!" will air on April 12.
The drama stars Hey! Say! JUMP members Yuto Nakajima, Ryosuke Yamada, Yuri Chinen, and Daiki Arioka as middle schoolers who try to turn a dull teacher (Yusuke Santamaria) into a charming man. Tanaka will play one of their classmates.
The young model won the Miss Seventeen competition last year and made her debut in September. In addition to this drama, she has been signed to two commercial contracts this spring. She will also make her big screen debut in the summer movie "Jersey no Futari," directed by Yoshihiro Nakamura and starring Makoto Ayukawa and Masato Sakai.
"Sensei wa Erai!" will air on April 12.
Sun, March 16, 2008 (8:13pm EDT)
On Sunday, actress Nanako Ohkouchi announced via a fax to the media that she is soon to become a mother.
Ohkouchi married actor Takayuki Takuma in November 2006. She is now four months pregnant with a due date in September.
She stated that she plans to continue working after the child is born.
Ohkouchi married actor Takayuki Takuma in November 2006. She is now four months pregnant with a due date in September.
She stated that she plans to continue working after the child is born.
Sun, March 16, 2008 (8:04pm EDT)
TVnavi magazine published the results of its Drama of the Year 2007 awards, which were chosen through reader voting. The top prize went to last winter's "Karei Naru Ichizoku," which also won the Best Actor title for Takuya Kimura.
Ryoko Shinohara took Best Actress for "Haken no Hinkaku." She won the same award last year for the 2006 series "Unfair."
Shun Oguri ("Hanazakari no Kimitachi e") and Yui Aragaki ("Papa to Musume no Nanokakan") won Best Supporting Actor and Actress. Best Newcomer was given to KAT-TUN's Junnosuke Taguchi ("Hanayome to Papa") and Mikako Tabe ("Yamada Taro Monogatari").
Ryoko Shinohara took Best Actress for "Haken no Hinkaku." She won the same award last year for the 2006 series "Unfair."
Shun Oguri ("Hanazakari no Kimitachi e") and Yui Aragaki ("Papa to Musume no Nanokakan") won Best Supporting Actor and Actress. Best Newcomer was given to KAT-TUN's Junnosuke Taguchi ("Hanayome to Papa") and Mikako Tabe ("Yamada Taro Monogatari").
Sun, March 16, 2008 (7:44pm EDT)
Pop star Madonna is now connected to one of Japan's biggest celebrities. It was announced on Sunday that she is providing the theme song for the upcoming Takuya Kimura drama series that will air on Fuji TV. This is reportedly the first time one of her songs will be used as the theme for a television series.
Production staff for the drama, titled "CHANGE," wanted a major international artist to do the theme song. Thinking they had nothing to lose, they made an offer last December to Madonna, who happened to be working on her new album, "Hard Candy." After hearing about the drama's story and seeing the staff's enthusiasm, she accepted the offer and created the ballad "Miles Away."
"CHANGE" stars Kimura as an elementary school teacher who gets thrown into the political arena and winds up becoming the Prime Minister of Japan. Eri Fukatsu co-stars as his secretary. Other cast members include Hiroshi Abe as Kimura's election planner, Rosa Kato as a campaign assistant, and Akira Terao as the ruling party's general council chairman.
The drama will air on Mondays at 9:00pm, starting next month.
Production staff for the drama, titled "CHANGE," wanted a major international artist to do the theme song. Thinking they had nothing to lose, they made an offer last December to Madonna, who happened to be working on her new album, "Hard Candy." After hearing about the drama's story and seeing the staff's enthusiasm, she accepted the offer and created the ballad "Miles Away."
"CHANGE" stars Kimura as an elementary school teacher who gets thrown into the political arena and winds up becoming the Prime Minister of Japan. Eri Fukatsu co-stars as his secretary. Other cast members include Hiroshi Abe as Kimura's election planner, Rosa Kato as a campaign assistant, and Akira Terao as the ruling party's general council chairman.
The drama will air on Mondays at 9:00pm, starting next month.
Sun, March 16, 2008 (4:19am EDT)
The otaku idol group Nakano Fujoshi Sisters held a live show on Saturday. During the event, talento Suzanne publicly declared her departure from the unit. Due to her boost in popularity through the Fuji TV show "Quiz! Hexagon II," she has found it difficult to make time for the group. However, she said that she will definitely return someday.
Nakano Fujoshi Sisters was formed last June as a project produced by talento Hanawa. The other members of the group are Yoko Inui, Chiaki Kyan, Yuka Kyomoto, Erika Ura, and Yuka Konan.
Nakano Fujoshi Sisters was formed last June as a project produced by talento Hanawa. The other members of the group are Yoko Inui, Chiaki Kyan, Yuka Kyomoto, Erika Ura, and Yuka Konan.
Sun, March 16, 2008 (3:21am EDT)
The main cast has been announced for the English-language remake of Hideo Nakata's 1996 horror film "Joyuurei," also known by its international title "Don't Look Up." Henry Thomas, Kevin Corrigan, Lothaire Bluteau, Carmen Chaplin, and Reshad Strik will all appear in the movie.
Directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Fruit Chan, the remake was first announced last summer, but it is finally set to start shooting next month in Los Angeles.
Directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Fruit Chan, the remake was first announced last summer, but it is finally set to start shooting next month in Los Angeles.
Sun, March 16, 2008 (2:56am EDT)
The 6th Tokyo Girls Collection (for 2008 spring/summer) took place on Saturday. Dozens of popular models participated in the fashion show, and CHEMISTRY gave a special performance.
This time, the event established a new award to honor the female celebrity who had the most successful year. The recipient of the "Best Girl of 2007" title was actress Yui Aragaki, who said she was nervous as she appeared on stage. Although she used to primarily be a model, she has reportedly walked a runway only once before.
This time, the event established a new award to honor the female celebrity who had the most successful year. The recipient of the "Best Girl of 2007" title was actress Yui Aragaki, who said she was nervous as she appeared on stage. Although she used to primarily be a model, she has reportedly walked a runway only once before.
