Thu, May 7, 2009 (1:22am EDT)
The popular Capcom action game "Sengoku Basara" (also known as "Devil Kings") is being adapted to theater. The video game has already had multiple sequels released, in addition to anime and manga adaptations.
The story is set during Japan's Sengoku period and revolves around two warlords, Date Masamune and Sanada Yukimura. Masamune will be played by Yuki Kubota, best known as the character of Keigo Atobe in the "Prince of Tennis" musicals. Yukimura will be played by Shinwa Kataoka, who served as Go-On Blue in the recent tokusatsu series "Engine Sentai Go-onger."
Daisuke Nishida of the theatrical troupe AND ENDLESS is writing and directing the "Sengoku Basara" stage adaptation. Performances will be held at Tokyo Dome's Theater G-Rosso from July 3 to July 12.
The story is set during Japan's Sengoku period and revolves around two warlords, Date Masamune and Sanada Yukimura. Masamune will be played by Yuki Kubota, best known as the character of Keigo Atobe in the "Prince of Tennis" musicals. Yukimura will be played by Shinwa Kataoka, who served as Go-On Blue in the recent tokusatsu series "Engine Sentai Go-onger."
Daisuke Nishida of the theatrical troupe AND ENDLESS is writing and directing the "Sengoku Basara" stage adaptation. Performances will be held at Tokyo Dome's Theater G-Rosso from July 3 to July 12.
Thu, May 7, 2009 (12:38am EDT)
"Dear Doctor," the latest film by director Miwa Nishikawa ("Yureru"), will be in the World Competition category at this year's Montreal World Film Festival. Celebrating its 33rd year, the festival is scheduled to take place from August 27 to September 7.
The film stars popular rakugo artist Tsurube Shofukutei as a doctor who has earned the trust of the locals in his little remote town. One day he suddenly disappears, and as the search for him progresses, an unexpected truth begins to surface. Shofukutei's supporting cast includes Eita as a medical trainee, Kimiko Yo as a nurse, Teruyuki Kagawa as a pharmacist, and Kaoru Yachigusa as one of the doctor's patients.
With "Dear Doctor," Nishikawa is hoping to pick up another win for Japan. Last year, Yojiro Takita's "Okuribito" ("Departures") claimed the grand prize, and Eiji Okuda's "Nagai Sanpo" ("A Long Walk") won the same award in 2006.
This year's festival will also see Yuichi Kimura in the First Films World Competition program, a separate category for first-time directors. He is entering with "Nisesatsu," a story based on a major counterfeiting case around the end of World War II. The movie stars Mitsuko Baisho.
The film stars popular rakugo artist Tsurube Shofukutei as a doctor who has earned the trust of the locals in his little remote town. One day he suddenly disappears, and as the search for him progresses, an unexpected truth begins to surface. Shofukutei's supporting cast includes Eita as a medical trainee, Kimiko Yo as a nurse, Teruyuki Kagawa as a pharmacist, and Kaoru Yachigusa as one of the doctor's patients.
With "Dear Doctor," Nishikawa is hoping to pick up another win for Japan. Last year, Yojiro Takita's "Okuribito" ("Departures") claimed the grand prize, and Eiji Okuda's "Nagai Sanpo" ("A Long Walk") won the same award in 2006.
This year's festival will also see Yuichi Kimura in the First Films World Competition program, a separate category for first-time directors. He is entering with "Nisesatsu," a story based on a major counterfeiting case around the end of World War II. The movie stars Mitsuko Baisho.
Thu, May 7, 2009 (12:36am EDT)
Teen model Mirei Kiritani (19) will be hosting a TV program for the first time. She will lead a new fashion talk show on BS-TBS titled "Geki-Mote! Seventeen Gakuen," which is connected to the magazine SEVENTEEN.
Kiritani will be joined by other SEVENTEEN models to discuss makeup, clothing, brands, and more. Her co-hosts include Mayuko Arisue (17), Anna Ishibashi (16), Asami Tanaka (15), and Yuuna Suzuki (16).
The first episode will air on July 4, with actor Yusuke Yamamoto appearing as a guest.
Kiritani will be joined by other SEVENTEEN models to discuss makeup, clothing, brands, and more. Her co-hosts include Mayuko Arisue (17), Anna Ishibashi (16), Asami Tanaka (15), and Yuuna Suzuki (16).
The first episode will air on July 4, with actor Yusuke Yamamoto appearing as a guest.
Thu, May 7, 2009 (12:35am EDT)
On Wednesday, the final round of a-motion '09 took place in Shibuya. The audition is an annual competition sponsored jointly by Avex and USEN that has been running since 2005.
This year, the Grand Prix winner was 12-year-old Sakura Kawagoe, a first-year junior high student from Tokyo. She was chosen from a pool of 8,035 contestants that was whittled down to a final group of 8. The panel of 11 judges voted unanimously for Kawagoe, who impressed the audience with her rendition of Ayaka's "Konya mo Hoshi ni Dakarete."
The guests at this year's contest included Nanase Aikawa (34) and Hiroki Maekawa (23). Hiroki, the son of singer Kiyoshi Maekawa (60), was the winner of the first a-motion audition in 2005.
This year, the Grand Prix winner was 12-year-old Sakura Kawagoe, a first-year junior high student from Tokyo. She was chosen from a pool of 8,035 contestants that was whittled down to a final group of 8. The panel of 11 judges voted unanimously for Kawagoe, who impressed the audience with her rendition of Ayaka's "Konya mo Hoshi ni Dakarete."
The guests at this year's contest included Nanase Aikawa (34) and Hiroki Maekawa (23). Hiroki, the son of singer Kiyoshi Maekawa (60), was the winner of the first a-motion audition in 2005.
Thu, May 7, 2009 (12:35am EDT)
Actress Kumi Imura (25) is starring in a new movie by director Yukiko Mishima titled "Shisei: Nihohi Tsuki no Gotoku." It was revealed this week that the part is also Imura's first nude role.
The movie marks the sixth film adaptation of the Junichiro Tanizaki novel "Shisei" ("The Tattooer"). As the title suggests, a tattooed Imura will be baring her body on screen.
Imura's filmography includes the movies "High Kick Girl!" (2009) and "Satsujin Net" (2004), as well as TV dramas like "Kirakira Kenshui" (2007).
The movie marks the sixth film adaptation of the Junichiro Tanizaki novel "Shisei" ("The Tattooer"). As the title suggests, a tattooed Imura will be baring her body on screen.
Imura's filmography includes the movies "High Kick Girl!" (2009) and "Satsujin Net" (2004), as well as TV dramas like "Kirakira Kenshui" (2007).
