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Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part IV]
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"Gantz" going to France and other countries
Tue, July 6, 2010 (7:05pm EDT)
The live-action "GANTZ" movies, starring Kazunari Ninomiya (27) and Kenichi Matsuyama (25), are reportedly getting screened overseas. The first country confirmed is France, though an exact date has not been announced. It also not yet clear whether it will be a limited screening or a theatrical run.
"GANTZ," which is based on a sci-fi manga by Hiroya Oku, is being released as two films. The first is scheduled to open in Japan in early 2011, followed by the second movie in the spring.
Negotiations for a screening in France started in May during the Cannes Film Festival, and a deal was successfully made in mid-June. It has also reportedly been decided that the films will be shown in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Indonesia.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Four '70s stars form new unit
Tue, July 6, 2010 (9:44am EDT)
Four male idols who were popular during the 1970s have joined forces to create a new unit called S4. At an average age of 52.5, they are the oldest idol unit to have ever formed as a new group.
   
S4's members are Toshio Egi (58) of Four Leaves, Shinya Aizaki (53), Takamichi (50) of Karyudo, and T.AKIRA (49) of The Finger Five. Egi is serving as the leader of the group.
The four met last year when they participated in the "Dousoukai Concert" tour, which brought together former idols for a series of live performances. They got along well, and they decided to establish their own unit. Egi ambitiously declared that their rivals are the popular group EXILE.
Their debut song is a work left by the late composer Daisuke Inoue, who passed away in 2000. The song, "Yume no Tsudzuki," will be included on their first album (tentatively titled "Boku no Uta wa Kimi no Uta"), expected to go on sale this fall.
S4 has their first live performance scheduled for August 15 in Ginza.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Let's hear it for the toys
By Chris Betros
TOKYO —
What happens to toys when their owner is no longer a child and is heading off to college? Will they be stored away in the attic, tossed out or end up in a day care center? That’s the choice facing the characters in “Toy Story 3,” the latest animated feature from Pixar, directed by Lee Unkrich and co-written by Pixar chief John Lasseter, “WALL-E” director Andrew Stanton and Unkrich.
Unkrich has a long pedigree with Pixar, having directed “Toy Story 2,” “Monsters Inc,” “Finding Nemo” and working on many other features as editor. During a recent visit to Tokyo with producer Darla K Anderson, he said his priority for the third installment was not to deviate too much from the world created by the first two films. “I had to be careful to stay true to the characters in the series who have been around for 15 years. They have become like family to me,” said Unkrich.
Once again, the “family” are voiced by Tom Hanks (Woody), Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear), Joan Cusack (cowgirl Jessie), Wallace Shawn (dinosaur Rex), and Don Rickles (Mr Potato Head). Worried about their future, they end up in a daycare center, much to their delight – children play with you all day and there will always be new kids coming through. Seems like heaven, or is it?
Unkrich said that the concept of toys having a rich, complex life when people aren’t around still holds up and resonates all these years later. “When we made the first film, we had no idea this would go on to become such a huge series and franchise,” he said. “‘Toy Story 3’ is no exception to our standards at Pixar. First and foremost, we set out to tell a good story and every time we finish a film is a profound experience.”
Unkrich said that working at Pixar is about more than just entertainment. “Everyone involved holds themselves to really high standards,” he said. “We all strive to raise the bar with each film and improve ourselves in the process. To work at Pixar, you need to be a team player; no one person is the star of the show.”
Japanese fans of the series will be amused to see a brief cameo by famed animator Hayao Miyazaki’s creation, Totoro, a cat-like creature and household name in Japan since appearing in the 1988 film, “My Neighbor Totoro.” Anderson explained the cameo, saying, “(Miyazaki’s) Studio Ghibli and Pixar have a long history together. We wanted to include one of his characters as a homage to his work, and he gave us the green light for Totoro.” Miyazaki and Lasseter have a long-standing friendship, and Lasseter has supervised Western releases for Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away” and “Ponyo” films.
Continuing a recent trend, “Toy Story 3” will be released in 3D format. “We thought long and hard about it,” said Unkrich. “We didn’t want it to just be a gimmick. If people leave theaters just saying ‘The 3D was cool,’ then we’ve failed. Like the previous Pixar film, ‘Up,’ we used 3D as a window into this fictional world so viewers can experience everything in depth. With any film, 3D or not, our first priority is to make a good movie.”
He added that with the technology available to movie makers today, there are almost no limits to what can be put on the screen. “Since young people bear the burden of our future, we think it’s important to show kids that anything is possible.”
One group of kids in Japan certainly didn’t need to be convinced—all-girl idol group AKB48 members Sae Miyazawa, Minami Takahashi, Rie Kitahara and Miho Miyazaki jumped at the opportunity to attend a “teach-in” held by Unkrich and Anderson at Ebisu Garden Hall.
The four girls said they were huge fans of the animated film series and asked Unkrich to cast them in a movie (last year, they asked “Star Trek” director J.J. Abrams to cast them as aliens in a future film). “Finish school first, and then you’re hired,” joked Unkrich.
“Toy Story 3” opens in Japan on Saturday.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Rei Kikukawa speaks out against remittance fraud
Thursday 08th July, 03:23 AM JST
TOKYO —
Actress Rei Kikukawa, 32, was bestowed the title of “Remittance Fraud Prevention Chief” for a day this week by the Japan Bankers Association, at a financial crime prevention event held at Shinjuku’s Takashimaya department store.
“Let’s bring financial crimes down to zero (rei)!” she said, using a pun on her name for the campaign slogan.
Kikukawa called for people to always consult their family or police if they have doubts, before transferring any money.
When asked what kind of fraud she thought was scariest, the unmarried actress replied, “I guess it would be marriage fraud.”
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Suo, Kusakari Team Up for One Last Dance
July 08, 2010
Movie director Suo Masayuki (53) has teamed up with his wife, actress and former top ballerina Kusakari Tamiyo (45, photo left), to make a dance film about Charlie Chaplin. It will be the first big screen collaboration between the two since "Shall We Dance?" the hit 1995 film that first brought them together. Adapted from a ballet created by French choreographer Roland Petit (86), "Dancing Chaplin" is expected to have a spring 2011 theatrical release. The film will be in two parts, one dealing with the production process, the other focusing on the ballet itself.
Kusakari, formally retired from ballet in April 2009 and her last public performance included an excerpt from the Chaplin ballet. She performed with Italian ballet dancer Luigi Bonino (60), who co-stars in the movie version. The dance sequences were filmed at a Tokyo studio in July of last year. Suo says that his wife's experience and advice was invaluable to him in understanding the physical limits of dancers and how best to film them.
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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Inception Hijacks Japan
The team behind Hollywood movie "Inception" pulled off a very clever PR stunt across Japan yesterday. On Jul 7, at 7:07pm, a promo video was played on 136 big screens on street corners across the country and about 20,000 monitors in trains on major commuter routes. The streets of Tokyo alone saw the video played in 48 different locations. It also played on about 2,000 TV screens on display in Yamada Denki electrical stores across the country.
The movie is directed by Christopher Nolan (39) and stars Leonardo Dicaprio (35) and Watanabe Ken (50). Following an announcement of a "special message from Hollywood" the three appeared on screen and addressed the Japanese public. The 75-second video brought commuter crowds to a standstill, such as about 2,000 office workers in the SL Square in front of Shimbashi station in central Tokyo (photo right). Inception is scheduled for release here on July 23.
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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Art director Kimihiko Nakamura passes away
Wed, July 7, 2010 (8:21am EDT)
Movie art director Kimihiko Nakamura died of renal failure at a Tokyo hospital just after midnight on Tuesday night. He was 94.
Nakamura is best known for his work during the 1950s and 1960s. After leaving a job at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, he joined the Shochiku Ofuna studio in 1951. He was promoted to art director the following year, and he worked on Keisuke Kinoshita's "Onna no Sono" ("The Garden of Women") and "Nijushi no Hitomi" ("Twenty-Four Eyes").
Nakamura later moved to Nikkatsu, where he worked with Shohei Imamura on "Buta to Gunkan" ("Pigs and Battleships") and "Nippon Konchuki" ("The Insect Woman"). His other credits throughout his career include "Bakumatsu Taiyoden" ("Sun in the Last Days of the Shogunate"), "Arashi wo Yobu Otoko" ("Man Who Causes a Storm"), and "Kyupora no Aru Machi" ("Foundry Town").
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Charts: Kanjani8, Kana Nishino
Wed, July 7, 2010 (8:51am EDT)
Kanjani8 achieved their ninth #1 single this week with "Wonderful World!!" selling 245,000 copies. The song is currently being used as the ending theme of "Bouken JAPAN! Kanjani8 MAP," their first nationally-televised show.
RADWIMPS simultaneously released two singles, which ranked #2 and #3. Watarirouka Hashiritai was #4, followed by Dreams Come True. SuG (#7), Koji Kikkawa as the "Kamen Rider Double" character Sokichi Narumi (#8), and RIP SLYME (#10) also made the top ten with new songs.
On the album charts, Kana Nishino's "to LOVE" sold 113,000 copies in its second week to maintain its ranking at #1. She is the first female artist this year to top the album charts two weeks in a row.
The rest of the top ten were almost all new releases. Bank Band was #2, TVXQ was #3 and #4 with simultaneous releases, and the HIATUS was #5. Anime band Girls Dead Monster ranked #6, while Acid Black Cherry was right behind them at #7. Kou Shibasaki (#9) and Noriyuki Makihara (#10) also charted.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Mika Nakashima to perform two shows at Budokan
Wed, July 7, 2010 (10:27am EDT)
Singer Mika Nakashima (27) recently announced her first concerts at the Nippon Budokan. She will perform two shows there on November 5 and 6, which will be labeled as MIKA NAKASHIMA 10th ANNIVERSARY'S SPECIAL LIVE "FANS AND BEST."
November 7 marks the 9th anniversary of her debut single "STARS," which means that she will be entering her 10th year as a singer. It will also be her 10th year as an actress, as she debuted in the drama series "Kizu Darake no Love Song" at around the same time ("STARS" was the drama's theme song).
The news of Nakashima's Nippon Budokan concerts coincides with the promotions for the upcoming drama series "Unubore Deka," which stars Tomoya Nagase (31) and features Nakashima as a main female character. Her next single, "Ichiban Kirei na Watashi wo" (on sale August 25), is being used as the drama's insert song. "Unubore Deka" premieres on July 9.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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EXILE to host prime time show
Wed, July 7, 2010 (7:27pm EDT)
This fall, the popular group EXILE will get their first television show during prime time. The show currently does not have a name, but it has been scheduled for a one-hour time slot on MBS and TBS (Sundays 10:00pm).
The show will include talk segments and on-location projects, though specific details about the show's contents are still unknown.
EXILE got their first nationally-televised show in spring 2009 with "EXH ~EXILE HOUSE~" (renamed "EXE" one year later), but that one airs at midnight on Saturdays. With a prime time slot, EXILE hopes to greatly expand their audience.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Tadanobu Asano to play mangaka Fujio Akatsuka in new film
Wed, July 7, 2010 (6:58pm EDT)
 
The late mangaka Fujio Akatsuka ("Tensai Bakabon") will have his story told in a film being released next year. Titled "Kore de Ii no da!! Eiga?Akatsuka Fujio," the movie will star Tadanobu Asano (36) as Akatsuka and Maki Horikita (21) as his editor.
The story is based on a book written by Toshiki Takei, who actually served as Akatsuka's editor at Shonen Sunday for a 10-year period. It covers the relationship between Akatsuka and Takei between 1967 (when "Tensai Bakabon" started) and 1974 (when "Rettsu Ragon" ended). Although the rookie editor in the book is male, the character has been changed into a female for the movie.
Filming started on July 4 and will wrap up in early August. Theatrical release is scheduled for early summer 2011.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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SMAP Announces New Single "This is love" + "We are SMAP!" Album Details
Popular group SMAP will release their first new album in two years on July 21st. Included in the album is Kusanagi Tsuyoshi's solo song "Kaetteikita Yopparai" ("The Drunkard Returns"), a cover of the famous 1967 song by The Folk Crusaders. Arrangements for the song will be made by Pizzicato Five's Konishi Yasuharu, with participation by actor/comedian Tsurube Shofukutei.
As previously reported, Daniel Powter, Kubota Toshinobu, Makihara Noriyuki, RIP SLYME, Sakanaction, Theory of Relativity, and Hisaishi Joe were named in the bid to gather national and international artists to collaborate on the album. Other artists revealed to take part in the album include music producer Komuro Tetsuya, CMJK, Yukihiro Fukutomi, Nishiura Kensuke (NONA REEVES), and Tanaka Jun (Gentouki). It is also learned that 15-time Grammy Award winner David Foster (who has worked with artists such as Chicago, Barbara Streisand, and Michael Jackson) is the composer in charge of Kimura Takuya's solo song, "Kimi no Mama de..." ("Be Yourself..."). In addition, TV writer Osamu Suzuki and Denki Groove's Ishino Takkyu provide the lyrics and music for the song "SMAP no Pojitibu Dansu" ("SMAP's Positive Dance").
Following the album, it was announced that SMAP's 45th single "This is love" will be released on August 4th. Pop/rock duo LOVE PSYCHEDELICO composed and arranged the song using the universal theme of love, bringing a fresh aspect to SMAP's music. The coupling song "Glamorous" is written by Komuro Tetsuya.
The new single will be released in regular, SB, and SS versions, each with a different cover. The SB and SS versions will also come with bonus DVDs that differ in content as well as third tracks. Furthermore, each CD will contain a unique serial number marked on the jacket as part of the "Otanoshimi Your Number" ("Enjoy Your Number") campaign, along with unique numbers passed to the CD by the SMAP members.
The purpose of the campaign will be disclosed at a later time on the Fuji TV program SMAPxSMAP. The regular edition of the single offers an access code that will allow users to download a member voice ringtone, available for a limited time until August 31st.
SMAP is scheduled to begin their nationwide tour on July 31st.
http://contents.oricon.co.jp/news/music/77970/full/ |
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TBS to cut two variety shows
Thu, July 8, 2010 (12:29pm EDT)
Broadcaster TBS has announced that two of its variety shows will soon come to an end.
"Oretachi! Quiz MAN," which has dropped to an average 6.8% rating, will be replaced by "Quiz Talento Meikan" next month. Hosted by London Boots 1go 2go, "Quiz Talento Meikan" started out as a special program last August and has so far had three episodes. TBS has now decided to make it a regular program, taking over the Sunday 7:57pm time slot.
"Unnan no Rough na Kanji de" is the other show being cut, after poor ratings of 6.3%. That one will end sometime next month, though a replacement program will reportedly not be decided until October.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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X Japan announces North American tour, new album
Thu, July 8, 2010 (5:28pm EDT)
Rock band X Japan held an urgent press conference on Thursday to announce a few pieces of news, including their first North American tour and a new album.
It has already been known since January that X Japan will be performing at the Lollapalooza rock festival in Chicago, which is taking place August 6-8. In addition, they were announced as special guests at the upcoming Otakon 2010 convention in Baltimore (July 30-August 1), where they will perform a short acoustic set. However, the band plans to launch a full tour across North America starting on October 1.
The North American tour is connected to the band's planned world tour, which was scheduled last year but had to be postponed due to various circumstances. X Japan is resuming their world tour plans, starting with domestic performances at the Nissan Stadium in Yokohama on August 14 and 15.
X Japan stated that their North American tour will start in California on October 1. It is said that more than 10 cities will be covered, including Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Vancouver, San Francisco, and Boston.
Coinciding with their tour, the band is planning to release a new album this fall, their first in 14 years. It will be released simultaneously in Japan and the U.S. The album will contain about 10 songs, including "Jade," "ART OF LIFE," and English versions of "Tears" and "Rusty Nail." It is also said that "Jade" will be released as their first U.S. single.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Kie Kitano, Kazuma Sano dating
Thu, July 8, 2010 (6:05pm EDT)
 
The newest issue of FRIDAY reveals that actress Kie Kitano (19) and actor Kazuma Sano (21) are in a relationship. The magazine recently spotted the two staying at a hotel together and even sharing a kiss on the street.
Earlier this month, Kitano and Sano met up in the lobby of a large hotel in Tokyo's Shibuya ward. After checking in, they spent the night there and didn't leave the hotel until past 11:30am the next morning. FRIDAY speculates that Kitano may have been in a rush as they left, since her hair was still wet. Still, they walked on the street for about ten minutes while holding hands, then openly shared a kiss.
FRIDAY published several photos of the two, including their kiss together. Details about how their relationship started are sparse, but it seems that they both went to the same high school. This past February, another magazine reported that Kitano went on a date with actor Kento Hayashi (19), so her relationship with Sano may have started very recently. Indeed, some news outlets are reporting that they started dating after working together on a mobile drama that was filmed between late April and early May.
While FRIDAY was researching the article, they asked Kitano's agency about her and Sano, and the agency stated that the two are good friends. After the new issue hit the stands, Sankei Sports tried reaching the agency for comment but did not receive one. Meanwhile, Sano's agency stated that it would not touch on a private matter.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Mona Yamamoto does pachinko PR
Sunday 11th July, 03:20 AM JST
TOKYO —
Mona Yamamoto is promoting a customer appreciation campaign for a pachinko conglomerate on Aug 4. As part of the PR campaign for the event, Yamamoto was invited to try her hand at pachinko for the first time.
“Trying to line up 7s for all three slots was fun,” she said. “I definitely want to go again. It’s really addictive!”
Asked if her relationship with the president of a real estate agency, reaching the two-year mark, might strike lucky 7s and become a marriage, Yamamato joked, “We’re not getting that lucky yet.”
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Christel Takigawa receives 'Platinum Muse Award'
Sunday 11th July, 06:43 AM JST
TOKYO —
Freelance anchorwoman Christel Takigawa, 32, was the guest of honor at the recent “Platinum Muse Award” ceremony. After receiving a platinum necklace, she said happily “I don’t mean to blow my own horn, but platinum suits me perfectly.”
This award is given each year by the industry to the “woman who shines like platinum.”
Takigawa explained: “Platinum matches the way I live and the way I think. It is something that has high purity and will not lose its value. I hope that describes me, too.”
Naturally, she was asked what type of guy she likes. “Someone who is passionate about his work would be ideal,” she replied.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Playwright Kohei Tsuka dies at 62
Monday 12th July, 05:14 AM JST
TOKYO —
Playwright Kohei Tsuka, who created popular dramas such as ‘‘Kamata Koshinkyoku,’’ died of lung cancer at a hospital in Chiba Prefecture on Saturday, sources familiar with the matter said Monday. He was 62.
In January, Tsuka, a South Korean resident in Japan, announced that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer and was undergoing treatment. Tsuka, also a stage director and fiction writer, won the Naoki literary prize in 1982 for the novel version of ‘‘Kamata Koshinkyoku,’’ which was also made into a movie.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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EXILE concert tour expected to draw 1.1 million fans
Monday 12th July, 06:44 AM
TOKYO —
All male pop group EXILE will kick off a national tour on July 17 that will see the group play 22 gigs in 10 cities, with the number of fans attending expected to top 1.1 million.
Last year, the band drew around 500,000 fans when they held 34 concerts in 10 cities. If they exceed the 1 million mark this year, it will set a record for concert attendance in Japan. Around 600 crew will accompany the group on tour in 150 trucks and vans.
Meanwhile, Filipino fashion designer Zaldy Goco will be in charge of their costumes for the tour. Zaldy is well known for designing outfits for big stars, such as the late singer Michael Jackson and Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, 66. It is the first time for Goco to produce costumes for Asian stars. He said his costumes will match the tour’s title of “FANTASY.”
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Tokyo Ballet stages 700th overseas performance at Italian theater
Wednesday 14th July, 04:22 AM JST
MILAN —
The Tokyo Ballet, a renowned Japanese ballet troupe founded in 1964, has put on its 700th overseas performance at La Scala theater in the northern Italian city of Milan, a record number staged by a Japanese ballet company in foreign countries.
The Tokyo Ballet performed ‘‘The Kabuki,’’ an original piece put together by the late French choreographer Maurice Bejart, on Sunday for its landmark stage performance involving about 70 dancers, according to the troupe. ‘‘The 700th (performance) is just a point of passage,’’ said Munetaka Iida, artistic director, who is accompanying the troupe. ‘‘We will continue to do our best with the aim of reaching the 1,000th mark.’’
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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