Sat, March 28, 2009 (4:46am EDT)
Several celebrities attended their university graduation ceremonies this week. Receiving the most attention was "Hana Yori Dango" star Mao Inoue (22), who graduated on Thursday from Meiji University's Department of Literature, where she concentrated on drama and theatre arts.
Actress Keiko Kitagawa (22) also attended the ceremony, held at the Nippon Budokan. She completed her coursework in Meiji University's School of Commerce.
Meanwhile, talento Moe Fukuda (23) also graduated the same day from Yokohama National University, receiving her degree in the International Business division of the Faculty of Business Administration. Fukuda is perhaps best known for her regular role as a weather girl on "Rajikaru."
Actress Keiko Kitagawa (22) also attended the ceremony, held at the Nippon Budokan. She completed her coursework in Meiji University's School of Commerce.
Meanwhile, talento Moe Fukuda (23) also graduated the same day from Yokohama National University, receiving her degree in the International Business division of the Faculty of Business Administration. Fukuda is perhaps best known for her regular role as a weather girl on "Rajikaru."
Sat, March 28, 2009 (2:46am EDT)
Visual-kei band Versailles has revealed that they will release their first major-label single through Warner Music Japan in June. The news was announced by the band in Yokohama on Thursday, the opening of their final indies tour.
The single is titled "ASCENDEAD MASTER" and is scheduled to go on sale June 24. The first press edition will have three different versions. Each will come with a bonus DVD that includes a common music video, plus one of three segments of a 15-minute short film inspired by the song.
The single is titled "ASCENDEAD MASTER" and is scheduled to go on sale June 24. The first press edition will have three different versions. Each will come with a bonus DVD that includes a common music video, plus one of three segments of a 15-minute short film inspired by the song.
Sat, March 28, 2009 (1:35am EDT)
Another bestselling novel by Keigo Higashino is getting a live-action treatment. "Samayou Yaiba" will be adapted as a theatrical film, directed by Shoichi Mashiko. Actor Akira Terao has been cast as the lead, his first since "The Professor's Beloved Equation" in 2006.
In "Samayou Yaiba," Terao plays the single father of a young girl who is assaulted and killed by two boys, but because the criminals are minors, they avoid severe punishment. Outraged, the father decides to take his own revenge against the boys. The story also involves two policemen, played by Yutaka Takenouchi and Shiro Ito.
Filming took place from the end of November until late January. The movie is set to premiere this fall.
In "Samayou Yaiba," Terao plays the single father of a young girl who is assaulted and killed by two boys, but because the criminals are minors, they avoid severe punishment. Outraged, the father decides to take his own revenge against the boys. The story also involves two policemen, played by Yutaka Takenouchi and Shiro Ito.
Filming took place from the end of November until late January. The movie is set to premiere this fall.
Sat, March 28, 2009 (12:44am EDT)
This week, singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada (26) became the first Japanese music artist to rank in the top 20 of the U.S. version of online music store iTunes.
Using the name "Utada," the singer released her new English-language album "This Is The One" on March 25. It reached 19th on the top U.S. albums chart. Ever since the iTunes music store went live five years ago, this is the first time that a Japanese artist has ranked in the top 100. The album also achieved 2nd in the Pop category.
The CD version of the album will be released nationwide in the U.S. this May, but with this level of popularity, there is a possibility that her new album will already appear on the U.S. Billboard charts on April 9.
For the past month, Utada's promotional activities have expanded across the country, which contributed to a great start. This is her second U.S. album, following up on "Exodus" in 2004. And even though "This Is The One" was already released in Japan on March 14, her representatives have set the U.S. market as their main priority, hoping to make it a great success.
Using the name "Utada," the singer released her new English-language album "This Is The One" on March 25. It reached 19th on the top U.S. albums chart. Ever since the iTunes music store went live five years ago, this is the first time that a Japanese artist has ranked in the top 100. The album also achieved 2nd in the Pop category.
The CD version of the album will be released nationwide in the U.S. this May, but with this level of popularity, there is a possibility that her new album will already appear on the U.S. Billboard charts on April 9.
For the past month, Utada's promotional activities have expanded across the country, which contributed to a great start. This is her second U.S. album, following up on "Exodus" in 2004. And even though "This Is The One" was already released in Japan on March 14, her representatives have set the U.S. market as their main priority, hoping to make it a great success.
