Mon, May 25, 2009 (1:38pm EDT)
Team K member Risa Naruse (15) graduated from AKB48 on Sunday. She had been on break since the end of March due to a herniated disc, and she has not yet fully recovered.
In April, Naruse was hospitalized in preparation for laser surgery to correct the disc. The operation was successful, but Naruse explained that her body is still unable to handle the physical strain of AKB48's dance routines, so she decided on her own to leave the group.
Naruse further said that she does not plan to give up on her dream of becoming a model. She assured her fans that she will recover quickly and achieve her dream, so that she can once again appear in front of everyone as lively as before.
In April, Naruse was hospitalized in preparation for laser surgery to correct the disc. The operation was successful, but Naruse explained that her body is still unable to handle the physical strain of AKB48's dance routines, so she decided on her own to leave the group.
Naruse further said that she does not plan to give up on her dream of becoming a model. She assured her fans that she will recover quickly and achieve her dream, so that she can once again appear in front of everyone as lively as before.
Mon, May 25, 2009 (3:56am EDT)
The popular BS-TBS drama franchise "Keitai Deka" has found its 7th generation heroine: 16-year-old Azusa Okamoto, a fashion model for SEVENTEEN magazine.
Okamoto's acting career was launched last year when she starred in the "Tokyo Shojo" drama series, also on BS-TBS (still known as BS-i at the time). Now she will be starring in "Keitai Deka Mei Zenigata" as the newest "cell phone detective," with her character's unique trait being a strong sense of sound. Okamoto will also bring her own saxophone skills to the drama, making her character even more special.
The "Keitai Deka" series has helped build the careers of several young actresses. The show started in 2002 with Aoi Miyazaki as the star, followed by Maki Horikita, Mei Kurokawa, Kaho, Saori Koide, and Aya Omasa.
"Keitai Deka Mei Zenigata" will air Saturday nights at 11:00pm, starting on July 4.
Okamoto's acting career was launched last year when she starred in the "Tokyo Shojo" drama series, also on BS-TBS (still known as BS-i at the time). Now she will be starring in "Keitai Deka Mei Zenigata" as the newest "cell phone detective," with her character's unique trait being a strong sense of sound. Okamoto will also bring her own saxophone skills to the drama, making her character even more special.
The "Keitai Deka" series has helped build the careers of several young actresses. The show started in 2002 with Aoi Miyazaki as the star, followed by Maki Horikita, Mei Kurokawa, Kaho, Saori Koide, and Aya Omasa.
"Keitai Deka Mei Zenigata" will air Saturday nights at 11:00pm, starting on July 4.
Mon, May 25, 2009 (3:29am EDT)
TBS's aired the first episode of its "MR.BRAIN" drama series on Saturday. As expected for a drama starring Takuya Kimura, viewership ratings were high, achieving 24.8% in the Kanto region and 25.2% in Kansai.
Aside from Kimura, the show also features popular stars like Haruka Ayase and Hiro Mizushima. TBS has also been promoting the guest stars in each episode, such as Ebizo Ichikawa and Ryoko Hirosue in this premiere episode. Gackt and Kazuya Kamenashi are among the guests for future episodes.
This marks the best opening of any drama series this season by far, and it is also that time slot's (Saturday 8:00pm) highest ratings since TBS began airing dramas in the slot last spring.
Aside from Kimura, the show also features popular stars like Haruka Ayase and Hiro Mizushima. TBS has also been promoting the guest stars in each episode, such as Ebizo Ichikawa and Ryoko Hirosue in this premiere episode. Gackt and Kazuya Kamenashi are among the guests for future episodes.
This marks the best opening of any drama series this season by far, and it is also that time slot's (Saturday 8:00pm) highest ratings since TBS began airing dramas in the slot last spring.
Mon, May 25, 2009 (2:38am EDT)
The love story "Bakamono," by award-winning author Akiko Itoyama, is being turned into a movie starring Hiroki Narimiya (26) and Yuki Uchida (33). The film will be directed by Shusuke Kaneko, who recently helmed the live-action "Death Note" films.
Itoyama, who won the Akutagawa Prize in 2006, published "Bakamono" in September of last year. In the story, Narimiya plays Hide, a college student who meets an older woman named Gakuko (Uchida) through his part-time job. He is deeply into her, but one day she suddenly tells him that she's getting married, and they go their separate ways. Hide eventually graduates and finds a job, but the emptiness he feels leads him to alcoholism. Gakuko, on the other hand, gets into an accident and suffers a life-changing injury. Years after their initial parting, the two happen to meet again, but they are both very different from how they once knew each other.
Narimiya and Uchida will be portraying their characters over a span of roughly ten years in the story. One of the highlights of the movie is said to be a love scene between the two. Filming is expected to wrap up next month, with a release date set for spring 2010.
Itoyama, who won the Akutagawa Prize in 2006, published "Bakamono" in September of last year. In the story, Narimiya plays Hide, a college student who meets an older woman named Gakuko (Uchida) through his part-time job. He is deeply into her, but one day she suddenly tells him that she's getting married, and they go their separate ways. Hide eventually graduates and finds a job, but the emptiness he feels leads him to alcoholism. Gakuko, on the other hand, gets into an accident and suffers a life-changing injury. Years after their initial parting, the two happen to meet again, but they are both very different from how they once knew each other.
Narimiya and Uchida will be portraying their characters over a span of roughly ten years in the story. One of the highlights of the movie is said to be a love scene between the two. Filming is expected to wrap up next month, with a release date set for spring 2010.
Mon, May 25, 2009 (12:09am EDT)
Actor Hidejiro Mizumoto (33) is now paying the price for his alleged affair with Ai Kago (21). Two months ago, Mizumoto's ex-wife Asato (25) petitioned for damages against both Mizumoto and Kago, claiming that their extramarital relationship was the cause of her divorce with Mizumoto in January. On Sunday, the family court in charge of the case found in Asato's favor against Mizumoto.
Mizumoto will reportedly be handing over his home in Kumamoto and his car to Asato. In addition, he has been ordered to pay 300,000 yen in child support every month for his three children, who are in Asato's custody. Meanwhile, Asato's claim against Kago is still in arbitration.
Mizumoto will reportedly be handing over his home in Kumamoto and his car to Asato. In addition, he has been ordered to pay 300,000 yen in child support every month for his three children, who are in Asato's custody. Meanwhile, Asato's claim against Kago is still in arbitration.
