Fri, June 20, 2008 (2:40am EDT)
Last month, Southern All Stars officially announced that they are going on hiatus next year, but they have lined up at least one more commercial tie-in before that. They are providing music for a new Shiseido commercial, which features Anne, Ryoko Hirosue, and Alisa Mizuki.
The song is an upbeat tune appropriately titled "OH!! SUMMER QUEEN." It is being recorded as the B-side to their upcoming single on August 6, which will be their first new release since "DIRTY OLD MAN" in 2006.
The Shiseido commercial begins airing on the 22nd.
The song is an upbeat tune appropriately titled "OH!! SUMMER QUEEN." It is being recorded as the B-side to their upcoming single on August 6, which will be their first new release since "DIRTY OLD MAN" in 2006.
The Shiseido commercial begins airing on the 22nd.
Fri, June 20, 2008 (2:25am EDT)
21-year-old fashion model Marie is the latest celebrity to have a possible romance uncovered by the weekly magazine FRIDAY. Her rumored partner is 25-year-old F1 driver Sakon Yamamoto.
The magazine's latest issue reports that the two were spotted last Friday in Nishi-Azabu. They had left a club together in the early morning and were seen sharing a kiss three times on the street. According to a source close to the pair, they met just last month at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Both Marie's and Yamamoto's agencies declare that the two are just friends.
The magazine's latest issue reports that the two were spotted last Friday in Nishi-Azabu. They had left a club together in the early morning and were seen sharing a kiss three times on the street. According to a source close to the pair, they met just last month at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Both Marie's and Yamamoto's agencies declare that the two are just friends.
Fri, June 20, 2008 (2:10am EDT)
Anime News Network reports that Akira Saso's manga series "Kodomo no Kodomo" is getting a live-action film later this year. The movie is being directed by Koji Hagiuda, whose most recent work was the acclaimed 2007 film "Shindo."
The story deals with Haruna, an 11-year-old fifth-grader who has a seemingly innocent encounter with one of her male friends, but she later realizes during a sex education class that she had engaged in intercourse and is now pregnant. To her horror, no one believes her when she tells them she's carrying a child.
Filming already took place last year in Akita, though some of the locals were opposed when they heard the film dealt with a pregnant grade-schooler. However, publicists for the distributor Bitters End have assured that the film is a serious take on the subject. The issue was also recently dealt with in the 2006 drama "14-sai no Haha," which starred Mirai Shida.
New actress Haruna Amari won the lead role through an audition. The supporting cast includes Kumiko Aso, Juri Ueno, Mitsuki Tanimura, Yoshiko Miyazaki, and Ken Mitsuishi. Tamio Okuda is handling the theme song.
Theatrical release is set for September.
The story deals with Haruna, an 11-year-old fifth-grader who has a seemingly innocent encounter with one of her male friends, but she later realizes during a sex education class that she had engaged in intercourse and is now pregnant. To her horror, no one believes her when she tells them she's carrying a child.
Filming already took place last year in Akita, though some of the locals were opposed when they heard the film dealt with a pregnant grade-schooler. However, publicists for the distributor Bitters End have assured that the film is a serious take on the subject. The issue was also recently dealt with in the 2006 drama "14-sai no Haha," which starred Mirai Shida.
New actress Haruna Amari won the lead role through an audition. The supporting cast includes Kumiko Aso, Juri Ueno, Mitsuki Tanimura, Yoshiko Miyazaki, and Ken Mitsuishi. Tamio Okuda is handling the theme song.
Theatrical release is set for September.
Fri, June 20, 2008 (1:22am EDT)
Yuichi Nakamaru of KAT-TUN is doing his first one-man stage show, called "Nakamaru-kun no Tanoshii Jikan." In addition to being the lone star, Nakamaru will be in charge of planning and directing as well.
Nakamaru is actually the first member of KAT-TUN to get a solo show, and he said he was uncertain about it when discussions started in January, especially considering that the group includes popular stars like Jin Akanishi and Kazuya Kamenashi. Nakamaru does not even have experience as a major cast member in a theatrical production.
Nakamaru commented that he has tried to squeeze everything he wants to try into the performances, which are scheduled to run for about 90 minutes each. Segments include song, dance, beatboxing, and skits.
"Nakamaru-kun no Tanoshii Jikan" will first run at The Globe Tokyo from August 10 to 24.
Nakamaru is actually the first member of KAT-TUN to get a solo show, and he said he was uncertain about it when discussions started in January, especially considering that the group includes popular stars like Jin Akanishi and Kazuya Kamenashi. Nakamaru does not even have experience as a major cast member in a theatrical production.
Nakamaru commented that he has tried to squeeze everything he wants to try into the performances, which are scheduled to run for about 90 minutes each. Segments include song, dance, beatboxing, and skits.
"Nakamaru-kun no Tanoshii Jikan" will first run at The Globe Tokyo from August 10 to 24.
Fri, June 20, 2008 (1:06am EDT)
Fuji TV has already announced that one of its fall dramas will co-star Kanjani8 members Subaru Shibutani and Shingo Murakami. Tentatively titled "Arigatou, Okan," the show is being produced by Kansai TV to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
"Arigatou, Okan" deals with a loving family in Osaka, composed of a mother (Shinobu Otake) and her two foster children (Shibutani and Murakami).
The drama will air on Fuji TV this October.
"Arigatou, Okan" deals with a loving family in Osaka, composed of a mother (Shinobu Otake) and her two foster children (Shibutani and Murakami).
The drama will air on Fuji TV this October.
Fri, June 20, 2008 (12:30am EDT)
On Thursday, Avex officially confirmed rumors that the company has signed former Morning Musume member Maki Goto. The singer has been inactive for the past several months, ever since she left Hello! Project amid the scandal caused by her brother's arrest in October for multiple counts of theft.
When she left Hello! Project, Goto had said that she was planning to shed the idol image that she cultivated there, instead aiming to develop a career as a serious music artist. In March, she reopened her blog during a month-long stay in Los Angeles, where she took up voice training and dance lessons.
Avex recognized Goto's potential, and after a series of discussions, the singer completely left Up-Front Agency, making Avex her new management agency and record label. She is now connected with the R&B-heavy sublabel rhythm zone. Although nothing definite has been scheduled yet for Goto, she is expected to be back in action soon.
Goto's new website has already gone live.
When she left Hello! Project, Goto had said that she was planning to shed the idol image that she cultivated there, instead aiming to develop a career as a serious music artist. In March, she reopened her blog during a month-long stay in Los Angeles, where she took up voice training and dance lessons.
Avex recognized Goto's potential, and after a series of discussions, the singer completely left Up-Front Agency, making Avex her new management agency and record label. She is now connected with the R&B-heavy sublabel rhythm zone. Although nothing definite has been scheduled yet for Goto, she is expected to be back in action soon.
Goto's new website has already gone live.
