Mon, June 2, 2008 (10:57am EDT)
Actress Kaoru Sugita (43) is reportedly in a serious relationship with a publishing company employee, said to be in his 50s. The two are partially living together, and according to several people close to them, they appear to be headed for marriage.
They first met in 1999, when the man was the editor of a magazine that Sugita was writing for. In September 2006, a reporter for a women's magazine spotted them entering a love hotel, but Sugita made up excuses and denied that there was a relationship between them. The man had a wife at the time, but he got a divorce last year.
Sugita has also been married once. In January 2005, she wedded a company president, but they broke up only seven months later.
They first met in 1999, when the man was the editor of a magazine that Sugita was writing for. In September 2006, a reporter for a women's magazine spotted them entering a love hotel, but Sugita made up excuses and denied that there was a relationship between them. The man had a wife at the time, but he got a divorce last year.
Sugita has also been married once. In January 2005, she wedded a company president, but they broke up only seven months later.
Mon, June 2, 2008 (10:55am EDT)
Arashi member Sho Sakurai has fractured his right thumb, it was learned on Sunday.
The group had been rehearsing on Sunday for a concert at Nagoya Dome when Sakurai accidentally fell from the stage. His hand was injured, and practice was halted so that he could be taken to the hospital. He later returned with his thumb immobilized, but he still performed with the group during the concert later that day. Sakurai admitted his injury to the audience, saying that it was the first time he had experienced a broken bone.
Sakurai's complete recovery is estimated to take about a month, but he expects to finish the rest of Arashi's current tour as planned.
The group had been rehearsing on Sunday for a concert at Nagoya Dome when Sakurai accidentally fell from the stage. His hand was injured, and practice was halted so that he could be taken to the hospital. He later returned with his thumb immobilized, but he still performed with the group during the concert later that day. Sakurai admitted his injury to the audience, saying that it was the first time he had experienced a broken bone.
Sakurai's complete recovery is estimated to take about a month, but he expects to finish the rest of Arashi's current tour as planned.
Mon, June 2, 2008 (12:21am EDT)
"MW," a manga by famed artist Osamu Tezuka, is being turned into a live-action film, starring actor Hiroshi Tamaki. Taking the director's seat is Hitoshi Iwamoto, known for several popular television dramas.
The comic originally ran in Shogakukan's Big Comic from 1976 to 1978. The story revolves around MW, a poisonous gas developed as a chemical weapon by foreign military forces. After an accidental leak on an isolated island, the military covers up the incident by exterminating all of the island's inhabitants. One survivor named Yuuki (Tamaki) grows up as an elite bank employee, but in secret, he is a killer taking revenge on those responsible for the incident. His ultimate goal is to unleash MW across the whole world.
Takayuki Yamada co-stars as Yuuki's friend and accomplice, a priest named Yutaro Garai.
Filming started on April 20, and some scenes are currently being shot in Thailand. The movie will open in theaters in 2009.
The comic originally ran in Shogakukan's Big Comic from 1976 to 1978. The story revolves around MW, a poisonous gas developed as a chemical weapon by foreign military forces. After an accidental leak on an isolated island, the military covers up the incident by exterminating all of the island's inhabitants. One survivor named Yuuki (Tamaki) grows up as an elite bank employee, but in secret, he is a killer taking revenge on those responsible for the incident. His ultimate goal is to unleash MW across the whole world.
Takayuki Yamada co-stars as Yuuki's friend and accomplice, a priest named Yutaro Garai.
Filming started on April 20, and some scenes are currently being shot in Thailand. The movie will open in theaters in 2009.
Mon, June 2, 2008 (12:20am EDT)
Gravure idol Akina Minami has her first regular role in a television drama series this summer. She has been cast in Fuji TV's "Shibatora," which is based on a comedy manga by Yuma Ando about a young-looking detective named Taketora Shibata who deals with juvenile delinquents. It was announced last month that Teppei Koike is playing the lead as Shibata.
Minami is taking on the role of Shibata's colleague Tamaki Ayukawa, a cop in the traffic division.
"Shibatora" is scheduled to start on July 8.
Minami is taking on the role of Shibata's colleague Tamaki Ayukawa, a cop in the traffic division.
"Shibatora" is scheduled to start on July 8.
Mon, June 2, 2008 (12:19am EDT)
Next year, the Takarazuka Revue celebrates its 95th anniversary, which it will celebrate with a series of productions. The first is a stage version of the Korean drama series "Tae Wang Sa Shin Gi," also known by the English title "The Legend." Flower Troupe top stars Sei Matobu and Ayane Sakurano will star, while Shuichiro Koike directs.
"The Legend" originally aired in Korea from September to December of last year, and is currently being broadcast in Japan on NHK. The show has been fairly popular, partly due to starring actor Bae Yong Joon.
Performances of the play will start on January 1, 2009 in Takarazuka, Hyogo, and will move to Tokyo on February 13.
"The Legend" originally aired in Korea from September to December of last year, and is currently being broadcast in Japan on NHK. The show has been fairly popular, partly due to starring actor Bae Yong Joon.
Performances of the play will start on January 1, 2009 in Takarazuka, Hyogo, and will move to Tokyo on February 13.
Mon, June 2, 2008 (12:18am EDT)
Comedian Shinya Arino (of Yoiko) is temporarily taking a sudden break from work. He was hospitalized last Tuesday after being diagnosed with an abscess in his lungs, and his treatment is expected to last about a month.
Arino revealed the news on his blog on Friday. His agency, Shochiku Entertainment, issued a fax to the media the same day.
Arino regularly appears on several TV programs, including "Game Center CX" and "Mecha-Mecha Iketeru!"
Arino revealed the news on his blog on Friday. His agency, Shochiku Entertainment, issued a fax to the media the same day.
Arino regularly appears on several TV programs, including "Game Center CX" and "Mecha-Mecha Iketeru!"
Mon, June 2, 2008 (12:17am EDT)
On Sunday, acting troupe D-BOYS held the final stage of its 5th audition. This year was the first time applications were allowed through the video website YouTube, resulting in a pool of about 22,000 candidates.
Out of the 11 finalists, the Grand Prix winner was 20-year-old Yusuke Yamada, a second-year college student. The Semi-Grand Prix went to middle schooler Yukito Nishii, who is now the youngest D-BOYS member at 12 years old.
The special judges' prize was given to 20-year-old Ryo Mitsuya, who has previously placed twice in an international unicycling competition.
With the addition of the three winners, D-BOYS now has 21 members.
Out of the 11 finalists, the Grand Prix winner was 20-year-old Yusuke Yamada, a second-year college student. The Semi-Grand Prix went to middle schooler Yukito Nishii, who is now the youngest D-BOYS member at 12 years old.
The special judges' prize was given to 20-year-old Ryo Mitsuya, who has previously placed twice in an international unicycling competition.
With the addition of the three winners, D-BOYS now has 21 members.
