Wed, October 22, 2008 (2:12am EDT)
Mariya Takeuchi's collection "Expressions" spent its third consecutive week atop the albums chart, achieving about 72,000 in sales. She is now the first artist over the age of 50 to accomplish that feat, surpassing the two-week streak previously recorded by Kazumasa Oda in 2002.
Also on the charts were 9mm Parabellum Bullet, The Cro-Magnons, and EGO-WRAPPIN' at #2 through #4. THE PREDATORS came in at #6, and Denki Groove's new CD landed at #9.
On the singles chart, Korean group TVXQ sold 71,000 copies of 24th single, "MIROTIC," to capture the #1 spot. This is their fourth chart-topper of 2008, which now puts them ahead of SMAP, Arashi, and NEWS for the most #1 singles this year.
Fellow Korean Lee Byung-hun sold 38,000 copies of his latest song to take #2, edging out Yui Aragaki's second single. They were followed by Ryu Si-won, Ikimono Gakari, and ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION. Sendai Kamotsu also made the top ten with an appearance at #9.
Also on the charts were 9mm Parabellum Bullet, The Cro-Magnons, and EGO-WRAPPIN' at #2 through #4. THE PREDATORS came in at #6, and Denki Groove's new CD landed at #9.
On the singles chart, Korean group TVXQ sold 71,000 copies of 24th single, "MIROTIC," to capture the #1 spot. This is their fourth chart-topper of 2008, which now puts them ahead of SMAP, Arashi, and NEWS for the most #1 singles this year.
Fellow Korean Lee Byung-hun sold 38,000 copies of his latest song to take #2, edging out Yui Aragaki's second single. They were followed by Ryu Si-won, Ikimono Gakari, and ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION. Sendai Kamotsu also made the top ten with an appearance at #9.
Wed, October 22, 2008 (1:46am EDT)
The next movie by director Naoto Kumazawa has been revealed to be "Oto-na-ri," a love story starring V6 member Junichi Okada and actress Kumiko Aso.
Okada plays Satoshi, a professional photographer who would rather take pictures of landscapes than his magazine models. Meanwhile, Aso plays Nanao, a part-time florist aiming to study abroad in France. The two 30-year-old singles live in adjacent apartments but have never met, though they gradually learn about each other by the sounds coming through their wall.
Both stars have direct connections with their characters' occupations. Okada has actually had an interest in photography since he was 16, and Aso's mother used to work as a florist.
Filming starts in early November. Theatrical release is scheduled for early summer 2009.
Okada plays Satoshi, a professional photographer who would rather take pictures of landscapes than his magazine models. Meanwhile, Aso plays Nanao, a part-time florist aiming to study abroad in France. The two 30-year-old singles live in adjacent apartments but have never met, though they gradually learn about each other by the sounds coming through their wall.
Both stars have direct connections with their characters' occupations. Okada has actually had an interest in photography since he was 16, and Aso's mother used to work as a florist.
Filming starts in early November. Theatrical release is scheduled for early summer 2009.
Wed, October 22, 2008 (1:09am EDT)
Yukie Nakama and Ryo Kase will co-star in a Fuji TV drama series this winter. Titled "Arifureta Kiseki," the show will be the first series written by Taichi Yamada in 11 years. Yamada's last serial was TBS's "Fuzoroi no Ringotachi 4" in 1997, though he has written many tanpatsu dramas since then. He has reportedly stated that this will be his last time writing a series.
"Arifureta Kiseki" focuses on a woman (Nakama) living with her parents and grandmother, and a man (Kase) living with his father and grandfather. The story follows the ways that their ordinary lives and family ties begin to change after their encounter.
The show premieres on Fuji TV this January. It will air in the network's Thursday 10:00pm time slot.
"Arifureta Kiseki" focuses on a woman (Nakama) living with her parents and grandmother, and a man (Kase) living with his father and grandfather. The story follows the ways that their ordinary lives and family ties begin to change after their encounter.
The show premieres on Fuji TV this January. It will air in the network's Thursday 10:00pm time slot.
Wed, October 22, 2008 (12:34am EDT)
Singer melody. has suddenly announced on her official blog that she will be retiring as a music artist this January. Instead, she will be pursuing another one of her dreams, which is to become a designer of Western-style clothes.
The 26-year-old singer made her major label debut in 2003. Since then, she has released 11 singles and 4 albums, plus a best album that came out earlier this month.
melody.'s official site is scheduled to close on January 12.
The 26-year-old singer made her major label debut in 2003. Since then, she has released 11 singles and 4 albums, plus a best album that came out earlier this month.
melody.'s official site is scheduled to close on January 12.
