Mon, December 8, 2008 (4:24am EST)
Fuji TV plans to air a two-hour drama titled "Ekiro," based on Seicho Matsumoto's short story of the same name. The show boasts Koji Yakusho and Eri Fukatsu as its leads, Shigemichi Sugita ("Kita no Kuni Kara") as director, and a screenplay written by the late Kuniko Mukoda roughly 30 years ago for a TV adaptation.
In "Ekiro," a bank employee suddenly goes missing right after his retirement. Yakusho stars as the veteran detective in charge of the investigation, who is on the verge of retirement himself. All he seems to uncover are more mysteries, but one woman (Fukatsu) comes up during the investigation, and it seems that she may hold the key to the man's disappearance.
Fuji TV has indicated that the drama will air next spring.
In "Ekiro," a bank employee suddenly goes missing right after his retirement. Yakusho stars as the veteran detective in charge of the investigation, who is on the verge of retirement himself. All he seems to uncover are more mysteries, but one woman (Fukatsu) comes up during the investigation, and it seems that she may hold the key to the man's disappearance.
Fuji TV has indicated that the drama will air next spring.
Mon, December 8, 2008 (3:20am EST)
Osamu Dazai's 1945 novel "Pandora no Hako" ("Pandora's Box") is being turned into a movie in 2009, which happens to be the 100th anniversary of Dazai's birth. The film is being directed by Masanori Tominaga ("The Pavillion Salamandre").
The film stars teen actor Shota Sometani as Hibari, a young boy with tuberculosis sent to a sanatorium. The story follows his relationships with the other patients and with two female nurses, told in the form of letters from Hibari to his friend Tsukushi, who has already left the sanatorium.
The head nurse is played by singer/writer Mieko Kawakami, who is making her acting debut with this role. Actress Riisa Naka plays the other nurse, a whimsical rookie. Yosuke Kubozuka plays the friend Tsukushi. Other cast members include Ryo Fukawa, Yoriko Douguchi, and Mickey Curtis.
Jazz musician Naruyoshi Kikuchi is handling the soundtrack. Filming already started last month. Theatrical release is scheduled for fall 2009.
The film stars teen actor Shota Sometani as Hibari, a young boy with tuberculosis sent to a sanatorium. The story follows his relationships with the other patients and with two female nurses, told in the form of letters from Hibari to his friend Tsukushi, who has already left the sanatorium.
The head nurse is played by singer/writer Mieko Kawakami, who is making her acting debut with this role. Actress Riisa Naka plays the other nurse, a whimsical rookie. Yosuke Kubozuka plays the friend Tsukushi. Other cast members include Ryo Fukawa, Yoriko Douguchi, and Mickey Curtis.
Jazz musician Naruyoshi Kikuchi is handling the soundtrack. Filming already started last month. Theatrical release is scheduled for fall 2009.
Mon, December 8, 2008 (12:40am EST)
Another AKB48 member has announced her departure from the group: Team B's Yuki Matsuoka will be graduating in February of next year.
Matsuoka announced the news during a performance of Team B's 3rd Stage "Pajama Drive" on Saturday. She plans to officially leave the group on February 1, the day of the final performance of "Pajama Drive." It is not yet clear what her future plans are.
Matsuoka announced the news during a performance of Team B's 3rd Stage "Pajama Drive" on Saturday. She plans to officially leave the group on February 1, the day of the final performance of "Pajama Drive." It is not yet clear what her future plans are.
Mon, December 8, 2008 (12:12am EST)
The new Okinawan girls band Stereo Pony is on a roll. Last month, they released their debut single "Hitohira no Hanabira," which was used as the ending theme of the hit anime series "Bleach." Now, they will be doing the theme song for the "Mobile Suit Gundam 00" series, starting on January 11.
The "Gundam" franchise has not used a new artist for a theme song since Hitomi Takahashi sang "Bokutachi no Yukue" in 2005 for "Gundam SEED Destiny." Like Takahashi, the three members of Stereo Pony are all in their teens.
Many "Gundam" theme songs have become hit singles in the past, which means high hopes for Stereo Pony's tune, titled "Namida no Mukou." The single will go on sale in February.
The "Gundam" franchise has not used a new artist for a theme song since Hitomi Takahashi sang "Bokutachi no Yukue" in 2005 for "Gundam SEED Destiny." Like Takahashi, the three members of Stereo Pony are all in their teens.
Many "Gundam" theme songs have become hit singles in the past, which means high hopes for Stereo Pony's tune, titled "Namida no Mukou." The single will go on sale in February.
Mon, December 8, 2008 (12:11am EST)
Popular teen actor Haruma Miura will be taking on his first stage production next year. He has been cast as the star of "Hoshi no Daichi ni Furu Namida," produced by the theatrical group Chikyu Gorgeous. The play is written and directed by Goro Kishitani, who established the Chikyu Gorgeous group along with Yasufumi Terawaki.
The play is a historical fantasy set during a time of great war. Miura plays a young man who loses the memory of his defeat in battle and is washed ashore on a remote island. There, he is taken in by a woman (Yoshino Kimura) until he recovers his memory.
"Hoshi no Daichi" will be performed in Tokyo at the Akasaka ACT Theater from June 20 to July 26.
The play is a historical fantasy set during a time of great war. Miura plays a young man who loses the memory of his defeat in battle and is washed ashore on a remote island. There, he is taken in by a woman (Yoshino Kimura) until he recovers his memory.
"Hoshi no Daichi" will be performed in Tokyo at the Akasaka ACT Theater from June 20 to July 26.
