Thu, August 20, 2009 (11:50am EDT)
Teen idol Miu Nakamura (18) suddenly announced on her blog on Thursday that she is retiring from gravure work.
Nakamura made her gravure debut in 2005, at the age of 14. The following year, she was named Miss Young Magazine in Kodansha's Miss Magazine contest.
Around November 2007, she took a break from work for a few months, leading to rumors then that she would retire. At the time, her inactivity was said to be the result of health problems, but it was later reported that she had also been threatened and confined by a relative. In March of this year, while she was still 17, she became an employee and board member of her agency.
Although Nakamura will no longer do gravure work, it appears that she will continue working in the entertainment industry.
Nakamura made her gravure debut in 2005, at the age of 14. The following year, she was named Miss Young Magazine in Kodansha's Miss Magazine contest.
Around November 2007, she took a break from work for a few months, leading to rumors then that she would retire. At the time, her inactivity was said to be the result of health problems, but it was later reported that she had also been threatened and confined by a relative. In March of this year, while she was still 17, she became an employee and board member of her agency.
Although Nakamura will no longer do gravure work, it appears that she will continue working in the entertainment industry.
Thu, August 20, 2009 (4:55am EDT)
Actor Kaoru Kobayashi (57) has been given the starring role in the upcoming live-action adaptation of Yaro Abe's "Shinya Shokudo" manga. The drama was first hinted at last month, but no details were given at the time.
"Shinya Shokudo" revolves around the owner and the patrons of an unusual restaurant that opens late at night. Instead of having a fixed menu, the owner prepares dishes at each customer's request. The manga is currently serialized in Shogakukan's Big Comic Original, and it will see its fourth tankoubon volume released near the end of this month. The series was nominated for the Manga Taisho award earlier this year.
The drama will air this fall on TBS and affiliated stations. It is still not clear whether the drama will be a single-episode special or a series.
"Shinya Shokudo" revolves around the owner and the patrons of an unusual restaurant that opens late at night. Instead of having a fixed menu, the owner prepares dishes at each customer's request. The manga is currently serialized in Shogakukan's Big Comic Original, and it will see its fourth tankoubon volume released near the end of this month. The series was nominated for the Manga Taisho award earlier this year.
The drama will air this fall on TBS and affiliated stations. It is still not clear whether the drama will be a single-episode special or a series.
Thu, August 20, 2009 (4:34am EDT)
Actress Takako Matsu has set a date for her first single in over two and a half years. "Kimi to Nara" will go on sale October 21, becoming her 22nd single.
Her last CD single was "Minna Hitori" in November 2006. In May 2007, she released the digital-only single "Ashita, Haru ga Kitara 97-07," commemorating the 10th anniversary of her debut song.
Matsu has been busy with several acting roles on stage and in film, but she made time in her schedule to record "Kimi to Nara" at a studio in Los Angeles. In addition to the title track, the single includes "Kitto Tsutaete" (the current ending theme song of the anime series "Kemono no Souja Erin") and a Japanese version of Hedy West's "500 Miles" with lyrics written by the late Kiyoshiro Imawano. Both "Kimi to Nara" and "Kitto Tsutaete" were written and composed by Matsu herself.
Her last CD single was "Minna Hitori" in November 2006. In May 2007, she released the digital-only single "Ashita, Haru ga Kitara 97-07," commemorating the 10th anniversary of her debut song.
Matsu has been busy with several acting roles on stage and in film, but she made time in her schedule to record "Kimi to Nara" at a studio in Los Angeles. In addition to the title track, the single includes "Kitto Tsutaete" (the current ending theme song of the anime series "Kemono no Souja Erin") and a Japanese version of Hedy West's "500 Miles" with lyrics written by the late Kiyoshiro Imawano. Both "Kimi to Nara" and "Kitto Tsutaete" were written and composed by Matsu herself.
Thu, August 20, 2009 (2:48am EDT)
Aqua Timez will release their first best album on October 14, appropriately titled "The BEST of Aqua Timez." The collection will consist of two discs, each containing 13 tracks.
On August 24, the band is celebrating the start of the fifth year since their debut mini-album in 2005. Their popularity has fueled them to a total of 5 million CDs sold and 10 million digital songs downloaded.
This best album will include all ten of their singles, as well as their newest song, "Saigo Made," which goes on sale digitally on September 2. The rest of the tracks were personally chosen by the band's members. In addition to the two discs, the album's limited edition comes with a DVD that contains 21 songs.
On August 24, the band is celebrating the start of the fifth year since their debut mini-album in 2005. Their popularity has fueled them to a total of 5 million CDs sold and 10 million digital songs downloaded.
This best album will include all ten of their singles, as well as their newest song, "Saigo Made," which goes on sale digitally on September 2. The rest of the tracks were personally chosen by the band's members. In addition to the two discs, the album's limited edition comes with a DVD that contains 21 songs.
