Mon, May 26, 2008 (8:03pm EDT)
Oscar Promotion has announced that three of its top actresses will be providing support for young star Saki Fukuda by making guest appearances in her upcoming movie "Sakura no Sono."
The movie, first announced last year, is a remake of a 1990 film of the same name. Both are based on a manga by Akimi Yoshida about a group of high school girls who put on a performance of Anton Chekhov's play "The Cherry Orchard" (titled "Sakura no Sono" in Japanese). Shun Nakahara and Hiroaki Jinno, the director and writer of the first movie, are again in charge.
Fukuda is one of Oscar Promotion's top teen actresses, having recently landed the lead female role in next year's "Yatterman" movie. "Sakura no Sono" is her first starring movie role, and the company has arranged to have Ryoko Yonekura, Rei Kikukawa, and Aya Ueto to lend the movie some extra publicity.
Fukuda's character Momo starts out as a student of a violin teacher (Yonekura), but she later transfers to an elite school where Kikukawa plays her homeroom teacher. Ueto has been cast as the vocalist of one of Momo's favorite bands.
"Sakura no Sono" is scheduled for theatrical release in November.
The movie, first announced last year, is a remake of a 1990 film of the same name. Both are based on a manga by Akimi Yoshida about a group of high school girls who put on a performance of Anton Chekhov's play "The Cherry Orchard" (titled "Sakura no Sono" in Japanese). Shun Nakahara and Hiroaki Jinno, the director and writer of the first movie, are again in charge.
Fukuda is one of Oscar Promotion's top teen actresses, having recently landed the lead female role in next year's "Yatterman" movie. "Sakura no Sono" is her first starring movie role, and the company has arranged to have Ryoko Yonekura, Rei Kikukawa, and Aya Ueto to lend the movie some extra publicity.
Fukuda's character Momo starts out as a student of a violin teacher (Yonekura), but she later transfers to an elite school where Kikukawa plays her homeroom teacher. Ueto has been cast as the vocalist of one of Momo's favorite bands.
"Sakura no Sono" is scheduled for theatrical release in November.
Mon, May 26, 2008 (7:46pm EDT)
Talento Yuko Ogura (24) has reportedly found a new boyfriend. According to the new issue of FLASH, she is now seeing 34-year-old Keiichi Kozuki, a real estate company president who is also an actor affiliated with Sides Entertainment.
The magazine says the two watched a Giants-Carp baseball game at Tokyo Dome on May 18. Afterwards, they met up with Giants pitcher Marc Kroon and others at a yakiniku restaurant. When asked about the relationship, Ogura apparently confirmed it.
Ogura's agency has not commented on the matter. There has also been no comment from the company or from Ogura about comedian Masaru Hamaguchi (of Yoiko), who was rumored to be in a relationship with the talento back in August 2006.
The magazine says the two watched a Giants-Carp baseball game at Tokyo Dome on May 18. Afterwards, they met up with Giants pitcher Marc Kroon and others at a yakiniku restaurant. When asked about the relationship, Ogura apparently confirmed it.
Ogura's agency has not commented on the matter. There has also been no comment from the company or from Ogura about comedian Masaru Hamaguchi (of Yoiko), who was rumored to be in a relationship with the talento back in August 2006.
Mon, May 26, 2008 (7:23pm EDT)
Yuki Shimizu and Shizuka Nakamura, who are members of the idol group Bishoujo Club 31, have been chosen to co-star in their first action film. The movie is "The Masked Girl: Joshikosei wa Kaizo Ningen," directed and written by Isao Kaneko.
Shimizu plays a high schooler who happens to be an invincible "kaizo ningen" (modified human). Nakamura plays her friend and classmate. The two will face off against a villain known as Black Maria, played by Aiko Sato.
"The Masked Girl" opens in theaters in August.
Shimizu plays a high schooler who happens to be an invincible "kaizo ningen" (modified human). Nakamura plays her friend and classmate. The two will face off against a villain known as Black Maria, played by Aiko Sato.
"The Masked Girl" opens in theaters in August.
Mon, May 26, 2008 (7:02pm EDT)
Singer Namie Amuro will be releasing her third "best of" album on July 30. The collection, which is currently untitled, includes all 15 of her singles from "Wishing On The Same Star" in 2002 to "60s 70s 80s," which was just released in March.
In addition to the 15 singles, the album will have two more songs. One is "Sexy Girl," which is being used as the theme song to the NHK drama series "Otome no Punch" that starts on June 19. The other is a Vidal Sassoon commercial song titled "Do Me More."
The DVD edition for the album will contain music videos for all 17 tracks.
Amuro has also announced a major tour starting on October 25 at the Makuhari Messe. A total of 25 shows have been scheduled at 15 venues, with the finale set to take place in her native Okinawa on March 20, 2009.
In addition to the 15 singles, the album will have two more songs. One is "Sexy Girl," which is being used as the theme song to the NHK drama series "Otome no Punch" that starts on June 19. The other is a Vidal Sassoon commercial song titled "Do Me More."
The DVD edition for the album will contain music videos for all 17 tracks.
Amuro has also announced a major tour starting on October 25 at the Makuhari Messe. A total of 25 shows have been scheduled at 15 venues, with the finale set to take place in her native Okinawa on March 20, 2009.
Mon, May 26, 2008 (5:55pm EDT)
Former TBS announcer Ako Kawada was unexpectedly found dead on Monday morning after she apparently committed suicide. She was only 29 years old.
Kawada was discovered at around 6:15am inside a car parked on a coastal road in the Minato ward of Tokyo. The passerby who found her immediately called police. The cause of death is believed to be carbon monoxide poisoning from charcoal burned on a small grill placed on the back seat. The windows had been sealed from the inside with cellophane tape, and a message addressed to her family was left on the car's dashboard.
The car was found in a warehouse district several hundred meters away from Kawada's house. Eyewitnesses said they saw the car there between 9 and 10pm on Sunday night.
Her management agency said that her physical appearance had gotten worse early this month, but when asked about it, Kawada had said that she was fine. However, she was still advised to see a doctor. More than once, Kawada mentioned on her blog that she was in suffering, but the cause of her distress was never revealed.
Kawada joined TBS in 2002 but left the company and became a free announcer in March 2007. Most recently, she was a host of TV Asahi's wide show "Saturday Scramble."
Kawada was discovered at around 6:15am inside a car parked on a coastal road in the Minato ward of Tokyo. The passerby who found her immediately called police. The cause of death is believed to be carbon monoxide poisoning from charcoal burned on a small grill placed on the back seat. The windows had been sealed from the inside with cellophane tape, and a message addressed to her family was left on the car's dashboard.
The car was found in a warehouse district several hundred meters away from Kawada's house. Eyewitnesses said they saw the car there between 9 and 10pm on Sunday night.
Her management agency said that her physical appearance had gotten worse early this month, but when asked about it, Kawada had said that she was fine. However, she was still advised to see a doctor. More than once, Kawada mentioned on her blog that she was in suffering, but the cause of her distress was never revealed.
Kawada joined TBS in 2002 but left the company and became a free announcer in March 2007. Most recently, she was a host of TV Asahi's wide show "Saturday Scramble."
