Tue, July 22, 2008 (11:03am EDT)
JaME USA reports that the all-girl trio TsuShiMaMiRe has announced a lengthy U.S. tour via their official MySpace page. Many of the dates are currently listed as unconfirmed, but the tour is scheduled to start on September 4 in Los Angeles and run until October 8 in Austin, with the girls performing almost every single day for a total of over 30 shows. More details can be found on MySpace.
Tue, July 22, 2008 (11:02am EDT)
Teen actress Aya Omasa will be taking on her first starring movie role later this year. She will appear in Ryuichi Hiroki's "NEW TYPE: Tada, Ai no Tame ni," based on a drama she starred in a few months ago.
Omasa has primarily appeared in various BS-i dramas, though she has started getting more exposure on major networks this year with roles in "81diver" and "Taiyou to Umi no Kyoushitsu." Her upcoming movie is based on an episode of BS-i's "Koisuru Nichiyoubi NEW TYPE" in which she played a young girl with psychic powers.
"NEW TYPE" opens in theaters this November.
Omasa has primarily appeared in various BS-i dramas, though she has started getting more exposure on major networks this year with roles in "81diver" and "Taiyou to Umi no Kyoushitsu." Her upcoming movie is based on an episode of BS-i's "Koisuru Nichiyoubi NEW TYPE" in which she played a young girl with psychic powers.
"NEW TYPE" opens in theaters this November.
Tue, July 22, 2008 (2:39am EDT)
Actor Tomorowo Taguchi is back in the director's chair, doing an adaptation of Jun Miura's semi-autobiographical novel "Shikisoku Generation." Taguchi also adapted Miura's "Iden & Tity" in 2003.
The new film is an adolescent comedy set in Kyoto during the 1970s. The central figure is a high school boy who has lived a sheltered life under his parents, but in reality he idolizes Bob Dylan and has his mind on girls. Drawn by the promise of an "island of free sex," he sets off with his friends one summer to the Oki Islands.
While the lead actor has not yet been revealed, it is known that his parents will be played by writer Lily Franky and talento Chiemi Hori. This will actually be Hori's first true movie role since 23 years ago, during her days as a teen idol. The rest of the main cast is scheduled to be announced at a press event on July 29.
Filming has just started, and the movie is expected to open in June 2009.
The new film is an adolescent comedy set in Kyoto during the 1970s. The central figure is a high school boy who has lived a sheltered life under his parents, but in reality he idolizes Bob Dylan and has his mind on girls. Drawn by the promise of an "island of free sex," he sets off with his friends one summer to the Oki Islands.
While the lead actor has not yet been revealed, it is known that his parents will be played by writer Lily Franky and talento Chiemi Hori. This will actually be Hori's first true movie role since 23 years ago, during her days as a teen idol. The rest of the main cast is scheduled to be announced at a press event on July 29.
Filming has just started, and the movie is expected to open in June 2009.
Tue, July 22, 2008 (2:12am EDT)
SMAP's Masahiro Nakai has once again been selected by TBS to serve as the main caster for its Olympics coverage, making it his third consecutive appointment to that role. Along with that comes the announcement that SMAP will be singing the theme song, titled "Kono Toki, Kitto Yume Janai." Written and composed by Hi-Fi CAMP, the song will be SMAP's 43rd single.
"Kono Toki" goes on sale August 13, the same day that Japan's baseball team faces Cuba in the opening match of the Olympics. Cuba ended up winning the gold medal in 2004, while Japan took home the bronze.
"Kono Toki" goes on sale August 13, the same day that Japan's baseball team faces Cuba in the opening match of the Olympics. Cuba ended up winning the gold medal in 2004, while Japan took home the bronze.
Tue, July 22, 2008 (1:54am EDT)
The Kou Shibasaki-Masaharu Fukuyama collaboration known as KOH+ is back with a new song. The pair previously did the theme song for the drama series "Galileo," which they co-starred in last year. With the series getting a movie this fall, they naturally are doing another song, a love ballad titled "Saiai."
"Galileo" was based on Keigo Higashino's mystery novel series "Tantei Galileo." The upcoming movie is adapted from "Yougisha x no Kenshin," the first in the series and the book that won Higashino the Naoki Prize.
"Yougisha x no Kenshin" opens in theaters on October 4. The release date for "Saiai" is not yet known.
"Galileo" was based on Keigo Higashino's mystery novel series "Tantei Galileo." The upcoming movie is adapted from "Yougisha x no Kenshin," the first in the series and the book that won Higashino the Naoki Prize.
"Yougisha x no Kenshin" opens in theaters on October 4. The release date for "Saiai" is not yet known.
Tue, July 22, 2008 (1:41am EDT)
This year's Victor Koshien Poster model has been announced. 16-year-old actress Anna Ishibashi, who made her debut after winning the 2006 Horipro Talent Scout Caravan, will be the face of the poster campaign (website here).
The coming Koshien, which starts on August 2, is the 90th iteration of the tournament.
The coming Koshien, which starts on August 2, is the 90th iteration of the tournament.
Tue, July 22, 2008 (1:33am EDT)
Fuji TV's new Monday night drama series "Taiyou to Umi no Kyoushitsu," starring Yuji Oda, premiered this week. The episode achieved ratings of 20.5%, the second-highest this season behind the first episode of "Code Blue." That drama has since dropped to 16.0%, but it is currently leading the rest of the pack.
Fuji TV has high hopes for "Taiyou to Umi," especially since it occupies the same time slot as last season's "CHANGE," which finished at an average of 21.7%.
Fuji TV has high hopes for "Taiyou to Umi," especially since it occupies the same time slot as last season's "CHANGE," which finished at an average of 21.7%.
