Tue, December 16, 2008 (3:55am EST)
On February 25, Dreams Come True will release a song called "GOOD BYE MY SCHOOL DAYS." The single will feature three other versions of the song, with one being the CD debut of young actress Mikako Tabe.
"GOOD BYE MY SCHOOL DAYS" is actually a graduation song created by Miwa Yoshida during her high school days. With next year marking the 20th anniversary of Dreams Come True's debut, the group has decided to release the song as a cover single with four different versions, just in time for graduation season.
The first version is recorded by Dreams Come True, though it will have a more modern arrangement than the original tune written by Yoshida. Meanwhile, a folk music version is being sung by Tabe, who did a commercial song for Yomiuri Shimbun in 2006 but has never released a song on CD.
The two other versions on the single are a ska-flavored rendition by ORESKABAND and a rock cover by FUZZY CONTROL.
"GOOD BYE MY SCHOOL DAYS" is actually a graduation song created by Miwa Yoshida during her high school days. With next year marking the 20th anniversary of Dreams Come True's debut, the group has decided to release the song as a cover single with four different versions, just in time for graduation season.
The first version is recorded by Dreams Come True, though it will have a more modern arrangement than the original tune written by Yoshida. Meanwhile, a folk music version is being sung by Tabe, who did a commercial song for Yomiuri Shimbun in 2006 but has never released a song on CD.
The two other versions on the single are a ska-flavored rendition by ORESKABAND and a rock cover by FUZZY CONTROL.
Tue, December 16, 2008 (3:34am EST)
The final ratings data are now in for the NHK taiga drama "Atsuhime." The popular show, starring Aoi Miyazaki, ended its run on Sunday with its 50th episode, which averaged 28.7% in the Kanto area. That fell slightly short of its highest rating - 29.2% for episode #48 - but it still helped raise the show's overall average to 24.5%. This makes it the highest rated taiga drama in the 12-year period since "Hideyoshi" in 1997, which averaged 30.5%.
The show started out at only 20.3% in January, but ratings gradually rose throughout the year. For the final episode, ratings peaked at 34.9%.
Next year's taiga drama, "Tenchijin" starring Satoshi Tsumabuki, premieres on January 4.
The show started out at only 20.3% in January, but ratings gradually rose throughout the year. For the final episode, ratings peaked at 34.9%.
Next year's taiga drama, "Tenchijin" starring Satoshi Tsumabuki, premieres on January 4.
Tue, December 16, 2008 (3:10am EST)
Mangaka Tetsu Kariya revealed on his blog over the weekend that his popular manga "Oishinbo" is returning to television.
The comic originally spawned a series of five 2-hour specials that aired between 1994 and 1999, starring Toshiaki Karasawa. Last year, the franchise was revived with two specials titled "Shin Oishinbo," with TOKIO's Masahiro Matsuoka as the star. Now, according to Kariya, a new episode is slated for spring 2009. It is not yet known whether Matsuoka will reprise his role or if the special will feature a new cast.
Kariya said that this time, he will be participating in writing the drama's script, something he has never done before.
The comic originally spawned a series of five 2-hour specials that aired between 1994 and 1999, starring Toshiaki Karasawa. Last year, the franchise was revived with two specials titled "Shin Oishinbo," with TOKIO's Masahiro Matsuoka as the star. Now, according to Kariya, a new episode is slated for spring 2009. It is not yet known whether Matsuoka will reprise his role or if the special will feature a new cast.
Kariya said that this time, he will be participating in writing the drama's script, something he has never done before.
Tue, December 16, 2008 (2:56am EST)
In October, it was announced that Jin Akanishi's first starring movie role will be in "BANDAGE," which is being directed by music producer Takeshi Kobayashi and written by Shunji Iwai. Although the film isn't scheduled for release until 2010, the rest of the main cast has already been revealed as of Monday.
Leading the list of names are Kie Kitano, Kengo Kora, and Yuki Shibamoto. Nobuaki Kaneko (the drummer of RIZE), Hideyuki Kasahara, model Anne, Ayumi Ito, and Kazuo Zaitsu have also been cast. Besides Akanishi's role, specific character details have not been revealed yet.
Leading the list of names are Kie Kitano, Kengo Kora, and Yuki Shibamoto. Nobuaki Kaneko (the drummer of RIZE), Hideyuki Kasahara, model Anne, Ayumi Ito, and Kazuo Zaitsu have also been cast. Besides Akanishi's role, specific character details have not been revealed yet.
Tue, December 16, 2008 (2:39am EST)
Fashion producer NIGO and actress Riho Makise (36) are getting married on Tuesday. The couple met in May 2004 and began dating shortly after that. Their relationship was first reported later that year.
The pair plan to register their marriage on Tuesday, which happens to be one day before Makise's birthday and a week before NIGO's. There are currently no plans for a press conference or a wedding ceremony.
NIGO is best known as the founder of the brand A Bathing Ape (BAPE), though he is also the DJ for the hip-hop group TERIYAKI BOYZ. He married singer Yuri Ichii in 1999, but they divorced three years later.
The pair plan to register their marriage on Tuesday, which happens to be one day before Makise's birthday and a week before NIGO's. There are currently no plans for a press conference or a wedding ceremony.
NIGO is best known as the founder of the brand A Bathing Ape (BAPE), though he is also the DJ for the hip-hop group TERIYAKI BOYZ. He married singer Yuri Ichii in 1999, but they divorced three years later.
