Sat, April 5, 2008 (5:14pm EDT)
Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance recently surveyed more than a thousand new employees about who they would want to have as their boss.
The Yakult Swallows player-manager Atsuya Furuta, for the third year in a row, topped the list for their ideal male boss. Furuta was described as having the image of not just managing the team, but also working alongside and guiding the players.
Other popular choices were George Tokoro, Senichi Hoshino, Tamori, Ichiro Suzuki, Tsutomu Sekine, Hiroshi Abe, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Hideo Higashikokubaru, and Sadaharu Oh.
For the ideal female boss, actress Ryoko Shinohara took the top spot for the second year in a row, thanks to her image as a "reliable character" in television dramas and commercials.
The other women on the list were Yukie Nakama, Hitomi Kuroki, Masami Hisamoto, Miki Maya, Miho Kanno, Akiko Wada, Yuki Amami, Norika Fujiwara, and Yuki Matsushita.
The Yakult Swallows player-manager Atsuya Furuta, for the third year in a row, topped the list for their ideal male boss. Furuta was described as having the image of not just managing the team, but also working alongside and guiding the players.
Other popular choices were George Tokoro, Senichi Hoshino, Tamori, Ichiro Suzuki, Tsutomu Sekine, Hiroshi Abe, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Hideo Higashikokubaru, and Sadaharu Oh.
For the ideal female boss, actress Ryoko Shinohara took the top spot for the second year in a row, thanks to her image as a "reliable character" in television dramas and commercials.
The other women on the list were Yukie Nakama, Hitomi Kuroki, Masami Hisamoto, Miki Maya, Miho Kanno, Akiko Wada, Yuki Amami, Norika Fujiwara, and Yuki Matsushita.
Sat, April 5, 2008 (2:09pm EDT)
One of Oricon's latest fashion surveys asked 900 people to name the male celebrity that looks best in sneakers.
Since jeans and sneakers tend to go together, it was no surprise that Best Jeanist Hall of Famer Takuya Kimura topped the list. His fellow SMAP member Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (also a five-time Best Jeanist winner) ranked at #3.
Teppei Koike came in at 2nd. George Tokoro ranked 4th, ahead of popular actor Shun Oguri. Tsuyoshi Domoto tied with Toma Ikuta at #6. The rest of the top 10 were Eita, Mocomichi Hayami, and Ryuta Sato.
Since jeans and sneakers tend to go together, it was no surprise that Best Jeanist Hall of Famer Takuya Kimura topped the list. His fellow SMAP member Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (also a five-time Best Jeanist winner) ranked at #3.
Teppei Koike came in at 2nd. George Tokoro ranked 4th, ahead of popular actor Shun Oguri. Tsuyoshi Domoto tied with Toma Ikuta at #6. The rest of the top 10 were Eita, Mocomichi Hayami, and Ryuta Sato.
Sat, April 5, 2008 (1:58pm EDT)
Actor Masaaki Sakai is releasing his first single in 15 years, which will be used as the theme song for Fuji TV's "Muri na Renai" drama series. The show, starring Sakai and actress Yui Natsukawa, premieres on April 8.
The song is titled "Wasuremono" and is written by Yasushi Akimoto. The composition is done by Gajin, who has provided music for some of pop's biggest acts, including SMAP's "Dangan Fighter."
"Wasuremono" will be coupled with a song called "Saike na Heart" ("Psychedelic Heart"), featuring guest vocals by Hiroshi Kamayatsu. The single reportedly goes on sale May 21.
The song is titled "Wasuremono" and is written by Yasushi Akimoto. The composition is done by Gajin, who has provided music for some of pop's biggest acts, including SMAP's "Dangan Fighter."
"Wasuremono" will be coupled with a song called "Saike na Heart" ("Psychedelic Heart"), featuring guest vocals by Hiroshi Kamayatsu. The single reportedly goes on sale May 21.
Sat, April 5, 2008 (1:21pm EDT)
Actress Yuri Nakamura, who starred in Kazuyuki Izutsu "Pacchigi! LOVE & PEACE" last year, has won an audition for her first theater role. She will star in a play titled "1945," directed by Robert Allan Ackerman. Ackerman is known for several Broadway productions, including "Bent" and "The Slab Boys."
"1945" is Ackerman's first full-fledged production in Japan. It is an original work written in conjunction with screenwriter Go Aoki. The story takes place after the end of WWII, with Nakamura playing a married woman who becomes involved in a mystery.
The cast includes Akira Yamamoto, former Otokogumi member Kazuya Takahashi, and Park Song Hee.
The play will be performed at the Setagaya Public Theatre this October.
"1945" is Ackerman's first full-fledged production in Japan. It is an original work written in conjunction with screenwriter Go Aoki. The story takes place after the end of WWII, with Nakamura playing a married woman who becomes involved in a mystery.
The cast includes Akira Yamamoto, former Otokogumi member Kazuya Takahashi, and Park Song Hee.
The play will be performed at the Setagaya Public Theatre this October.
Sat, April 5, 2008 (12:11pm EDT)
"Lily," a mudra (music + drama) project based on a song by Monkey Majik, is now the first drama to be sold through iTunes.
The story, written by Yumiko Inoue stars Erika Toda as a woman sending video letters to her former boyfriend (Yoshihiko Hosoda). There are three episodes, totaling close to 20 minutes, that can be bought together as an album for 400 yen.
The episodes are also available on several mobile phone sites.
The story, written by Yumiko Inoue stars Erika Toda as a woman sending video letters to her former boyfriend (Yoshihiko Hosoda). There are three episodes, totaling close to 20 minutes, that can be bought together as an album for 400 yen.
The episodes are also available on several mobile phone sites.
Sat, April 5, 2008 (2:50am EDT)
The Fuji TV drama series "SP" that ran from November to January is getting a movie version, it was learned on Friday. Junichi Okada, Yoko Maki, Shinichi Tsutsumi, and other main cast members will reprise their roles, while scriptwriter Kazuki Kaneshiro and director Katsuyuki Motohiro are also returning.
The movie is scheduled to open in 2009, though plot details are not yet public.
A special episode version of the drama series, which was announced in January, is airing tonight (April 5) at 9:00pm.
The movie is scheduled to open in 2009, though plot details are not yet public.
A special episode version of the drama series, which was announced in January, is airing tonight (April 5) at 9:00pm.
Sat, April 5, 2008 (2:33am EDT)
16-year-old model/actress Haru is releasing her first single on April 16. The song, a love ballad titled "I MISS YOU," is written by singer Mayo Okamoto, who also lends her voice on the song's chorus.
Haru is a model with the fashion magazine SEVENTEEN. She made her acting debut with a role in last year's "Koizora," and became a regular on Fuji TV's "Mezamashi TV" at the end of last month.
On the 20th, she will hold her first performance as a singer at Venus Fort in Odaiba.
Haru is a model with the fashion magazine SEVENTEEN. She made her acting debut with a role in last year's "Koizora," and became a regular on Fuji TV's "Mezamashi TV" at the end of last month.
On the 20th, she will hold her first performance as a singer at Venus Fort in Odaiba.
