Thu, September 10, 2009 (4:00am EDT)
Actress Reiko Takashima (45) has been cast as the lead of Satoshi Isaka's new movie "Dear Heart -Furuete Nemure-." This will be Takashima's first starring role in a horror film since "Samayoeru Nozui" in 1993.
Takashima plays the wife of a man (Takaaki Enoki) who receives a heart transplant. When her husband's personality suddenly changes, she begins to worry, and she eventually realizes that he is being taken over by the homicidal madness of the heart's former owner.
Filming wrapped up in early July. Kazuki Kato and Masahiko Nishimura have also been cast. The movie opens on December 5.
Takashima plays the wife of a man (Takaaki Enoki) who receives a heart transplant. When her husband's personality suddenly changes, she begins to worry, and she eventually realizes that he is being taken over by the homicidal madness of the heart's former owner.
Filming wrapped up in early July. Kazuki Kato and Masahiko Nishimura have also been cast. The movie opens on December 5.
Thu, September 10, 2009 (3:40am EDT)
Oricon's "kogao queen" survey has become an annual tradition. For the fourth year, the research firm surveyed a total of a thousand men and women, asking them to rank the female celebrities that they associated with the "small face" beauty trend.
For the third consecutive year, singer Namie Amuro ranked #1, followed by actress Manami Konishi.
For the third consecutive year, singer Namie Amuro ranked #1, followed by actress Manami Konishi.
- Namie Amuro
- Manami Konishi
- Koyuki
- Kyoko Koizumi
- Nana Eikura
- Aoi Miyazaki
- Keiko Kitagawa
- Alisa Mizuki
- Aya Ueto
- Kaela Kimura
Thu, September 10, 2009 (3:29am EDT)
On Wednesday, the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan (also known as Eiren) announced its choice for Oscar candidacy. Ryoichi Kimizuka's "Daremo Mamotte Kurenai" ("Nobody to Watch Over Me") will represent Japan in the bid for Best Foreign Language Film at the 82nd Academy Awards next year.
"Daremo Mamotte Kurenai" tied for Best Screenplay at the 2008 Montreal World Film Festival, but it didn't open in Japanese theaters until this past January. Koichi Sato stars as a police detective assigned to shield a young girl (Mirai Shida) from the public after her older brother is arrested for murder.
The Academy Award submissions will be narrowed down to five nominees in mid-January, and the awards ceremony is set for March 7, 2010. Japan is hoping for a repeat of last year, when Yojiro Takita's "Okuribito" ("Departures") pulled off a surprising win in the foreign-language film category.
"Daremo Mamotte Kurenai" tied for Best Screenplay at the 2008 Montreal World Film Festival, but it didn't open in Japanese theaters until this past January. Koichi Sato stars as a police detective assigned to shield a young girl (Mirai Shida) from the public after her older brother is arrested for murder.
The Academy Award submissions will be narrowed down to five nominees in mid-January, and the awards ceremony is set for March 7, 2010. Japan is hoping for a repeat of last year, when Yojiro Takita's "Okuribito" ("Departures") pulled off a surprising win in the foreign-language film category.
Thu, September 10, 2009 (3:10am EDT)
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Fuji TV has announced a major television drama special titled "Wagaya no Rekishi." Playwright and director Koki Mitani provided the script for the drama, which will star Kou Shibasaki along with many other big names.
The story takes place between 1945 and 1964, chronicling the lives of the seven members of the fictional Yame family. Shibasaki plays one of five siblings, along with Jun Matsumoto (Arashi), Ryuta Sato, Maki Horikita, and Nana Eikura. Their parents are being played by Toshiyuki Nishida and Sumiko Fuji, while the rest of the cast includes Masami Nagasawa, Yo Oizumi, Yuki Amami, Tetsuji Tamayama, Koji Yamamoto, Sawa Suzuki, and Junji Takada.
"Wagaya no Rekishi" will air on three consecutive nights during spring 2010.
The story takes place between 1945 and 1964, chronicling the lives of the seven members of the fictional Yame family. Shibasaki plays one of five siblings, along with Jun Matsumoto (Arashi), Ryuta Sato, Maki Horikita, and Nana Eikura. Their parents are being played by Toshiyuki Nishida and Sumiko Fuji, while the rest of the cast includes Masami Nagasawa, Yo Oizumi, Yuki Amami, Tetsuji Tamayama, Koji Yamamoto, Sawa Suzuki, and Junji Takada.
"Wagaya no Rekishi" will air on three consecutive nights during spring 2010.
Thu, September 10, 2009 (2:28am EDT)
Yukio Okada's manga "MOTEL" is being turned into a live-action film, starring popular young actor Toma Ikuta (24). This is Ikuta's second movie role, after the Osamu Dazai adaptation "Ningen Shikkaku" ("No Longer Human") which is scheduled for release next year.
This new movie is titled "Seaside Motel," set in a motel that is curiously named Seaside despite being surrounded by mountains. Ikuta plays Kameda, a traveling salesman who peddles questionable cosmetic products. His female lead is Kumiko Aso (31), playing a call girl named Candy whose popularity is already fading even before she hits the age of thirty. The two happen to meet at Seaside, and Kameda falls in love.
The manga is full of distinctive characters, but none of the film's supporting cast have been announced, other than stage actors Masaaki Akahori and Seiji Nozoe, playing a pair of cops.
"Seaside Hotel" is being directed by Kentaro Moriya, whose only other feature-length film is the 2005 picture "School Daze." Filming already started on August 30 in Guam. Theatrical release is scheduled for sometime in 2010.
This new movie is titled "Seaside Motel," set in a motel that is curiously named Seaside despite being surrounded by mountains. Ikuta plays Kameda, a traveling salesman who peddles questionable cosmetic products. His female lead is Kumiko Aso (31), playing a call girl named Candy whose popularity is already fading even before she hits the age of thirty. The two happen to meet at Seaside, and Kameda falls in love.
The manga is full of distinctive characters, but none of the film's supporting cast have been announced, other than stage actors Masaaki Akahori and Seiji Nozoe, playing a pair of cops.
"Seaside Hotel" is being directed by Kentaro Moriya, whose only other feature-length film is the 2005 picture "School Daze." Filming already started on August 30 in Guam. Theatrical release is scheduled for sometime in 2010.
Thu, September 10, 2009 (1:48am EDT)
Actor Eita (26) and singer Kaela Kimura (24) are currently dating, it was learned on Thursday. Their relationship was revealed in the latest issue of Josei Seven, which included pictures of the pair together.
According to the magazine, Eita was driving home to his Tokyo apartment on the night of September 5, and Kimura was in the passenger seat. Eita had just arrived in Japan that same day, returning from the Montreal World Film Festival where he attended the screening of Miwa Nishikawa's "Dear Doctor."
Eita's agency confirmed that the two are seriously dating. His management explained that they were introduced to each other by a mutual friend and started going out in late August. Kimura's agency also confirmed the news.
In July, Eita was reported to be dating actress Mami Yamasaki (23), but that rumor was denied. Kimura was previously in a long relationship with rapper SU (35) of RIP SLYME.
According to the magazine, Eita was driving home to his Tokyo apartment on the night of September 5, and Kimura was in the passenger seat. Eita had just arrived in Japan that same day, returning from the Montreal World Film Festival where he attended the screening of Miwa Nishikawa's "Dear Doctor."
Eita's agency confirmed that the two are seriously dating. His management explained that they were introduced to each other by a mutual friend and started going out in late August. Kimura's agency also confirmed the news.
In July, Eita was reported to be dating actress Mami Yamasaki (23), but that rumor was denied. Kimura was previously in a long relationship with rapper SU (35) of RIP SLYME.
