Fri, August 1, 2008 (3:15am EDT)
Fresh off the success of his latest movie "The Magic Hour," writer and director Koki Mitani is returning to theater with a new play. "Good Night, Sleep Tight" is a bedroom comedy exploring a married couple's 50 years together, based on Mitani's own married life with actress Satomi Kobayashi.
Kiichi Nakai and Keiko Toda are starring in the production. Performances will be at the Shibuya PARCO Theater from November 18 to December 28, then at the Theater Drama City in Osaka from January 6 to January 20.
Kiichi Nakai and Keiko Toda are starring in the production. Performances will be at the Shibuya PARCO Theater from November 18 to December 28, then at the Theater Drama City in Osaka from January 6 to January 20.
Fri, August 1, 2008 (3:02am EDT)
25-year-old TBS announcer Yuko Aoki is leaving the network, it was learned on Thursday. The "Sunday Japon" regular has already submitted her letter of resignation, though it has not yet been officially accepted. The decision seems to be triggered by a magazine article that will run next week, speculated to be some sort of scandal.
Aoki graduated from Keio University and joined TBS in 2005. In early 2006, she was caught having an affair with one of the "Sunday Japon" directors, who was 32 at the time. The man was subsequently removed from the show. This past May, it was discovered that she is going out with another TV director, which may or may not be related to this next scandal.
In any case, Aoki has made the decision to withdraw in advance, which seems to be influenced by the recent scandals of announcers Mona Yamamoto and Kazuhiro Watanabe.
Aoki graduated from Keio University and joined TBS in 2005. In early 2006, she was caught having an affair with one of the "Sunday Japon" directors, who was 32 at the time. The man was subsequently removed from the show. This past May, it was discovered that she is going out with another TV director, which may or may not be related to this next scandal.
In any case, Aoki has made the decision to withdraw in advance, which seems to be influenced by the recent scandals of announcers Mona Yamamoto and Kazuhiro Watanabe.
Fri, August 1, 2008 (2:37am EDT)
Comedian Hide, half of the duo Penalty, has become a papa at the age of 37. Yoshimoto Kogyo announced on Thursday that Hide's wife gave birth to their first daughter over the weekend.
Hide has been married since July 7, 2007.
Hide has been married since July 7, 2007.
Fri, August 1, 2008 (2:30am EDT)
The popular group SBK (Sukebo-King) is back in action after four years. Their comeback single is "elegy train," a remake of Ryuichi Sakamoto's hit instrumental piece "energy flow." It goes on sale September 24.
SBK has been around since the mid '90s. They made their major debut in 2000 but went on hiatus in 2004, with each of the group's members pursuing separate paths.
SBK has been around since the mid '90s. They made their major debut in 2000 but went on hiatus in 2004, with each of the group's members pursuing separate paths.
Fri, August 1, 2008 (2:20am EDT)
The classic anime "Space Battleship Yamato" (also known as "Star Blazers") is headed for a comeback, 25 years after the last movie was screened in theaters. 73-year-old producer Yoshinobu Nishizaki, who worked on that film and the original anime series, declared that he wants his last work to be a new "Yamato" film. He said he hopes to surpass Hayao Miyazaki's latest effort, "Gake no Ue no Ponyo."
To achieve that, Nishizaki has founded Yamato Studio, based in Nerima, Tokyo. Around 40 staff members have been assembled for the project, including general director Toshio Masuda and general animation director Tomonori Kogawa. Nishizaki had first declared his intent to make a "Yamato" film in 2004, but copyright disputes forced him to abandon the plan. This time, though, he says that he has been given the go-ahead.
The new movie is set in 2220, when the Earth is threatened by the expansion of a black hole. A plan is formed to transport 300 million people off the planet, but the fleet is attacked and the Yamato is forced to retaliate. Susumu Kodai (then 38) takes up the role of captain. In this story, he and his wife Yuki have their daughter Miyuki.
Nishizaki reportedly plans to release the movie next year.
To achieve that, Nishizaki has founded Yamato Studio, based in Nerima, Tokyo. Around 40 staff members have been assembled for the project, including general director Toshio Masuda and general animation director Tomonori Kogawa. Nishizaki had first declared his intent to make a "Yamato" film in 2004, but copyright disputes forced him to abandon the plan. This time, though, he says that he has been given the go-ahead.
The new movie is set in 2220, when the Earth is threatened by the expansion of a black hole. A plan is formed to transport 300 million people off the planet, but the fleet is attacked and the Yamato is forced to retaliate. Susumu Kodai (then 38) takes up the role of captain. In this story, he and his wife Yuki have their daughter Miyuki.
Nishizaki reportedly plans to release the movie next year.
Fri, August 1, 2008 (1:52am EDT)
The "Elite Yankee Saburo" movie that was announced last month now has a lead actress. 17-year-old newcomer Hikaru Yamamoto will play Haruna, the gamer girlfriend of the titular "hero" Saburo (Hideo Ishiguro).
The movie is a follow-up to TV Tokyo's live-action television series, which was adapted from a gag manga by Shuji Abe. The story revolves around a teenage otaku named Saburo whose two older brothers were infamous troublemakers. Because of their reputation, he is instantly mislabeled as an "elite yankee" upon entering high school, leading to comic misadventures.
In the television drama, Haruna was played by idol Kana Kurashina. She is now replaced by Yamamoto, who is making her third movie appearance, though this is her first major role. She reportedly hopes to become "the next Juri Ueno."
Director Yudai Yamaguchi has already started shooting the picture, which is expected to be released next spring.
The movie is a follow-up to TV Tokyo's live-action television series, which was adapted from a gag manga by Shuji Abe. The story revolves around a teenage otaku named Saburo whose two older brothers were infamous troublemakers. Because of their reputation, he is instantly mislabeled as an "elite yankee" upon entering high school, leading to comic misadventures.
In the television drama, Haruna was played by idol Kana Kurashina. She is now replaced by Yamamoto, who is making her third movie appearance, though this is her first major role. She reportedly hopes to become "the next Juri Ueno."
Director Yudai Yamaguchi has already started shooting the picture, which is expected to be released next spring.
