Mon, August 4, 2008 (1:21am EDT)
Movie director Haruhiko Mimura passed away on Saturday night in a Kanagawa hospital, apparently due to a closed artery. He was 71.
As a director, Mimura's best-known films were "Amagigoe" (1983) and "Setouchi Shonen Yakyudan: Seishunhen Saigo no Rakuen" (1987). He also was a screenwriter for film and television.
As a director, Mimura's best-known films were "Amagigoe" (1983) and "Setouchi Shonen Yakyudan: Seishunhen Saigo no Rakuen" (1987). He also was a screenwriter for film and television.
Mon, August 4, 2008 (1:20am EDT)
Takeshi Yamato, an actor and former boxing middleweight champion, has been arrested. Yamato, 42, is charged with attempted murder after assaulting a male restaurant owner with a knife.
Police say the incident occurred in the Meguro ward of Tokyo on Saturday night. Yamato was at a sushi restaurant with a woman, and the pair began arguing. When Yamato was reprimanded by the store owner, 41, he became angered and thrust at the man with one of the restaurant's knives. He proceeded to headbutt and punch the man, resulting in injuries that will take an estimated 10 days to heal.
The police rushed to the scene after being tipped off and arrested Yamato, who was apparently drunk at the time. The actor may face additional charges when the case is brought to court.
Police say the incident occurred in the Meguro ward of Tokyo on Saturday night. Yamato was at a sushi restaurant with a woman, and the pair began arguing. When Yamato was reprimanded by the store owner, 41, he became angered and thrust at the man with one of the restaurant's knives. He proceeded to headbutt and punch the man, resulting in injuries that will take an estimated 10 days to heal.
The police rushed to the scene after being tipped off and arrested Yamato, who was apparently drunk at the time. The actor may face additional charges when the case is brought to court.
Mon, August 4, 2008 (1:19am EDT)
It was widely reported last week that TBS's Yuko Aoki had turned in her resignation, but when she appeared on "Sunday Japon" this weekend, she stated that she "wants to continue working hard as a TBS announcer."
The topic was raised at the end of the show by the hosts, comedy duo Bakusho Mondai. Aoki started out by apologizing for causing a fuss, then went on to explain the situation. According to her, she had started having doubts about being an announcer, and about a month ago she began talking to people in the company about quitting. But she says she decided to continue with the job and never resigned.
Weekly magazines had reported that she was quitting because of an affair with a married TV director, but she said that wasn't the case. She also declined to comment on her private life.
The topic was raised at the end of the show by the hosts, comedy duo Bakusho Mondai. Aoki started out by apologizing for causing a fuss, then went on to explain the situation. According to her, she had started having doubts about being an announcer, and about a month ago she began talking to people in the company about quitting. But she says she decided to continue with the job and never resigned.
Weekly magazines had reported that she was quitting because of an affair with a married TV director, but she said that wasn't the case. She also declined to comment on her private life.
Mon, August 4, 2008 (1:16am EDT)
Director Yukihiko Tsutsumi's "20th Century Boys" movie trilogy has officially revealed its heroine. Toho announced on Sunday that the role of Kanna, the niece of the protagonist Kenji (Toshiaki Karasawa), will be played by 23-year-old actress Airi Taira, who was selected by audition from a pool of around 3,000 hopefuls.
Although Kanna's part in the first movie is minor, she plays a critical role in bridging the first two films and in the rest of the trilogy.
The first installment opens on August 30, and the second is lined up for January 31, 2009.
Although Kanna's part in the first movie is minor, she plays a critical role in bridging the first two films and in the rest of the trilogy.
The first installment opens on August 30, and the second is lined up for January 31, 2009.
