Mon, June 1, 2009 (11:00am EDT)
Actor Kotaro Koizumi (30) finally has his chance to truly prove himself as a lead actor, taking on his first starring role in a drama series. He plays a salaryman in TV Asahi's "Call Center no Koibito," written by Miho Nakazono ("Haken no Hinkaku").
The drama focuses on a young man named Wataru Tokura (Koizumi), proud of his job as a salaryman in a big city. However, he suddenly gets transferred to a rural call center, where he is forced to deal with customer complaints. Mimura plays a contract employee with impeccable customer service skills, while Yuko Natori plays a charismatic television shopping show host.
Koizumi has been the lead in drama specials before, but never in a series.
"Call Center no Koibito" will premiere this July, occupying TV Asahi's Friday 9:00pm time slot.
The drama focuses on a young man named Wataru Tokura (Koizumi), proud of his job as a salaryman in a big city. However, he suddenly gets transferred to a rural call center, where he is forced to deal with customer complaints. Mimura plays a contract employee with impeccable customer service skills, while Yuko Natori plays a charismatic television shopping show host.
Koizumi has been the lead in drama specials before, but never in a series.
"Call Center no Koibito" will premiere this July, occupying TV Asahi's Friday 9:00pm time slot.
Mon, June 1, 2009 (4:59am EDT)
Former Judy and Mary vocalist YUKI (37) gave birth to a boy on Monday, her agency has announced. YUKI has been married to YO-KING of Magokoro Brothers since 2000.
YUKI gave birth to her first son in 2003, but he suddenly passed away two years later. She gave birth to another son in 2006.
YUKI gave birth to her first son in 2003, but he suddenly passed away two years later. She gave birth to another son in 2006.
Mon, June 1, 2009 (4:34am EDT)
Kou Shibasaki (27) has found her next starring role in the movie "Shokudo Katatsumuri." It is the second feature-length film from director Mai Tominaga, who got her start doing TV commercials.
"Shokudo Katatsumuri" is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Ito Ogawa. Using food as its theme, it depicts the relationship between a mother and daughter.
Shibasaki plays a young woman who was so heartbroken that she lost her voice. She returns home to her free-spirited mother (Kimiko Yo), whom she has never been close to. With her cooking skills, she decides to open a small restaurant that accepts only one reservation per day, putting all her effort into preparing a meal that will make her customers happy.
Tomokazu Miura and Brother Tom are among the supporting cast members, playing quirky characters. The movie is also said to have a fantasy touch, with animated/CG scenes and musical sequences.
Filming began in May and is expected to finish in late June. The release date for "Shokudo Katatsumuri" is currently set for 2010.
"Shokudo Katatsumuri" is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Ito Ogawa. Using food as its theme, it depicts the relationship between a mother and daughter.
Shibasaki plays a young woman who was so heartbroken that she lost her voice. She returns home to her free-spirited mother (Kimiko Yo), whom she has never been close to. With her cooking skills, she decides to open a small restaurant that accepts only one reservation per day, putting all her effort into preparing a meal that will make her customers happy.
Tomokazu Miura and Brother Tom are among the supporting cast members, playing quirky characters. The movie is also said to have a fantasy touch, with animated/CG scenes and musical sequences.
Filming began in May and is expected to finish in late June. The release date for "Shokudo Katatsumuri" is currently set for 2010.
Mon, June 1, 2009 (3:19am EDT)
Fuji TV's popular medical drama "Kyumei Byoto 24 Ji" is coming back for a fourth season. Starring Yosuke Eguchi (41) and Nanako Matsushima (35), the show premiered in 1999 and had additional seasons in 2001 and 2005.
Eguchi and Matsushima will reprise their roles as emergency room doctors. Matsushima has not had a regular TV role since the drama's third season in 2005 (though she had a guest role in both seasons of "Hana Yori Dango"). This also marks her first series since having her second child in November 2007, just as the third season was her comeback work after giving birth to her first child in 2004.
Yusuke Santamaria (38) will join the cast for this season, playing a rival doctor. Other cast members include Tae Kimura (38), returning in her role as a nurse from the second season, and Kie Kitano (18) as a rookie nurse.
Fuji TV has scheduled the drama for Tuesday nights at 9:00pm, starting on July 7.
Eguchi and Matsushima will reprise their roles as emergency room doctors. Matsushima has not had a regular TV role since the drama's third season in 2005 (though she had a guest role in both seasons of "Hana Yori Dango"). This also marks her first series since having her second child in November 2007, just as the third season was her comeback work after giving birth to her first child in 2004.
Yusuke Santamaria (38) will join the cast for this season, playing a rival doctor. Other cast members include Tae Kimura (38), returning in her role as a nurse from the second season, and Kie Kitano (18) as a rookie nurse.
Fuji TV has scheduled the drama for Tuesday nights at 9:00pm, starting on July 7.
Mon, June 1, 2009 (2:50am EDT)
On Monday, it was confirmed that TBS is working on a live-action adaptation of Osamu Akimoto's long-running comedy manga "Kochira Katsushikaku Kameari Kouenmae Hashutsujo," known by the abbreviation "Kochikame." The drama series, set for this summer, will star SMAP's Shingo Katori (32).
"Kochikame" has been serialized in Shonen Jump since 1976, with more than 130 million tankoubon copies sold so far. It has been adapted to anime, theater, and even a live-action film, but this will be the first drama series based on the comic.
The drama revolves around the misadventures of Kankichi Ryotsu (Katori), an officer stationed at a police box in front of Kameari Park in Tokyo's Katsushika ward. Each story is expected to be contained within a single episode. The show will feature many of the manga's well-known characters, including Neruo Higurashi, the policeman who only works once every four years at the time of the Summer Olympics.
Shonen Jump announced the drama in the latest issue that went on sale June 1, which featured Katori on the cover. He is actually the first Japanese person to grace the magazine's cover, though foreign celebrities have appeared on it three times before.
The "Kochikame" drama will air in TBS's Saturday 7:56pm time slot, which is currently home to the series "MR.BRAIN," starring fellow SMAP member Takuya Kimura. The first episode will air in August.
"Kochikame" has been serialized in Shonen Jump since 1976, with more than 130 million tankoubon copies sold so far. It has been adapted to anime, theater, and even a live-action film, but this will be the first drama series based on the comic.
The drama revolves around the misadventures of Kankichi Ryotsu (Katori), an officer stationed at a police box in front of Kameari Park in Tokyo's Katsushika ward. Each story is expected to be contained within a single episode. The show will feature many of the manga's well-known characters, including Neruo Higurashi, the policeman who only works once every four years at the time of the Summer Olympics.
Shonen Jump announced the drama in the latest issue that went on sale June 1, which featured Katori on the cover. He is actually the first Japanese person to grace the magazine's cover, though foreign celebrities have appeared on it three times before.
The "Kochikame" drama will air in TBS's Saturday 7:56pm time slot, which is currently home to the series "MR.BRAIN," starring fellow SMAP member Takuya Kimura. The first episode will air in August.
Mon, June 1, 2009 (12:43am EDT)
Former Takarazuka top star Hitomi Tsukikage (39) revealed on her blog that she is married. She wrote the announcement on Saturday, which was her 39th birthday. According to her, her husband is not in show business.
Tsukikage joined the Takarazuka Music School in 1988 and made her stage debut two years later in "Rose of Versailles." In 1997, she became the musumeyaku of the Star Troupe, but she was transferred to the Snow Troupe later that year. She was the musumeyaku for that troupe until she left the Takarazuka in 2002.
Tsukikage joined the Takarazuka Music School in 1988 and made her stage debut two years later in "Rose of Versailles." In 1997, she became the musumeyaku of the Star Troupe, but she was transferred to the Snow Troupe later that year. She was the musumeyaku for that troupe until she left the Takarazuka in 2002.
