Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part IV]

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Utada announces Yokohama Arena concerts and more
Mon, September 27, 2010 (8:07pm EDT)



Three announcements for singer Hikaru Utada (27) were made today, including news of her first solo concerts in Japan since her nationwide tour in 2006. On December 8-9, she will perform two shows at Yokohama Arena, timed to coincide with the anniversary of her debut single "Automatic / time will tell," which was released on December 9, 1998. More information about the shows and ticket sales will be announced through a special website that is planned to launch in October.

Meanwhile, Utada has been cast in her first television commercial in 5 years, as she will be the next commercial character for Pepsi Nex. The most recent series of commercials for the beverage has featured top Japanese artists covering well-known songs by foreign artists, such as Perfume covering The Cardigans' "Lovefool." This time, Utada will appear in a new one with her jazz arrangement of Edith Piaf's famous "Hymne à l'amour." That song is also being included on her album "Utada Hikaru SINGLE COLLECTION VOL.2," which goes on sale on November 24. It is already available as a chaku-uta as of September 28, but the chaku-uta full and PC versions are scheduled for October 9.

Leading up to the album's release, it has also been announced that Utada has launched an official Twitter account. At the same time, her label U3music and her staff have also opened separate accounts (@u3music and hikki_staff).

Utada previously announced that she is taking an indefinite break from music at the start of next year.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Japan’s music scene opens its arms to foreign startup iFlyer

By Dan Grunebaum



TOKYO —

Like many web entrepreneurs, Malek Nasser’s business grew out of a personal need for something the internet wasn’t yet providing. Moving to Osaka from his native UK a decade ago to work for a web startup, he had recently relocated to Tokyo.

“Suddenly, from knowing everything happening in Osaka, I went to knowing nothing, so I decided to develop a club search engine in Tokyo,” he recalls over lunch near the iFlyer office in Shibuya. “It was kind of ironic because here I was living in the heart of Shibuya, and I didn’t even know I was right down the street from Womb.”

While there were plenty of websites about clubbing in Tokyo at the time, none of them provided an efficient way of finding out what was happening on a given Saturday night. “The way that people searched for events was to go to each club’s site, and the pages weren’t frequently updated,” Nasser says. “So the idea was to make an event search engine that would also be useful on mobile phones—the slogan was, ‘What’s going on?’”

Five years later, iFlyer is Japan’s largest clubbing site, with over 1,700 events listed at any given time, ranging from live concerts to after-hours parties. But it’s more than a simple database—the site is packed with artist profiles, audio and video content, and event reports, in both English and Japanese.

“When you look at a page, it’s actually a massive collaboration between the artist, club and promoter, each of which does the best they can on their own profile,” explains Nasser’s partner, Sach Jobb, an American who came onboard from Kyoto University soon after the company was founded. “We’re kind of a mashup site. We rely on YouTube for the videos, Ustream for live streaming, SoundCloud for music… so you’ve got this collaborative, almost Wiki-style effort to make it as best as possible [sic].”

But things were rough for a foreign startup in the early days. “When we launched iFlyer, marketing it to the clubs was tricky because we had no name value,” Nasser recalls. “It took a lot of persuading to get the clubs to use it, but as soon as they did, they were convinced, because they end up saving so much money.”

The key to getting Japanese clubs onboard was having them use iFlyer for their homepage—meaning they didn’t need to pay a web designer and also had an instant, targeted audience. “If you build a homepage for your club, unless you promote it well, no one is going to come and see it,” Nasser says. “With iFlyer, on any given month we have around 250,000 unique users. They’re coming for a very specific reason.”

“There was definitely a need for it,” chips in Jobb, noting that the firm has major clients like Shibuya’s Club Asia. “When we launched in Osaka, we were surprised by how quickly it grew. And every year we are surprised. We’re pretty proud of our numbers now.”

Like MySpace or Facebook, iFlyer depends on users to both generate content and decide which events are popular. “Without the artists and venues, iFlyer is just a technological shell,” says Nasser, who’s been programming since he was seven. “It’s the artists and promoters and venues who make it what it is. We don’t input any info ourselves—that’s our policy. We treat all events at the same level. The ranking system is all user-driven; it depends on how many users it gets. The formula is not secret, we’re pretty open about how to get ranked highly.”

With Japanese artists now listing their iFlyer sites along with their MySpace and Mixi pages, the company looks to be in a strong position for growth. But, as is always the case with the rapidly shifting hi-tech industry, success can never be taken for granted. For now, the iFlyer crew is just enjoying its run. “There was a lot of pain and suffering at the beginning—for many years it was a lot of hard work with no salary,” Nasser recalls. “But I’m very proud of where we stand. As we move more into the core music industry, it gets very interesting going to events and seeing amazing artists play—it’s both a business and a hobby.”

For more information, see http://iflyer.tv.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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Japan Foundation stops screening gay movies in Jakarta after protests

Tuesday 28th September, 07:07 PM JST

JAKARTA —

The Japan Foundation, which is participating in an international gay film festival in

Jakarta, decided to temporarily stop the screening of the movies for Tuesday and

Wednesday, following a protest by a hard-line Islamic group.

‘‘We halted the screening for today and tomorrow and we’ll see the situation whether we

will continue the screening the day after tomorrow,’’ a Japan Foundation Jakarta

spokeswoman told Kyodo News.

The move came after more than 100 members of the Islamic Defenders’ Front, or FPI,

protested in front of a building housing the foundation earlier Tuesday to demand it stop

participating in the two-week Q! Film Festival, which kicked off last Wednesday.

Wearing long, white robes and turbans, the protesters shouted antigay messages and

carried a picture showing a man embracing another man.

‘‘During a meeting with them, the Japan Foundation executives agreed to listen to our

aspiration and immediately decided to cancel the screening of the homosexual and

lesbian movies,’’ said Salim bin Umar Alatas, chairman of the Jakarta branch of FPI.

Japan Foundation Jakarta, which screened one film on Monday evening, was the fourth

foreign-run venue of the annual festival to be visited by the Islamic group.

Earlier on the day, the activists staged protests in front of the French government-

affiliated Centre Culturel Francais or CCF, the German government’s GoetheHaus and the

Dutch government’s Erasmus Huis, demanding the centers stop participating in the film

festival.

CCF decided to ‘‘postpone’’ the screening of the movies, pending further developments,

according to its spokeswoman Atika Suri Fanani.

‘‘We are worried because we received a letter from FPI, warning that if we don’t

postpone the movie screening, there will be radical acts from FPI supporters,’’ she said.

GoetheHaus and Erasmus Huis had not yet decided whether they would halt or postpone

the movie screening, saying they were waiting for directives from the film festival

organizers.

The organizers have not been available to comment, only saying through their Twitter

account that due to some ‘‘technical problems,’’ some movies would be canceled or

venues changed.

On its website, FPI accused the organizers of trying to convert Indonesian youth to

become gay and lesbian through the film festival, saying homosexuality is a ‘‘most

damned and sinful’’ act that is rejected by all religions.

‘‘Because of that, homosexuality and lesbianism are not related to human rights, so

nobody has the right to defend and protect them (gays and lesbians), or to spread and

develop the (homosexual) acts whenever and wherever, including in Indonesia,’’ FPI said

in the statement.

Since Wednesday, the Q! Film Festival has been screening a wide selection of 20

lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and human rights themed films aimed at raising

awareness about issues and giving people alternative films to watch.

International filmmakers attending the festival include Japanese directors Hiroki Iwasa

and Koichi Imaizumi.

Movements supporting and defending the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and

transgender people have been growing in Indonesia in recent years. But such people are

still discriminated against, with hard-line groups continuously harassing them.

Source: www.japantoday.com

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Hikaru Utada to make first TV ad in 5 years

Wednesday 29th September, 03:28 AM JST



TOKYO —

Hikaru Utada, who has been on an extended break from public life, is set to return to the

spotlight as the face of Suntory’s Pepsi Nex. It will be her first TV commercial

appearance in five years. Footage of Utada taken before her sabbatical will be aired

from Oct 2.

Utada will sing a version of Edith Piaf’s ‘Hymne a l’amour’ in the first public airing of her

French ability. Despite rewriting parts of the classic song in Japanese and giving a

powerful performance, what really tested her, she said, was the ad shoot. She was

filmed drinking Pepsi Nex for the ad, which she said was her first experience in a long

while of being directed. Commenting on the four takes, she said, “They’ll probably use

the first and last ones. I did my best on those!”

The artist has announced two live performances that will take place in Yokohama on Dec

8 and 9 and a new Twitter account. Utada’s career seems to have switched into a

higher gear than before her extended break, implying that a little distance to “lead a

normal life” has had exactly the reviving effect she had anticipated.

Source: www.japantoday.com

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Tom and Cameron Wow Tokyo       
September 29, 2010



Hollywood stars Tom Cruise (48) and Cameron Diaz (38) were in Tokyo yesterday to promote their latest movie collaboration. The pair, who last worked together about a decade ago on "Vanilla Sky," were at the Roppongi Hills Arena in the center of the capital for the Japan premiere of "Knight and Day." They signed autographs and posed for photos with some of the 800 or so fans.



Also in attendance was Mongolian former sumo grand champion Asashoryu (30). He says he is a big Cruise fan but seemed more excited about getting a photo with Diaz (above). But the Hollywood star was only in town for 14 hours as he is currently filming "Mission Impossible IV," which is scheduled for release next May. Meanwhile "Knight and Day," a less than huge critical success in the U.S., is due to open here on October 9.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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"Teppan" premieres at 18.2%
Tue, September 28, 2010 (9:50am EDT)



NHK's new Asadora series "Teppan" is off to a promising start. The first episode, which aired on Monday, got an average rating of 18.2% in the Kanto region, and 13.1% in the Kansai region.

Based on the Kanto numbers, this is the highest-rated premiere of an Asadora since "Imotako Nankin" (20.3%) in 2006. However, that series ended up doing poorly overall, as ratings fell and resulted in a series average of 16.8%. By contrast, "Gegege no Nyoubou," which ended last week, started out with a record low of 14.8% but built a strong audience to finish with an 18.6% series average.

"Teppan" stars Miori Takimoto (18) as a young woman struggling to open an okonomiyaki restaurant.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Model Sugawara debuts as singer
Tue, September 28, 2010 (10:24am EDT)



Fashion model Saki Sugawara (24) is making her CD debut next week as part of a new project by the magazine With. On October 6, she will release a photobook called "doll / Saki Sugawara" that will come with a CD and DVD featuring her first song.

The photobook, which is being published by Kodansha, was shot by photographer Osami Yabuta, who has worked with many fashion magazines and is even the official cameraman for Mr.Children. With "doll," he aimed to capture a new side of Sugawara that she hasn't shown in magazines. The photobook also includes an essay by Sugawara.

The bundled CD contains Sugawara's debut song "doll," while the DVD contains the music video, a making-of video, and digital photographs.

Sugawara's first live performance will be on September 29 at the "With Fest 2010," an event celebrating the magazine's 30th anniversary.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Michiko Hada, Yoko Nogiwa co-star in daytime drama
Tue, September 28, 2010 (11:14am EDT)



Michiko Hada (42) and Yoko Nogiwa (74) are co-starring in an upcoming daytime drama series on Fuji TV. Titled "Hanayome Noren," the show is another take on the bride-versus-mother-in-law setup.

Set in a long-standing Japanese inn, Hada plays the modern woman who finds herself at odds with the traditional culture of her mother-in-law (Nogiwa). For Hada, this is her first time appearing in a daytime drama. On the other hand, this role gives Nogiwa the record of oldest heroine ever in that Fuji TV time slot (weekdays 1:30pm).

"Hanayome Noren" premieres on November 1.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Mihiro stars in "Zannen na Ko, Non-chan" adaptation
Tue, September 28, 2010 (6:55pm EDT)

Ryokuji Yoshizawa's manga "Zannen na Ko, Non-chan" is getting a live-action adaptation, starring former AV actress Mihiro (28).

"Zannen na Ko, Non-chan" is about a junior high student named Non-chan who has cute looks, good friends, and seemingly nothing to be unhappy about. However, unfortunate things are constantly happening to her.

The live-action version will initially be available for purchase at the end of this year through Vap's Tokyo Adolescence website.

Yoshizawa has also started a new manga series titled "Yamachichi" in the magazine Young Champion.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Noboru Iguchi directs next "Tomie" film
Tue, September 28, 2010 (10:50am EDT)



The "Tomie" horror movie series is getting its next installment in the form of "Tomie Unlimited," which is being directed by Noboru Iguchi ("Machine Girl," "RoboGeisha"). Moe Arai (15) is starring as the film's heroine.

Based on the popular manga series "Tomie" by Junji Ito, the films have all involved a mysterious girl named Tomie who haunts and torments people, particularly targeting men with her ability to drive them mad with lust. Throughout the series, the Tomie character has been killed countless times but always comes back to life.

In "Tomie Unlimited," Arai plays the heroine Tsukiko, whose older sister Tomie dies in an accident but comes back to life. Tomie is being played by talento and former gravure idol Miu Nakamura (19). Both Arai and Nakamura have previously won the title of Miss Young Magazine in the annual Miss Magazine awards.

"Tomie Unlimited" started filming on September 23 and is scheduled for release during spring 2011.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Ebi-chan confesses to Creap-licking

Thursday 30th September, 05:00 AM JST



TOKYO —

Model Yuri Ebihara, 30, attended the launch of a Creap promotional tour this week at Odaiba’s Nikko Hotel at which she confessed she loved to eat Creap coffee creamer. “When I went to my grandma’s house, there was always some Creap,” explained Ebihara, popularly known as Ebi-chan. “I used to sneak into the kitchen and lick loads of Creap when no-one was watching. It’s delicious. Of course, that was when I was in elementary school.”

Other attractions at the launch party included an appearance by famous food coordinator Shiori, 26, and an introduction to a range of cookbooks about preparing food for one’s husband, aimed at new housewives. The recently married Ebihara, who turns 31 on Oct 3, also watched a demonstration about how to make “Creap French toast” with rapt attention.

Source: www.japantoday.com

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Watch Out for Layla Lane       
September 30, 2010



You may not have heard of the rock duo Layla Lane, but you may have heard their music. Shizuoka native Heday (29) on guitar and Valerie (27) from Los Angeles on piano and vocals have caused a buzz in Japan with their song "Happy Lane." The song has been used in an ongoing Coca Cola commercial campaign since April, and the company has received over 1,000 inquiries asking who is performing it. The growing buzz in Japan over the summer was heightened when the duo came to do a short tour. Now it's been decided to give the duo their break and they will release their major label debut single on October 13. The duo describe their music on their website as combining "exquisite arrangements and clever harmonies for a style that is equal parts 1960's pop, gypsy swing, and good old-fashioned rock n' roll."

Heday (real name Ikumo Hidehito) first headed to the U.S. at the age of 19 to study music at UCLA, where he graduated in 2007. He caught the eye of drummer and Beatles collaborator Jim Keltner (68), and found himself doing session work with Ringo Starr (67) and the Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh (62). The former Beatle was very impressed by his songwriting, guitar, bass and arrangement skills. Heday teamed up with Valerie Stern based largely on their shared interest in the Beatles' music. Last year, a collaboration with director Ken Ochiai produced an award-winning video for the song "No More," which also featured in the summer Katherine Heigl-Ashton Kutcher movie "Killers."

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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Japanese Rock Legends, VAMPS @ Roseland in NY on Oct.09

September 29, 2010 by J!-ENT

VAMPS NY CONCERT OCT. 9TH, SAT. 8PM ROSELAND BALLROOM, NYC



VAMPS, the legends of Japanese Rock are coming back to the US for their first World Tour this fall! Though the star duo project by Hyde (L’Arc-en-Ciel) and K.A.Z ( Oblivion Dust) is only 3 years old, their music and fans are going strong with their energetic live performance. VAMPS will be stopping in NYC on Oct. 9th!
VAMPS NYC TICKET INFO

ABOUT VAMPS

HYDE Singer/songwriter for the legendary Japanese band l’Arc~en~Ciel, HYDE also began a simultaneous solo career in 2001. Finally feeling free from any musical limitation, Hyde then invested himself in the composition of what would become the most exhausting album of his whole career, ROENTGEN (2002). But in 2004, the stirring sound of Roentgen would be left in the wake of the brutal and rough album, 666. Hyde then gave birth to FAITH (2006), resulting from all of his influences.

Faith also marked HYDE’s most extensive collaboration with K.A.Z to date. The collaboration of the latter during the composition of the songs of that third album would become the climax of Hyde’s solo career, and underline the beginning of a true musical friendship.

The creation of VAMPS – which symbolized the end of HYDE’s solo career, while placing K.A.Z into the spotlight – represented an enormous shift for both artists.

Fortunately, Japanese audiences were very receptive and it showed in the form of sold-out shows, packed arenas, and chart topping sales. Now with their second full album, BEAST, just released, and VAMPS LIVE 2010 World Tour starting in less than 2 months, VAMPS continues to go even further, exploring new musical territories! K.A.Z The multi-talented K.A.Z formed the alternative rock band Oblivion Dust in 1996, before joining the band, hide with Spread Beaver, in 1998. Pushing his own boundaries even further, in 2001 K.A.Z worked with Tetsu from the band l’Arc~en~Ciel on his solo project Tetsu69.

His artistic vision continued to expand in 2002 with pop sensation Anna Tsuchiya when they teamed-up for the band, Spin Aqua, releasing 3 singles and an album titled, Pisces. Around the same time, the famous guitarist then accepted to become co-producer for HYDE’s second solo album 666. Turning into a labor of love, K.A.Z then accompanied HYDE on the tour and pair became even closer. Not long after, HYDE and K.A.Z began working on a new project together that grew beautifully, and powerfully, into VAMPS!

VAMPS LIVE 2010 WORLD TOUR September 26 – TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall, Taipei, Taiwan October 1 – Avalon Hollywood, Los Angeles, U.S.A. October 3 – Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, U.S.A. October 9 – Roseland Ballroom, New York, U.S.A. October 12 – SALA APOLO, Barcelona, Spain October 16 – Espace La Grande Arche, Paris, France October 23-24 – INTL. Gymnastics Center, Shanghai, China November 6 – Teatro Caupolican, Santiago, Chile

Source: www.nt2099.com/J-ENT

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SKE48 adds 16 members
Wed, September 29, 2010 (7:32am EDT)



Nagoya-based idol unit SKE48 has completed its 4th generation audition, it has been announced. A record number of hopefuls applied for the audition, but only 16 passed to become part of the group. The new members are being added to the kenkyuusei (research student) group, for a total of 26. Along with the 16 girls in each of Team S and Team KII, SKE48 now has 58 members.

The 4th generation audition started accepting submissions in July, open to girls between the ages of 11 and 22. This time, there were 5,888 entries, much more than any previous audition (1st generation: 2,670; 2nd generation: 3,248; 3rd generation: 2,396). That means that the passing rate for this audition was exactly 1 in 368, or less than 0.3%.

The 16 new kenkyuusei are beginning their training, though the details and schedule of their debut presentation have not yet been revealed. However, SKE48 is starting a short tour on October 3 with a concert in Shibuya, Tokyo, which will be followed by performances in Nagoya on October 5 and Kobe on October 17.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Hitomi Kuroki stars as housewife rocker in "Utahime"
Wed, September 29, 2010 (8:06am EDT)



Actress Hitomi Kuroki (49) is set to star in a new movie by television director Yoshiko Hoshida, titled "Utahime?." The film will have her playing a "rocker mama" role, which includes a scene of her and her band performing a rendition of the famous song "Smoke on the Water" by British band Deep Purple.



Kuroki plays the part of Mieko, a housewife who is troubled by her husband's apathy and her daughter's hikikomori lifestyle. She decides to form a band with two other housewives, played by Miki Maya (46) and comedian Shizuyo Yamasaki (31), plus an oddball divorcee, played by Tae Kimura (39). The film follows their ups and downs until their performance of "Smoke on the Water" at a school festival.

Kuroki's character is in charge of the guitar and vocals. Starting at the end of July, Kuroki began guitar training under the guidance of a professional musician, and she is said to have heavily practiced the guitar on her own at home. Maya, Yamasaki, and Kimura have also been training for their respective instruments.

"Utahime?" is planned for theatrical release in early summer 2011.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Sayaka Akimoto, Nozomi Sasaki join "Waratte Iitomo" lineup
Wed, September 29, 2010 (8:53am EDT)



On Wednesday, the long-running Fuji TV variety show "Waratte Iitomo!" announced a lineup change that will go into effect next month. AKB48 member Sayaka Akimoto (22), model Nozomi Sasaki (22), and comedy duo Lotti have been added as regular cast members, while Masami Hisamoto (52) and a few others are "graduating" from the show.

This fall, "Waratte Iitomo!" is entering its 29th year on the air. Hisamoto has been with the program for 17 and a half years, the longest period for any female regular on the show. Also leaving are Marie (23), Sayaka Aoki (37), Akina Minami (21), and Morisanchu's Miyuki Oshima (30).

Akimoto will be taking over Mondays, while Becky (26) is giving up that spot and moving to Fridays. Sasaki and Lotti have been given Thursdays.

It has also been announced that "Waratte Iitomo!" is changing its announcer assignments for the "Telephone Shocking" segment. Currently, each of the six announcers appears on a fixed day of the week, but the assignments will now vary from day to day without a preset schedule.

All of the changes will go into effect with the October 4 episode.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Harumi Nemoto to tie the knot
Wed, September 29, 2010 (9:24am EDT)



Talento Harumi Nemoto (30) unexpectedly announced on Wednesday through her official website that she is getting married. She first met the man eight years ago, and after reuniting four years later, their friendship eventually developed into a romance last year.

The couple will hold their wedding ceremony in October. Nemoto's agency says the wedding will be overseas, and by the end of the year Nemoto will be living in the United States.

Nemoto started out her career as a gravure idol in 2002, but she has also been active as a television personality and actress.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Hanako Nanjo marries
Wed, September 29, 2010 (9:57am EDT)



Actress and model Hanako Nanjo (30) got married earlier this month to a man not in show business (37), whose face is said to resemble that of actor Junji Takada. They registered their marriage on September 23. It has been confirmed that Nanjo is not pregnant and that she plans to continue her career.

Nanjo revealed that she met the man at the start of this year. They were introduced by one of Nanjo's younger friends who attended the same high school as her. The pair started dating in the spring, and it is said that the man proposed to her on a train.

Nanjo said that she would like to eventually have two children, born less than a year apart.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Mika Nakashima sets new USEN record
Wed, September 29, 2010 (11:46am EDT)



Mika Nakashima's latest single, "Ichiban Kirei na Watashi wo," has set a new record on the USEN request charts. This week, the song achieved its 6th consecutive week at #1, surpassing the previous record of 5 weeks set by EXILE's "Tada Aitakute" in 2005.

Released as a single on August 25, "Ichiban Kirei na Watashi wo" was used as an insert song in the recent drama series "Unubore Deka," in which Nakashima also acted, opposite TOKIO's Tomoya Nagase.

Nakashima is releasing her next album "STAR" on October 27. Starting on October 30, she has four concerts scheduled in Osaka and Tokyo to commemorate the 10th anniversary of her debut.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Mao Inoue stars in "Youkame no Semi" movie adaptation
Wed, September 29, 2010 (8:52pm EDT)



Actress Mao Inoue (23) has been chosen to star in a movie adaptation of Mitsuyo Kakuta's popular novel "Youkame no Semi." Izuru Narushima is directing the film, scheduled for release in 2011.



Inoue plays Erina, a young woman who was abducted as a baby by her father's mistress Kiwako (Hiromi Nagasaku). Kiwako raises Erina as her own child up until her arrest four years later. Erina grows up but has no place to truly call home, and she ends up carrying on her own affair with a married man and becoming pregnant.

The focus of the story is on the two women Erina and Kiwako. Their supporting cast includes Eiko Koike, Hitori Gekidan, Tetsushi Tanaka, Yoko Moriguchi, and Jun Fubuki. The script is being handled by Satoko Okudera ("Summer Wars"). Filming is expected to wrap up at the end of October.

"Youkame no Semi" was previously adapted as a television drama on NHK earlier this year.

Source: www.tokyograph.com