Thu, March 27, 2008 (10:06am EDT)
This year, TV Asahi will broadcast a drama special titled "Koori no Hana." The story is based on a mystery novel of the same name that was self-published last year as the debut of 62-year-old author Setsuko Amano.
Actress Ryoko Yonekura will star, returning to the "wicked woman" image she acquired through her roles in dramas such as "Kurokawa no Techo" and "Warui Yatsura." In "Koori no Hana," she plays a pianist who receives an inheritance from her uncle, and she begins living happily with her husband, a surgeon (Masato Sakai). But one day, she receives a phone call from a woman claiming to be her husband's pregnant mistress, and she is soon driven to murder.
No specific broadcast date has been announced yet.
Actress Ryoko Yonekura will star, returning to the "wicked woman" image she acquired through her roles in dramas such as "Kurokawa no Techo" and "Warui Yatsura." In "Koori no Hana," she plays a pianist who receives an inheritance from her uncle, and she begins living happily with her husband, a surgeon (Masato Sakai). But one day, she receives a phone call from a woman claiming to be her husband's pregnant mistress, and she is soon driven to murder.
No specific broadcast date has been announced yet.
Thu, March 27, 2008 (10:04am EDT)
The long-running "Tsuribaka Nisshi" film series (also known by the name "Diary of a Fishing Fool") will get its 19th installment this October. Rentaro Mikuni and Toshiyuki Nishida are still starring as Su-san and Hama-chan, with Yuzo Asahara again directing. This time, however, Takako Tokiwa will play the female lead.
Tokiwa plays a temp worker sent to Hama-chan and Su-san's company. She becomes romantically involved with a co-worker (Taro Yamamoto) and eventually gets married.
Filming starts on April 12 and will run until mid-May.
Tokiwa plays a temp worker sent to Hama-chan and Su-san's company. She becomes romantically involved with a co-worker (Taro Yamamoto) and eventually gets married.
Filming starts on April 12 and will run until mid-May.
Thu, March 27, 2008 (10:03am EDT)
Former pro wrestler Antonio Inoki will star in his first movie. The film is titled "Acacia no Hana ga Sakidasu Koro," written and directed by author/musician/director Hitonari Tsuji.
Inoki plays a former wrestler, like himself. His character is long past his glory days, now living alone and separated from his family. He meets an elementary school student named Takuro (Ryoga Hayashi), who is being bullied and won't open up to anyone. However, their encounter brings them together and they form a bond.
Tsuji and Inoki apparently met by chance last fall at a Tokyo hotel, where Tsuji was working on the concept for his film. The director, who had long been a fan of Inoki and wrestling in general, immediately decided to give Inoki the starring role. While the wrestler has previous acting experience, this is his first time playing the lead in a movie.
The two are aiming to bring "Acacia" to the film festivals in Cannes, Berlin, and Venice next year. Filming is scheduled to take place entirely in Hakodate, starting in late June, with a target release date of next spring. Other cast members include Eri Ishida as Inoki's estranged wife and Kazuki Kitamura as Takuro's father.
Inoki plays a former wrestler, like himself. His character is long past his glory days, now living alone and separated from his family. He meets an elementary school student named Takuro (Ryoga Hayashi), who is being bullied and won't open up to anyone. However, their encounter brings them together and they form a bond.
Tsuji and Inoki apparently met by chance last fall at a Tokyo hotel, where Tsuji was working on the concept for his film. The director, who had long been a fan of Inoki and wrestling in general, immediately decided to give Inoki the starring role. While the wrestler has previous acting experience, this is his first time playing the lead in a movie.
The two are aiming to bring "Acacia" to the film festivals in Cannes, Berlin, and Venice next year. Filming is scheduled to take place entirely in Hakodate, starting in late June, with a target release date of next spring. Other cast members include Eri Ishida as Inoki's estranged wife and Kazuki Kitamura as Takuro's father.
Thu, March 27, 2008 (2:09am EDT)
Cinema Today reports that the second live-action "Dragonball" film may start shooting at the end of the first quarter of 2009. Previous news reports indicated that "Dragonball" has been planned as a trilogy, and now it seems that the next two films will be shot in Durango, Mexico, just like the first one. In fact, some of the sets were left in place even after filming finished.
The first installment of the trilogy is scheduled for release on April 3, 2009, though Japan will reportedly get it first in March.
The first installment of the trilogy is scheduled for release on April 3, 2009, though Japan will reportedly get it first in March.
Thu, March 27, 2008 (1:52am EDT)
The 3-girl hip-hop group YA-KYIM is releasing its first theme song for a drama series next season. Titled "Super Looper," the song will be used in TV Asahi's mystery/comedy series "Kimi Hannin Janai yo ne?" which stars Shihori Kanjiya and Jun Kaname.
The group has actually been around since 1999, when they formed as elementary school students. They made their major label debut in 2005 but never had a big hit. With this new song, they have moved to Warner Music and are hoping to finally find success.
The group has actually been around since 1999, when they formed as elementary school students. They made their major label debut in 2005 but never had a big hit. With this new song, they have moved to Warner Music and are hoping to finally find success.
Thu, March 27, 2008 (1:41am EDT)
Maki Goto reopened her blog on Tuesday after a few months of inactivity. She once again apologized to the public for the trouble caused by the two arrests of her younger brother Yuki last year, as well as to her fans for her sudden withdrawal from Hello! Project after the arrests.
Goto revealed that she is currently in Los Angeles, where she will stay for about a month. On Wednesday she provided more details of her visit, saying that she is taking lessons for voice training and dancing (including krumping), among other activities.
Goto revealed that she is currently in Los Angeles, where she will stay for about a month. On Wednesday she provided more details of her visit, saying that she is taking lessons for voice training and dancing (including krumping), among other activities.
Thu, March 27, 2008 (1:21am EDT)
The cast for the "Gegege no Kitaro" movie sequel keeps on growing, and the latest publicized addition is talento Shoko Nakagawa, who is a big self-professed fan of the franchise. Nakagawa will play the beautiful and intelligent ghost Fuguruma Youbi, who aids Kitaro (Eiji Wentz) in his adventure.
Nakagawa was previously connected to the "Kitaro" franchise when she sang "snow tears" as the ending theme of the "Hakaba Kitaro" anime series and served as a voice actress on the show.
Nakagawa was previously connected to the "Kitaro" franchise when she sang "snow tears" as the ending theme of the "Hakaba Kitaro" anime series and served as a voice actress on the show.
Thu, March 27, 2008 (1:07am EDT)
The General Insurance Association of Japan (Sonpo) has revealed its 2008 poster model for its long-standing Fire Prevention Poster campaign. Out of more than 59,000 applications, young actress Kie Kitano, who turned 17 earlier this month, was chosen for the role.
Past poster models include Seiko Matsuda, Noriko Sakai, Aya Ueto, and Erika Toda (last year).
Past poster models include Seiko Matsuda, Noriko Sakai, Aya Ueto, and Erika Toda (last year).
Thu, March 27, 2008 (12:58am EDT)
Fuji TV has revealed the next drama series for its Saturday night time slot, to air after the completion of "Lost Time Life." The drama will be based on a popular manga called "81diver" by Yokusaru Shibata.
The story deals with a talented young shogi player named Kentaro Sugata (played by Junpei Mizobata) who earns his money by playing against amateurs in wagered games. One day, he is defeated a mysterious young woman (Riisa Naka) who also works part-time as a maid in Akihabara. Under her guidance, he begins walking the path to becoming a shogi pro.
The series will air on Saturdays at 11:00pm, starting on May 3.
The story deals with a talented young shogi player named Kentaro Sugata (played by Junpei Mizobata) who earns his money by playing against amateurs in wagered games. One day, he is defeated a mysterious young woman (Riisa Naka) who also works part-time as a maid in Akihabara. Under her guidance, he begins walking the path to becoming a shogi pro.
The series will air on Saturdays at 11:00pm, starting on May 3.
Thu, March 27, 2008 (12:37am EDT)
Hikaru Utada's album "HEART STATION" has sold 480,000 copies and is ranked #1, making it her 5th straight #1 original album since her debut. This ties her with The Checkers, Hikaru Genji, and KinKi Kids for the third-longest streak, behind BoA (6) and Ayumi Hamasaki (8). Including her singles collection in 2004, this is her 6th consecutive chart-topper. The album also set the record for initial week sales in 2008, surpassing the 421,000 copies sold by Kumi Koda's "Kingdom."
In Oricon's singles rankings, Namie Amuro's single "60s 70s 80s" held the #1 spot at 38,000 copies. In an extremely rare occurrence, the single debuted at #2 last week only to jump to #1 this week. This comes as the result of a strong promotional campaign, as well as low sales from competing artists. This is her 10th #1 single, with the last one being 1998's "I HAVE NEVER SEEN." It also marks her 14th straight year with a top 10 ranking.
THE ALFEE's "Lifetime Love" was the #2 single, selling 32,000 copies. It has been 16 years since the group entered the Top 3, and the song became their 41st consecutive Top 10 single, tying B'z for second place behind SMAP (42). "Lifetime Love" is the theme to the TBS drama series "Mikon Roku Shimai 2," while its coupling song, "Wonderful Days," is the image song of the 2008 Osaka International Ladies Marathon.
Also in the Top 10 singles were Project.R, Mai Kuraki, and actress Manami Konishi. "Sunny Day" is Konishi's singing debut, released under the alias of Kazue Fujiki, the character she plays in the movie "Sweet Rain: Shinigami no Seido." The song sold close to 10,000 copies to obtain the #10 ranking. The last actress to make the Top 10 with her singing debut under a different name was Masami Nagasawa with the single "Sailor Fuku to Kikanju."
Meanwhile, four new albums besides Utada's "HEART STATION" entered the Top 10, released separately by KREVA, Shoko Nakagawa, FLOW, and Hiroshi Tamaki. Nakagawa's entry was the biggest news of the bunch, as "Big Bang!!!" is her first original album.
In Oricon's singles rankings, Namie Amuro's single "60s 70s 80s" held the #1 spot at 38,000 copies. In an extremely rare occurrence, the single debuted at #2 last week only to jump to #1 this week. This comes as the result of a strong promotional campaign, as well as low sales from competing artists. This is her 10th #1 single, with the last one being 1998's "I HAVE NEVER SEEN." It also marks her 14th straight year with a top 10 ranking.
THE ALFEE's "Lifetime Love" was the #2 single, selling 32,000 copies. It has been 16 years since the group entered the Top 3, and the song became their 41st consecutive Top 10 single, tying B'z for second place behind SMAP (42). "Lifetime Love" is the theme to the TBS drama series "Mikon Roku Shimai 2," while its coupling song, "Wonderful Days," is the image song of the 2008 Osaka International Ladies Marathon.
Also in the Top 10 singles were Project.R, Mai Kuraki, and actress Manami Konishi. "Sunny Day" is Konishi's singing debut, released under the alias of Kazue Fujiki, the character she plays in the movie "Sweet Rain: Shinigami no Seido." The song sold close to 10,000 copies to obtain the #10 ranking. The last actress to make the Top 10 with her singing debut under a different name was Masami Nagasawa with the single "Sailor Fuku to Kikanju."
Meanwhile, four new albums besides Utada's "HEART STATION" entered the Top 10, released separately by KREVA, Shoko Nakagawa, FLOW, and Hiroshi Tamaki. Nakagawa's entry was the biggest news of the bunch, as "Big Bang!!!" is her first original album.
