Wed, June 11, 2008 (11:03am EDT)
Microsoft is now using idol group Idoling!!! to promote its Windows Vista platform, using the girls as official characters in a summer promotional campaign.
The group, which is releasing its first two DVDs later this month, will be promoting Vista in major electronics stores nationwide, starting on the 12th.
The group, which is releasing its first two DVDs later this month, will be promoting Vista in major electronics stores nationwide, starting on the 12th.
Wed, June 11, 2008 (10:35am EDT)
Film critic, movie director, and talento Haruo Mizuno died of liver failure on Tuesday at a Tokyo hospital. He was 76.
Mizuno was born in Okayama but spent much of his childhood living in Manchuria. He moved back to Japan and graduated from Keio University, then became part of 20th Century Fox. He later transferred to Nihon Unite Eiga, where he served as a manager of publicity. After going independent in 1972, he continued to deal with the importation and distribution of foreign films.
Mizuno also served as a movie critic on television, appearing on NTV's "Kinyo Road Show" (formerly "Suiyo Road Show") from 1972 to 1997. As a director, writer, and actor, he was well-known for the "Siberian Express" film series, which has an anime adaptation in the works.
Mizuno was born in Okayama but spent much of his childhood living in Manchuria. He moved back to Japan and graduated from Keio University, then became part of 20th Century Fox. He later transferred to Nihon Unite Eiga, where he served as a manager of publicity. After going independent in 1972, he continued to deal with the importation and distribution of foreign films.
Mizuno also served as a movie critic on television, appearing on NTV's "Kinyo Road Show" (formerly "Suiyo Road Show") from 1972 to 1997. As a director, writer, and actor, he was well-known for the "Siberian Express" film series, which has an anime adaptation in the works.
Wed, June 11, 2008 (2:04am EDT)
KAT-TUN's third album, "KAT-TUN III -QUEEN OF PIRATES-," came out last week and sold 240,000 copies, firmly landing the group at the top of the charts. They now have reached 10 consecutive number-ones (counting singles and albums), making them the 4th group to do so after Hikaru Genji, KinKi Kids, and NEWS.
Another big release this past week was the first soundtrack for the "Macross Frontier" anime series, with music done by top composer Yoko Kanno. It sold nearly 72,000 copies to rank #3, becoming the first anime soundtrack album to enter the top three since "The End of Evangelion" in 1997.
The Top 10 also included new albums by MINMI (#2), BEAT CRUSADERS (#4), Ryu Si-won (#7), Weezer (#9), and ET-KING (#10).
In the singles chart, GReeeeN's "Kiseki" could not be budged from its #1 spot, selling another 73,000 copies to narrowly hold Tackey & Tsubasa's "Koiuta / PROGRESS" at #2 (69,000 copies).
LM.C came in at #3, followed in order by Shota Shimizu, BoA, Kou Shibasaki, and Kome Kome Club. Tortoise Matsumoto was also able to barely make the Top 10 with a new solo release.
Another big release this past week was the first soundtrack for the "Macross Frontier" anime series, with music done by top composer Yoko Kanno. It sold nearly 72,000 copies to rank #3, becoming the first anime soundtrack album to enter the top three since "The End of Evangelion" in 1997.
The Top 10 also included new albums by MINMI (#2), BEAT CRUSADERS (#4), Ryu Si-won (#7), Weezer (#9), and ET-KING (#10).
In the singles chart, GReeeeN's "Kiseki" could not be budged from its #1 spot, selling another 73,000 copies to narrowly hold Tackey & Tsubasa's "Koiuta / PROGRESS" at #2 (69,000 copies).
LM.C came in at #3, followed in order by Shota Shimizu, BoA, Kou Shibasaki, and Kome Kome Club. Tortoise Matsumoto was also able to barely make the Top 10 with a new solo release.
Wed, June 11, 2008 (1:43am EDT)
Rock band GLAY may be coming to The Fillmore in San Francisco this summer. News website J-Revolution notes that LiveNation posted a concert listing for August 12, but the page has since been removed. Tickets apparently are set to go on sale June 15, so an official announcement should be made soon if LiveNation's information is accurate.
Wed, June 11, 2008 (1:31am EDT)
Pop star Namie Amuro has been selected as the highlight of Avex's annual general shareholders' meeting this year, which is being held at the Saitama Super Arena for the first time on June 22. This year marks the company's 20th anniversary as a publicly-traded firm, and this is expected to be the largest shareholders' meeting in Japanese history with an estimated attendance of 20,000 people.
Past headliners include Ayumi Hamasaki, Kumi Koda, and Ai Otsuka. Amuro's last appearance at one of these meetings was in 2000. But this year, with Hamasaki already scheduled to be in Osaka for her own tour, Amuro will be taking the spotlight once again.
Amuro, who was very popular during the 1990s, has recently been making a comeback. Last month, she announced a new best album (on sale July 30) and a nationwide tour that will run from October to March.
Past headliners include Ayumi Hamasaki, Kumi Koda, and Ai Otsuka. Amuro's last appearance at one of these meetings was in 2000. But this year, with Hamasaki already scheduled to be in Osaka for her own tour, Amuro will be taking the spotlight once again.
Amuro, who was very popular during the 1990s, has recently been making a comeback. Last month, she announced a new best album (on sale July 30) and a nationwide tour that will run from October to March.
Wed, June 11, 2008 (1:15am EDT)
Popular 20-year-old model Nozomi Sasaki is now trying her hand at acting. She has been cast in Tsutomu Hanabusa's movie "Handsome Suit," a romantic comedy starring Shosuke Tanihara, Muga Tsukaji, and Keiko Kitagawa.
Sasaki will be playing the part of a model, though she commented that it was still difficult for her because of her lack of acting experience. Currently, she is an up-and-coming model for the magazine PINKY.
"Handsome Suit" is scheduled for release this fall.
Sasaki will be playing the part of a model, though she commented that it was still difficult for her because of her lack of acting experience. Currently, she is an up-and-coming model for the magazine PINKY.
"Handsome Suit" is scheduled for release this fall.
Wed, June 11, 2008 (12:56am EDT)
Young actress Keiko Kitagawa has been officially confirmed as the female lead in Fuji TV's "Taiyou to Umi no Kyoushitsu." The series stars popular actor Yuji Oda as a teacher at a college prep high school.
Kitagawa got her first starring role in TV Asahi's "Mop Girl" last year, and now she will be in the spotlight of Fuji TV's high-profile Monday night time slot. In "Taiyou to Umi no Kyoushitsu," she plays a former Miss Todai winner who has just started her career as a teacher.
The drama series starts next month.
Kitagawa got her first starring role in TV Asahi's "Mop Girl" last year, and now she will be in the spotlight of Fuji TV's high-profile Monday night time slot. In "Taiyou to Umi no Kyoushitsu," she plays a former Miss Todai winner who has just started her career as a teacher.
The drama series starts next month.
Wed, June 11, 2008 (12:42am EDT)
Miyu Nagase, formerly of the band ZONE, is taking up her first acting role in a television drama. She will appear in the final episode of TBS's afternoon series "Mama no Kamisama" on June 27. The show has been using Nagase's latest release, "Akane," as its theme song.
The show stars Noriko Aota as a mother of three. Nagase will play a nurse who deals with Aota's character, who is hospitalized due to anxiety.
The show stars Noriko Aota as a mother of three. Nagase will play a nurse who deals with Aota's character, who is hospitalized due to anxiety.
