Given the recent trend of American filmmakers picking up the rights to make movies based on anime and manga properties, Oricon polled 900 people, asking them which manga series they would like to see redone by Hollywood.

The #1 choice was "Death Note," which has already spawned three films in Japan and is perhaps the most likely of the Top 5 list to ever see a successful Hollywood version. #2 was the much less likely "One Piece." It was followed by a more reasonable choice of "Slam Dunk," which inspired the Taiwanese movie "Kung Fu Dunk" that was released earlier this year.

Tied for the #4 spot were two lesser known classics: Akimi Yoshida's "Banana Fish" and Naoki Urasawa's "Monster." It was announced in 2005 that the latter would get a film version scripted by Josh Olson ("A History of Violence"), but almost nothing about the project has been announced since then, even though the film is reportedly dated for a 2009 release.

Comedian Hiroshi Shinagawa, who is one half of the Shinagawa Shoji duo, has announced that he will be turning his autobiographical novel "Drop" into a movie. The novel has sold 300,000 copies and was turned into a manga that is still being serialized in Monthly Shonen Champion.

Shinagawa will be taking on the duties of screenwriter and director. He directed a short film in 2003 as part of the omnibus "Kantoku Kansen: Director Infection," but this will be his first full-length project.

The story is set in Komae, Tokyo, during the 1980s. As a youth, Hiroshi was a college-bound student at a private high school, but as a fan of the delinquent-genre manga "Be-Bop High School," he began getting in trouble and was transferred to a public school.

Casting is in the final stages, with filming scheduled to start in mid-June. Shinagawa is aiming for release in spring 2009.

Competitive eater and talento Galsone is making her acting debut later this year, playing a Medusa-like foe named Sayaka in the upcoming "Kamen Rider Kiva" movie. Her character is an underling to the villainous Kamen Rider Arc, played by Neptune's Ken Horiuchi. She will also get a chance to show off her eating skills in the movie.

The film is being directed by Ryuta Tasaki and opens on August 9.

The 22-year-old Galsone, who entered show business in 2006, said that she had been aiming to try acting. As this is her first role, she admitted that she was worse than the rest of the cast, but she said she enjoyed it and is hoping to get more opportunities to act in television dramas or in films.

Rising actress Meisa Kuroki, 19, is the latest celebrity to be outed by FRIDAY magazine. The newest issue reports that Kuroki has found herself a boyfriend in the form of KEN, a Japanese musician in his mid-20s who is based in New York.

The couple apparently met in New York as early as three years ago. Earlier this month, a reporter witnessed the pair leaving Kuroki's Tokyo apartment. They split up, but met up again an hour later. Later than night, they returned to Kuroki's apartment holding hands, and KEN spent the night there.

Kuroki's agency has confirmed the relationship but was quick to state that there are no plans for marriage.

KEN works together with an American musician as a producer duo called 2SOUL. They have created music for artists such as AI (in particular, her hit song "Story") and Ayaka Hirahara.

Last May, TV Asahi aired a live-action version of the Rumiko Takahashi manga "Maison Ikkoku." The network announced on Thursday it will be coming back for another episode this summer, which is said to be the story's conclusion.

Misaki Ito is returning as Kyoko Otonashi, along with Taiki Nakabayashi as Yusaku Godai and Ikki Sawamura as Yusaku's rival in love, Shun Mitaka. Nana Eikura has been replaced by idol Akina Minami as Kyoko's rival, Kozue Nanao. The story is set one year later, as Yusaku finally loses his ronin status and enters college.

The episode is expected to air during the summer.

Singer Yoko Ishida, known for many anime theme songs, is returning to Anime Expo this year. She has been invited to the convention as a musical Guest of Honor, joining pop duo Jyukai and otaku idol Shoko Nakagawa. Ishida last performed at Anime Expo in 2004.

More details can be found at the website for this year's expo, which is being held July 3-6.

Rumors of a Fuji TV drama series titled "Code Blue" were confirmed on Thursday. The show has assembled a cast packed with young stars and established veterans, led by NEWS member Tomohisa Yamashita.

The drama's full title is "Code Blue: Doctor Heli Kinkyu Kyumei." The concept is based on Japan's proposal for an emergency medical service using helicopters to quickly reach those in need. A special bill was passed in June 2007 that should foster widespread adoption of the system.

Yamashita stars as a young doctor-in-training, working under the guidance of an experienced "flight doctor" (Toshiro Yanagiba). Some scenes will be filmed with a real helicopter, adding to the show's tension.

The supporting cast includes Yui Aragaki, Erika Toda, Manami Higa, Yosuke Asari, Kiyoshi Kodama, Ryo, Tetta Sugimoto, Susumu Terajima, and Masanobu Katsumura.

Fuji TV will broadcast "Code Blue" on Thursday nights at 10:00pm, starting sometime in July.