Thu, August 7, 2008 (10:42am EDT)
Classical composer and conductor Tadashi Hattori died of old age this past Saturday at his home in Tokyo. He was 100.
Hattori was a graduate of Keio University, where he was part of the mandolin club. After graduation, he became involved in composing music. He created music for everything from opera to orchestra to television to radio. Some of his more famous works were scores to Akira Kurosawa films, such as "No Regrets for Our Youth" in 1946.
Hattori later became a professor emeritus at the Kunitachi College of Music. He was also awarded the Shiju Hosho and the Order of the Rising Sun.
Hattori was a graduate of Keio University, where he was part of the mandolin club. After graduation, he became involved in composing music. He created music for everything from opera to orchestra to television to radio. Some of his more famous works were scores to Akira Kurosawa films, such as "No Regrets for Our Youth" in 1946.
Hattori later became a professor emeritus at the Kunitachi College of Music. He was also awarded the Shiju Hosho and the Order of the Rising Sun.
Thu, August 7, 2008 (10:40am EDT)
Punk band Ging Nang Boyz is recording a cover of the 1971 hit "17 Sai," sung by Okinawan-born idol Saori Minami. The tune has previously been covered by singers such as Chisato Moritaka and Shinko Katsuno, but this will be the first version done by male artists.
"17 Sai" was Minami's debut single. It reached #2 on the Oricon charts and earned her one of the New Artist Awards in the 13th annual Japan Record Awards.
The Ging Nang Boyz cover has also been picked as the theme song to Yuki Tanada's new movie "Oretachi ni Asu wa Nai-ssu," based on the manga of the same name by Akira Saso. The film, which stars Tokio Emoto and D-BOYS' Yuya Endo, is scheduled to open this fall.
"17 Sai" was Minami's debut single. It reached #2 on the Oricon charts and earned her one of the New Artist Awards in the 13th annual Japan Record Awards.
The Ging Nang Boyz cover has also been picked as the theme song to Yuki Tanada's new movie "Oretachi ni Asu wa Nai-ssu," based on the manga of the same name by Akira Saso. The film, which stars Tokio Emoto and D-BOYS' Yuya Endo, is scheduled to open this fall.
Thu, August 7, 2008 (2:51am EDT)
Director Ryuichi Hiroki has a new project in the works titled "Yomei Ikkagetsu no Hanayome," which will star Nana Eikura and Eita.
The movie is based on the true story of the love between Chie Nagashima, a woman who died at the age of 24 while fighting breast cancer, and her boyfriend/husband Taro Akasu. Nagashima's life was the subject of a documentary aired by TBS last July. Filming starts this October in preparation for theatrical release next May, timed to coincide with Nagashima's death anniversary.
The documentary achieved ratings of 16.6%, and the story was later published as a book that sold more than 400,000 copies. Movie offers rolled in, and producer Takashi Hirano eventually earned the consent of Nagashima's family. Last year, Hirano produced "LIFE: Tengoku de Kimi ni Aetara," a similar biopic about windsurfer Natsuki Iijima, who died of liver cancer.
The movie is based on the true story of the love between Chie Nagashima, a woman who died at the age of 24 while fighting breast cancer, and her boyfriend/husband Taro Akasu. Nagashima's life was the subject of a documentary aired by TBS last July. Filming starts this October in preparation for theatrical release next May, timed to coincide with Nagashima's death anniversary.
The documentary achieved ratings of 16.6%, and the story was later published as a book that sold more than 400,000 copies. Movie offers rolled in, and producer Takashi Hirano eventually earned the consent of Nagashima's family. Last year, Hirano produced "LIFE: Tengoku de Kimi ni Aetara," a similar biopic about windsurfer Natsuki Iijima, who died of liver cancer.
Thu, August 7, 2008 (2:33am EDT)
The sci-fi/fantasy manga collection "Ishoku Tanpenshu" by Fujiko F. Fujio is being turned into a short drama series on WOWOW, titled "Fujiko F. Fujio no Parallel Space." 6 episodes are planned, with each one featuring a separate story with different casts and directors.
The first episode is based on the tale of "Nebumi Camera." Masami Nagasawa stars as a woman working at her family's antique shop. One day, a man shows up at the store with a mysterious camera that has the power to reveal a person's future worth. Michihiko Yanai is directing.
Later episodes will reportedly star Kumiko Aso, Jun Kaname, Mimura, and Mitsuki Tanimura. WOWOW will broadcast the series on Fridays at midnight, beginning on October 31.
The first episode is based on the tale of "Nebumi Camera." Masami Nagasawa stars as a woman working at her family's antique shop. One day, a man shows up at the store with a mysterious camera that has the power to reveal a person's future worth. Michihiko Yanai is directing.
Later episodes will reportedly star Kumiko Aso, Jun Kaname, Mimura, and Mitsuki Tanimura. WOWOW will broadcast the series on Fridays at midnight, beginning on October 31.
Thu, August 7, 2008 (1:42am EDT)
This week's issue of FRIDAY reports a new possible romance for Atsushi Tamura of the duo London Boots. The 34-year-old comedian was recently spotted on a dinner date with 28-year-old actress Noriko Nakagoshi.
According to the article, the pair spent roughly 3 hours at an Italian restaurant in Daikanyama. Nakagoshi was also seen attending a live performance by Tamura's band jealkb.
Tamura's management says that the two are just friends. Nakagoshi agency also denied that they are dating.
According to the article, the pair spent roughly 3 hours at an Italian restaurant in Daikanyama. Nakagoshi was also seen attending a live performance by Tamura's band jealkb.
Tamura's management says that the two are just friends. Nakagoshi agency also denied that they are dating.
Thu, August 7, 2008 (1:33am EDT)
Hiroshi Motomiya's popular manga series "Salaryman Kintaro" is once again being adapted as a television drama. It previously ran for four seasons on TBS between 1999 and 2004 with Katsunori Takahashi as the star, and it even had a movie directed by Takashi Miike after the first season. The new version, however, is jumping to TV Asahi and has a brand new actor, Masaru Nagai.
It is uncommon for a television network to produce a drama series based on the same source as another drama from a different network. One of the few examples is Fuji TV's 2006 series "Saiyuki," which was originally dramatized by NTV from 1978 to 1980.
As for the role of Kintaro, Takahashi offered his encouragement to the younger Nagai. The two have plenty of experience working together, as they both appeared in the "Tokumei Kakarichou Tadano Hitoshi" drama series, which has had three seasons and is having a movie version released in December.
The new "Salaryman Kintaro" will air in TV Asahi's Friday 11:15pm time slot, starting in October.
It is uncommon for a television network to produce a drama series based on the same source as another drama from a different network. One of the few examples is Fuji TV's 2006 series "Saiyuki," which was originally dramatized by NTV from 1978 to 1980.
As for the role of Kintaro, Takahashi offered his encouragement to the younger Nagai. The two have plenty of experience working together, as they both appeared in the "Tokumei Kakarichou Tadano Hitoshi" drama series, which has had three seasons and is having a movie version released in December.
The new "Salaryman Kintaro" will air in TV Asahi's Friday 11:15pm time slot, starting in October.
