Fri, July 11, 2008 (11:18am EDT)
The Otakon convention has announced that The Underneath will be attending as a musical guest. The band will headline a concert on Sunday, August 10, with MarBell opening for them.
Otakon also revealed last week that Pony Canyon is bringing Kyoko Kano and Mika Kano (known as the Kano Sisters) as special guests.
Previously announced guests include JAM Project (who will perform on August 8) and Madhouse founder Masao Maruyama. Otakon is being held on August 8-10 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Otakon also revealed last week that Pony Canyon is bringing Kyoko Kano and Mika Kano (known as the Kano Sisters) as special guests.
Previously announced guests include JAM Project (who will perform on August 8) and Madhouse founder Masao Maruyama. Otakon is being held on August 8-10 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Fri, July 11, 2008 (2:46am EDT)
Takao Yaguchi's classic fishing manga "Tsurikichi Sanpei" is going the live-action route with a movie coming out next year. It will be directed by Yojiro Takita and written by Ryota Kosawa, with visuals provided by special effects team Shirogumi.
The manga was originally serialized in Shonen Magazine from 1973 to 1983, and an anime series was produced by Nippon Animation from 1980 to 1982.
13-year-old Kenta Suga has been tapped for the lead, a young boy with a gift for fishing. Tsunehiko Watase has been cast as his grandfather, while Takashi Tsukamoto plays his brother, a pro angler who has returned from the U.S.
According to Toei, plans for a live-action film have been brought up almost every year since the manga started. It is said that even Hollywood offered to turn it into a movie, under the name "Crazy Fishing Boy." Toei finally decided to go ahead with the film, and is hoping to expand it into a popular series like Shochiku's "Tsuribaka Nisshi."
Filming starts on the 25th, with scenes being shot in Akita, Yamagata, and Tokyo. Theatrical release is planned for spring 2009.
The manga was originally serialized in Shonen Magazine from 1973 to 1983, and an anime series was produced by Nippon Animation from 1980 to 1982.
13-year-old Kenta Suga has been tapped for the lead, a young boy with a gift for fishing. Tsunehiko Watase has been cast as his grandfather, while Takashi Tsukamoto plays his brother, a pro angler who has returned from the U.S.
According to Toei, plans for a live-action film have been brought up almost every year since the manga started. It is said that even Hollywood offered to turn it into a movie, under the name "Crazy Fishing Boy." Toei finally decided to go ahead with the film, and is hoping to expand it into a popular series like Shochiku's "Tsuribaka Nisshi."
Filming starts on the 25th, with scenes being shot in Akita, Yamagata, and Tokyo. Theatrical release is planned for spring 2009.
Fri, July 11, 2008 (2:03am EDT)
TOKIO's next single "Amagasa" is a collaboration with musician Ringo Shiina. Shiina wrote and composed the song, which is scheduled for release in September.
"Amagasa" has been chosen as the theme song to the NTV drama series "Yasuko to Kenji." Premiering this Saturday, the drama stars TOKIO member Masahiro Matsuoka.
This isn't the first time that TOKIO has worked with a notable artist for their music. The group previously released songs written by Miyuki Nakajima, Yoshihiro Kai, and Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi.
"Amagasa" has been chosen as the theme song to the NTV drama series "Yasuko to Kenji." Premiering this Saturday, the drama stars TOKIO member Masahiro Matsuoka.
This isn't the first time that TOKIO has worked with a notable artist for their music. The group previously released songs written by Miyuki Nakajima, Yoshihiro Kai, and Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi.
Fri, July 11, 2008 (1:49am EDT)
According to music site JaME, promoter Tainted Reality has revealed that Versailles is coming back to the U.S. The band will reportedly be performing at Anime USA in Arlington, Virginia, which is being held on October 10-12.
Versailles is also said to be planning a concert in New York, but further details are still unknown.
Versailles is also said to be planning a concert in New York, but further details are still unknown.
Fri, July 11, 2008 (1:43am EDT)
It was learned on Thursday that idol Leah Dizon will be releasing a new album, which will be followed by her first Japan tour.
The album, titled "Communication!!!," goes on sale August 20. Out of the 12 songs included, Dizon wrote the lyrics for 10 of them, and she even did composition for two rock numbers called "Lost at Sea" and "BxKxRxxx." Those two songs will also feature her playing guitar - she is said to have first learned the instrument as a child, and she started practicing it again last summer.
Dizon's tour starts in October and will take her to 4 major cities.
The album, titled "Communication!!!," goes on sale August 20. Out of the 12 songs included, Dizon wrote the lyrics for 10 of them, and she even did composition for two rock numbers called "Lost at Sea" and "BxKxRxxx." Those two songs will also feature her playing guitar - she is said to have first learned the instrument as a child, and she started practicing it again last summer.
Dizon's tour starts in October and will take her to 4 major cities.
Fri, July 11, 2008 (1:23am EDT)
During a rehearsal on Thursday, DA PUMP member ISSA suffered a serious injury to his right leg. The incident has forced the group to postpone their first nationwide tour in four years, which was scheduled to start on the 13th.
According to the group's agency, ISSA was performing a backflip but failed to land properly, falling on his right thigh. He was quickly taken to a hospital, where it was discovered that he had fractured his femur.
ISSA is scheduled to undergo surgery within the next few days. His doctor says that two months of hospitalization will be necessary, followed by rehabilitation. It is estimated that his complete recovery will take 6 months.
As a result, all 4 dates of DA PUMP's tour have been canceled. Tickets are being refunded until the end of this month.
According to the group's agency, ISSA was performing a backflip but failed to land properly, falling on his right thigh. He was quickly taken to a hospital, where it was discovered that he had fractured his femur.
ISSA is scheduled to undergo surgery within the next few days. His doctor says that two months of hospitalization will be necessary, followed by rehabilitation. It is estimated that his complete recovery will take 6 months.
As a result, all 4 dates of DA PUMP's tour have been canceled. Tickets are being refunded until the end of this month.
Fri, July 11, 2008 (1:05am EDT)
32-year-old singer hitomi has entered her second marriage, and is already expecting her first child. She announced the news on Thursday night through her official website.
On June 30, hitomi and stage actor Masayoshi Haneda (31) formally registered their marriage. They met last summer when they performed together in the play "Waiting for the Sun," and it led to a serious relationship around January. With hitomi currently four months pregnant, the pair decided to tie the knot.
hitomi previously married a former member of hip-hop group GAS BOYS in November 2002, but they divorced last November after five years of matrimony. The couple never had children.
On June 30, hitomi and stage actor Masayoshi Haneda (31) formally registered their marriage. They met last summer when they performed together in the play "Waiting for the Sun," and it led to a serious relationship around January. With hitomi currently four months pregnant, the pair decided to tie the knot.
hitomi previously married a former member of hip-hop group GAS BOYS in November 2002, but they divorced last November after five years of matrimony. The couple never had children.
