Sun, June 29, 2008 (12:47pm EDT)
Comedian and rakugo artist Tsurube Shofukutei will have the lead role in a movie for the first time in his 37-year career. The film is the next project by "Yureru" director Miwa Nishikawa, a human drama titled "Dear Doctor."
Shofukutei plays a gentle, middle-aged doctor running the only clinic in a sparsely-populated area. The villagers all rely on him, but an encounter with a widow (Kaoru Yachigusa) leads to the discovery of a secret from his past.
As this is his first doctor role, Shofukutei is currently preparing for it by studying at a hospital. Filming will start in late July. The movie is scheduled for release in 2009, with a possible premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
Shofukutei plays a gentle, middle-aged doctor running the only clinic in a sparsely-populated area. The villagers all rely on him, but an encounter with a widow (Kaoru Yachigusa) leads to the discovery of a secret from his past.
As this is his first doctor role, Shofukutei is currently preparing for it by studying at a hospital. Filming will start in late July. The movie is scheduled for release in 2009, with a possible premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
Sun, June 29, 2008 (12:21pm EDT)
On Friday, Ai Kago posted an entry on her blog saying that she will make an appearance on Fuji TV's popular talk/variety show "Sanma no Manma." This is her first true television part since restarting her career in April. The episode will air late at night (1:50am) on July 4.
Sun, June 29, 2008 (4:08am EDT)
In September, WOWOW is broadcasting a drama special called "6 Jikango ni Kimi wa Shinu." The suspense story is based on a novel of the same name by author Kazuaki Takano. Takano himself created the drama's screenplay, and also participated as co-director.
Takashi Tsukamoto stars as a young man with the power to predict unusual events in people's futures. One day, he comes across a woman (Yoko Maki) and foresees her imminent death. The drama follows the pair as they attempt to change the woman's fate.
Tsukamoto and Maki both recently got their first starring drama roles. Tsukamoto leads NHK's short series "Kansahoujin," which premiered last weekend, while Maki was the central actress in the recently-finished "Shukan Maki Yoko" on TV Tokyo.
Filming for "6 Jikango ni Kimi wa Shinu" started on Thursday and will run through mid-July. The drama is scheduled to air on September 28 at 10:00pm.
Takashi Tsukamoto stars as a young man with the power to predict unusual events in people's futures. One day, he comes across a woman (Yoko Maki) and foresees her imminent death. The drama follows the pair as they attempt to change the woman's fate.
Tsukamoto and Maki both recently got their first starring drama roles. Tsukamoto leads NHK's short series "Kansahoujin," which premiered last weekend, while Maki was the central actress in the recently-finished "Shukan Maki Yoko" on TV Tokyo.
Filming for "6 Jikango ni Kimi wa Shinu" started on Thursday and will run through mid-July. The drama is scheduled to air on September 28 at 10:00pm.
Sun, June 29, 2008 (3:39am EDT)
Tomomi Kasai of AKB48 has her first voice acting job in this summer's anime version of Fumi Yoshinaga's "Antique" manga. Also known by the title "Antique Bakery," the comic focuses on a group of four men who run a bakery.
Kasai will be a minor character, playing the daughter of Chikage Kobayakawa, one of the men running the shop.
The series starts on Fuji TV on July 3.
Kasai will be a minor character, playing the daughter of Chikage Kobayakawa, one of the men running the shop.
The series starts on Fuji TV on July 3.
