Ska group ORESKABAND is planning to release their American debut album next spring. The band has reportedly accepted an offer from indie label Side One Dummy Records, though they are signed with Sony in Japan.

Earlier this month, the six-girl group finished playing on all 46 stops of the Vans Warped Tour. They also performed at Wizard World Chicago in June.

On October 22 in Japan, ORESKABAND will simultaneously release a Warped Tour documentary DVD and a mini-album titled "What a Wonderful World! vol. 1." According to their official site, a second mini-album is due in February 2009.

Japan has chosen its representative for the 2008 Elite Model Look international competition, which is scheduled to be held in China this October. 19-year-old Yui Hara, a 2nd-year junior college student from Kagoshima, won the Grand Prix in the model division of Japan's finals, earning her the right to compete in China. She emerged as the winner from a pool of about 3,000 hopefuls.

The entertainment division of the competition found its winner in 12-year-old Risa Kamiya, an Okinawan idol currently in her first year of junior high. Kamiya, who has been attending dance school for four years, said she wants to be a singer like fellow Okinawan Namie Amuro, but also hopes to be active as an actress and TV talento.

The male lead has been revealed for the Fuji TV drama series "Innocent Love," which stars popular actress Maki Horikita. Rather than casting a popular young actor for the role, the network has chosen Yujin Kitagawa, the 31-year-old leader of folk duo Yuzu.

The drama is described as a "Cinderella story," with Horikita playing Kanon, a pitiful woman who eventually finds love with a pianist named Junya (Kitagawa). Junya's character is cheerful and innocent on the surface, but his heart is full of painful sorrow.

Kitagawa actually started out his entertainment career as an actor, before Yuzu got their big break. He appeared in multiple dramas, such as "Meitantei Hokenshitsu no Obasan" in 1997, and he even starred in the 1996 horror film "All Night Long 3: Saishusho." However, he has been focused on music since Yuzu made their debut in 1997.

"Innocent Love" is filling Fuji TV's Monday 9:00pm time slot this fall.

Talento Alisa Mizuki has been given her 20th starring role in a drama series. In NTV's "OL Nippon," she will play a resourceful OL working in the general affairs department of a long-standing firm.

The script is being handled by Miho Nakazono, who has written several female-led hits, including "Haken no Hinkaku" and "Yamato Nadeshiko." Mizuki's character is described as an ordinary office worker, single and in her early thirties. However, she hates to lose, which drives her to do her job well.

Some of the filming is taking place in China, as Mizuki's character trains a group of Chinese workers as part of her company's outsourcing plans.

"OL Nippon" will run in NTV's Wednesday 10:00pm time slot, starting in October.

"Donju," the directorial debut of Hideaki Hosono, had its main cast revealed on Monday. Based on a suspense-comedy Donju by Kankuro Kudo, the movie was first revealed in July, but at the time only lead actor Tadanobu Asano was announced.

Asano's supporting cast includes Yoko Maki (as the female lead), Kazuki Kitamura, Yusuke Santamaria, Yoko Minamino, and Aimi Satsukawa.

"Donju" is slated for a 2009 release.

Up-and-coming actor Haruma Miura has landed another major role: he has been cast in the upcoming "Crows ZERO" sequel (directed by Takashi Miike). He will play the part of protagonist Genji Takaya's (Shun Oguri) greatest opponent.

Officially confirmed in May, the movie is set months after the first "Crows ZERO." Miura plays Tatusya Mito, the leader of Housen Gakuen, the rival school of Genji's Suzuran. RIZE drummer Nobuaki Kaneko is also appearing in the film playing the third-year Housen student Narumi, an original character for the film.

"Crows ZERO 2" is scheduled for a 2009 release.