Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part V]

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L of K-pop group Infinite to play villain in drama series “Jiu”
Posted on June 23, 2011 by tokyograph



A few weeks ago, Kuroki Meisa (23) and Tabe Mikako (22) were announced as co-stars in a suspense drama series titled “Jiu: Keishichou Tokushuhan Sousakei.” At the time, it was said that the villain of the series would be played by a popular music artist from overseas, and now his identity has been revealed: L (19) of the Korean group Infinite.

“Jiu” is based on a series of novels by Honda Tetsuya about two female police detectives who are trying to hunt down a man named Jiu (played by L), a criminal ringleader responsible for a series of brutal crimes. The character is described as a handsome young man with blond hair, who has outstanding vision and reflexes and who “knows no pain.”

Infinite debuted in Korea in 2010. In Japan, they have released four singles in consecutive months, from January to April of this year.

TV Asahi will broadcast “Jiu” on Friday nights at 11:15pm, starting in July.

Source: http://www.tokyograph.com

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Oguri Shun, Moriyama Mirai headline new production of “Dokurojo no Shichinin”
Posted on June 23, 2011 by tokyograph



Oguri Shun (28) and Moriyama Mirai (26) are co-starring in a new stage production of the play “Dokurojo no Shichinin,” also known by the English title “Seven Souls in the Skull Castle.” The play has been performed four times since its premiere in 1990, though this will be the first time that the two main characters have not been played by the same actor.

Most of the previous productions starred Furuta Arata (45) as the characters Sutenosuke and Tenmaou, but now those roles have been divided and given to Oguri (as Sutenosuke) and Moriyama (as Tenmaou). The story is a tale of conflict and rebirth set 8 years after Oda Nobunaga’s forced suicide in the Incident at Honno-ji (1582).

The new cast also includes Naka Riisa, Katsuji Ryo, Koike Eiko, Saotome Taichi, and Takada Shoko.

Performances will be held in Osaka on August 7-24 and in Tokyo on September 5 to October 10.

Source: http://www.tokyograph.com

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Matsuyuki Yasuko to star in movie about Nagaoka fireworks festival
Posted on June 23, 2011 by tokyograph



Director Obayashi Nobuhiko (73) is working on a new film about the famous Nagaoka fireworks display in Niigata. The movie, titled “Kono Sora no Hana,” will star actress Matsuyuki Yasuko (38).

The city of Nagaoka was attacked in an air raid in August 1945, just before the end of World War II. Since 1946, Nagaoka has held an annual fireworks display as a symbol of world peace and the reconstruction of the city. After the Chuetsu earthquake in 2004, the display also began representing the prayers for reconstruction from that event as well.

Obayashi began planning for the film two years ago, collecting data and stories from the people of the city. A first draft of the screenplay was just finished at the time of the devastating Tohoku earthquake this past March, so he quickly decided to incorporate that into the movie as well.

“Kono Sora no Hana” is planned for release in spring 2012.

Source: http://www.tokyograph.com

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Ishibashi Anna’s new movie set in New York
Posted on June 23, 2011 by tokyograph



On Thursday, a press conference was held to officially announce a new movie from director Yokoyama Hiroyuki, titled “Brooklyn-bashi wo Watatte” (“Across Brooklyn Bridge”). The film was shot almost entirely in New York, requiring lead actress Ishibashi Anna (18) to speak much of her dialogue in English.

The movie is based on a story written Kurashina Ryo, best known for his manga series such as “Jyouou” and “Jotei.” Ishibashi stars as a high school student who begins living in New York due to her father (Abe Yuji), a reporter, being transferred there for work. She is unaccustomed to her new life, but music brings her closer to a young American man.

Theatrical release is scheduled for this autumn.

Source: http://www.tokyograph.com

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Akina Minami waiting for her space prince

Entertainment Jun. 25, 2011 - 05:00AM JST ( 9 )



TOKYO —

Gravure model Akina Minami, 22, appeared at Bic Camera in Tokyo this week to publicize the launch of the new Samsung Galaxy S II smartphone. Although the handset itself, currently offered by NTT Docomo, was launched Thursday, the main publicity event is scheduled for July 15.

Called the Space Balloon Project, Samsung intends to launch a Galaxy S II into the stratosphere, where it will display messages sent in by users via social networking sites.

When asked about the astronaut-style jumpsuits she and the launch crew were wearing, Minami replied, “I’d like to be whisked off to a faraway world by a space prince.” She also called for users of Twitter, Mixi and Facebook to continue to send in messages.

Fan messages will be displayed for three days at a height of 30,000 meters from July 15 to 17.

Source: www.japantoday.com

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Moriwaka Kaori, Shishido Rumi form Mashou Shimai
Posted on June 24, 2011 by tokyograph



Singers Moriwaka Kaori (47) and Shishido Rumi (37) are forming a new project together called Mashou Shimai. They will kick off their activities with a radio appearance this month and the digital release of a song early next month.

Both artists have been in the industry for a long time. Moriwaka was once a member of the bands GO-BANG'S and Ram Jam World, and as an actress she played Tsukino Ikuko in the “Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon” live-action series. Shishido is well-known as a voice actress, but she also has expanded into acting and other activities.

The two have long respected each other as professionals, and somehow they began talking about forming a unit together. As a result, the Mashou Shimai Project was born.

Several other creators in various fields are also participating in the project. For Mashou Shimai’s first live performance on July 23 in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, the music is being provided by techno unit HONDALADY. Costumes are being designed by Lolita designers Uehara Kumiko (Baby, The Stars Shine Bright) and Mitsuba (ALICE and the PIRATES). The story for the project is being written by author Takemoto Novala, and illustrations are being drawn by manga artist Kojima Miyako.

Mashou Shimai is scheduled to appear on the NHK-FM radio show “Indies File” on June 26 and on the Ustream program “Oil in Life” on July 15. In early July, they plan to release a song through the music site Majix.

Source: www.tokyograph.com/

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L’Arc~en~Ciel announces 24-hour show on Nico Nico Douga
Posted on June 24, 2011 by tokyograph



The members of rock band L'Arc~en~Ciel are still celebrating their 20th anniversary, and their latest project is a 24-hour broadcast on video website Nico Nico Douga. Titled “Nico Nico L’Arc Station,” the show will feature their songs, music videos, and concert footage, plus a one-hour live segment with all of the members appearing.

The program will begin at 8:00pm JST on June 27. It will include 123 songs, ranging from their indie days to their latest, “GOOD LUCK MY WAY.” They will also air music videos for 44 songs, including the first-ever broadcast of the “Fullmetal Alchemist” version of the “GOOD LUCK MY WAY” music video. Footage from their “TOUR 2008~L’7 Trans ASIA via PARIS~” will also be shown.

For the final hour, starting at 7:00pm on June 28, all of the L’Arc~en~Ciel members will appear live to talk about “GOOD LUCK MY WAY” and their 20 years together. In addition, there will be a special segment in which L’Arc will communicate directly with their fans, using the “Nico Nico Denwa” (telephone) feature.

At some point during the program, there will also be a “L’Arc~en~Ciel Quiz” with a special present up for grabs.

At the upcoming Japan Expo in Paris (June 30-July 3), the Nico Nico Douga booth will replay the L’Arc~en~Ciel broadcast, though details are currently unknown.

The live broadcast will be available on both the Japan version and the international versions of Nico Nico Douga. The broadcast page can be found here (Japanese) and here (English).

Source: www.tokyograph.com/

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Japanese singer Yui stages 1st foreign show in Hong Kong

Entertainment Jun. 27, 2011 - 02:00PM JST ( 1 )



HONG KONG —

Rising Japanese singer-songwriter Yui led her four-member band with confidence, switching between electric and acoustic guitar and the keyboard.

It was the kind of vibrant live performance that has helped the 24-year-old former street performer, whose full name is Yui Yoshioka, win fans across Japan. Now she has taken her act overseas, staging her first foreign show in the southern Chinese territory of Hong Kong late Sunday.

The capacity audience at the 14,000-seat AsiaWorld-Expo Arena on outlying Lantau Island stood and clapped throughout a two-hour set except for a brief acoustic section when Yui asked them to sit down.

The young fans nodded their heads in appreciation even though they didn’t appear to follow the lyrics closely. Yui brought in some local help - popular Hong Kong rapper Eric Kot made a guest appearance dressed in a neon yellow jacket and matching shorts, bantering with the Japanese singer in a mixture of Cantonese and Japanese. But the cultural bridge didn’t appear to be needed. Eager fans demanded an encore with passionate chants of “Yui.”

It’s easy to understand Yui’s appeal in the former British colony with a long history of affection for Japanese pop culture. While Hong Kong singers crank out mellow, sappy ballads largely generated by the same pool of songwriters, Yui offers an energetic rock sound combined with upbeat lyrics about overcoming hardship and realizing one’s dreams - as well as the joys of puppy love. The lyrics’ Chinese translations are widely available on fan websites.

The native of the southern city Fukuoka started out as a street musician in her hometown before moving to Tokyo in search of a record deal. She released her first single in December 2004, followed by her debut album, “From Me to You,” in 2006.

Her career took off with her starring role in the popular 2006 film “Taiyo no Uta,” or “Midnight Sun.” Yui’s earnest performance as a Japanese teenager whose skin condition confines her to night activity - she plays the guitar in the deserted streets of a coastal city - won her the best newcomer prize at the Japanese Academy Awards. The film’s theme song, “Goodbye Days,” which she penned, quickly became a hit. On Sunday, she wrapped up her Hong Kong show with a guitar solo of “Goodbye Days,” which she performed sitting at the edge of the stage without a microphone to a silent audience that erupted in applause afterward.

Yui’s next album, the April 2007 release “Can’t Buy My Love” spent two weeks at No. 1 on Japan’s Oricon weekly pop album charts. She followed up in 2008 with another best-selling album, “I Loved Yesterday,” which also topped the Oricon album charts. Her latest release, last year’s “Holidays in the Sun,” also reached No. 1.

Yui told The Associated Press in an interview Saturday that she was inspired by street performers in Fukuoka to take up the guitar and join their ranks.

“I’ve been helped a lot by music, so when I write music, I want to give back to music. I carry the mindset of gratitude. I want the people who listen to my music to feel the message of gratitude,” Yui said through a translator.

She said she is constantly composing - “I could be washing my clothes and hanging my clothes and have an idea.”

Asked if she wants to showcase her musical talent beyond Hong Kong, Yui responded, “There are many places I want to visit.”

Source: www.japantoday.com

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TBS music show “Ongaku no Hi” to set record at almost 8 hours long
Posted on June 26, 2011 by tokyograph



On July 16, TBS will broadcast a live music show called “Ongaku no Hi” (“Music Day”). It will last a total of 7 hours and 40 minutes, setting the all-time record for longest single music show ever televised. SMAP’s Nakai Masahiro (38) and TBS announcer Azumi Shinichiro (37) will serve as hosts.

At a length of 7 hours and 40 minutes, “Ongaku no Hi” will surpass even the big year-end music events like NHK’s Kouhaku Uta Gassen and Fuji TV’s FNS Kayousai. Currently, the longest such show is TBS’s “Countdown TV Special” at the end of every year, which was 5 hours and 15 minutes last year. Nakai also hosted that show, and he has previously hosted Kouhaku Uta Gassen on 6 separate occasions.

Approximately 50 artists will perform on the show. According to the TBS website, the roster currently includes:

    Ishikawa Sayuri
    AKB48
    Every Little Thing
    Ogura Kei
    Kayama Yuzo
    KARA
    Kuraki Mai
    Sato Muneyuki
    SID
    JUJU
    Sukima Switch
    Tokunaga Hideaki
    Dream Morning Musume
    Nakagawa Shoko
    Hikawa Kiyoshi
    FUNKY MONKEY BABYS
    flumpool
    Becky
    Makihara Noriyuki
    Minami Kosetsu
    Moriyama Ryoko
    Rake

“Ongaku no Hi” will be aired from 7:00pm to 2:40am.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Sugiura, Mifune tout benefits of mineral water

Entertainment Jun. 28, 2011 - 04:55AM JST ( 15 )



TOKYO —

TV personalities Taiyo Sugiura, 30, and Mika Mifune, 28, this week attended a seminar and publicity event named “Papa Mama
Meeting” for the mineral water brand I LOHAS, which is distributed in Japan by Coca-Cola.

The event was organized to encourage parents to provide mineral water for their children. Mifune, who has a 6-year-old daughter, said, “I used to use tap water when cooking, but now I’m going to try to use mineral water for the sake of my children. This event is about
safety and peace of mind.”

Sugiura then impressed the audience by preparing milk and feeding it to a baby belonging to an audience member. “If dad helps out with raising the kids, the jobs get done in half the time. That leaves you more time to be a couple in the evenings,” he said.

Mifune also said that while a bottle was not bad, her husband had announced his desire to create a man’s feeding bra which would use tubes to deliver milk to infants. “If we ever manufacture such a thing, I think it’d really sell,” she joked.

Source: www.japantoday.com

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Model Jun Hasegawa announces upcoming wedding

Entertainment Jun. 29, 2011 - 04:54PM JST ( 0 )



TOKYO —

Japanese-American model Jun Hasegawa announced Wednesday that she will marry a Hawaiian man in the near future. Hasegawa, 25, made the announcement in a hand-written statement faxed to media in Tokyo.

“I’m happy to announce that I, Jun Hasegawa, will be getting married to a Hawaiian gentleman. We are going to have a small wedding with just family and relatives. I would like to keep my entertainment activities based in Japan,” she said in the statement.”

Born in New Hampshire to a Japanese mother and American father, Hasegawa moved to Hawaii at the age of two and grew up there until she was scouted at 14. Hasegawa appears regularly in ViVi as well as many other magazines, and is a regular participant in the wildly popular Tokyo Girls Collection fashion extravaganzas.

Source: www.japantoday.com

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J-Pop trio Perfume attends “Cars 2? world premiere in Hollywood

June 20, 2011 by J!-ENT



Japanese pop music trio Perfume attended the “Cars 2" world premiere in Hollywood on Saturday along with race car driver Lewis Hamilton and singer Nicole Scherzinger.

Image courtesy of Sankei Sports. Perfume with Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger.

The trio performed the song “Polyrhythm” featured in the Disney and Pixar animated film and will appear in both the US and Japanese release of the film.  The song was used during a party that takes place the night before the World Grand Prix in Japan.

Perfume was selected when Pixar director John Lasseter was searching for music for the Japanese party scene and Pixar staff members who were fans of Perfume recommended the group.

Source: www.nt2099.com/J-ENT

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AKB48 dating simulation game gets a sequel set in Guam
Posted on June 27, 2011 by tokyograph



On Monday, Bandai Namco Games announced that it is releasing a sequel to the PlayStation Portable game “AKB 1/48 Idol to Koi Shitara…” that came out last December. The sequel will again be an “ultimate dating fantasy game” involving all 48 regular members of idol group AKB48, but this time it will be set on the island of Guam. Like the first game, the sequel “AKB 1/48 Idol to Guam de Koi Shitara…” allows players to pursue a romance with their favorite member, turning down the other 47 members in the process. The whole story has been rewritten for the setting in Guam, and the game will include scenes with the members in bikinis on the beach. For another scene, member Oshima Yuko said she was granted her dream of riding on a Harley Davidson motorcycle in Guam. The game is being released on October 6, 2011. The standard edition will retail for 5,229 yen and come with a photograph of a member. There will also be a limited-time edition for 7,329 yen that comes with three photographs and a UMD with video clips that were not used in the game, as well as a first-press limited edition for 13,629 yen that comes with several extras, including a making-of DVD and a Blu-ray Disc with the confession scenes from the first game. For the photographs, there are 4 versions for each member, for a total of 192 different pictures.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Tomosaka Rie remarries to Suneohair (Updated)
Posted on June 27, 2011 by tokyograph



Actress Tomosaka Rie (31) is married again, this time to musician Watanabe Kenji (40), better known by his performance name Suneohair. They each announced the good news on their official blogs on Monday.

No further details were revealed, such as the date of their marriage. In August 2010, the Sports Hochi newspaper reported that they were planning to register their marriage before the end of that year, but it has not yet been confirmed whether they actually did get married that year.

Tomosaka and Suneohair apparently began dating around the start of 2010, after they worked together on the movie “Aburakusasu no Matsuri.”

This is the second marriage for Tomosaka, who previously wedded actor and stage director Kawahara Masahiko (41) in 2003. They had a child together in 2004, then divorced at the end of 2008. Suneohair is also divorced.

According to Tomosaka’s management agency, there are currently no plans for a wedding ceremony or a reception party.

Update: According to Sports Hochi, a source says they registered their marriage on June 26.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Live-action “Rurouni Kenshin” movie confirmed, starring Sato Takeru
Posted on June 27, 2011 by tokyograph



There have been rumors of a live-action “Rurouni Kenshin” movie since last summer, but now the project is officially confirmed. Actor Sato Takeru (22) will star under director Otomo Keishi (“Ryomaden”), with Warner Bros. producing.

The film is scheduled for release in 2012, though the staff is aiming to make it successful enough to continue as a series. Given the international popularity of “Rurouni Kenshin,” there is also hope that the movie gets released overseas as well.

The original manga, written by Watsuki Nobuhiro, originally ran in Weekly Shonen Jump (Shueisha) from 1994 to 1999. The story has been collected into 28 tankoubon volumes, and there are more than 50 million copies of the books in print. It has been translated and released in 23 countries, and a successful television anime adaptation came out in 1996.

Sato acknowledged that there is a “very high hurdle” in living up to everyone’s image of the iconic character. However, Watsuki commented that when the project was just starting, he discussed with his wife whom they thought should play Kenshin, and Sato was #1 on their list.

Preparations for the project started about 3 years ago, and Sato was offered the role after his appearance in “Ryomaden.”

Filming for “Rurouni Kenshin” is scheduled to begin in July.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Hey! Say! JUMP’s Morimoto suspended indefinitely for underage smoking (Corrected)
Posted on June 27, 2011 by tokyograph



Hey! Say! JUMP’s youngest member, Morimoto Ryutaro (16), has been suspended indefinitely by his agency, Johnny's Jimusho. This week’s issue of Shukan Josei published photos of Morimoto smoking, in violation of Japan’s laws as he is still under the legal smoking age of 20.

The magazine published two separate photos, one taken in January 2010 (when Morimoto was 14) and the other taken in May 2010 (when Morimoto was 15). According to a source familiar with the matter, Morimoto has been smoking openly for a long time, and there have been people warning him that it would be bad if he was found out, but Morimoto always brushed it off without worry.

Johnny’s Jimusho stated that when it confirmed the matter personally, Morimoto acknowledged that he has smoked several times in the past out of curiosity. As a result, the agency has placed his entertainment activities on hold indefinitely.

Hey! Say! JUMP will continue as a 9-member group for now. Their next single, “OVER,” will still be released on June 29 as planned, but there won’t be any changes such as removing Morimoto from the CD’s jacket photo. Their summer show “SUMMARY” (August 7 – September 11) will be performed with only 9 members.

Correction: There was an error in this article due to a hasty translation. The original source actually stated that there won’t be any changes to the CD jacket photo. We apologize for the mistake.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Final episode of “JIN” scores 26.1% ratings
Posted on June 27, 2011 by tokyograph



The two-hour final episode of the second “JIN” drama series aired on Sunday night. Viewers around the country tuned in to watch the ending, pushing the episode’s ratings to an average of 26.1% in the Kanto region. The episode reached its peak at 10:44pm, with ratings reaching 31.7%.

Previously, the highest ratings that “JIN” achieved was with its first season finale in 2009, at 25.3%. This second season also surpassed the first season in terms of the average ratings for the whole series, at 21.3% compared to 19.0%.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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“2ch no Noroi” goes to the big screen, starring Idoling’s Ojima Chika
Posted on June 27, 2011 by tokyograph



Ojima Chika (17) of the idol group Idoling!!! has been given her first movie acting role, as the star of the horror flick “2ch no Noroi Gekijoban.” She is being joined by fellow Idoling!!! member Nomoto Manami (15), who is also making her movie debut.

“2ch no Noroi” was originally a DVD series, based on a thread about scary stories posted on the popular internet forum 2ch. Four DVDs have been released so far. Nagae Jiro, the director of volumes 1 and 4, is behind the camera for the new theatrical version.

Besides Nomoto, Ojima’s supporting cast includes Yamasaki Jun, Saeki Daichi, Kitamura Takako, and Yano Minori.

The story revolves around an urban legend called the “Samejima Incident,” known among 2ch members as something that they cannot talk about because the truth is being hidden away due to certain circumstances. However, whether the incident is real or not is debated in the forum. But when a post promises to reveal the truth behind the Samejima Incident, the occult-loving college student Shuhei and his girlfriend Kaede start becoming involved in strange occurrences.

“2ch no Noroi Gekijoban” opens in theaters nationwide on August 6.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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SOPHIA moves to Avex, announces new single and Budokan concert
Posted on June 28, 2011 by tokyograph



Rock band SOPHIA participated in a special event on Monday celebrating the completion of the V-cinema film “Kamen Rider Eternal.” During the event, they announced that they are changing labels to Avex and will release a new single called “cod-E ~E no Angou~” on July 27. That song is being used as the theme of “Kamen Rider Eternal.”

SOPHIA halted activities in April 2010 after keyboardist Miyako Keiichi revealed that he was diagnosed with lymphoma and would be undergoing treatment. He resumed his musical activities in October.

During the “Kamen Rider Eternal” event on Monday, there was a talk event with the movie’s main cast, including SOPHIA vocalist Matsuoka Mitsuru. At the end, SOPHIA performed as a complete band with Miyako for the first time in approximately 14 months.

SOPHIA also announced that they will hold a concert on August 13 at Nippon Budokan, which will be their first real concert since restarting.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Dreams Come True announces U.S. tour and free mini-concerts in Tohoku
Posted on June 28, 2011 by tokyograph



DREAMS COME TRUE has just made two announcements about upcoming live performances. In August, they plan to perform a series of free acoustic mini-concerts in the Tohoku region, and in October, they will hold their first U.S. tour since 9 years ago.

DREAMS COME TRUE just started their “DREAMS COME TRUE WONDERLAND 2011? tour on June 24 at Sapporo Dome, and it is scheduled to end in Okinawa on September 23-24. In the middle of their tour, they are planning to do free acoustic performances in 4 of the prefectures heavily affected by the Tohoku earthquake. They are currently looking to visit Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, and Ibaraki on August 19-21. Details are still being determined and will be announced at a later date.

Then in October, after their Japan tour, they will be heading to the United States for a short tour called “DREAMS COME TRUE WONDERLAND 2011, THE NIGHT WITH DREAMS COME TRUE in the USA supplied by POCARI SWEAT.” They are scheduled to perform in Los Angeles on October 1, Seattle on October 5, and New York on October 9-10. It is reported that unlike their previous U.S. performances, they will include Japanese songs in these concerts.

More information about the U.S. tour can be found on their website.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Akimoto Yasushi teams up with Sony to produce AKB48's “official rival” Nogizaka46
Posted on June 28, 2011 by tokyograph



AKB48 producer Akimoto Yasushi is apparently planning to create an “official rival group” to AKB48. An announcement on Tuesday revealed that he is working with Sony Music to create a new group called (read as “Nogizaka 46?).

Unlike AKB48's sister groups such as SKE48 and NMB48, this new group is specifically being billed as a rival to AKB48. The group’s name comes from the fact that the final audition will be held at the SME Nogizaka Building (where Sony’s office is located). According to Akimoto, the 46 was chosen with the meaning, “Even with fewer members than AKB48, we won’t lose.”

The audition will be open to everyone. The first round (application) deadline is July 20, and the second round (interviews) will take place in seven cities (Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka, Okinawa) on August 6-7. The final round will be held on August 20-21.

Akimoto is looking to choose approximately 20 members for the first generation. The chosen members will appear on a television variety show that is scheduled to start in October, and they will make their CD debut under Sony Music Records.

An official website with more information has been launched at http://www.nogizaka46.com/.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Rie Hasegawa promotes Tohoku fruit and vegetables

Entertainment Jun. 30, 2011 - 05:41AM JST ( 19 )



TOKYO —

Actress Rie Hasegawa on Wednesday helped to launch a special event by agricultural co-op ZEN-NOH to promote fruit and vegetables from the Tohoku region.

Hasegawa, who attended as a vegetable sommelier, said, “I really want to let people know that produce from most of the Tohoku region is still safe. There are six prefectures and they need our help.”

Source: www.japantoday.com

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Sera Roeru dies of uterine cancer

June 29, 2011 by J!-ENT



Half Japanese/half American model Sera Roeru (Sara Ishii) who became popular in Japan and known for her appearance on NTV’s “11PM” has passed away on June 28th due to uterine cancer.

Last year, Sera underwent surgery to remove her uterus as cancer cells had spread throughout her body and throughout this year, she was hospitalized as she fought the cancer.

Sera starred in the 1981 TBS drama series “G-Men 75? and appeared in the 2008 issue of “Croissant” and on TV Tokyo’s “Bijou Houdan”.

Source: www.nt2099.com/J-ENT

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Horikita Maki confirmed to star in NHK morning drama “Umechan-sensei”
Posted on June 29, 2011 by tokyograph



Actress Horikita Maki (22) has officially been announced as the star of an upcoming NHK morning drama, confirming a rumor from earlier this month. The drama is titled “Umechan-sensei” and is an original story written by Ozaki Masaya (“Kekkon Dekinai Otoko,” “Oniyome Nikki”).

The story is set in the devastated area of Kamata, Tokyo, in 1945 just after the end of the war. Horikita plays Shimomura Umeko, the youngest of three siblings whose father is a doctor at a university hospital. Compared to her outstanding sister Matsuko and brother Takeo, she lacks self-confidence, but an incident makes her determined to become a local doctor. However, her path is fraught with failures.

Horikita will play the character from the age of 16 up to her mid-30s. This is the first time that she has been cast as a doctor.

Filming is scheduled to begin in November of this year. The series will last 156 episodes, starting on April 2, 2012.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Uehara Sakura remarries
Posted on June 29, 2011 by tokyograph



The management agency of talento Uehara Sakura (34) announced on Wednesday that she has remarried. She and her husband registered their marriage on April 1, and they held their wedding ceremony in Guam earlier this month.

Uehara announced her engagement in December of last year. Her husband, Aoyama Koji, is the president of KRH & Co., a company whose operations include renting out scaffolding for construction sites.

Uehara was previously married to fashion producer Endo Noriaki from 2003 to 2009.

Source: www.tokyograph.com