Mon, October 13, 2008 (3:43am EDT)
Veteran actor Toru Minegishi passed away late on Saturday night at a Tokyo hospital. He had been diagnosed with lung cancer just in April of this year and had been undergoing treatment since then, but his condition took a sudden turn on Saturday. He was 65.
Minegishi had been a regular participant in a triathlon on Miyakojima for the last 8 years. He had planned to participate again this past April, but during training he began experiencing back pains and had to be hospitalized. It was then discovered that he had terminal lung cancer and that it had spread to his hip.
He canceled a role in a stage play this past June in order to focus on receiving treatment, starting with hip surgery and followed by radiation therapy. His condition improved and he returned to work, but in the end he was unable to overcome his illness.
Born in July 1943 as Tomoo Minegishi, he made his debut with Toho in 1962, though it wasn't until more than a decade later that he settled on his stage name as Toru Minegishi. He married actress Tomoko Ai in 1977 but they later divorced. In 1986, he received much media attention following the suicide of idol Yukiko Okada, who had been reported as being romantically involved with Minegishi.
As an actor, Minegishi had appeared in dozens of films, including Yojiro Takita's recently opened "Okuribito," which won the grand prize at the Montreal World Film Festival and was offered as Japan's candidate for an Academy Award nomination. His final work is a single scene in Nobuhiko Obayashi's adaptation of "Sono Hi no Mae ni," which will have a posthumous premiere on November 1. Minegishi also appeared frequently in television dramas over the years.
Minegishi had been a regular participant in a triathlon on Miyakojima for the last 8 years. He had planned to participate again this past April, but during training he began experiencing back pains and had to be hospitalized. It was then discovered that he had terminal lung cancer and that it had spread to his hip.
He canceled a role in a stage play this past June in order to focus on receiving treatment, starting with hip surgery and followed by radiation therapy. His condition improved and he returned to work, but in the end he was unable to overcome his illness.
Born in July 1943 as Tomoo Minegishi, he made his debut with Toho in 1962, though it wasn't until more than a decade later that he settled on his stage name as Toru Minegishi. He married actress Tomoko Ai in 1977 but they later divorced. In 1986, he received much media attention following the suicide of idol Yukiko Okada, who had been reported as being romantically involved with Minegishi.
As an actor, Minegishi had appeared in dozens of films, including Yojiro Takita's recently opened "Okuribito," which won the grand prize at the Montreal World Film Festival and was offered as Japan's candidate for an Academy Award nomination. His final work is a single scene in Nobuhiko Obayashi's adaptation of "Sono Hi no Mae ni," which will have a posthumous premiere on November 1. Minegishi also appeared frequently in television dramas over the years.
Mon, October 13, 2008 (2:51am EDT)
The new theme song of Fuji TV's popular reality/variety show "Ainori" is being sung by rising star Thelma Aoyama. The show, which has just entered its 10th year on the air, will begin using the new song on Monday's episode.
Titled "Daikkirai, Demo Arigato," the tune is a collaboration with the group Dreams Come True. Aoyama, who has reportedly been a fan of them since kindergarten, requested that they create a song for her, and they agreed. This is only the second time that Dreams Come True has provided music for another artist, with the first time being KinKi Kids' "Ne, Ganbaru Yo" in 2004.
The song is being made available as a chaku-uta immediately after Monday's episode of "Ainori." A CD release date has not been decided yet.
Titled "Daikkirai, Demo Arigato," the tune is a collaboration with the group Dreams Come True. Aoyama, who has reportedly been a fan of them since kindergarten, requested that they create a song for her, and they agreed. This is only the second time that Dreams Come True has provided music for another artist, with the first time being KinKi Kids' "Ne, Ganbaru Yo" in 2004.
The song is being made available as a chaku-uta immediately after Monday's episode of "Ainori." A CD release date has not been decided yet.
Mon, October 13, 2008 (2:32am EDT)
Anna Tsuchiya attended a press conference for "Resident Evil: Degeneration" (known as "Biohazard: Degeneration" in Japan) during the Tokyo Game Show this weekend. At the event, it was revealed that Tsuchiya is handling the movie's ending theme, titled "Guilty."
"Guilty" is not included on Tsuchiya's new album "NUDY SHOW!" that goes on sale later this month, though details about the song's release have not been decided yet.
"Guilty" is not included on Tsuchiya's new album "NUDY SHOW!" that goes on sale later this month, though details about the song's release have not been decided yet.
Mon, October 13, 2008 (2:02am EDT)
Last week, Yoshimoto Kogyo unveiled its plans to hold an international film festival in Chatan, Okinawa, next year. Known as the Okinawa International Movie Festival 2009, the event's theme is "Laugh & Peace." It will take place on March 19-22.
Among the works being screened are the 100 short films directed by Yoshimoto Kogyo entertainers, which were created as part of a large project that began last year.
The festival's program includes a competition section for full-length films, screening comedies from around the world. 5 million yen has been set aside as the prize money for the top award. Two smaller competition sections have been created for short films and commercials, with each offering a 1 million yen prize.
Yoshimoto Kogyo is hoping to make the festival an annual event. More details about the festival are available at the official website.
Among the works being screened are the 100 short films directed by Yoshimoto Kogyo entertainers, which were created as part of a large project that began last year.
The festival's program includes a competition section for full-length films, screening comedies from around the world. 5 million yen has been set aside as the prize money for the top award. Two smaller competition sections have been created for short films and commercials, with each offering a 1 million yen prize.
Yoshimoto Kogyo is hoping to make the festival an annual event. More details about the festival are available at the official website.
Mon, October 13, 2008 (1:41am EDT)
Nobuo Mizuta's upcoming disaster movie "252: Seizonsha Ari" will be tied in with a drama special on NTV, tentatively titled "252: Seizonsha Ari episode ZERO." While the film stars Hideaki Ito and Masaaki Uchino as members of a rescue squad, the drama will feature Hayato Ichihara as the main character. Ito, Uchino, and other cast members from the film will make guest appearances.
The drama's story takes place two years prior to the film. Ichihara plays a fireman aiming to become part of the rescue squad, motivated by the death of his parents in the Great Hanshin earthquake.
Filming for the episode is scheduled to end this month. NTV has set the broadcast date for December 5, the day before the movie officially opens in theaters.
The drama's story takes place two years prior to the film. Ichihara plays a fireman aiming to become part of the rescue squad, motivated by the death of his parents in the Great Hanshin earthquake.
Filming for the episode is scheduled to end this month. NTV has set the broadcast date for December 5, the day before the movie officially opens in theaters.
Mon, October 13, 2008 (1:31am EDT)
The Sitges Film Festival came to a close on Sunday, and the full list of award winners has been revealed. Overall, Japanese films picked up fewer prizes compared to last year, but Mamoru Oshii's animated movie "The Sky Crawlers" won three awards on its own.
"Sky Crawlers" was the only animated film in the competition section of this year's festival. One other Japanese film, Takashi Miike's "Crows ZERO," also competed.
"Sky Crawlers" was one of the competition winners, earning Best Original Soundtrack for Kenji Kawai's score. It also earned the Jose Luis Guarner Critic Award and shared the Best Motion Picture award from the Carnet Jove Jury (a youth jury).
Meanwhile, Miike's "Kamisama no Puzzle" ("God's Puzzle") received Special Mention in the Noves Visions awards. Fernando Meirelles' "Blindness," which had Yoshino Kimura and Yusuke Iseya in its supporting cast, received the Grand Audience Award.
"Sky Crawlers" was the only animated film in the competition section of this year's festival. One other Japanese film, Takashi Miike's "Crows ZERO," also competed.
"Sky Crawlers" was one of the competition winners, earning Best Original Soundtrack for Kenji Kawai's score. It also earned the Jose Luis Guarner Critic Award and shared the Best Motion Picture award from the Carnet Jove Jury (a youth jury).
Meanwhile, Miike's "Kamisama no Puzzle" ("God's Puzzle") received Special Mention in the Noves Visions awards. Fernando Meirelles' "Blindness," which had Yoshino Kimura and Yusuke Iseya in its supporting cast, received the Grand Audience Award.
Source: Sitges Film Festival | Comments (0)
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Mon, October 13, 2008 (1:10am EDT)
Producer Tsunku has just completed his 3rd "meganekko" audition, designed to find the next popular glasses-wearing idol, a la Ami Tokito. The winner this time was 5th-grader Chihira Mochida from the Niigata prefecture, who celebrated her 11th birthday on the same day as the final selection. She was chosen from about 1,800 applicants.
As part of her reward, Mochida will become a trainee of Tsunku's recently created NICE GIRL Project, which is currently the home of idol groups The Possible and Canary Club.
As part of her reward, Mochida will become a trainee of Tsunku's recently created NICE GIRL Project, which is currently the home of idol groups The Possible and Canary Club.
Mon, October 13, 2008 (12:54am EDT)
Hello! Project has created a new unit composed of Hitomi Yoshizawa and Rika Ishikawa. The duo is called Hangry & Angry, and it is a collaboration with a Gothic Lolita/punk fashion store of the same name in Harajuku (official website).
The rock-flavored duo, which has Yoshizawa and Ishikawa taking on the character names of Hangry and Angry, respectively, is already set to release a mini-album titled "Kill Me Kiss Me" on November 19. A sample of the title track is already available, and it can be heard on the unit's official MySpace page.
The rock-flavored duo, which has Yoshizawa and Ishikawa taking on the character names of Hangry and Angry, respectively, is already set to release a mini-album titled "Kill Me Kiss Me" on November 19. A sample of the title track is already available, and it can be heard on the unit's official MySpace page.
Mon, October 13, 2008 (12:41am EDT)
Singer Ami Suzuki will star in a TBS drama series that starts next month. Titled "Love Letter," the show is scheduled to run for 60 episodes in the afternoon "Ai no Gekijo" time slot (weekdays 1:00pm). This will be Suzuki's first lead role in a television series since she made her comeback.
Set on Shodoshima in Japan's Inland Sea, the story follows the experiences of the hearing-impaired protagonist along the path to adulthood, such as her first love and her first breakup. The 15-year span of the story is divided into three parts, with Suzuki playing the character as an adult. Rio Yamashita will play the character in junior high, while Yukina Matsushima fills in for the elementary school version of the role.
Suzuki previously starred in the 2000 series "Fukaku Mogure ~Hakkenden 2001~." She was offered the lead in the following year's "Shin Hoshi no Kinka," but she was ultimately removed due to her blacklisting that resulted from the lawsuit against her former management agency.
TBS will start airing "Love Letter" on November 24.
Set on Shodoshima in Japan's Inland Sea, the story follows the experiences of the hearing-impaired protagonist along the path to adulthood, such as her first love and her first breakup. The 15-year span of the story is divided into three parts, with Suzuki playing the character as an adult. Rio Yamashita will play the character in junior high, while Yukina Matsushima fills in for the elementary school version of the role.
Suzuki previously starred in the 2000 series "Fukaku Mogure ~Hakkenden 2001~." She was offered the lead in the following year's "Shin Hoshi no Kinka," but she was ultimately removed due to her blacklisting that resulted from the lawsuit against her former management agency.
TBS will start airing "Love Letter" on November 24.
