Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part II]

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Miho Takagi finds romance
Wed, March 4, 2009 (1:43am EST)



Actress Miho Takagi (46) is currently in a relationship with a man one year older than her. The couple met at a sports club about half a year ago, and they are said to have both fallen in love at first sight.

At the end of January, Takagi admitted that she had a boyfriend, but no details were known at the time. Her agency says that she has marriage in mind, but the recent rumor of a spring wedding was denied.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Former Dream member ties the knot
Wed, March 4, 2009 (2:00am EST)



Mai Matsumuro (25), a former member of the pop group Dream, recently announced on her blog that she is married. She registered her marriage to a hair and makeup artist on February 28.

Matsumuro was part of Dream from their debut in 2000 until she left the group in 2002. She is currently active as a songwriter and solo singer.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Charts: Ayu "rules" with 20th consecutive #1
Wed, March 4, 2009 (2:41am EST)



Singer Ayumi Hamasaki's new single "Rule / Sparkle" took the top spot in the Oricon weekly singles ranking with sales of 95,000. This makes it her 20th consecutive #1 single (32nd total), starting with "Free & Easy" in 2002. Hamasaki is the first solo artist and the first female artist to achieve 20 consecutive number ones.

New band flumpool picked up #2 with their third release. abingdon boys school, Kazumasa Oda, Dreams Come True, Yui Aragaki, Ai Otsuka, and Shonannokaze also made the top ten with their new songs.



In other Oricon ranking news, Angela Aki's third album, "ANSWER," took the #1 spot in the album charts, selling a total of 74,000 copies in its first week. This is her 2nd consecutive chart-topper.

Meanwhile, J Soul Brothers came in at #2 with their self-titled album at 69,000 in sales. It was just announced earlier this week that the group is merging with EXILE, making this album their first and last.

The only other new Japanese albums in the top ten were both from Tomoko Kawase - her best collections for Tommy february6 and Tommy heavenly6 ranked #5 and #6, respectively.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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With a combined age of almost 180 years, the members of Alice are hardly the wild young men of the Japanese music world. But they've decided they still have enough in them to give it one more go. They announced this week that they would be reuniting for the fourth time and touring the country for the first time in 28 years. The folk trio is made up of Tanimura Shinji (60) and Horiuchi Takao (59) on vocals and guitar and backed by drumer Yazawa Toru (60). Tanimura and Horiuchi formed the group on Christmas Day 1971, with Yazawa joining soon after, and they released their debut single in March 1972. Fame didn't come quickly and they toured constantly in an effort to build up a reputation. They played more than 300 shows in 1974 alone, mostly for no pay. But the hard work paid of and the major hits started to flow, including "Kairazaru Hibi" (1976) and "Champion" (1978). The band broke up in 1981 and the emebers embarked on very successful solo careers, in particular Tanimura and Horiuchi. They've got back together several times, most recently for appearances on the annual NHK New Year's Eve concert "Kohaku Utagassen" in 2000 and 2005. They last released an album of all original material in 1987. The new tour is scheduled to run from July 24 to November 4, taking in 35 shows. Tanimura said he hopes the energy from the tour will even encourage them to come up with some new material.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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Comedian Nagura Jun (40) was rushed to hospital late last night with severe stomach pains. He was diagnosed with acute gastritis but was allowed to go home after receiving medication. His management agency said he had no work scheduled for today and he is expected to return to his usual work routine tomorrow. Nagura is married to talento Watanabe Marina (38) and they have a young son (1).

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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Ai Tominaga denies tabloid report on her 'divorce'

Thursday 05th March, 05:32 AM JST



TOKYO

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SCANDAL opens for "Bleach"
Thu, March 5, 2009 (1:35am EST)



Rising female pop-rock band SCANDAL has just landed a tie-in with the popular anime series "Bleach." Their new song, "Shojo S," will be used as the show's opening theme starting on April 14.

SCANDAL just released "Sakura Goodbye," their second major-label single, on Wednesday. "Shojo S" is not on the single, and in fact, it has not yet been scheduled for a CD release.

Two of the band's members, guitarist MAMI and bassist TOMOMI, recently celebrated their graduation from high school.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Announcer Masumi Yamamoto weds
Thu, March 5, 2009 (2:23am EST)



NTV announcer Masumi Yamamoto (32) got married on Tuesday, which was Hinamatsuri in Japan. Her husband is a non-celebrity the same age as her. The network clarified that she is not pregnant and is planning to continue working.

Yamamoto has been part of NTV since 1999. She currently appears on a couple sports programs.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Singer AI directing short film
Thu, March 5, 2009 (1:00am EST)

27-year-old singer AI is about to direct her first film, it was learned on Wednesday. Her work will be part of an anthology that is scheduled to open in August.

Last year saw the release of "R246 Story," a collection of short films themed around Japan's Route 246. Six directors participated in that project - Tadanobu Asano, Shido Nakamura, Yusuke Santamaria, Genki Sudo, ILMARI, and Verbal. AI's piece, tentatively titled "My Next Step," will be part of a similar anthology.

"My Next Step" is said to be a dance movie based on AI's own experiences and friends. Filming will take place this month in Los Angeles, where the singer was born.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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"Drifting Net Cafe" becomes drama
Thu, March 5, 2009 (2:50am EST)



Shuzo Oshimi's sci-fi manga series "Hyoryu Net Cafe" is being adapted into a television drama this spring. The show will star actor Atsushi Ito, who is well known for his starring role in "Densha Otoko."

Also known as "Drifting Net Cafe," the original manga revolves around salaryman Koichi Toki (Ito), who leads a trouble-free but unexciting life. One day he stops by an internet cafe, where he runs into his first love whom he never forgot (played by model KIKI). A sudden electrical failure traps him and the other customers in the cafe, which has become a strange universe of its own.

As the manga is still fairly new, the original story's ending has not yet been decided, so the drama will possibly depart from the comic's storyline.



The supporting cast also includes Reina Asami. TBS will air the drama on Wednesday nights at 12:29am (12:44am for the first episode). It premieres on April 15.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Aki Hoshino to co-host new interview show on NHK

Friday 06th March, 05:16 AM JST



TOKYO

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Buono! set for Stockholm
Fri, March 6, 2009 (2:20pm EST)



Hello! Project has announced that the group Buono! is attending the Stockholm Japan Expo 2009 in Sweden. The festival takes place May 22-24, and Buono! will perform on the last day.

The event's official website is here.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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GReeeeN sings ballad for "ROOKIES" movie
Fri, March 6, 2009 (3:02pm EST)



After singing the hit theme song "Kiseki" for the "ROOKIES" drama series, GReeeeN is once again getting a tie-in with the show. Their first true ballad, titled "Haruka," will be used as theme song of the movie version that comes out this spring.

The song is said to be their first one without a rap or hip-hop flavor. No release date has been set for the song yet.

The "ROOKIES" movie opens on May 30.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Oricon: ideal type of daughter
Sat, March 7, 2009 (12:31am EST)



In celebration of Hinamatsuri on March 3rd, Oricon asked 900 men and women (between their twenties and their forties) what type of girl they would want to raise their daughter like, if they had one.

Talento Becky was ranked #1 overall and among the women surveyed. #2 was actress Aoi Miyazaki, who ranked first among the men surveyed.

Becky
Aoi Miyazaki
Nanako Matsushima
Aya Ueto
Norika Fujiwara
Yukie Nakama
Miho Kanno
Masami Nagasawa
Maki Horikita
Yui Aragaki

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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X Japan x Hello Kitty
Sat, March 7, 2009 (3:42am EST)

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Rock band X Japan has just announced an unlikely collaboration. The group has teamed up with Sanrio for a special version of the popular character Hello Kitty. This is the first time in Kitty's 35-year history that it has been paired up with a real-life band.

The visual-kei style Kitty sports a black outfit, purple eye shadow, and partially dyed hair. An illustration has been posted on the band's official website.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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"Homeless Chugakusei" drama gets a sequel
Sat, March 7, 2009 (4:16am EST)

Hiroshi Tamura's best-selling autobiography "Homeless Chugakusei" will have a sequel to its television adaptation. Last July, Fuji TV aired a drama special that starred new child actor Tatsuya Kuroki as Tamura's childhood self. The episode garnered ratings of 18.8% in the Kanto area and 26.0% in the Kansai region.

On April 12, the network will broadcast "Homeless Chugakusei 2," based on the book "Homeless Daigakusei" that was published by Tamura's older brother Kenichi this past October. The book relates the family's experiences from the perspective of Kenichi, who was a college student at the time.



Including Kuroki, the cast of the first special - including Kaho, Kei Tanaka, Takashi Naito, and Hiroko Yakushimaru - will reprise their roles. In addition, Mitsuki Tanimura is joining the cast as Kenichi's girlfriend.



Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Narimiya stars in Japan-Hong Kong drama
Sun, March 8, 2009 (3:01am EDT)

NHK and Hong Kong broadcaster RTHK have teamed up to produce a two-part television drama titled "Shiawase no Soup wa Ikaga?" The project was first announced in April 2008 and has now been scheduled to air in Japan on March 26-27.



Hiroki Narimiya stars as a young man who becomes tired of his life in Japan and decides to go to Hong Kong. There, he comes across a woman (Annie Liu) and her grandfather (Wu Ma) who run a restaurant specializing in fish ball soup. As the story develops, he too learns the art of making the soup.

The drama was filmed in Hong Kong and Japan last May. The cast also includes Yuen Qiu, Jun Fubuki, and Sansei Shiomi.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Oikawa chosen to succeed Aibou's Terawaki
Sun, March 8, 2009 (3:17am EDT)



The popular TV Asahi detective series "Aibou" has found its new star. Actor Mitsuhiro Oikawa will be filling in the gap left by Yasufumi Terawaki earlier this season.



Terawaki had played one half of the leading duo alongside Yutaka Mizutani ever since the show's start in 2000. He left during the ongoing 7th season, leaving Mizutani without a partner.

Oikawa will make his first appearance in the season's two-hour finale on March 18. He will continue with the role when the series enters its 8th season.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Kis-My-Ft2 takes over PLAYZONE
Mon, March 9, 2009 (12:39am EDT)

Johnny's Jimusho has announced that the Johnny's Jr. group Kis-My-Ft2 will be the main cast of this year's "PLAYZONE" musical. This is an impressive achievement for the 7-member unit, as they have not yet released a major label CD.

The older Johnny's group Shonentai were the leads of "PLAYZONE" since 1986, but last year was their final time in charge of the show.



The main leads for this year's show will be Kis-My-Ft2 members Hiromitsu Kitayama, Taisuke Fujigaya, and Yuta Tamamori. The supporting cast includes the group's other members, as well as former NEWS/Kanjani8 member Hiroki Uchi. Shonentai's Kazukiyo Nishikiori is writing and directing the show. Performances have been scheduled at Tokyo's Aoyama Theatre from July 11 to August 9 and at Osaka's Umeda Arts Theater from August 21 to 26.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Atsushi Ito's brother found dead
Mon, March 9, 2009 (12:41am EDT)



Actor Takahiro Ito, the younger brother of "Densha Otoko" star Atsushi Ito, has passed away, it was learned on Sunday. He was only 21 years old.

Ito was found dead in a parked car near Lake Sagami in the Kanagawa prefecture. Police are currently investigating the death as a suicide.

The actor regularly updated his official blog, but his last post was on February 22. In that entry, he included a photo of him having fun with friends at a high school reunion, and he also mentioned that he was preparing for filming a television drama this month.

Ito entered show business as a child actor back in 1993. His most recent roles included the movie "Yougisha x no Kenshin" and the dramas "Galileo" and "Nodame Cantabile."

Source: www.tokyograph.com