Tue, February 17, 2009 (1:24am EST)
Actress Meisa Kuroki will have her debut album as a singer released on April 8. Titled "hellcat," it is her first CD release, though she already made her singing debut last June with the digital single "Like This."
The album is produced by Jeff Miyahara, who has worked with award-winning artists such as Boyz II Men in the past. All 8 songs are said to be dance tunes, as Kuroki has been a fan of Janet Jackson since she was a child. Kuroki herself had a hand in composing three of the songs: "Criminal," "SEX," and "lost."
The first press edition of the album will come with a DVD with three music videos, including a sexy video for "Bad Girl," which is being used as an insert song in the upcoming movie "Crows ZERO II" (in theaters April 11). "Bad Girl" is already being made available as a ringtone starting on the 17th.
In addition, there is an unrecorded song that is being planned for release as a single. Kuroki has also expressed her desire to do a live concert.
The album is produced by Jeff Miyahara, who has worked with award-winning artists such as Boyz II Men in the past. All 8 songs are said to be dance tunes, as Kuroki has been a fan of Janet Jackson since she was a child. Kuroki herself had a hand in composing three of the songs: "Criminal," "SEX," and "lost."
The first press edition of the album will come with a DVD with three music videos, including a sexy video for "Bad Girl," which is being used as an insert song in the upcoming movie "Crows ZERO II" (in theaters April 11). "Bad Girl" is already being made available as a ringtone starting on the 17th.
In addition, there is an unrecorded song that is being planned for release as a single. Kuroki has also expressed her desire to do a live concert.
Tue, February 17, 2009 (12:57am EST)
Comedian Teruyoshi Uchimura (44), also known as Uchan of Uchan Nanchan, will soon be a father. His management agency's website announced on Monday that his wife, former TV Asahi announcer Yumi Tokunaga (33), is six months pregnant with the couple's first child. She is expected to give birth in June.
Uchimura and Tokunaga made headlines back in 2003 when their relationship was first discovered. Tokunaga was married at the time, causing a scandal that led to her removal from TV. After getting a divorce, she and Uchimura married in May 2005, a month after Tokunaga formally resigned from TV Asahi.
According to the latest issue of FLASH, the couple recently moved into a new 400-million-yen home in Tokyo.
Uchimura and Tokunaga made headlines back in 2003 when their relationship was first discovered. Tokunaga was married at the time, causing a scandal that led to her removal from TV. After getting a divorce, she and Uchimura married in May 2005, a month after Tokunaga formally resigned from TV Asahi.
According to the latest issue of FLASH, the couple recently moved into a new 400-million-yen home in Tokyo.
Tue, February 17, 2009 (12:05am EST)
Comedian Hitori Gekidan (32) and talento Akane Osawa (23) announced their marriage on Monday night via a fax sent by their agencies to the media. The couple turned in their marriage registration minutes after the date changed to February 17, and they plan to hold a press conference in the evening.
Osawa, the granddaughter of former baseball pro Keiji Osawa, had been dating since at least spring 2007, when their relationship was first discovered. Rumors of an imminent marriage have been circulating since December, though it was earlier believed that the couple would wed this spring.
Osawa, the granddaughter of former baseball pro Keiji Osawa, had been dating since at least spring 2007, when their relationship was first discovered. Rumors of an imminent marriage have been circulating since December, though it was earlier believed that the couple would wed this spring.
Tue, February 17, 2009 (12:04am EST)
The Berlin International Film Festival wrapped up over the weekend. This year, the only Japanese film to receive an award was Sion Sono's "Ai no Mukidashi" ("Love Exposure"), which stars AAA member Takahiro Nishijima.
"Ai no Mukidashi" earned two independent jury prizes - the Caligari Film Prize, and the Prize of the FIPRESCI Jury in the Forum section of the festival.
"Ai no Mukidashi" earned two independent jury prizes - the Caligari Film Prize, and the Prize of the FIPRESCI Jury in the Forum section of the festival.
Tue, February 17, 2009 (12:03am EST)
Fuji TV has announced that its Monday night drama series for next season will star SMAP's Masahiro Nakai, with Aya Ueto playing the female lead. Nakai's last lead role in that time slot was in the 1998 series "Brothers."
Nakai plays a single salaryman in his mid-thirties. He has focused himself on his work rather than finding a marriage partner, but the topic of marriage is constantly coming up around him. As a result, he begins thinking about his own life and begins looking for a potential wife.
The currently untitled show will be directed by Masayuki Suzuki, who previously worked on hits such as "Long Vacation" and "HERO." The supporting cast includes Ryuta Sato. Broadcast begins in April in Fuji TV's Monday 9:00pm time slot.
Nakai plays a single salaryman in his mid-thirties. He has focused himself on his work rather than finding a marriage partner, but the topic of marriage is constantly coming up around him. As a result, he begins thinking about his own life and begins looking for a potential wife.
The currently untitled show will be directed by Masayuki Suzuki, who previously worked on hits such as "Long Vacation" and "HERO." The supporting cast includes Ryuta Sato. Broadcast begins in April in Fuji TV's Monday 9:00pm time slot.
Tue, February 17, 2009 (12:03am EST)
Actor Yuta Hiraoka has landed his first starring role in a drama series. This spring, TBS will begin its live-action adaptation of the manga series "God Hand Teru," currently being serialized in Shonen Magazine.
The manga, written by Kazuki Yamamoto, revolves around a young man named Teru Mahigashi (Hiraoka). When he was young, his father, a brilliant surgeon, died in an accident, but not before saving Teru's life. As a result, Teru also aims to become a great surgeon like his father, devoted to never letting a patient die. As a clumsy newcomer at his hospital, he seems to be an unlikely savior. But whenever a patient's life is in danger, his true powers emerge in the form of his "god hands," allowing him to successfully perform even the most difficult operations.
In the drama, Asami Mizukawa plays the female lead, a rival doctor. Other cast members include Eri Murakawa, Jun Kaname, Hirofumi Araki, Tetsuya Bessho, and Atsuro Watabe.
"God Hand Teru" will air Saturday nights at 7:56pm, starting on April 11.
The manga, written by Kazuki Yamamoto, revolves around a young man named Teru Mahigashi (Hiraoka). When he was young, his father, a brilliant surgeon, died in an accident, but not before saving Teru's life. As a result, Teru also aims to become a great surgeon like his father, devoted to never letting a patient die. As a clumsy newcomer at his hospital, he seems to be an unlikely savior. But whenever a patient's life is in danger, his true powers emerge in the form of his "god hands," allowing him to successfully perform even the most difficult operations.
In the drama, Asami Mizukawa plays the female lead, a rival doctor. Other cast members include Eri Murakawa, Jun Kaname, Hirofumi Araki, Tetsuya Bessho, and Atsuro Watabe.
"God Hand Teru" will air Saturday nights at 7:56pm, starting on April 11.
