Sat, March 29, 2008 (7:16pm EDT)
The first of X Japan's three reunion concerts took place on Friday. Before the second concert on Saturday, the band held an urgent press conference to announce that they have finalized plans for a performance in Paris on July 5 (possibly at Japan Expo). According to the band, they hope to draw a crowd of about 20,000 people.
Full details have not yet been publicized, but they did mention that video footage of guitarist hide will be played during the show, similar to the reunion concerts.
Yoshiki also explained at the press conference that the 2-hour-20-minute delay for the first show was caused by equipment problems. And although Yoshiki fainted after the band's 8th song on Friday, he was in fine condition for Saturday's performance, which started on time and was completed with a full 13-song set, including a drum solo by Yoshiki that reportedly lasted 20 minutes.
Full details have not yet been publicized, but they did mention that video footage of guitarist hide will be played during the show, similar to the reunion concerts.
Yoshiki also explained at the press conference that the 2-hour-20-minute delay for the first show was caused by equipment problems. And although Yoshiki fainted after the band's 8th song on Friday, he was in fine condition for Saturday's performance, which started on time and was completed with a full 13-song set, including a drum solo by Yoshiki that reportedly lasted 20 minutes.
Sat, March 29, 2008 (6:48pm EDT)
Actress Erika Sawajiri returned to Japan on Saturday after nearly three months in London with her boyfriend, media creator Tsuyoshi Takashiro.
While in London, Sawajiri was attending a language school. Her familiarity with English became evident at the airport when several cosmetics items fell out of her bag, and she exclaimed, "Oh shit!" She continued to mostly use English while at the airport, and she reportedly has become fluent enough to handle ordinary conversation.
Sawajiri stated that she will be in Japan during her birthday, April 8, though she plans to return to London some time after that. It has also been reported by other news sources that she will begin filming for a commercial next month.
While in London, Sawajiri was attending a language school. Her familiarity with English became evident at the airport when several cosmetics items fell out of her bag, and she exclaimed, "Oh shit!" She continued to mostly use English while at the airport, and she reportedly has become fluent enough to handle ordinary conversation.
Sawajiri stated that she will be in Japan during her birthday, April 8, though she plans to return to London some time after that. It has also been reported by other news sources that she will begin filming for a commercial next month.
Sat, March 29, 2008 (6:25pm EDT)
28-year-old Yoko Matsuoka, a weather caster on the NTV news show "Oha! 4," revealed on her blog that she has married, though no details of the marriage were given. Due to her husband's work, she is moving to Belgium this spring. On Friday, she made her last appearance on "Oha! 4."
Sat, March 29, 2008 (6:20pm EDT)
49-year-old actress and singer Mineko Nishikawa is currently in divorce proceedings. This week's issue of Josei Jishin reported the news, which was later confirmed by Nishikawa's agency.
Nishikawa married in July 2001, and the following year her husband, named Takashi Murakami, won a local election in the Oki Islands (part of Shimane prefecture). Nishikawa funded the construction of a mansion there, while they opened a restaurant in Setagaya, Tokyo. They constantly traveled back and forth between the two regions, but Murakami's term of office ended last year. They also closed their restaurant, and talk of divorce came up around that time.
The two are already living separately, with Murakami remaining in Shimane and Nishikawa returning to her former home in Tochigi.
Nishikawa married in July 2001, and the following year her husband, named Takashi Murakami, won a local election in the Oki Islands (part of Shimane prefecture). Nishikawa funded the construction of a mansion there, while they opened a restaurant in Setagaya, Tokyo. They constantly traveled back and forth between the two regions, but Murakami's term of office ended last year. They also closed their restaurant, and talk of divorce came up around that time.
The two are already living separately, with Murakami remaining in Shimane and Nishikawa returning to her former home in Tochigi.
Sat, March 29, 2008 (1:36pm EDT)
At the Tokyo International Anime Fair, it was announced that Shoko Nakagawa will sing the theme song for the upcoming "Gurren Lagann" movie, which is scheduled to open in theaters this fall. Last year, Nakagawa sang "Sorairo Days," the theme for the television series.
The title of her new song was not announced.
The title of her new song was not announced.
Sat, March 29, 2008 (1:30pm EDT)
75-year-old actor Kunie Tanaka will star in his first television drama in almost 6 years. He is well known for starring in Fuji TV's "Kita no Kuni Kara" series in 1981-1982, which led to multiple special episodes up until 2002. Now, he will co-star with teen actress Mirai Shida in a story originally written by Zenzo Matsuyama five years ago.
"Kujira to Medaka" tells the story of two strangers at opposite ends of their lives who meet and form a friendship as they each try to figure out how they should live. Tanaka plays Shigeru, the successful president of a self-established company. One day, he is chased out of office when his son (Katsumi Takahashi) uses his position as vice president to take over the firm. Unsure of what to do now, he happens to meet a junior high school student named Sachiko (Shida), who is the grand-daughter of a senbei shop in Asakusa.
Matsuyama and screenwriter Shogo Kashida revised the script many times before it was finalized. Filming started on the 11th of this month and is scheduled to finish on the 31st. Fuji TV will broadcast the drama this May.
Other characters include Sachiko's grandmother (Kaoru Yachigusa) and mother (Kimiko Yo).
"Kujira to Medaka" tells the story of two strangers at opposite ends of their lives who meet and form a friendship as they each try to figure out how they should live. Tanaka plays Shigeru, the successful president of a self-established company. One day, he is chased out of office when his son (Katsumi Takahashi) uses his position as vice president to take over the firm. Unsure of what to do now, he happens to meet a junior high school student named Sachiko (Shida), who is the grand-daughter of a senbei shop in Asakusa.
Matsuyama and screenwriter Shogo Kashida revised the script many times before it was finalized. Filming started on the 11th of this month and is scheduled to finish on the 31st. Fuji TV will broadcast the drama this May.
Other characters include Sachiko's grandmother (Kaoru Yachigusa) and mother (Kimiko Yo).
Sat, March 29, 2008 (3:23am EDT)
Otakon 2008 has announced that supergroup JAM Project ("Japan Animation song Makers") will make its U.S. debut at this year's convention, which is being held in Baltimore on August 8-10. Formed in 2000, the group has done numerous theme songs for television and video games, including the "Super Robot Wars" game series.
JAM Project currently consists of six artists, all strongly associated with anime music. Hironobu Kageyama is well known for his "Dragonball Z" songs, among other things, and Rica Matsumoto has done the voice of many characters, including Ash in "Pokemon." Masaaki Endoh's song credits include "GaoGaiGar," while Hiroshi Kitadani did the first opening for "One Piece," and Yoshiki Fukuyama handled the singing voice of Basara Nekki in "Macross 7." Masami Okui has done music for many shows, including "Revolutionary Girl Utena," "Slayers," and "Di Gi Charat."
JAM Project currently consists of six artists, all strongly associated with anime music. Hironobu Kageyama is well known for his "Dragonball Z" songs, among other things, and Rica Matsumoto has done the voice of many characters, including Ash in "Pokemon." Masaaki Endoh's song credits include "GaoGaiGar," while Hiroshi Kitadani did the first opening for "One Piece," and Yoshiki Fukuyama handled the singing voice of Basara Nekki in "Macross 7." Masami Okui has done music for many shows, including "Revolutionary Girl Utena," "Slayers," and "Di Gi Charat."
