Wed, March 4, 2009 (2:41am EST)
Singer Ayumi Hamasaki's new single "Rule / Sparkle" took the top spot in the Oricon weekly singles ranking with sales of 95,000. This makes it her 20th consecutive #1 single (32nd total), starting with "Free & Easy" in 2002. Hamasaki is the first solo artist and the first female artist to achieve 20 consecutive number ones.
New band flumpool picked up #2 with their third release. abingdon boys school, Kazumasa Oda, Dreams Come True, Yui Aragaki, Ai Otsuka, and Shonannokaze also made the top ten with their new songs.
In other Oricon ranking news, Angela Aki's third album, "ANSWER," took the #1 spot in the album charts, selling a total of 74,000 copies in its first week. This is her 2nd consecutive chart-topper.
Meanwhile, J Soul Brothers came in at #2 with their self-titled album at 69,000 in sales. It was just announced earlier this week that the group is merging with EXILE, making this album their first and last.
The only other new Japanese albums in the top ten were both from Tomoko Kawase - her best collections for Tommy february6 and Tommy heavenly6 ranked #5 and #6, respectively.
New band flumpool picked up #2 with their third release. abingdon boys school, Kazumasa Oda, Dreams Come True, Yui Aragaki, Ai Otsuka, and Shonannokaze also made the top ten with their new songs.
In other Oricon ranking news, Angela Aki's third album, "ANSWER," took the #1 spot in the album charts, selling a total of 74,000 copies in its first week. This is her 2nd consecutive chart-topper.
Meanwhile, J Soul Brothers came in at #2 with their self-titled album at 69,000 in sales. It was just announced earlier this week that the group is merging with EXILE, making this album their first and last.
The only other new Japanese albums in the top ten were both from Tomoko Kawase - her best collections for Tommy february6 and Tommy heavenly6 ranked #5 and #6, respectively.
Wed, March 4, 2009 (2:00am EST)
Mai Matsumuro (25), a former member of the pop group Dream, recently announced on her blog that she is married. She registered her marriage to a hair and makeup artist on February 28.
Matsumuro was part of Dream from their debut in 2000 until she left the group in 2002. She is currently active as a songwriter and solo singer.
Matsumuro was part of Dream from their debut in 2000 until she left the group in 2002. She is currently active as a songwriter and solo singer.
Wed, March 4, 2009 (1:43am EST)
Actress Miho Takagi (46) is currently in a relationship with a man one year older than her. The couple met at a sports club about half a year ago, and they are said to have both fallen in love at first sight.
At the end of January, Takagi admitted that she had a boyfriend, but no details were known at the time. Her agency says that she has marriage in mind, but the recent rumor of a spring wedding was denied.
At the end of January, Takagi admitted that she had a boyfriend, but no details were known at the time. Her agency says that she has marriage in mind, but the recent rumor of a spring wedding was denied.
Wed, March 4, 2009 (1:36am EST)
Actor Shota Matsuda has just picked up his first true lead role in a television drama. Titled "Meitantei no Okite," the show is based on a "parody mystery" work by award-winning author Keigo Higashino.
The original "Meitantei no Okite" is a short mystery collection that takes a humorous approach to many of the genre's cliches. Matsuda stars as the "famous detective" Daigoro Tenkaichi, while Yu Kashii plays the female lead as a rookie cop. Yuichi Kimura has also been cast.
"Meitantei no Okite" will air on TV Asahi on Friday nights at 11:15pm, starting in April.
The original "Meitantei no Okite" is a short mystery collection that takes a humorous approach to many of the genre's cliches. Matsuda stars as the "famous detective" Daigoro Tenkaichi, while Yu Kashii plays the female lead as a rookie cop. Yuichi Kimura has also been cast.
"Meitantei no Okite" will air on TV Asahi on Friday nights at 11:15pm, starting in April.
Wed, March 4, 2009 (1:00am EST)
The popular drama series "Gokusen" is getting a movie version this summer. After three highly-rated seasons, the film will be the last time that lead actress Yukie Nakama plays the role of the teacher Yankumi.
The third season of "Gokusen" aired last spring and ended with a successful 22.8% average rating. The movie takes place after the graduation of that season's third-year class, which includes students played by Yuya Takaki and Haruma Miura. The story is related to a special episode airing on March 28 that deals with a big confrontation between the third-year students and the second-year students. In the movie, the same characters are involved again, but the story is set during the following school year.
The leader of the second-year students in the drama special is played by Kis-My-Ft2 member Yuta Tamamori, who has never acted in a television drama before. He will also appear in the movie.
NTV's Toya Sato, who worked on the dramas, is directing. The film is scheduled to open in July.
The third season of "Gokusen" aired last spring and ended with a successful 22.8% average rating. The movie takes place after the graduation of that season's third-year class, which includes students played by Yuya Takaki and Haruma Miura. The story is related to a special episode airing on March 28 that deals with a big confrontation between the third-year students and the second-year students. In the movie, the same characters are involved again, but the story is set during the following school year.
The leader of the second-year students in the drama special is played by Kis-My-Ft2 member Yuta Tamamori, who has never acted in a television drama before. He will also appear in the movie.
NTV's Toya Sato, who worked on the dramas, is directing. The film is scheduled to open in July.
