Thu, March 19, 2009 (3:25am EDT)
Actor Masato Sakai will be taking on the lead role in "Kuhio Taisa," the second feature-length film directed by Daihachi Yoshida ("Funuke Domo, Kanashimi no Ai wo Misero"). The movie is based on writer Kazumasa Yoshida's "Kekkon Sagishi Kuhio Taisa," a nonfictional account of a real-life marriage swindler in Japan who took a total of roughly 100 million yen from several women between the 1970s and the 1990s.
The model for Sakai's character is "Captain Kuhio," a Japanese man who passed himself off as a pilot for the U.S., telling grandiose lies to women and promising them a payout from the military if they married him. In Yoshida's movie, the character will be portrayed more humorously, making mistakes such as spelling errors on his own business card.
The film's female lead, one of Kuhio's targets, will be played by Yasuko Matsuyuki. Hikari Mitsushima and Yuko Nakamura play two of his other victims, while Masaaki Uchino plays a bureaucrat. Filming started on the 11th and is scheduled to last until mid-April. Theatrical release is planned for this fall.
The model for Sakai's character is "Captain Kuhio," a Japanese man who passed himself off as a pilot for the U.S., telling grandiose lies to women and promising them a payout from the military if they married him. In Yoshida's movie, the character will be portrayed more humorously, making mistakes such as spelling errors on his own business card.
The film's female lead, one of Kuhio's targets, will be played by Yasuko Matsuyuki. Hikari Mitsushima and Yuko Nakamura play two of his other victims, while Masaaki Uchino plays a bureaucrat. Filming started on the 11th and is scheduled to last until mid-April. Theatrical release is planned for this fall.
Thu, March 19, 2009 (2:52am EDT)
Korean singer Younha is back with a new song, which is being used as the theme in her movie "Kondo no Nichiyoubi ni." Directed by Satoshi Kenmochi, the film is based on a script that won the Angel Award. Past award winners include "Linda Linda Linda," "Zenzen Daijoubu," and "Funuke Domo, Kanashimi no Ai wo Misero."
The film is a human drama starring Somegoro Ichikawa and Younha. Younha plays Sora, a Korean high schooler. She chases after a boy she likes who has moved to Japan for college, but after she gets there, she discovers that he has returned to Korea due to family circumstances. She remains in Japan, but things eventually end in heartbreak for Sora. Shortly after, she runs into an odd man called Matsumoto (Ichikawa), who works multiple jobs to pay off his debts but also spends his time gathering discarded glass bottles. With her video camera, she begins documenting Matsumoto and his bottles, and in the process, she regains her lost smile.
Younha's song, titled "Niji no Mukougawa," was written specifically for the film. It is being included on the original soundtrack, which goes on sale on March 25th. The soundtrack also includes a song called "Visit of love" by Sachi Tainaka. The music video for "Niji no Mukougawa" can be seen here.
"Kondo no Nichiyoubi ni" begins playing in theaters on April 11.
The film is a human drama starring Somegoro Ichikawa and Younha. Younha plays Sora, a Korean high schooler. She chases after a boy she likes who has moved to Japan for college, but after she gets there, she discovers that he has returned to Korea due to family circumstances. She remains in Japan, but things eventually end in heartbreak for Sora. Shortly after, she runs into an odd man called Matsumoto (Ichikawa), who works multiple jobs to pay off his debts but also spends his time gathering discarded glass bottles. With her video camera, she begins documenting Matsumoto and his bottles, and in the process, she regains her lost smile.
Younha's song, titled "Niji no Mukougawa," was written specifically for the film. It is being included on the original soundtrack, which goes on sale on March 25th. The soundtrack also includes a song called "Visit of love" by Sachi Tainaka. The music video for "Niji no Mukougawa" can be seen here.
"Kondo no Nichiyoubi ni" begins playing in theaters on April 11.
Thu, March 19, 2009 (1:47am EDT)
The big entertainment headline of the day is the widespread news that comedian Tomonori Jinnai and actress Norika Fujiwara are getting divorced. The couple held the biggest celebrity wedding of 2007, but it appears that they began having major problems last fall, and their divorce is now nearly official after roughly 2 years of marriage.
The couple has always experienced difficulty, as Jinnai's work was mainly based in Osaka while Fujiwara is based in Tokyo, forcing Jinnai to commute weekly by bullet train. Last September, Jinnai withdrew from his hosting duties of "Narutomo!" which gave him more time to remain in Tokyo, but at the same time, Fujiwara became busy with rehearsals for her starring role in the musical "The Drowsy Chaperone."
Sources say that the two plan to officially divorce when their schedule allows. Fujiwara just finished performances for her musical at the end of last month, but she is currently overseas in Nairobi, Kenya, doing publicity for the Red Cross. According to Sports Hochi, Jinnai has already stamped the divorce papers before giving them to Fujiwara, and it is expected that the papers will be submitted in the next few days.
On Thursday, Jinnai appeared on NTV's morning show "Rajikaru" and partly denied the divorce rumors. He acknowledged that he has stamped the divorce papers, but he explained that he is only preparing it in case it is necessary. Because of a fight, he revealed that he has been living separately in a hotel, but he further said that this is just a cooling-off period as they try to mend their relationship.
However, Fujiwara's agency has just commented on the matter, confirming that the divorce is real and that the papers will soon be submitted.
The couple has always experienced difficulty, as Jinnai's work was mainly based in Osaka while Fujiwara is based in Tokyo, forcing Jinnai to commute weekly by bullet train. Last September, Jinnai withdrew from his hosting duties of "Narutomo!" which gave him more time to remain in Tokyo, but at the same time, Fujiwara became busy with rehearsals for her starring role in the musical "The Drowsy Chaperone."
Sources say that the two plan to officially divorce when their schedule allows. Fujiwara just finished performances for her musical at the end of last month, but she is currently overseas in Nairobi, Kenya, doing publicity for the Red Cross. According to Sports Hochi, Jinnai has already stamped the divorce papers before giving them to Fujiwara, and it is expected that the papers will be submitted in the next few days.
On Thursday, Jinnai appeared on NTV's morning show "Rajikaru" and partly denied the divorce rumors. He acknowledged that he has stamped the divorce papers, but he explained that he is only preparing it in case it is necessary. Because of a fight, he revealed that he has been living separately in a hotel, but he further said that this is just a cooling-off period as they try to mend their relationship.
However, Fujiwara's agency has just commented on the matter, confirming that the divorce is real and that the papers will soon be submitted.
Source: Sankei Sports, Sports Hochi | Comments (1)
Bookmark this: JapanSoc | del.icio.us | Digg | StumbleUpon
Bookmark this: JapanSoc | del.icio.us | Digg | StumbleUpon
Thu, March 19, 2009 (12:59am EDT)
Starting this April, TOKIO member Taichi Kokubun (34), will become a caster for Fuji TV's sports program "Sport!" This is his first appointment as a sportscaster.
Kokubun was even given the title of "Editor-in-Chief" on his business card, to be used for on-the-spot coverage. Known as a sports lover, he was extremely enthused about the opportunity. "It's like a dream!"
The show, which has been on the air since 2001, is undergoing a renewal next month. Kokubun's first appearance will be on April 4, one day after the opening for both of Japan's professional baseball leagues.
"Sport!" is just one of a few new appointments for Kokubun. As of next month, he will be a regular on 7 television programs and 2 radio shows, plus 2 more television shows as part of TOKIO. With his TV appearances, he will be visible on all five of the major networks.
Kokubun was even given the title of "Editor-in-Chief" on his business card, to be used for on-the-spot coverage. Known as a sports lover, he was extremely enthused about the opportunity. "It's like a dream!"
The show, which has been on the air since 2001, is undergoing a renewal next month. Kokubun's first appearance will be on April 4, one day after the opening for both of Japan's professional baseball leagues.
"Sport!" is just one of a few new appointments for Kokubun. As of next month, he will be a regular on 7 television programs and 2 radio shows, plus 2 more television shows as part of TOKIO. With his TV appearances, he will be visible on all five of the major networks.
Thu, March 19, 2009 (12:32am EDT)
Despite a 20-year age difference, comedian Koji Imada (43) and actress Rosa Kato (23) seem to be the latest couple outed by weekly magazine FRIDAY. According to this week's issue, the pair were seen on a date in Tokyo late last month.
Imada and Kato spent about three hours on their date, which included a meal at a sushi restaurant. They were later seen sharing an umbrella in the rain, but the date ended when Kato took a taxi by herself.
The two first worked together on the NTV drama series "Africa no Tsume" in 2004-2005, but they have also appeared in variety shows since then.
Although Imada is 43, this is the first time that he has been romantically linked to someone. Kato, on the other hand, was previously reported to be dating actor Hiroshi Tamaki, and was also later seen on a date with KAT-TUN's Jin Akanishi.
Neither Imada's nor Kato's agency has offered a comment on the FRIDAY article.
Imada and Kato spent about three hours on their date, which included a meal at a sushi restaurant. They were later seen sharing an umbrella in the rain, but the date ended when Kato took a taxi by herself.
The two first worked together on the NTV drama series "Africa no Tsume" in 2004-2005, but they have also appeared in variety shows since then.
Although Imada is 43, this is the first time that he has been romantically linked to someone. Kato, on the other hand, was previously reported to be dating actor Hiroshi Tamaki, and was also later seen on a date with KAT-TUN's Jin Akanishi.
Neither Imada's nor Kato's agency has offered a comment on the FRIDAY article.
Thu, March 19, 2009 (12:31am EDT)
In preparation for its annual Drama Grand Prix, Nikkan Sports already conducted voting for the 2009 winter season earlier this month. A total of 13,613 votes were collected. The big winner this time was NTV's "Kami no Shizuku," which starred KAT-TUN member Kazuya Kamenashi. The show picked up all four categories it was eligible for, leaving Miho Kanno to win for Best Actress.
Best Drama:
Best Drama:
- Kami no Shizuku - 4376
- Uta no Oniisan - 3950
- Zeni Geba - 1207
- RESCUE - 876
- Voice - 864
- Kazuya Kamenashi (Kami no Shizuku) - 4637
- Satoshi Ohno (Uta no Oniisan) - 4154
- Kenichi Matsuyama (Zeni Geba) - 1387
- Hiro Mizushima (Mei-chan no Shitsuji) - 625
- Yuichi Nakamaru (RESCUE) - 554
- Miho Kanno (Kiina) - 5136
- Nana Eikura (Mei-chan no Shitsuji) - 2330
- Yukie Nakama (Arifureta Kiseki) - 2012
- Nao Minamisawa (Akai Ito) - 880
- Pinko Izumi (Wataru Seken wa Oni Bakari) - 805
- Seiichi Tanabe (Kami no Shizuku) - 2104
- Ryuhei Maruyama (Uta no Oniisan) - 1891
- Toma Ikuta (Voice) - 1782
- Takahisa Masuda (RESCUE) - 870
- Takeru Sato (Mei-chan no Shitsuji) - 844
- Riisa Naka (Kami no Shizuku) - 2310
- Nana Katase (Uta no Oniisan) - 2007
- Yoshino Kimura (Uta no Oniisan) - 1464
- Mimura (Zeni Geba) - 919
- Satomi Ishihara (Voice) - 773
