Wed, June 24, 2009 (4:02am EDT)
Fuji TV has decided to resume shooting for the fourth season of the "Kyumei Byoto 24 Ji" drama series. Earlier this month, lead actor Yosuke Eguchi sustained serious injuries in a motorcycle accident, forcing Fuji TV to halt filming.
Eguchi's injuries were said to require two months for a full recovery. With the show originally scheduled to start on July 7, filming had already started by that time but had to be delayed due to Eguchi's condition. The premiere has now been pushed to early August. Shooting will begin again on June 28, starting with scenes that do not involve Eguchi.
Eguchi's injuries were said to require two months for a full recovery. With the show originally scheduled to start on July 7, filming had already started by that time but had to be delayed due to Eguchi's condition. The premiere has now been pushed to early August. Shooting will begin again on June 28, starting with scenes that do not involve Eguchi.
Wed, June 24, 2009 (3:14am EDT)
"Haha no Okurimono," a work by the late screenwriter Kuniko Mukoda, is being adapted to both the small screen and the stage. The two versions will be completed later this year, in honor of the 80th anniversary of Mukoda's birth.
The story focuses on the two mothers of a couple that is about to get married. In the drama version, which will air as a single episode on TBS this fall, Keiko Takeshita and Hisako Manda play the mothers, while Yuki Shimizu and KAT-TUN's Yuichi Nakamaru play the couple. Other cast members include B-Saku Sato and Koji Ishizaka.
The stage version will be performed in October at Tokyo's Mitsukoshi Theater. Shimizu will still play the bride, but the groom will by played by fellow Johnny's member Mizuki Sano.
The story focuses on the two mothers of a couple that is about to get married. In the drama version, which will air as a single episode on TBS this fall, Keiko Takeshita and Hisako Manda play the mothers, while Yuki Shimizu and KAT-TUN's Yuichi Nakamaru play the couple. Other cast members include B-Saku Sato and Koji Ishizaka.
The stage version will be performed in October at Tokyo's Mitsukoshi Theater. Shimizu will still play the bride, but the groom will by played by fellow Johnny's member Mizuki Sano.
Wed, June 24, 2009 (1:59am EDT)
Japanfiles.com has announced through its newsletter that Hitomi Yoshizawa will be appearing at this year's Anime Expo as a guest. Yoshizawa is attending as "Hangry," one half of the rock duo Hangry & Angry that she and Rika Ishikawa belong to.
"Hangry" is scheduled to sign autographs on Friday, July 3, from 4:30pm to 5:30pm, which is right after Morning Musume's concert. More information is expected to be announced soon.
Anime Expo 2009 is taking place in Los Angeles on July 2-5.
"Hangry" is scheduled to sign autographs on Friday, July 3, from 4:30pm to 5:30pm, which is right after Morning Musume's concert. More information is expected to be announced soon.
Anime Expo 2009 is taking place in Los Angeles on July 2-5.
Wed, June 24, 2009 (1:44am EDT)
Actor Tetta Sugimoto (42) suffered a neck injury last week after being rear-ended on the road. Shortly after noon on June 19, Sugimoto's car had come to a stop on a street in Setagaya, when his vehicle was hit from behind by a 29-year-old male driver.
Sugimoto received a minor injury in his neck. Police believe the other driver was not looking forward at the time of the accident, which may lead to charges of negligent driving against the man.
Sugimoto received a minor injury in his neck. Police believe the other driver was not looking forward at the time of the accident, which may lead to charges of negligent driving against the man.
Wed, June 24, 2009 (1:32am EDT)
V6's latest single, "Spirit," topped the charts this week at 65,000 in sales. This is their second #1 single in a row, but it is also their 22nd overall.
The song beat out two singles from the "K-On!" anime series, which ranked #2 and #3. The latest "Quiz! Hexagon II" single, featuring Akina Minami and Mai Satoda, entered the charts at #4, while Kiyoshiro Imawano's posthumous "Oh! RADIO" charted at #5.
Girl band SCANDAL scored their first top ten appearance with the "Bleach" opening theme "Shojo S" at #6. mihimaru GT, Gackt, and Do As Infinity also made the top ten for the week.
On the albums side of the charts, GReeeeN remained on top for their second consecutive week with "Shio, Kosho," netting an additional 173,000 copies. According to Oricon's numbers, the album has now sold about 625,000 copies, and it has already become their second album to ship a million copies.
Yui Aragaki's sophomore album ranked #5, while Stereopony managed #7 with their first album.
The song beat out two singles from the "K-On!" anime series, which ranked #2 and #3. The latest "Quiz! Hexagon II" single, featuring Akina Minami and Mai Satoda, entered the charts at #4, while Kiyoshiro Imawano's posthumous "Oh! RADIO" charted at #5.
Girl band SCANDAL scored their first top ten appearance with the "Bleach" opening theme "Shojo S" at #6. mihimaru GT, Gackt, and Do As Infinity also made the top ten for the week.
On the albums side of the charts, GReeeeN remained on top for their second consecutive week with "Shio, Kosho," netting an additional 173,000 copies. According to Oricon's numbers, the album has now sold about 625,000 copies, and it has already become their second album to ship a million copies.
Yui Aragaki's sophomore album ranked #5, while Stereopony managed #7 with their first album.
Wed, June 24, 2009 (12:54am EDT)
Yuta Enomoto (28), a former member of Johnny's Jr., has been arrested for fraud. Investigators made the arrest public on Tuesday, saying that Enomoto has admitted to the crime.
Enomoto is suspected of filing a false unemployment claim with the public employment office in Shibuya, declaring that he had been laid off from a company that turned out to be nonexistent. He received roughly 600,000 yen in unemployment benefits between August and November 2007.
However, Enomoto took only about 30,000 yen from that money, handing over the majority of it to his accomplice, a restaurant employee named Itsuki Nishida (37). Nishida appears to be the main culprit in a group of 15 people who have been arrested for similar fraud cases since last August. So far, the group appears to have taken in an estimated 70 million yen off about 120 claims across the country.
Enomoto was part of Johnny's Jimusho during the 1990s and had a role in the drama series "3 Nen B Gumi Kinpachi Sensei." He left Johnny's in 2000 and continued a music career as the vocalist of a band named Circle.
Enomoto is suspected of filing a false unemployment claim with the public employment office in Shibuya, declaring that he had been laid off from a company that turned out to be nonexistent. He received roughly 600,000 yen in unemployment benefits between August and November 2007.
However, Enomoto took only about 30,000 yen from that money, handing over the majority of it to his accomplice, a restaurant employee named Itsuki Nishida (37). Nishida appears to be the main culprit in a group of 15 people who have been arrested for similar fraud cases since last August. So far, the group appears to have taken in an estimated 70 million yen off about 120 claims across the country.
Enomoto was part of Johnny's Jimusho during the 1990s and had a role in the drama series "3 Nen B Gumi Kinpachi Sensei." He left Johnny's in 2000 and continued a music career as the vocalist of a band named Circle.
