Thu, June 18, 2009 (4:10am EDT)
Producer Tsunku recently mentioned that he is re-forming the Hello! Project unit Mini Moni with new members, including Morning Musume's Linlin as its leader. Now, he has declared that he also plans to bring back the groups Tanpopo and Petit Moni (Pucchimoni).
Tsunku did not reveal who would be in the two groups, but he did declare that they will appear at Hello! Project's 2009 summer concert with new songs. Tsunku further hinted that there may be other new units unveiled at the concert.
Tsunku did not reveal who would be in the two groups, but he did declare that they will appear at Hello! Project's 2009 summer concert with new songs. Tsunku further hinted that there may be other new units unveiled at the concert.
Thu, June 18, 2009 (4:00am EDT)
34-year-old actress Harumi Inoue is pregnant again. She broke the good news through her official blog on Wednesday.
Inoue married a Canadian man in September 2005 and gave birth to their first son in June 2007. This will be their second child.
Inoue married a Canadian man in September 2005 and gave birth to their first son in June 2007. This will be their second child.
Thu, June 18, 2009 (3:52am EDT)
SMAP's Shingo Katori will be appearing on police posters starting next month. The work is in connection with his starring role in TBS's upcoming drama series "Kochira Katsushikaku Kameari Kouenmae Hashutsujo," also known as "Kochikame."
Based on a long-running comedy manga by Osamu Akimoto, "Kochikame" stars Katori as a police officer named Kankichi Ryotsu.
Katori appears in uniform as Kankichi on the police poster, which promotes the prevention of traffic accidents involving children during summer vacation. Posters will be put up at various police stations throughout Tokyo starting on July 1. Katori is also scheduled to make public appearances as Kankichi at police-sponsored events.
Incidentally, TBS also announced some of the cast members for "Kochikame," which premieres in August. Karina and Mocomichi Hayami will both be playing police officers working with Kankichi. Karina will be the talented beauty Reiko Catherine Akimoto, while Mocomichi has been cast as the wealthy Keiichi Nakagawa. LaSalle Ishii, who voiced Kankichi in the anime series and played him in the stage version, will appear on the show as Kankichi's father.
Based on a long-running comedy manga by Osamu Akimoto, "Kochikame" stars Katori as a police officer named Kankichi Ryotsu.
Katori appears in uniform as Kankichi on the police poster, which promotes the prevention of traffic accidents involving children during summer vacation. Posters will be put up at various police stations throughout Tokyo starting on July 1. Katori is also scheduled to make public appearances as Kankichi at police-sponsored events.
Incidentally, TBS also announced some of the cast members for "Kochikame," which premieres in August. Karina and Mocomichi Hayami will both be playing police officers working with Kankichi. Karina will be the talented beauty Reiko Catherine Akimoto, while Mocomichi has been cast as the wealthy Keiichi Nakagawa. LaSalle Ishii, who voiced Kankichi in the anime series and played him in the stage version, will appear on the show as Kankichi's father.
Thu, June 18, 2009 (3:26am EDT)
As usual, NHK has revealed its latest taiga drama plans about two years in advance. In 2011, the network will broadcast "Gou: Himetachi no Sengoku," focusing on the life of Gou, a wife of the second Tokugawa shogun Hidetada.
"Gou" will be NHK's 50th taiga drama. The show's script is being handled by Kumiko Tabuchi, who wrote for last year's popular taiga drama "Atsuhime" that starred Aoi Miyazaki.
Historically, Gou was the third daughter of the daimyo Azai Nagamasa, who was married to the sister of Oda Nobunaga. One of Gou's older sisters was the wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, while the other married the daimyo Kyogoku Takatsugu.
The lead actress playing the part of Gou has not been chosen. The first cast announcement will be made around the start of next year, and filming is scheduled to commence in August 2010.
"Gou" will be NHK's 50th taiga drama. The show's script is being handled by Kumiko Tabuchi, who wrote for last year's popular taiga drama "Atsuhime" that starred Aoi Miyazaki.
Historically, Gou was the third daughter of the daimyo Azai Nagamasa, who was married to the sister of Oda Nobunaga. One of Gou's older sisters was the wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, while the other married the daimyo Kyogoku Takatsugu.
The lead actress playing the part of Gou has not been chosen. The first cast announcement will be made around the start of next year, and filming is scheduled to commence in August 2010.
Thu, June 18, 2009 (3:05am EDT)
Singer MELL has been announced as a musical guest for the upcoming Otakon convention. Known for many anime theme songs, she originally became popular as part of the collective I've Sound, and she successfully launched her solo career in 2006.
Otakon takes place in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 17-19. MELL will perform on Friday, July 17.
Otakon takes place in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 17-19. MELL will perform on Friday, July 17.
Thu, June 18, 2009 (2:57am EDT)
Moi dix Mois, a musical project headed by visual-kei artist Mana (of Malice Mizer), will be performing at Anime Expo this year. The convention announced on Tuesday that the group is an official Guest of Honor, though the specific date and time of their performance has not yet been revealed.
Anime Expo is being held in Los Angeles on July 2-5. Moi dix Mois is the second official concert of the weekend, after Morning Musume.
Anime Expo is being held in Los Angeles on July 2-5. Moi dix Mois is the second official concert of the weekend, after Morning Musume.
Thu, June 18, 2009 (2:45am EDT)
Popular group EXILE has officially been declared the top seller for the first half of 2009. According to Oricon figures, the group sold an estimated 5.48 billion yen worth of CDs and DVDs in the period between December 15 and June 7.
This achievement is nothing new for EXILE - they also achieved the highest sales in the first half of 2008.
In individual album sales, Mr.Children's "SUPERMARKET FANTASY" ranked #1, as it was the only one to break a million. This is the group's third time leading first-half album sales, tying them with Yosui Inoue for the male artist record.
In individual singles, Arashi managed to capture both #1 and #2, which was last achieved by Hikaru Genji in 1988. "Believe / Kumori Nochi, Kaisei" led the way with 646,000 sold, followed by "Ashita no Kioku / Crazy Moon" with 556,000 sold.
Arashi also had the #1 DVD of 2009's first half, as "ARASHI AROUND ASIA 2008 in Tokyo" moved 355,000 copies. This is the first time that a music DVD has topped the rankings.
This achievement is nothing new for EXILE - they also achieved the highest sales in the first half of 2008.
In individual album sales, Mr.Children's "SUPERMARKET FANTASY" ranked #1, as it was the only one to break a million. This is the group's third time leading first-half album sales, tying them with Yosui Inoue for the male artist record.
In individual singles, Arashi managed to capture both #1 and #2, which was last achieved by Hikaru Genji in 1988. "Believe / Kumori Nochi, Kaisei" led the way with 646,000 sold, followed by "Ashita no Kioku / Crazy Moon" with 556,000 sold.
Arashi also had the #1 DVD of 2009's first half, as "ARASHI AROUND ASIA 2008 in Tokyo" moved 355,000 copies. This is the first time that a music DVD has topped the rankings.
