Wed, March 19, 2008 (5:45pm EDT)
Concert dates for Miyavi's world tour have been released.
United States
United States
- 5/14 - Anaheim, CA
- 5/16 - Los Angeles, CA
- 5/18 - San Francisco, CA
- 6/21 - Cologne, Germany
- 6/22 - Berlin, Germany
- 6/24 - Amstelveen, Netherlands
- 6/27 - Barcelona, Spain
- 7/1 - Stockholm, Sweden
- 7/2 - Helsinki, Finland
- 7/10 - Taipei, Taiwan
- 7/12 - Seoul, Korea
- 7/13 - Seoul, Korea
- 7/18 - Shanghai, China
Wed, March 19, 2008 (5:33pm EDT)
On Wednesday, NHK revealed its 2008 lineup for its newly established "Drama 8" time slot (Thursday 8:00pm).
"Battery" (starring Yuma Nakayama) starts on April 3, and will be followed by "Otome no Punch" (starring Shizu-chan) on June 19.
The recently announced adaptation of Yoko Kamio's "Cat Street" manga series will start its run on August 28, and actress Mitsuki Tanimura has been confirmed as the lead.
The newest announcement is "Nanase Futatabi," starring Misako Renbutsu. The drama, which starts on October 9, is based on Yasutaka Tsutsui's novel about a girl with psychic powers. It was previously dramatized in 1979 with Yumi Takigawa as the lead.
"Battery" (starring Yuma Nakayama) starts on April 3, and will be followed by "Otome no Punch" (starring Shizu-chan) on June 19.
The recently announced adaptation of Yoko Kamio's "Cat Street" manga series will start its run on August 28, and actress Mitsuki Tanimura has been confirmed as the lead.
The newest announcement is "Nanase Futatabi," starring Misako Renbutsu. The drama, which starts on October 9, is based on Yasutaka Tsutsui's novel about a girl with psychic powers. It was previously dramatized in 1979 with Yumi Takigawa as the lead.
Wed, March 19, 2008 (5:02pm EDT)
"Shakariki!," the first manga series by artist Masahito Soda, is being adapted as a live-action film, starring members of the acting group D-BOYS. Serialized in Shonen Champion from 1992 to 1995, the comic focused on high schoolers involved in the sport of bicycle racing.
D-BOYS leader Yuya Endo stars as Teru, who is trying to revive his school's defunct bicycle club. Yuichi Nakamura ("Kamen Rider Den-O") plays the talented Poppo, and Hiroki Suzuki ("Juken Sentai Gekiranger") plays Yuta, a racer from a rival school. The three actors began practicing in December, and last week they underwent more intensive training that included cycling for 60km every day.
The rest of the cast includes Noriko Nakagoshi as Teru's sister Sayuri, Miho Nakai as one of the team's mothers, Akira Emoto as the school principal, Yoichi Nukumizu as vice principal, and Taizo Harada as the team's coach.
This is the first feature-length film helmed by Shinsuke Ono, who has worked as an assistant director on movies such as Takeshi Kitano's "Kids Return." Shooting begins on Thursday and is expected to take until the end of April. Showgate will distribute the movie in September.
D-BOYS leader Yuya Endo stars as Teru, who is trying to revive his school's defunct bicycle club. Yuichi Nakamura ("Kamen Rider Den-O") plays the talented Poppo, and Hiroki Suzuki ("Juken Sentai Gekiranger") plays Yuta, a racer from a rival school. The three actors began practicing in December, and last week they underwent more intensive training that included cycling for 60km every day.
The rest of the cast includes Noriko Nakagoshi as Teru's sister Sayuri, Miho Nakai as one of the team's mothers, Akira Emoto as the school principal, Yoichi Nukumizu as vice principal, and Taizo Harada as the team's coach.
This is the first feature-length film helmed by Shinsuke Ono, who has worked as an assistant director on movies such as Takeshi Kitano's "Kids Return." Shooting begins on Thursday and is expected to take until the end of April. Showgate will distribute the movie in September.
Wed, March 19, 2008 (3:42pm EDT)
Actor Mirai Moriyama has been given the lead in an upcoming Japanese production of the Broadway musical "Rent," winning the part through an audition of roughly 8,000 people. While double casting for long productions is common, Moriyama will be performing for the show's entire two-month run.
The musical is being directed by Erica Schmidt. Performances will take place between November 7 and December 30 at the Theatre Creation in Hibiya, Tokyo.
The musical is being directed by Erica Schmidt. Performances will take place between November 7 and December 30 at the Theatre Creation in Hibiya, Tokyo.
Wed, March 19, 2008 (3:21pm EDT)
The guest cast of the "Hana Yori Dango Final" movie includes Kinya Kitaoji, Naohito Fujiki, and EXILE's AKIRA, it was learned on Tuesday. All three characters will be obstacles in the relationship between the main characters Makino (Mao Inoue) and Domyouji (Jun Matsumoto).
It has not yet been revealed what Kitaoji's character will be. AKIRA, who is making his big screen debut with this movie, has been cast as a robber.
Fujiki previously played the role of Rui Hanazawa in the 1995 film version that starred Yuki Uchida and Shosuke Tanihara. In the new movie, he will once again play a love rival to Domyouji.
"Hana Yori Dango Final" opens on June 28.
It has not yet been revealed what Kitaoji's character will be. AKIRA, who is making his big screen debut with this movie, has been cast as a robber.
Fujiki previously played the role of Rui Hanazawa in the 1995 film version that starred Yuki Uchida and Shosuke Tanihara. In the new movie, he will once again play a love rival to Domyouji.
"Hana Yori Dango Final" opens on June 28.
Wed, March 19, 2008 (3:04pm EDT)
Director Junji Sakamoto has already completed a new film titled "Yami no Kodomotachi" ("Children of the Dark"). The movie is based on a novel by Yang Seok-Il that deals with child exploitation and trafficking in Thailand.
As Ryuganji summarizes, Yosuke Eguchi stars as a newspaper reporter who "begins researching a story on exploited children with the assistance of aid worker Otowa (Aoi Miyazaki) and freelance cameraman Yoda (Satoshi Tsumabuki), but becomes increasingly mired in the struggle to save them." Koichi Sato also appears in the film.
Filming took place in Thailand last April, and theatrical release is scheduled for this summer. The theme song is Keisuke Kuwata's "Gendai Tokyo Kitan," which was released as a B-side on his last single, "Darling."
As Ryuganji summarizes, Yosuke Eguchi stars as a newspaper reporter who "begins researching a story on exploited children with the assistance of aid worker Otowa (Aoi Miyazaki) and freelance cameraman Yoda (Satoshi Tsumabuki), but becomes increasingly mired in the struggle to save them." Koichi Sato also appears in the film.
Filming took place in Thailand last April, and theatrical release is scheduled for this summer. The theme song is Keisuke Kuwata's "Gendai Tokyo Kitan," which was released as a B-side on his last single, "Darling."
Wed, March 19, 2008 (2:36pm EDT)
Actress Kou Shibasaki achieved her highest sales ever for a CD release this past week. Her "Single Best" sold 227,000 copies, placing her at the top of the album charts. This is her first time at #1. In addition, her simultaneously released "The Back Best" charted at #3, though it sold a much lower 41,000 copies.
Ken Hirai's "FAKIN' POP" landed between Shibasaki's releases at #2, with 161,000 in sales. The only other new albums in the top 10 were GARNET CROW (#5) and C-ute (#10).
On the singles side, Kanjani8 sold 194,000 copies of "Wahaha" to take the #1 spot. This is their 4th consecutive chart-topper. Namie Amuro held the #2 spot with 115,000 in sales for "60s 70s 80s."
aiko was #3 and Tatsuro Yamashita was #4 (his highest ranking ever). Berryz Koubou placed 5th. Also in the top 10 were TVXQ (#7) and Masayoshi Yamazaki (#10).
Ken Hirai's "FAKIN' POP" landed between Shibasaki's releases at #2, with 161,000 in sales. The only other new albums in the top 10 were GARNET CROW (#5) and C-ute (#10).
On the singles side, Kanjani8 sold 194,000 copies of "Wahaha" to take the #1 spot. This is their 4th consecutive chart-topper. Namie Amuro held the #2 spot with 115,000 in sales for "60s 70s 80s."
aiko was #3 and Tatsuro Yamashita was #4 (his highest ranking ever). Berryz Koubou placed 5th. Also in the top 10 were TVXQ (#7) and Masayoshi Yamazaki (#10).
Wed, March 19, 2008 (4:24am EDT)
In a recent Oricon survey, a thousand single men and women in their teens and 20s were asked the question: "Which female celebrity has beautiful lips that you would want to kiss?"
With many appearances in fashion magazines and commercials for products like Shiseido's Maquillage line, Misaki Ito was the #1 choice among men and women alike. Right behind her was actress Aya Ueto, followed by talento Waka Inoue.
Actresses Haruka Igawa and Haruka Ayase were #4 and #5, respectively. Igawa didn't make the men's top 5, as Satomi Ishihara ranked higher, and Ayase missed the women's top 5, losing out to Nanako Matsushima.
With many appearances in fashion magazines and commercials for products like Shiseido's Maquillage line, Misaki Ito was the #1 choice among men and women alike. Right behind her was actress Aya Ueto, followed by talento Waka Inoue.
Actresses Haruka Igawa and Haruka Ayase were #4 and #5, respectively. Igawa didn't make the men's top 5, as Satomi Ishihara ranked higher, and Ayase missed the women's top 5, losing out to Nanako Matsushima.
Wed, March 19, 2008 (4:02am EDT)
Oricon recently surveyed 450 women to see which celebrity's fashion style they wanted to copy this spring. The #1 answer was model Yuri Ebihara, who topped the same survey last year. She was most popular among the 20s crowd.
Actress Yui Aragaki ranked #2, with many of her voters coming from the teenage demographic. Meanwhile, four women tied for #3: Miho Kanno, Namie Amuro, Yuko Takeuchi, and Yu Aoi.
Actress Yui Aragaki ranked #2, with many of her voters coming from the teenage demographic. Meanwhile, four women tied for #3: Miho Kanno, Namie Amuro, Yuko Takeuchi, and Yu Aoi.
