Sun, August 16, 2009 (11:06pm EDT)
Talento Issei Daiki (38) has divorced, it was learned on Saturday. He announced the news in a post on his official blog, which also mentioned that he has ended his contract with his management agency.
Daiki, who used to be known as Issei Sakamoto, transferred to Shochiku Geino in April 2008, and at the time, he revealed that he was married. This time, he simultaneously announced his divorce and his departure from the agency. He also mentioned that he has a son and a daughter. He did not specify when the divorce happened.
Last month, Daiki had informed his management that he was leaving to focus on caring for his father, who has fallen ill.
Daiki, who used to be known as Issei Sakamoto, transferred to Shochiku Geino in April 2008, and at the time, he revealed that he was married. This time, he simultaneously announced his divorce and his departure from the agency. He also mentioned that he has a son and a daughter. He did not specify when the divorce happened.
Last month, Daiki had informed his management that he was leaving to focus on caring for his father, who has fallen ill.
Sun, August 16, 2009 (2:40am EDT)
Satomi Ishihara (22) has been cast in Genjiro Arato's "Ningen Shikkaku," based on the Osamu Dazai novel of the same name, also known as "No Longer Human." In May, it was announced that Toma Ikuta (24) had been given the starring role.
"Ningen Shikkaku" was the most autobiographical of Dazai's works, and his last before committing suicide. Ikuta plays a young man unable to truly connect with others, keeping up a jovial facade as his life spirals toward self-destruction. Ishihara plays one of the several women in his life, and the only one he marries.
The movie is scheduled for a 2010 release.
"Ningen Shikkaku" was the most autobiographical of Dazai's works, and his last before committing suicide. Ikuta plays a young man unable to truly connect with others, keeping up a jovial facade as his life spirals toward self-destruction. Ishihara plays one of the several women in his life, and the only one he marries.
The movie is scheduled for a 2010 release.
Sun, August 16, 2009 (12:59am EDT)
Movie director Shue Matsubayashi died of heart failure on Saturday morning at a hospital in Tokyo's Bunkyo ward. He was 89.
Matsubayashi made his directorial debut in 1952 with "Tokyo no Ekubo." Using his experience in the navy during the war, he developed a reputation for war movies, such as "Ningen Gyorai Kaiten" and "Rengo Kantai." However, he was also known for comedies, including the "Shacho" series of films.
Matsubayashi made his directorial debut in 1952 with "Tokyo no Ekubo." Using his experience in the navy during the war, he developed a reputation for war movies, such as "Ningen Gyorai Kaiten" and "Rengo Kantai." However, he was also known for comedies, including the "Shacho" series of films.
