Mon, February 23, 2009 (1:49am EST)
At the 81st Academy Awards held on Sunday in Los Angeles, Japanese films went two-for-two as both nominees walked away with a prize. The bigger winner was Yojiro Takita's "Okuribito" ("Departures"), winning the title of Best Foreign Language Film. The critically-acclaimed movie has already won a total of 60 awards at home, including 10 in the Japan Academy Awards.
However, this Oscar is a perhaps an even more remarkable achievement, given that "Okuribito" is the first Japanese film to win the award since it was established as a competitive prize in 1956.
Kunio Kato's "Tsumiki no Ie" ("La Maison En Petits Cubes") won Best Animated Short Film, the first Japanese win in that category. The last Japanese animated movie to win an Academy Award was when Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" took Best Animated Feature Film in 2003.
This is only the second time that Japanese films have won two awards in the same year. The first was in 1955, when Teinosuke Kinugasa's "Jigokumon" ("Gate of Hell") won Best Color Costume Design and the honorary award of "best foreign language film first released in the United States during 1954."
However, this Oscar is a perhaps an even more remarkable achievement, given that "Okuribito" is the first Japanese film to win the award since it was established as a competitive prize in 1956.
Kunio Kato's "Tsumiki no Ie" ("La Maison En Petits Cubes") won Best Animated Short Film, the first Japanese win in that category. The last Japanese animated movie to win an Academy Award was when Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" took Best Animated Feature Film in 2003.
This is only the second time that Japanese films have won two awards in the same year. The first was in 1955, when Teinosuke Kinugasa's "Jigokumon" ("Gate of Hell") won Best Color Costume Design and the honorary award of "best foreign language film first released in the United States during 1954."
Mon, February 23, 2009 (1:07am EST)
Actor Kazuhiko Nishimura (42) is now a father of two. His wife, the well-known calligrapher Tomomi Kunishige (30), gave birth to the couple's second child, a daughter, on Saturday. Married since 2006, the pair had their first child, a son, in January 2008.
Mon, February 23, 2009 (12:57am EST)
Actor Hiroshi Abe has been chosen to star in a new Fuji TV drama series titled "Shiroi Haru" ("White Spring"). This is his first lead role in a drama since "Kekkon Dekinai Otoko" in 2006.
The show's theme is the love between a parent and child. Abe plays a man just released after a 10-year prison sentence. He encounters a young girl, who turns out to be his own daughter that he conceived with his ex-girlfriend just before he went to jail.
Abe's daughter will be played by 9-year-old actress Nozomi Ohashi. She recently got her break as a voice actress in Hayao Miyazaki's "Gake no Ue no Ponyo," for which she also sang the theme song with folk duo Fujioka Fujimaki. "Shiroi Haru" will be her first regular role in a TV series.
Other cast members include Yuriko Yoshitaka and Kenichi Endo. Broadcast begins on April 14 in Fuji TV's Tuesday 10:00pm time slot.
The show's theme is the love between a parent and child. Abe plays a man just released after a 10-year prison sentence. He encounters a young girl, who turns out to be his own daughter that he conceived with his ex-girlfriend just before he went to jail.
Abe's daughter will be played by 9-year-old actress Nozomi Ohashi. She recently got her break as a voice actress in Hayao Miyazaki's "Gake no Ue no Ponyo," for which she also sang the theme song with folk duo Fujioka Fujimaki. "Shiroi Haru" will be her first regular role in a TV series.
Other cast members include Yuriko Yoshitaka and Kenichi Endo. Broadcast begins on April 14 in Fuji TV's Tuesday 10:00pm time slot.
Mon, February 23, 2009 (12:11am EST)
Actress Yumiko Shaku (30) was recently diagnosed with a mild form of Guillain-Barré syndrome, it was learned on Sunday. The revelation was made through a post on her official blog.
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disorder that affects the peripheral nervous system. The disease can be quite serious, causing paralysis in the limbs. Shaku had been sick with a fever last week and experienced a feeling of paralysis on Saturday, so she went to the doctor and was told that she had GBS. She was understandably concerned, as were her fans when she mentioned the illness on her blog.
However, Shaku's doctor later read the blog post and called her to clarify that her case is very minor, limited to inflammation of the peripheral nerves. Not wanting to worry her fans, Shaku later deleted the post and rewrote it without mention of the disease, assuring her fans that she is fine.
Although Shaku is currently experiencing symptoms, it is said that all she needs for now is rest, and that the disease should not cause much interference with her work or daily life.
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disorder that affects the peripheral nervous system. The disease can be quite serious, causing paralysis in the limbs. Shaku had been sick with a fever last week and experienced a feeling of paralysis on Saturday, so she went to the doctor and was told that she had GBS. She was understandably concerned, as were her fans when she mentioned the illness on her blog.
However, Shaku's doctor later read the blog post and called her to clarify that her case is very minor, limited to inflammation of the peripheral nerves. Not wanting to worry her fans, Shaku later deleted the post and rewrote it without mention of the disease, assuring her fans that she is fine.
Although Shaku is currently experiencing symptoms, it is said that all she needs for now is rest, and that the disease should not cause much interference with her work or daily life.
