Tue, December 9, 2008 (10:46am EST)
Anime News Network reports that the latest issue of Kodansha's Kiss magazine reveals plans for two live-action "Nodame Cantabile" films. The news follows right on the heels of the announcement that the currently-airing "Nodame Cantabile: Paris" anime series is getting a sequel next fall.
The two movies are continuations of the popular 2006 drama series, which had a two-part special at the start of this year based on the Paris story arc. The story reportedly continues with the Paris chapter.
Juri Ueno and Hiroshi Tamaki will of course reprise their starring roles. The first film has been slated for January 2010, quickly followed by the second in the spring.
The two movies are continuations of the popular 2006 drama series, which had a two-part special at the start of this year based on the Paris story arc. The story reportedly continues with the Paris chapter.
Juri Ueno and Hiroshi Tamaki will of course reprise their starring roles. The first film has been slated for January 2010, quickly followed by the second in the spring.
Tue, December 9, 2008 (3:57am EST)
NHK's Saturday jidaigeki drama next season will be "Naniwa no Hana ~Ogata Koan Jikencho~," based on the life of the Edo period doctor Ogata Koan. One of the cast members is actress Chiaki Kuriyama, who has never appeared in a period drama before. She will play two roles - one is as an expert swordsman who saves Ogata, and the other is as the daughter of a manju maker.
The show also features Masataka Kubota, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, and Taiyo Sugiura. NHK will broadcast the series on Saturday nights at 7:30pm, beginning January 10.
The show also features Masataka Kubota, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, and Taiyo Sugiura. NHK will broadcast the series on Saturday nights at 7:30pm, beginning January 10.
Tue, December 9, 2008 (3:36am EST)
Over the weekend, it was announced that the pop duo Puffy are collaborating with rocker Ringo Shiina for their next single. "Hiyori Hime" is written and composed by Shiina, and will be used as the opening theme of the anime series "Genji Monogatari Sennenki," starting in January.
The single is scheduled for release on February 25. The CD+DVD version includes footage of four songs from Puffy's "honeysweeper" tour last December.
The single is scheduled for release on February 25. The CD+DVD version includes footage of four songs from Puffy's "honeysweeper" tour last December.
Tue, December 9, 2008 (3:28am EST)
Oricon has conducted its regular "favorite female announcer" survey, and the results place Fuji TV's Aya Takashima at the #1 seat. The survey has been conducted five times since January 2006, and Takashima (also known by the nickname "Ayapan") has been the winner every time. As a result, Oricon is entering her name into the survey's "hall of fame," making her ineligible for future iterations.
#2 was NTV's Yukari Nishio, known for "Zoom In!! SUPER," while #3 was Fuji TV's Minako Nakano, who appears on "Mezamashi TV" with Takashima. The rest of the top ten list, in order, were: Maya Kobayashi, Christel Takigawa (tied with Mariko Dou), Emi Takeuchi, Kyoko Uchida, Yuki Maeda, and Rio Hirai.
#2 was NTV's Yukari Nishio, known for "Zoom In!! SUPER," while #3 was Fuji TV's Minako Nakano, who appears on "Mezamashi TV" with Takashima. The rest of the top ten list, in order, were: Maya Kobayashi, Christel Takigawa (tied with Mariko Dou), Emi Takeuchi, Kyoko Uchida, Yuki Maeda, and Rio Hirai.
Tue, December 9, 2008 (3:14am EST)
The novel "Shizumanu Taiyo" is being turned into a big-budget film, starring Ken Watanabe. Directed by Setsuro Wakamatsu ("Whiteout"), the movie is said to cost 2 billion yen, with a running time of over three hours.
The original work was written by Toyoko Yamasaki during the 1990s. The story follows a man who served as the chair of an airline labor union (Watanabe), and is modeled after real-life events surrounding JAL and the Japan Airlines Flight 123 disaster in 1985.
A movie adaptation of the book was previously considered to be impossible - given its connection to existing people and companies, the airline industry refused to give its cooperation to a previous attempt in 2000 that was supposed to be a collaboration between Toei and Daiei (now Kadokawa Pictures). Even this version was announced by Kadokawa in 2006, but it never entered the filming stage.
However, it has now been decided that the project will still go through, but apparently without the help of the airline industry. The aircraft scenes will be shot through the use of a constructed set and computer-generated graphics.
Filming is scheduled to start in January in Iran. Other locations include Nairobi, New York, and Japan. Kadokawa plans to release the film in the fall of 2009.
The original work was written by Toyoko Yamasaki during the 1990s. The story follows a man who served as the chair of an airline labor union (Watanabe), and is modeled after real-life events surrounding JAL and the Japan Airlines Flight 123 disaster in 1985.
A movie adaptation of the book was previously considered to be impossible - given its connection to existing people and companies, the airline industry refused to give its cooperation to a previous attempt in 2000 that was supposed to be a collaboration between Toei and Daiei (now Kadokawa Pictures). Even this version was announced by Kadokawa in 2006, but it never entered the filming stage.
However, it has now been decided that the project will still go through, but apparently without the help of the airline industry. The aircraft scenes will be shot through the use of a constructed set and computer-generated graphics.
Filming is scheduled to start in January in Iran. Other locations include Nairobi, New York, and Japan. Kadokawa plans to release the film in the fall of 2009.
Tue, December 9, 2008 (2:33am EST)
Tuesday marks the 10th anniversary of Hikaru Utada's first single, "Automatic / time will tell." To commemorate the event, Utada has announced that she will publish her first official books next year.
In the spring, the two books "Ten" and "Sen" will simultaneously go on sale. "Ten" is an autobiographical account of her life since her debut, through her marriage and divorce up until the present day, told through interviews and her own writings. "Sen," on the other hand, is a collection of all the entries in her online journal on her official site. The book also includes pictures taken by Yasuhide Kuge, the photographer of her album "First Love."
The specific date of the books' release has not yet been determined.
In the spring, the two books "Ten" and "Sen" will simultaneously go on sale. "Ten" is an autobiographical account of her life since her debut, through her marriage and divorce up until the present day, told through interviews and her own writings. "Sen," on the other hand, is a collection of all the entries in her online journal on her official site. The book also includes pictures taken by Yasuhide Kuge, the photographer of her album "First Love."
The specific date of the books' release has not yet been determined.
Tue, December 9, 2008 (1:49am EST)
Comedian Muga Tsukaji (of Drunk Dragon) fractured his left shinbone on Saturday during a taping of the Fuji TV variety show "Haneru no Tobira."
According to Fuji TV, the injury occurred while they were filming the popular segment "Star Darake no Daiundoukai" (also known as the "All Star Athletic Games"), in which participants attempt near-impossible physical feats. Tsukaji was in the middle of a stunt when he fell into a pool below and hurt his leg. He was taken to a hospital, where it was determined that he had broken his shinbone.
Tsukaji will receive surgery on Tuesday. His doctor said that a full recovery will take two to three weeks, but his agency said it will not have a significant effect on his work schedule.
According to Fuji TV, the injury occurred while they were filming the popular segment "Star Darake no Daiundoukai" (also known as the "All Star Athletic Games"), in which participants attempt near-impossible physical feats. Tsukaji was in the middle of a stunt when he fell into a pool below and hurt his leg. He was taken to a hospital, where it was determined that he had broken his shinbone.
Tsukaji will receive surgery on Tuesday. His doctor said that a full recovery will take two to three weeks, but his agency said it will not have a significant effect on his work schedule.
