Mon, June 22, 2009 (11:38pm EDT)
Singer Ryuichi Kawamura (39) has become a father. His wife gave birth to their first son on June 18.
Kawamura, formerly a member of LUNA SEA, has been on tour across the country since May, but he was in Tokyo on Thursday when the child was born, allowing him to meet the newborn right away.
Kawamura has been married since January 2006 to Kumi Sano, who won the Miss Nippon Contest in 2002.
Kawamura, formerly a member of LUNA SEA, has been on tour across the country since May, but he was in Tokyo on Thursday when the child was born, allowing him to meet the newborn right away.
Kawamura has been married since January 2006 to Kumi Sano, who won the Miss Nippon Contest in 2002.
Mon, June 22, 2009 (3:08pm EDT)
Hey! Say! JUMP's Kota Yabu (19) will usher in the new year by headlining a Japanese production of the Broadway musical "She Loves Me." This will be his first time in a solo starring role.
Originally performed on Broadway in 1963, "She Loves Me" tells the love story of Georg (Yabu), an employee at a perfume shop, and his co-worker Amalia (Sayaka Kanda). The two constantly argue at work, but they don't realize that they are each other's anonymous pen pal.
Yabu will also be receiving assistance from two of his Johnny's Jimusho senpais, both members of Shonentai. Kazukiyo Nishikiori will be producing the musical, while Katsuhide Uekusa has a supporting role.
"She Loves Me" will be performed at the Theatre Creation in Hibiya, Tokyo. 56 performances are scheduled between opening day on December 12 and the final show on January 31, which happens to be Yabu's 20th birthday.
Originally performed on Broadway in 1963, "She Loves Me" tells the love story of Georg (Yabu), an employee at a perfume shop, and his co-worker Amalia (Sayaka Kanda). The two constantly argue at work, but they don't realize that they are each other's anonymous pen pal.
Yabu will also be receiving assistance from two of his Johnny's Jimusho senpais, both members of Shonentai. Kazukiyo Nishikiori will be producing the musical, while Katsuhide Uekusa has a supporting role.
"She Loves Me" will be performed at the Theatre Creation in Hibiya, Tokyo. 56 performances are scheduled between opening day on December 12 and the final show on January 31, which happens to be Yabu's 20th birthday.
Mon, June 22, 2009 (2:25pm EDT)
Director Yasuharu Hasebe died of pneumonia on June 14 at a hospital in Kanagawa, it has been learned. He was 77 years old.
Hasebe, a graduate of Waseda University, was considered one of the pioneers of Nikkatsu's "violent pink" genre during the 1970s. He also directed the "Noraneko Rock" ("Stray Cat Rock") movie series before breaking off from Nikkatsu in 1980. His TV credits include the dramas "Aibou" and "Abunai Deka."
Hasebe was the father of screenwriter Bakushino Hasebe, who writes for the "Aibou" series, and actress Kanae Hasebe, who appeared in the "Abunai Deka" series.
Hasebe, a graduate of Waseda University, was considered one of the pioneers of Nikkatsu's "violent pink" genre during the 1970s. He also directed the "Noraneko Rock" ("Stray Cat Rock") movie series before breaking off from Nikkatsu in 1980. His TV credits include the dramas "Aibou" and "Abunai Deka."
Hasebe was the father of screenwriter Bakushino Hasebe, who writes for the "Aibou" series, and actress Kanae Hasebe, who appeared in the "Abunai Deka" series.
