Mon, December 15, 2008 (3:18am EST)
The band Quruli has been chosen to do their first theme song for a television drama. Their new song "Mikazuki" will be used in the NHK period drama "Naniwa no Hana ~Ogata Koan Jikencho~," which stars Masataka Kubota and Chiaki Kuriyama.
Quruli made their major label debut in 1998 and have done music for television and film in the past, but they have never done a drama theme song before. "Naniwa no Hana" begins airing in January, and "Mikazuki" will go on sale the next month.
Quruli made their major label debut in 1998 and have done music for television and film in the past, but they have never done a drama theme song before. "Naniwa no Hana" begins airing in January, and "Mikazuki" will go on sale the next month.
Mon, December 15, 2008 (3:06am EST)
Oricon has published the results of its annual survey that asks, "Which celebrity would you want as your lover?" This year, Masaharu Fukuyama topped the male list for the third time in a row, while actress Aya Ueto led the female list.
Among the men, Takuya Kimura moved up to #2, while Hiroshi Tamaki remained at #3. The rest of the list was very different from last year's, as it consisted of Sho Sakurai, Teppei Koike, Koichi Domoto, Yusuke Kamiji, Haruma Miura, Shun Oguri, and Takeru Sato. Of those, only Domoto was in the top ten last year.
On the female list, Masami Nagasawa repeated her ranking at #2, followed by Haruka Ayase (up one spot) and Yui Aragaki (last year's #1). Erika Toda was new to the list at #5. The bottom half of the top ten were Saki Aibu, Maki Horikita, Aoi Miyazaki, Keiko Kitagawa, and Ai Otsuka.
Among the men, Takuya Kimura moved up to #2, while Hiroshi Tamaki remained at #3. The rest of the list was very different from last year's, as it consisted of Sho Sakurai, Teppei Koike, Koichi Domoto, Yusuke Kamiji, Haruma Miura, Shun Oguri, and Takeru Sato. Of those, only Domoto was in the top ten last year.
On the female list, Masami Nagasawa repeated her ranking at #2, followed by Haruka Ayase (up one spot) and Yui Aragaki (last year's #1). Erika Toda was new to the list at #5. The bottom half of the top ten were Saki Aibu, Maki Horikita, Aoi Miyazaki, Keiko Kitagawa, and Ai Otsuka.
Mon, December 15, 2008 (2:43am EST)
Toho has revealed its 2009 lineup, and one of the biggest highlights is the announcement that the Seicho Matsumoto novel "Zero no Shoten" is being adapted to film for the second time, with director Isshin Inudo taking the helm.
Also known as "Zero Focus," the book is one of Matsumoto's more popular works. It was originally published in the late '50s, then was made into a movie by Shochiku in 1961, directed by Yoshitaro Nomura and starring Yoshiko Kuga. The story centers around a newlywed woman whose husband fails to return from a business trip. When she begins a search, she becomes entangled in a murder case that her missing husband may have been involved with.
Inudo's version is reportedly staying true to the original work, and it will be set in the same era. Casting is currently in the final stages, while filming is already set to begin in February. Toho is aiming for a fall 2009 release.
One other notable announcement by Toho was "Nakumonka," also scheduled for the fall. The movie reunites the team of director Nobuo Mizuta, screenwriter Kankuro Kudo, and lead actor Sadao Abe, who all worked together previously in last year's comedy "Maiko Haaaan!!!"
Also known as "Zero Focus," the book is one of Matsumoto's more popular works. It was originally published in the late '50s, then was made into a movie by Shochiku in 1961, directed by Yoshitaro Nomura and starring Yoshiko Kuga. The story centers around a newlywed woman whose husband fails to return from a business trip. When she begins a search, she becomes entangled in a murder case that her missing husband may have been involved with.
Inudo's version is reportedly staying true to the original work, and it will be set in the same era. Casting is currently in the final stages, while filming is already set to begin in February. Toho is aiming for a fall 2009 release.
One other notable announcement by Toho was "Nakumonka," also scheduled for the fall. The movie reunites the team of director Nobuo Mizuta, screenwriter Kankuro Kudo, and lead actor Sadao Abe, who all worked together previously in last year's comedy "Maiko Haaaan!!!"
Mon, December 15, 2008 (2:18am EST)
Rising enka star Jero has revealed details about his second single. Titled "Eisa," the song is written by popular singer Yo Hitoto and is said to have a faster tempo than Jero's hit debut song "Umiyuki."
"Eisa" is scheduled to go on sale January 28.
"Eisa" is scheduled to go on sale January 28.
Mon, December 15, 2008 (2:13am EST)
In August, singer-songwriter Hitomi Toi got married to painter Takeru Amano. The two are now proud parents, as Toi gave birth to a baby boy on Saturday night.
Toi said that she is already looking forward to making more music, and she has scheduled her first concert as a mother for April 26 in Daikanyama, Tokyo.
Toi said that she is already looking forward to making more music, and she has scheduled her first concert as a mother for April 26 in Daikanyama, Tokyo.
Mon, December 15, 2008 (2:06am EST)
TV Asahi's popular drama series "Tokumei Kakarichou Tadano Hitoshi" is returning for a fourth season this winter. However, it will be moving from its late-night time slot to the "golden time" slot of 9:00pm, which means that the show will have to cut back on its nudity and bed scenes.
The show, which stars Katsunori Takahashi, started in 2003 and has had a new series every other year. It has also had four special episodes and a movie adaptation that opened earlier this month.
The new series will air on Thursday nights, starting on January 8. Before that, on January 3, TV Asahi will air a special episode, featuring Ayako Nishikawa (who appeared in the movie), Tomiyuki Kunihiro, and former Morning Musume member Yuko Nakazawa.
The show, which stars Katsunori Takahashi, started in 2003 and has had a new series every other year. It has also had four special episodes and a movie adaptation that opened earlier this month.
The new series will air on Thursday nights, starting on January 8. Before that, on January 3, TV Asahi will air a special episode, featuring Ayako Nishikawa (who appeared in the movie), Tomiyuki Kunihiro, and former Morning Musume member Yuko Nakazawa.
Mon, December 15, 2008 (1:03am EST)
After almost three years away, actress Akiko Yada is making her return to show business. She will appear in Fuji TV's upcoming drama series "Voice," which stars Eita as one member of a group of students in a seminar about forensic pathology. Yada plays the seminar's teaching assistant.
Yada's last television drama role was in the 2006 series "Top Caster" with Yuki Amami. Shortly after that, her clean image was tarnished due to her relationship with bad boy actor Manabu Oshio, and her career was abruptly cut short when she married Oshio that November. Yada gave birth to a child about one year later.
Yada's last television drama role was in the 2006 series "Top Caster" with Yuki Amami. Shortly after that, her clean image was tarnished due to her relationship with bad boy actor Manabu Oshio, and her career was abruptly cut short when she married Oshio that November. Yada gave birth to a child about one year later.
