Fri, May 15, 2009 (10:43pm EDT)
The 1st CD Shop Awards were presented at the HMV Shibuya store this past Tuesday. The awards are voted on by CD shop employees across Japan, reflecting the releases (both major and indie) that they most want customers to listen to.
The winner of the grand prize was Soutaiseiriron's first album "Chiffon Shugi," released in May of last year. The runners-up were "THIS IS MUSIC" by Ohashi Trio and "GAME" by the popular trio Perfume, who couldn't attend due to a scheduling conflict.
The other winners were:
The winner of the grand prize was Soutaiseiriron's first album "Chiffon Shugi," released in May of last year. The runners-up were "THIS IS MUSIC" by Ohashi Trio and "GAME" by the popular trio Perfume, who couldn't attend due to a scheduling conflict.
The other winners were:
- "HEART STATION" - Hikaru Utada
- "HeartY" - HY
- "Honyarara" - SAKEROCK
- "Superfly" - Superfly
- "ALRIGHT" - Motohiro Hata
- "floating pupa" - pupa
- "SUPERMARKET FANTASY" - Mr.Children
Fri, May 15, 2009 (8:32pm EDT)
It was revealed earlier this week that prolific director Takashi Miike is doing a remake of the 1963 samurai film "Thirteen Assassins" ("Juusan-nin no Shikaku"), originally directed by Eiichi Kudo. The story concerns a group of thirteen killers assembled to take on the dangerous task of assassinating an evil lord.
The film is being produced by Jeremy Thomas ("The Last Emperor") and Toshiaki Nakazawa　("Azumi"). Toho will distribute the picture in Japan. Filming starts in July.
The film is being produced by Jeremy Thomas ("The Last Emperor") and Toshiaki Nakazawa　("Azumi"). Toho will distribute the picture in Japan. Filming starts in July.
Fri, May 15, 2009 (8:13pm EDT)
Rock group The Generous, consisting of Eikichi Yazawa's daughter Yoko and guitarist Katsumi Ohnishi, has lost a member. Ohnishi announced that he is leaving to focus on being a sound producer.
Yoko will continue The Generous as a solo unit, though Ohnishi's sound producer activities will keep him involved with the project.
Yoko will continue The Generous as a solo unit, though Ohnishi's sound producer activities will keep him involved with the project.
Fri, May 15, 2009 (6:09pm EDT)
Casting has started for a TV drama called "Tantei Tenshi Dragonet," expected to air this fall. The show is an action series centered around three teenage girls.
The three girls - named Maya, Mei, and Runa - work at a Chinese food restaurant. However, with their own special skills, they are actually affiliated with an international detective organization. As a result, they regularly solve cases and take down bad guys.
The show will have multiple directors, including Tomoki Sano of "Ultraman Mebius" and Norio Tsuruta ("Ring 0: Birthday"). The action scenes will also be handled by AAC Stunts, a company led by director Makoto Yokoyama ("Cutie Honey: THE LIVE").
Auditions for the three main roles are open to both professionals and amateurs. The chosen actresses may also get the chance to make their CD debut singing the show's theme song.
The three girls - named Maya, Mei, and Runa - work at a Chinese food restaurant. However, with their own special skills, they are actually affiliated with an international detective organization. As a result, they regularly solve cases and take down bad guys.
The show will have multiple directors, including Tomoki Sano of "Ultraman Mebius" and Norio Tsuruta ("Ring 0: Birthday"). The action scenes will also be handled by AAC Stunts, a company led by director Makoto Yokoyama ("Cutie Honey: THE LIVE").
Auditions for the three main roles are open to both professionals and amateurs. The chosen actresses may also get the chance to make their CD debut singing the show's theme song.
Fri, May 15, 2009 (5:05am EDT)
Yuji Hayami's light novel series "Maid Deka" is being adapted into a television drama next season. The show will star teen actress Saki Fukuda (18) in her first detective role.
The novels, which have also been adapted to manga, center around Aoi Wakatsuki, a "moe"-type maid working on a wealthy Osaka estate. In reality, though, she is an undercover detective sent by the police on a special mission to investigate a suspect.
The show is said to be somewhat of an homage to the "Sukeban Deka" movie from the '80s. Fukuda commented that while she has not seen it before, her mother apparently named Saki after that story's main character because she wanted a child with a strong sense of justice.
Fukuda's colleagues will be played by Ryuji Harada and Koji Matoba. The show will air on TV Asahi starting in July, occupying the Friday 11:15pm time slot.
The novels, which have also been adapted to manga, center around Aoi Wakatsuki, a "moe"-type maid working on a wealthy Osaka estate. In reality, though, she is an undercover detective sent by the police on a special mission to investigate a suspect.
The show is said to be somewhat of an homage to the "Sukeban Deka" movie from the '80s. Fukuda commented that while she has not seen it before, her mother apparently named Saki after that story's main character because she wanted a child with a strong sense of justice.
Fukuda's colleagues will be played by Ryuji Harada and Koji Matoba. The show will air on TV Asahi starting in July, occupying the Friday 11:15pm time slot.
Fri, May 15, 2009 (4:10am EDT)
The band ONE OK ROCK has announced on its official website that guitarist ALEX has left the group, and the remaining four members will resume activities this summer.
ALEX, also known by his full name Alexander Onizawa (21), was arrested on April 5 for groping a young woman on a train in Kanagawa. The incident was settled out of court, so ALEX was not prosecuted, but it was still ultimately decided that ONE OK ROCK will continue without him.
ALEX, also known by his full name Alexander Onizawa (21), was arrested on April 5 for groping a young woman on a train in Kanagawa. The incident was settled out of court, so ALEX was not prosecuted, but it was still ultimately decided that ONE OK ROCK will continue without him.
Fri, May 15, 2009 (3:28am EDT)
Hideaki Takizawa (27) has picked up his first starring role in a serial drama since 2005. He will share the screen with Ryo Nishikido (24) in a TBS series tentatively titled "Orthros no Inu," named after the two-headed dog from Greek mythology.
The thrilling human drama has Takizawa playing the role of a mysterious and ambitious man with a wicked heart, who possesses the power to heal pain and illness with the touch of his hand. Nishikido, on the other hand, plays a high school teacher with a gentle heart, but who has the ability to kill with his touch. The two happen to meet, resulting in a battle of good and evil.
Takizawa's last starring role in a series was in the 2005 NHK taiga drama "Yoshitsune." Before that, he played the lead in Fuji TV's "Boku Dake no Madonna."
TBS will broadcast "Orthros no Inu" on Friday nights at 10:00pm, starting in July.
The thrilling human drama has Takizawa playing the role of a mysterious and ambitious man with a wicked heart, who possesses the power to heal pain and illness with the touch of his hand. Nishikido, on the other hand, plays a high school teacher with a gentle heart, but who has the ability to kill with his touch. The two happen to meet, resulting in a battle of good and evil.
Takizawa's last starring role in a series was in the 2005 NHK taiga drama "Yoshitsune." Before that, he played the lead in Fuji TV's "Boku Dake no Madonna."
TBS will broadcast "Orthros no Inu" on Friday nights at 10:00pm, starting in July.
