Sat, May 16, 2009 (3:52pm EDT)
Actor Shoma Ikegami (24), best known for playing Marehiko Itsuki in the "Prince of Tennis" musicals, will soon be retiring from show business. According to his agency foursprings, the reason for his departure is his poor health.
Ikegami, a graduate student at Tokyo University, had to cancel a fan club event last summer due to his health. A few weeks later, his agency reported that he was headed for recovery, but his blog was never updated again after that. On Friday, his management finally broke the silence, revealing that because of the trouble caused to his fans and those working around him, Ikegami's contract is being terminated. The company further stated that Ikegami is leaving show business.
Ikegami's fan club is being closed while his blog, which has been active since July 2007, is being shut down on May 16.
Ikegami, a graduate student at Tokyo University, had to cancel a fan club event last summer due to his health. A few weeks later, his agency reported that he was headed for recovery, but his blog was never updated again after that. On Friday, his management finally broke the silence, revealing that because of the trouble caused to his fans and those working around him, Ikegami's contract is being terminated. The company further stated that Ikegami is leaving show business.
Ikegami's fan club is being closed while his blog, which has been active since July 2007, is being shut down on May 16.
Sat, May 16, 2009 (3:07pm EDT)
Morning Musume member Aika Mitsui (16) has been diagnosed with detached cartilage on a toe on her left foot, it was learned on Friday. As a result, she will be undergoing surgery to remove the cartilage.
An announcement on the official Hello! Project website explained that her condition may affect her performance, so surgery was deemed necessary. She will be absent from a fan club event on May 23-24.
An announcement on the official Hello! Project website explained that her condition may affect her performance, so surgery was deemed necessary. She will be absent from a fan club event on May 23-24.
Sat, May 16, 2009 (6:24am EDT)
Yoshiki of rock band X Japan is said to have been out on an "all-night date" with Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi. According to newspapers, the two shared a meal together on Wednesday night.
Yoshiki attended an event for the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne on Friday, where he was given the title of Chevalier. During the event, he was asked by reporters about his date with Zhang. He acknowledged that they had eaten together and ended up drinking until the morning. However, he clarified that they are just friends, and that they weren't alone as they watched a concert DVD.
Yoshiki attended an event for the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne on Friday, where he was given the title of Chevalier. During the event, he was asked by reporters about his date with Zhang. He acknowledged that they had eaten together and ended up drinking until the morning. However, he clarified that they are just friends, and that they weren't alone as they watched a concert DVD.
Sat, May 16, 2009 (6:08am EDT)
A new movie from director Eiji Uchida will feature actor Kazuki Kato ("Kamen Rider Kabuto," the "Prince of Tennis" musicals) in his first solo film lead. Titled "Dakara Oretachi wa, Asa wo Matteita," the suspenseful plot involves a group of eight men who converge in an unexpected situation.
The central stage is behind the closed doors of a high-class pawnshop. Kato (24) stars as a member of a group of thieves who has an unexpected past. Also playing a professional thief is Manabu Oshio (31), who is making his comeback to the field of acting after more than three years. Oshio last appeared in the 2006 series "Satomi Hakkenden," before getting married to actress Akiko Yada (30) later that year. In 2008, he transferred to Avex in hopes of reviving his singing and acting careers.
The rest of the cast includes Takashi Nagayama (30) as an apprentice to Oshio, and Shinji Takeda (36) as the pawnshop owner. Theatrical release is scheduled for February 2010.
The central stage is behind the closed doors of a high-class pawnshop. Kato (24) stars as a member of a group of thieves who has an unexpected past. Also playing a professional thief is Manabu Oshio (31), who is making his comeback to the field of acting after more than three years. Oshio last appeared in the 2006 series "Satomi Hakkenden," before getting married to actress Akiko Yada (30) later that year. In 2008, he transferred to Avex in hopes of reviving his singing and acting careers.
The rest of the cast includes Takashi Nagayama (30) as an apprentice to Oshio, and Shinji Takeda (36) as the pawnshop owner. Theatrical release is scheduled for February 2010.
Sat, May 16, 2009 (4:14am EDT)
Pop singer Akina Nakamori plans to release three upcoming albums in three consecutive months, it was learned on Thursday. Each album will contain around ten songs, for a total of more than thirty songs recorded for the CDs.
The first album will be a collection of covers of the "mood kayou" genre, titled "Mood Kayou ~ Utahime Showa Meikyokushu." It will go on sale starting June 24th.
Nakamori's second album will be a cover of well-known folk songs and is scheduled go on sale July 22nd. The third in the series is an original album set to go on sale August 19th. It is her first original album in three years.
The first album will be a collection of covers of the "mood kayou" genre, titled "Mood Kayou ~ Utahime Showa Meikyokushu." It will go on sale starting June 24th.
Nakamori's second album will be a cover of well-known folk songs and is scheduled go on sale July 22nd. The third in the series is an original album set to go on sale August 19th. It is her first original album in three years.
Sat, May 16, 2009 (2:34am EDT)
Broadcaster Fuji TV has announced the production of a live-action drama based on the best-selling novel "Fumou Chitai." The series is a major project for the network, as it will run for half a year.
The original novel was written by author Toyoko Yamasaki, also responsible for the books behind the dramas "Shiroi Kyoto" and "Karei Naru Ichizoku." The story depicts a former colonel who survived a Siberian detention camp and resumed his life in Japan working for a trading company. It was previously adapted as a movie in 1976, followed by a 7-month long TV series on TBS in 1979.
"Fumou Chitai" will star actor Toshiaki Karasawa, who also played the lead in "Shiroi Kyoto." That series, which also lasted six months long, was produced in honor of Fuji TV's 45th anniversary and achieved ratings of 23.9%. Similarly, "Fumou Chitai" will help mark the network's 50th year, and Fuji TV is hoping that it even surpasses "Shiroi Kyoto."
In addition to Karasawa, the cast features several others who have experience in lead roles: Emi Wakui, Toshiro Yanagiba, Koyuki, Kuranosuke Sasaki, Yuki Amami, and Yutaka Takenouchi. There are also many veteran supporting members, such as Isao Hashizume, Atsuo Nakamura, Ittoku Kishibe, and Yoshio Harada.
Shooting starts in mid-July, with locations including New Zealand. The show will run in Fuji TV's Thursday 10:00pm time slot starting in October.
The original novel was written by author Toyoko Yamasaki, also responsible for the books behind the dramas "Shiroi Kyoto" and "Karei Naru Ichizoku." The story depicts a former colonel who survived a Siberian detention camp and resumed his life in Japan working for a trading company. It was previously adapted as a movie in 1976, followed by a 7-month long TV series on TBS in 1979.
"Fumou Chitai" will star actor Toshiaki Karasawa, who also played the lead in "Shiroi Kyoto." That series, which also lasted six months long, was produced in honor of Fuji TV's 45th anniversary and achieved ratings of 23.9%. Similarly, "Fumou Chitai" will help mark the network's 50th year, and Fuji TV is hoping that it even surpasses "Shiroi Kyoto."
In addition to Karasawa, the cast features several others who have experience in lead roles: Emi Wakui, Toshiro Yanagiba, Koyuki, Kuranosuke Sasaki, Yuki Amami, and Yutaka Takenouchi. There are also many veteran supporting members, such as Isao Hashizume, Atsuo Nakamura, Ittoku Kishibe, and Yoshio Harada.
Shooting starts in mid-July, with locations including New Zealand. The show will run in Fuji TV's Thursday 10:00pm time slot starting in October.
