Wed, June 3, 2009 (4:15am EDT)
Producer Tsunku recently revealed on his blog that he plans to revive the Hello! Project group Mini Moni with all new members. On Wednesday, he announced that the group's new leader will be Linlin (18), a current member of Morning Musume.
Tsunku stated last week that he feels a four-member unit will be best for Mini Moni, and that Hello! Pro Egg Kanon Fukuda (14) will be a part of the group. He is currently looking for the two remaining members, who will likely be chosen from the Eggs as well.
Tsunku stated last week that he feels a four-member unit will be best for Mini Moni, and that Hello! Pro Egg Kanon Fukuda (14) will be a part of the group. He is currently looking for the two remaining members, who will likely be chosen from the Eggs as well.
Wed, June 3, 2009 (3:46am EDT)
Yoshikuni Dochin (30) of the music group CHEMISTRY celebrated the gift of new life on Monday. His wife, model Atsuko Morita (30), gave birth to twins, bringing their number of children to four.
Dochin and Morita married in 2004 and had their first son later that year, followed by a second son in 2007. Last December, they announced that they were expecting another child, but they did not know at the time that Morita was having twins.
Dochin and Morita married in 2004 and had their first son later that year, followed by a second son in 2007. Last December, they announced that they were expecting another child, but they did not know at the time that Morita was having twins.
Wed, June 3, 2009 (3:12am EDT)
Popular actor Shun Oguri (26) is taking on his first directing job. While actors becoming directors is nothing new, this is said to be the first case for a star still in his twenties. The movie's official title is still unknown, but those close to the project are apparently calling it "Surely Someday."
Oguri, who is currently overseas for work, plans to start shooting this summer. Details are sparse, but the film is said to be a story of adolescence that will feature a cast of handsome actors.
Oguri has wanted to try directing for a long time. He was able to get this project rolling with the help of producer Mataichiro Yamamoto, who heads Oguri's management agency Tristone, and his father, stage director Tetsuya Oguri. The actor has already done a little directing, working on the short "manner CM" that played in theaters for "Crows ZERO II."
"Surely Someday" is expected to open in theaters next year.
Oguri, who is currently overseas for work, plans to start shooting this summer. Details are sparse, but the film is said to be a story of adolescence that will feature a cast of handsome actors.
Oguri has wanted to try directing for a long time. He was able to get this project rolling with the help of producer Mataichiro Yamamoto, who heads Oguri's management agency Tristone, and his father, stage director Tetsuya Oguri. The actor has already done a little directing, working on the short "manner CM" that played in theaters for "Crows ZERO II."
"Surely Someday" is expected to open in theaters next year.
Wed, June 3, 2009 (2:41am EDT)
Arashi's newest single, "Ashita no Kioku / Crazy Moon," easily topped the charts this past week, selling more than 502,000 copies. This marks their 15th consecutive number-one single and 22nd overall. It is also their second single in a row to sell over 500,000 in the first week, a feat that has not been achieved since Keisuke Kuwata in 2001.
GReeeeN's "Haruka" picked up the #2 spot at 63,000 in sales, and Ringo Shiina's newest landed at #3. Ikimono Gakari (#7), SPEED (#8), and Yui Aragaki (#10) also had new releases in the top ten.
Meanwhile, news was also made with the latest posthumous release from ZARD, "Sunao ni Ienakute." Ranked 5th on the charts, it became ZARD's 43rd top-ten single, tying her for the current record with Southern All Stars, SMAP, and Ayumi Hamasaki. Originally released as a B-side on her second single back in 1991, "Sunao ni Ienakute" has been recorded as a new version with singer Mai Kuraki featured in the song's chorus.
On the album charts, the #1 spot was taken by "Trash We'd Love" from The HIATUS, a new band formed by ELLEGARDEN's Takeshi Hosomi. It sold 80,000 copies, beating out Ken Hirai's new album, "Ken's Bar II." Other artists in the top ten were May J. (#4), Yoko Kanno & The Seatbelts (#6), Yuna Ito (#7), and MEG (#10).
GReeeeN's "Haruka" picked up the #2 spot at 63,000 in sales, and Ringo Shiina's newest landed at #3. Ikimono Gakari (#7), SPEED (#8), and Yui Aragaki (#10) also had new releases in the top ten.
Meanwhile, news was also made with the latest posthumous release from ZARD, "Sunao ni Ienakute." Ranked 5th on the charts, it became ZARD's 43rd top-ten single, tying her for the current record with Southern All Stars, SMAP, and Ayumi Hamasaki. Originally released as a B-side on her second single back in 1991, "Sunao ni Ienakute" has been recorded as a new version with singer Mai Kuraki featured in the song's chorus.
On the album charts, the #1 spot was taken by "Trash We'd Love" from The HIATUS, a new band formed by ELLEGARDEN's Takeshi Hosomi. It sold 80,000 copies, beating out Ken Hirai's new album, "Ken's Bar II." Other artists in the top ten were May J. (#4), Yoko Kanno & The Seatbelts (#6), Yuna Ito (#7), and MEG (#10).
Wed, June 3, 2009 (2:04am EDT)
Director Takashi Shimizu ("Ju-on") has been chosen to helm Japan's first full-length live-action 3D movie. Titled "The Shock Labyrinth" ("Senritsu Meikyu"), the film stars actor Yuya Yagira (19), who won Best Actor at Cannes in 2004.
Asmik Ace is producing the film, based on an original screenplay by Daisuke Hosaka. The story follows a group of teenagers who are surprised by the sudden return of their friend, who disappeared ten years ago. When she falls ill, they try to take her to the hospital but end up inside mysterious, haunted labyrinth.
The labyrinth in the movie is inspired by the actual Senritsu Meikyu, a haunted house attraction at the Fuji-Q Highland amusement park. That attraction holds the Guinness World Record for the longest haunted house in the world, at a walking distance of 700 meters. Most of the film is being shot inside the Senritsu Meikyu, at night when the park is closed.
A theatrical version of "Samurai Sentai Shinkenger" opening on August 8 will be Japan's first 3D live-action film, but that movie is only about 20 minutes long. The digitally shot "Shock Labyrinth" will count as the country's first feature-length 3D work.
Misako Renbutsu, Ryo Katsuji, Ai Maeda, Erina Mizuno, and Suzuki Matsuo have also been cast in the film. Theatrical release has been scheduled for this coming October.
Asmik Ace is producing the film, based on an original screenplay by Daisuke Hosaka. The story follows a group of teenagers who are surprised by the sudden return of their friend, who disappeared ten years ago. When she falls ill, they try to take her to the hospital but end up inside mysterious, haunted labyrinth.
The labyrinth in the movie is inspired by the actual Senritsu Meikyu, a haunted house attraction at the Fuji-Q Highland amusement park. That attraction holds the Guinness World Record for the longest haunted house in the world, at a walking distance of 700 meters. Most of the film is being shot inside the Senritsu Meikyu, at night when the park is closed.
A theatrical version of "Samurai Sentai Shinkenger" opening on August 8 will be Japan's first 3D live-action film, but that movie is only about 20 minutes long. The digitally shot "Shock Labyrinth" will count as the country's first feature-length 3D work.
Misako Renbutsu, Ryo Katsuji, Ai Maeda, Erina Mizuno, and Suzuki Matsuo have also been cast in the film. Theatrical release has been scheduled for this coming October.
Wed, June 3, 2009 (1:34am EDT)
Naoki Serizawa's action-comedy manga "Saru Lock" is being turned into a live-action drama on NTV this summer. The show will star young actor Hayato Ichihara (22), who had a major role in the hit drama "ROOKIES."
The manga tells the story of Yataro Sarumaru (nicknamed "Saru"), a genius locksmith who can open any lock. Like a typical teenage male, he is obsessed with girls, but despite his brilliance as a locksmith, he is sorely lacking in his skills with the opposite sex. While looking for some love, he uses his lockpicking abilities to take on dangerous cases.
Ichihara plays the lead as "Saru." Sei Ashina takes on the heroine role as his childhood friend Ritsuko, an honor student who is always scolding him. Other cast members include Gota Watabe as Saru's accomplice and Sousuke Takaoka as another child friend and police officer.
NTV will air the series on Thursday nights at 11:58pm, starting on July 23. In addition to the drama, there are plans for a movie to be released next year.
The manga tells the story of Yataro Sarumaru (nicknamed "Saru"), a genius locksmith who can open any lock. Like a typical teenage male, he is obsessed with girls, but despite his brilliance as a locksmith, he is sorely lacking in his skills with the opposite sex. While looking for some love, he uses his lockpicking abilities to take on dangerous cases.
Ichihara plays the lead as "Saru." Sei Ashina takes on the heroine role as his childhood friend Ritsuko, an honor student who is always scolding him. Other cast members include Gota Watabe as Saru's accomplice and Sousuke Takaoka as another child friend and police officer.
NTV will air the series on Thursday nights at 11:58pm, starting on July 23. In addition to the drama, there are plans for a movie to be released next year.
