Thu, January 29, 2009 (3:52am EST)
Takashi Aoyama, the lead vocalist of the boy band Four Leaves, died on Wednesday morning. He was 57. Aoyama, whose real name was Takayuki Shiroshita, had been battling liver cancer since he was diagnosed with it in late October 2008.
Four Leaves was one of the earliest acts produced by Johnny's Jimusho. The four-member group first formed in 1967 and made their record debut the following year. They disbanded in 1978, but they reunited in 2002.
Last April, the group started a nationwide tour that was scheduled to end on March 29 of this year. After discovering his cancer, Aoyama insisted on continuing with the concerts while receiving medical treatment. The band had planned to put their activities on hold right after completing the tour. Unfortunately, his final show was on January 10. The remaining members will finish the tour as planned.
In 1977, Aoyama married talento Jun Shimada, whom he had two children with. He later divorced Shimada and married his second wife Megumi (42) in 1997. They gave birth to a daughter, who turned 10 on January 19.
Four Leaves was one of the earliest acts produced by Johnny's Jimusho. The four-member group first formed in 1967 and made their record debut the following year. They disbanded in 1978, but they reunited in 2002.
Last April, the group started a nationwide tour that was scheduled to end on March 29 of this year. After discovering his cancer, Aoyama insisted on continuing with the concerts while receiving medical treatment. The band had planned to put their activities on hold right after completing the tour. Unfortunately, his final show was on January 10. The remaining members will finish the tour as planned.
In 1977, Aoyama married talento Jun Shimada, whom he had two children with. He later divorced Shimada and married his second wife Megumi (42) in 1997. They gave birth to a daughter, who turned 10 on January 19.
Thu, January 29, 2009 (3:15am EST)
The animated PV for Arashi's next single, "Believe," is a collaboration with animation studio Tatsunoko. The collaboration is linked to the upcoming live-action movie based on Tatsunoko's "Yatterman" franchise, which stars Arashi member Sho Sakurai and uses "Believe" as its theme song.
In the music video, each of the five Arashi members will "transform" into a character from a different Tatsunoko series. Sakurai will obviously take on the role of Yatterman No. 1. The other shows being used are "Yattodetaman" (Kazunari Ninomiya), "Time Bokan" (Satoshi Ohno), "Otasukeman" (Masaki Aiba), and "Zenderman" (Jun Matsumoto).
The "Yatterman" movie opens on March 7. "Believe" goes on sale as a CD single on March 4, the same day the PV becomes available through media site Dwango. A live-action music video for "Believe" is also being made.
In the music video, each of the five Arashi members will "transform" into a character from a different Tatsunoko series. Sakurai will obviously take on the role of Yatterman No. 1. The other shows being used are "Yattodetaman" (Kazunari Ninomiya), "Time Bokan" (Satoshi Ohno), "Otasukeman" (Masaki Aiba), and "Zenderman" (Jun Matsumoto).
The "Yatterman" movie opens on March 7. "Believe" goes on sale as a CD single on March 4, the same day the PV becomes available through media site Dwango. A live-action music video for "Believe" is also being made.
Thu, January 29, 2009 (2:58am EST)
Former Lindberg vocalist Maki Watase has formed a new unit called Smile Go Round. The group consists of her and music producer Tatsuya Hirakawa, who is also Watase's husband and the former guitarist of Lindberg. Smile Go Round will be the first artist to release under a new music label established by media company DLE, best known for its connection with the Flash animation "Himitsu Kessha Taka no Tsume" ("Eagle Talon").
In addition to their own music project, the pair has taken on the task of producing an idol group called Merry Merry Boo. Its members are teen models Ayano Takayashiki, Haruna Kawaguchi, and Haruka Tateishi, who are all affiliated with fashion magazine nicola.
Merry Merry Boo's debut song is a cover of Lindberg's "Ima Sugu Kiss Me." It is scheduled to begin digital distribution on February 25. Before that, on February 22, Watase plans to hold a comeback concert for her own music career.
In addition to their own music project, the pair has taken on the task of producing an idol group called Merry Merry Boo. Its members are teen models Ayano Takayashiki, Haruna Kawaguchi, and Haruka Tateishi, who are all affiliated with fashion magazine nicola.
Merry Merry Boo's debut song is a cover of Lindberg's "Ima Sugu Kiss Me." It is scheduled to begin digital distribution on February 25. Before that, on February 22, Watase plans to hold a comeback concert for her own music career.
Thu, January 29, 2009 (2:16am EST)
Twitch reports that directors Ryuhei Kitamura and Shunji Iwai have teamed up to create a 50-minute animated film titled "Baton." The movie, commissioned for the 150th birthday of Yokohama, combines traditional rotoscope animation with 2D and 3D effects.
Kitamura is directing while Iwai is producing. Although the film is produced entirely in Japanese, the project is animated in the U.S. under the supervision of Mark Brooks at Studio Titmouse. It is also said that that some famous Japanese actors are involved.
The film is apparently getting a limited release in Japan from April 29 to September 27.
Kitamura is directing while Iwai is producing. Although the film is produced entirely in Japanese, the project is animated in the U.S. under the supervision of Mark Brooks at Studio Titmouse. It is also said that that some famous Japanese actors are involved.
The film is apparently getting a limited release in Japan from April 29 to September 27.
Thu, January 29, 2009 (1:39am EST)
On Tuesday, the presentation ceremony for the Graceful Woman Award was held in Tokyo. Based on a survey run by Swiss fashion brand Akris, the awards are presented to female celebrities recognized for their grace and elegance.
Prizes were given in six categories: Ryoko Yonekura (30s), Hitomi Kuroki (40s), Keiko Matsuzaka (50s), Sayuri Yoshinaga (60s), Christel Takigawa (newscaster), and Shizuka Arakawa (athlete). Yoshinaga and Arakawa were both absent due to their work schedule.
Prizes were given in six categories: Ryoko Yonekura (30s), Hitomi Kuroki (40s), Keiko Matsuzaka (50s), Sayuri Yoshinaga (60s), Christel Takigawa (newscaster), and Shizuka Arakawa (athlete). Yoshinaga and Arakawa were both absent due to their work schedule.
Thu, January 29, 2009 (1:19am EST)
Actress Mami Nomura (44) announced on her official blog that she is married. Her husband is a producer that she met five years ago through work, though she did not reveal his identity. The pair tied the knot at the start of this year.
