Fri, June 5, 2009 (7:58pm EDT)
Announcer Ayaka Shimada (35), currently a caster on Fuji TV's "FNN Speak," is getting married soon. Her husband will be Robert Masazumi Kondo (44), the president of Resonance, a company known for publishing the car and motorcycle magazine "ahead."
The couple started dating in the summer of 2007. They are already living together and are preparing for their wedding ceremony in July.
The couple started dating in the summer of 2007. They are already living together and are preparing for their wedding ceremony in July.
Fri, June 5, 2009 (7:12pm EDT)
26-year-old singer Sowelu has now signed with Avex's Rhythm Zone label. Last month, she left her agency Ken-on and her previous label DefSTAR Records, as her contract was set to expire on May 31.
Sowelu officially made the move on June 1, and her new website and blog opened the same day. She greeted her fans again, saying she was happy to get a fresh start in a new environment. However, she has not yet announced any upcoming releases.
Sowelu officially made the move on June 1, and her new website and blog opened the same day. She greeted her fans again, saying she was happy to get a fresh start in a new environment. However, she has not yet announced any upcoming releases.
Fri, June 5, 2009 (6:45pm EDT)
With boy band NEWS hosting this year's annual "24 Hour Television" program on NTV, member Ryo Nishikido (24) has been chosen to star in the telethon's customary drama special. Ryosuke Yamada (16) of Hey! Say! JUMP has also been cast in the show.
The drama is titled "Niini no Koto wo Wasurenaide" and is based on a book by writer Masumi Kawakami. Nishikido plays a young man named Keisuke Kawai, who aspired to become a physicist since he was young. His hopeful parents send him to an expensive college prep school, but at the age of 15, during his third year of junior high, he is diagnosed with a brain tumor. Told that he only has one year to live, he falls into despair, giving up on treatment and even lashing out against his own mother. Ultimately, with the support of his family, he struggles with the tumor for eight years before dying at the age of 23.
Keisuke's younger brother will be played by Yamada, while his parents are played by Hitomi Kuroki (48) and Takanori Jinnai (50). Yumi Shirakawa (72) plays the grandmother.
"24 Hour Television" is going on the air on August 29-30. "Niini no Koto wo Wasurenaide" will be broadcast on the night of August 29.
The drama is titled "Niini no Koto wo Wasurenaide" and is based on a book by writer Masumi Kawakami. Nishikido plays a young man named Keisuke Kawai, who aspired to become a physicist since he was young. His hopeful parents send him to an expensive college prep school, but at the age of 15, during his third year of junior high, he is diagnosed with a brain tumor. Told that he only has one year to live, he falls into despair, giving up on treatment and even lashing out against his own mother. Ultimately, with the support of his family, he struggles with the tumor for eight years before dying at the age of 23.
Keisuke's younger brother will be played by Yamada, while his parents are played by Hitomi Kuroki (48) and Takanori Jinnai (50). Yumi Shirakawa (72) plays the grandmother.
"24 Hour Television" is going on the air on August 29-30. "Niini no Koto wo Wasurenaide" will be broadcast on the night of August 29.
