|
|
Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part IV]
[Copy link]
|
|
|
Second child on the way for Megumi Okina
Sat, October 23, 2010 (2:18am EDT)
Megumi Okina (31) is expecting her second child, it was revealed on Friday. The actress is almost four months pregnant, putting her due date in early May 2011. She gave birth to her first child in September of last year.
Okina is currently in her second marriage. She was married to Susumu Fujita (37), the president of IT company Cyber Agent, between 2004 and 2005, then married a salaryman (31) in March 2009 after learning that she was pregnant.
Okina left her former management agency in 2007 and began working freelance after that, but this past July she signed a new contract with the agency UM360, which was founded last year by record label Universal Music. However, her pregnancy will likely delay her future acting work.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shunsuke Kazama gets starring film role in "Maebashi Visual-kei"
Sat, October 23, 2010 (3:30am EDT)
Actor Shunsuke Kazama (27) will make his big screen debut as the star of a new movie by actor/director Gitan Otsuru (42). Titled "Maebashi Visual-kei," the film is a coming-of-age story about the young members of a visual-kei band in a small town.
Kazama is one of the few members of Johnny's Jimusho who primarily works as an actor, rather than as a singer or musician. He has already appeared in many television dramas and theatrical productions, and he is well-known as the lead voice actor for the "Yu-Gi-Oh!" anime series, including two film versions in 2005 and 2010.
"Maebashi Visual-kei" is Otsuru's fourth film as a director. Kazama plays the eldest child of a farm family in Maebashi, Gunma. While dealing with problems at home, he is also the aspiring vocalist of a four-member visual-kei band.
Filming has already begun in the Chiba prefecture, though the concert scenes have not yet been shot. Theatrical release is planned for February 2011.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saburo Kitajima goes gold at 74
Sat, October 23, 2010 (4:05am EDT)
Enka star Saburo Kitajima (74) has just set a new record. He is now the oldest artist to have a certified gold single in Japan (100,000 copies sold), thanks to his "Fuufu Isshou" released in January.
"Fuufu Isshou," which speaks of his marriage (Kitajima celebrated his 50th anniversary last year), went on sale on January 1 of this year. It entered the sales charts at #10, setting the record for oldest solo artist (73 years, 3 months) to rank in the Top 10. In September, it broke 100,000 in sales, and his record label applied for gold certification at the end of the month. It was officially certified on October 10.
Kitajima turned 74 on October 4. The previous record-holder for oldest artist to receive gold certification was Italian composer Ennio Morricone, whose soundtrack for the movie "The Legend of 1900" was certified in April 2002, when Morricone was 73 years and 6 months old.
Next year, Kitajima will celebrate the 50th anniversary of his show business career.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Junji Takada's first starring movie role
Sat, October 23, 2010 (5:22am EDT)
At the age of 63, actor Junji Takada will finally play his first lead role in a movie. Titled "Homecoming," the project is directed by Toshihiro Iijima, whose lengthy resume includes several works in the "Ultraman" franchise and popular dramas such as the 1983 series "Kinyoubi no Tsumatachi e."
In "Homecoming," Takada plays a man who reaches the retirement age after dedicating his entire life to his job. As a result, he directs his energy towards reviving his town's festival, aiming to restore its former glory. Once famed as the "ideal town," it has steadily become known its elderly population. The story highlights one of Japan's current crises - declining birthrates combined with a rising average age.
"Homecoming" will open in March 2011.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
girugamesh announces 2011 world tour, new album
Sat, October 23, 2010 (9:37am EDT)
Rock band girugamesh has just announced a world tour and a new album. They delivered the news during their concert at Yokohama Bay Hall on Saturday, which was streamed live worldwide on Ustream. They also updated their official website with details.
The tour will be held in March 2011. The schedule is as follows:
3/5 - Moscow, Russia
3/6 - St. Petersburg, Russia
3/8 - Helsinki, Finland
3/11 - Berlin, Germany
3/12 - Budapest, Hungary
3/13 - Munich, Germany
3/15 - Strasbourg, France
3/16 - Paris, France
3/18 - London, UK
3/19 - Bochum, Germany
More dates are expected to be added in the future.
Before the tour, girugamesh will release a new album on January 26. The title has not yet been announced, but the limited edition will have 2 CDs and a DVD, while the regular edition will have only 1 CD.
According to their website, the second CD of the limited edition is planned to contain a live recording of the Yokohama concert. The DVD will have music videos for their songs "COLOR" and "Inochi no Ki," plus footage of their fall tour and more.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RYTHEM to disband in February
Sun, October 24, 2010 (11:50am EDT)
Pop duo RYTHEM announced during a live Ustream event on Sunday that they will disband next February. They will hold a short tour before that in January, then perform their final concert on February 27.
RYTHEM consists of pianist/keyboardist YUI (25) and guitarist YUKA (25), with both of them providing vocals. They formed while they were still in junior high, then made their major label debut in May 2003 with the single "Harmonia." So far, they have released 17 singles and 3 albums, though their next single will be released on November 10, followed by an album on December 8.
During their time together, their musical paths have started to diverge. Due to their respect for each other, they mutually decided to go their separate ways. Their future plans have not yet been revealed.
Their final tour is titled "Acoustic PoP Tour'11~Live Tree" and will visit Nagoya, Osaka, Shibuya, Fukuoka, and Sapporo between January 9 and January 22. On February 27, they will hold their last concert at Zepp Tokyo.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Utada warns fans not to buy "Utada The Best"
Sun, October 24, 2010 (12:24pm EDT)
Last week, it was learned that one of Hikaru Utada's record labels plans to release an English best album titled "Utada The Best" on November 24, the same day as her Japanese compilation "Utada Hikaru SINGLE COLLECTION VOL.2." Late on Sunday night, she wrote on her official Twitter account that the release of "Utada The Best" was not her decision.
In a series of tweets in Japanese and English, she criticized Universal Japan for deciding on its own to release "Utada The Best" on the same day as her singles collection, which is being released by EMI Music. She told her fans, "I understand that if it doesn't sell I'm the one who will take the hit, but to be honest, I don't want my fans putting down money for something that my heart isn't in." She also pointed out that the album doesn't contain any new material.
Utada said that she plans to speak about the situation in more detail in the near future. Pre-orders for "Utada The Best" have already started, but she asked those who are considering pre-ordering to hold off on their decision.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Taiwan gov't, politicians slam China's behavior at Tokyo film festival
Monday 25th October, 06:28 PM JST
TAIPEI —
Taiwan’s government and legislators on Monday denounced the ‘‘rude’’ behavior of China’s delegation to a Tokyo film festival after it engaged in a shouting match with the Taiwanese delegation over use of the name ‘‘Taiwan.’‘
The face-off on Saturday, the start of the nine-day Tokyo International Film Festival, was triggered by Chinese delegation head Jiang Ping’s demand that the name ‘‘Taiwan’’ be replaced by ‘‘China Taiwan’’ or ‘‘Chinese Taipei’’ and his claim that the Taiwanese were part of the Chinese delegation.
An ensuing argument between Jiang, deputy president of China Film Group Corp, and Chen Chih-kuan, head of the Taiwanese government’s Department of Motion Pictures, resulted in both delegations missing their presentation to the media and fans.
Since Sunday, Taiwan government officials and legislators have been attacking the Chinese delegation’s behavior, with Premier Wu Den-yih calling it ‘‘rude’’ and ‘‘improper.’‘
The Chinese delegation ‘‘made a serious mistake, reverting to the rudeness and irrationality of the past,’’ he said.
Presidential Office spokesman Lo Chih-chiang said the Chinese delegation’s behavior ‘‘seriously hurt the feelings of the Taiwanese people and did not benefit the peaceful development of cross-strait relations,’’ which have improved under President Ma Ying-jeou.
Chao Chien-min, deputy minister of Taiwan’s China-policy organ, the Mainland Affairs Council, called it ‘‘unfriendly and unwise.’‘
Beijing’s initial response Monday to Taiwan’s displeasure was somewhat conciliatory.
Sun Yafu, deputy director of the State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said he was not fully aware of the incident.
He added that cross-strait exchanges ‘‘cannot be stopped; the door that has been opened cannot be closed,’’ Taiwan’s semiofficial Central News Agency reported from Beijing.
But Taiwan’s opposition Democratic Progressive Party has pounced on the incident to attack Ma’s policy of detente with China, saying China’s aggression toward Taiwan in international settings has not changed.
DPP Legislator Chen Ting-fei said the government should consider suspending all agreements and future negotiations with China, including a limited free-trade agreement signed in June.
Chinese officials have frequently intervened in non-government activities such as sports events and cultural festivals in which the word ‘‘Taiwan’’ is used, maintaining the claim that Taiwan is Chinese territory and opposing any suggestion that Taiwan is a sovereign state.
The tear-stained face of one of the affected Taiwanese actresses, Vivian Hsu, appeared prominently Monday in Taiwanese newspapers and cable TV news channels.
Commentaries and letters in ordinarily China-friendly newspapers warned Monday of damage to the cross-strait relationship.
Nobushige Toshima, secretary general of the film festival, which is being held through next Sunday, said the delegations of both China and Taiwan resumed participation on Sunday, and the festival has proceeded as scheduled.
‘‘A film festival is a cultural event, so that kind of (political) activity is mortifying,’’ Toshima said.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kumi Koda performs at Billboard Live
Tuesday 26th October, 05:22 AM JST
TOKYO —
Pop singer Kumi Koda played a special concert at Billboard Live on Sunday night in the run-up to an anniversary event in December that will commemorate 10 years since her debut.
The performance marked the last date of her 8-concert Billboard tour, the theme of which was again adult and sexy. Koda appeared before 300 fans in a provocative Moss Green dress with a see-through waist and belted out 14 songs, including a selection from the compilation album of covers she released this year “ETERNITY - Love & Songs.”
“I want to continue to mature in an aggressive direction,” she declared.
Koda’s 10-year anniversary concert will take place in Tokyo Dome on Dec 5.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"JIN" and "Mother" top the Tokyo Drama Awards
Mon, October 25, 2010 (12:15pm EDT)
 
The 4th International Drama Festival opened in Tokyo on Monday, as part of the annual Japan International Contents Festival (CoFesta). The event's Tokyo Drama Awards were presented on the same day, and the biggest winners were "JIN" and "Mother."
 
"JIN" took four of the prizes, including the Grand Prix in the drama series category and Best Performance by an Actor for Takao Osawa. "Mother," on the other hand, won five awards, including a Best Drama award in the drama series category and Best Performance by an Actress for Yasuko Matsuyuki.
One of the special awards this year was Best Actor in Asia, awarded to an actor or actress in a non-Japanese Asian drama. The winner was Lee Byung Hun for his performance in "IRIS."
The complete award list is as follows:
Grand Prix (Series Drama): "JIN"
Best Drama (Series Drama): "Mother", "Dousoukai", "Ninkyo Helper", "Ryomaden"
Grand Prix (Single Drama): "Wagaya no Rekishi"
Best Drama (Single Drama): "Toomawari no Ame", "Shoeshine Boy"
Asia Award: "JIN"
Local Drama Award: "Mieruhi", "Kaka-san e"
Best Performance by an Actor: Takao Osawa ("JIN")
Best Performance by an Actress: Yasuko Matsuyuki ("Mother")
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: Teruyuki Kagawa ("Ryomaden")
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Machiko Ono ("Hi no Sakana" and "Mother")
Best Screenplay: Yuji Sakamoto ("Mother")
Best Director: Hiroshi Kurosaki ("Hi no Sakana")
Best Producer: Akihiko Ishimaru ("JIN")
Special Award: Filming staff of "Ryomaden", Mana Ashida ("Mother")
Best Actor in Asia: Lee Byung Hun
The International Drama Festival runs until October 28.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AKB48's "Beginner" ships 1 million copies for release
Mon, October 25, 2010 (8:34pm EDT)
Sports Hochi reports that AKB48's 18th single, "Beginner," will have an initial shipment of 1.03 million copies for its release on October 27. Although not likely, this gives it the opportunity to sell one million copies in its first week, which has not happened since Hikaru Utada's 1999 hit "Addicted To You."
This is a record initial shipment for AKB48. In addition to the group's expanding popularity, "Beginner" has also been attracting a lot of attention because of its controversial music video. Directed by Tetsuya Nakashima ("Kokuhaku", "Kamikaze Girls"), the video had to be edited for television due to its theme of violence. As a result, it was recently decided that the unedited version will only be available through the mobile download service Recochoku.
AKB48's sales have been very strong so far this year. Their last two singles consecutively sold more than half a million copies in the first week, making them only the third female artist to achieve that (the other two are Hikaru Utada and Ayumi Hamasaki).
Early sales indicators are positive. According to the PR office of music store Tower Records, reservations for "Beginner" surpassed AKB48's previous single "Heavy Rotation," even though the reservation period this time was shorter.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kyoko Fukada dating Maasa Igarashi?
Mon, October 25, 2010 (7:54pm EDT)
Another relationship rumor involving actress Kyoko Fukada (27) has surfaced, this time in the latest issue of Josei Jishin. The magazine reports that her new boyfriend may be actor Maasa Igarashi (25).
According to the magazine, Igarashi has been seen entering and leaving Fukada's apartment building multiple times. The two have also been separately seen using the same bicycle. However, the photographs in the article do not show the two together.
Igarashi got his start in show business in 2008 and has appeared in a few works up until now. One of his current projects is a supporting role in the upcoming "Paradise Kiss" movie, scheduled for release next spring. (He should not be confused with Shunji Igarashi, who also appears in that movie as a main cast member.)
Previous romance rumors have linked Fukada to many other celebrities, including actor Ryotaro Shimizu (22), with whom she is said to have broken up last month. Although her management office has usually denied such rumors, this time her office declined to comment because it is a private matter.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Keen letter writer Aya Ueto handwrites 150 New Year's cards a year
Wednesday 27th October, 05:00 AM JST
TOKYO —
Actress Aya Ueto, 25, this week attended a launch event for the popular New Year’s greeting card software Fudemame Otsukiai Cho 2. The software, whose name derives from the Japanese expression “Fudemame” meaning “diligent correspondent,” is designed to help people customize and design their own New Year’s cards, but the letter-loving Ueto surprised the gathered press when she revealed that she delights in hand-writing her New Year’s cards.
“I’m a bit of a New Year’s card geek, so I tend to write and draw both sides of mine by hand. I do about 150 a year,” she revealed. “Although this year, perhaps I’ll use this ‘Fudemame’ software and print my address instead.”
One journalist broached the subject of her recently revealed relationship with Hiroyuki Igarashi, aka Hiro, 41, from pop band Exile, asking Ueto if he, too, was a “Fudemame.”
“Does that expression include love letters?” she answered playfully.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yui Aragaki gives fans a chance to stargaze with her
Tue, October 26, 2010 (11:13am EDT)
Actress Yui Aragaki (22) has announced that she will hold a special 2-day overnight fan club event called "Aragaki Yui to Mahiru no Hoshi wo Miyou" ("Let's Stargaze at Daytime with Yui Aragaki"). The unique tour-like event will take place on November 27-28 at Lake Shirakaba in the Nagano prefecture.
As the name suggests, the event will include a daytime stargazing activity with Aragaki on the second day, but there are several other activities planned leading up to it, such as a documentary screening, a quiz competition, a "Yui Aragaki museum" featuring special goods, a talk event, and a group picture.
As Aragaki says on the event's website, "It seems that daytime stars are not something you can see very easily. So that day, you may be able to see them, or maybe not, but first of all, I would like it to be an opportunity for all of you and me to gather and meet."
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Boom Boom Satellites announces two more West Coast Appearances
October 26, 2010 by J!-ENT
Boom Boom Satellites is pleased to announce two more events happening on the West Coast leg of the tour which begins this Sunday Oct 24th in Los Angeles. The band will be signing their new best-of album OVER AND OVER in two of the Pacific Northwest’s best Independent record stores. Music Millennium in Portland and Seattle Washington’s Silver Platters.
New Events:
Music Millennium
Sat. 10/30 @ 3pm
3158 E. Burnside
Portland, OR. 97214
503-231-8926
www.musicmillennium.com
Silver Platters
Fri. 10/29 @ 6pm
701 5th Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109
206-283-3472
www.silverplatters.com
October 26th, 2010 – San Francisco, CA
Special In-store Signings at Giant Robot GRSF (6-8pm)
October 27th, 2010 – San Francisco, CA
The Independent
October 31st, 2010 – Portland, OR
Halloween Show
Peter’s Room (Roseland)
Boom Boom Satellites offer a brutal clash of high-tech hooks, renegade rhythm, and distortion-drenched guitar. The brainchild of Masayuki Nakano and Michiyuki Kawashima, Boom Boom Satellites have proven themselves one of Japan’s most exciting crossover acts, touring the U.S. with such artists as Underworld, Fatboy Slim, and Moby, performing at festivals worldwide (including Glastonbury (1998) and Leeds (2004), headlining the White Stage at Japan’s vast Fuji Rock Festival in 2007, and sharing the same festival’s main stage with Atoms for Peace and Massive Attack in 2010. The band’s bombastic three-piece live show is not to be missed.
Their 2010 U.S. tour in support of their best-of album OVER AND OVER (Sony) will includes stops in New York City, Boston, Washington DC, Asbury Park, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Portland.
Source: www.nt2099.com/J-ENT |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Shakking" drama series gets sequel
Tue, October 26, 2010 (12:24pm EDT)
The 2009 drama series "Shakking: Zeni no Tatsujin" is returning with a sequel. This time, Shunsuke Nakamura (35) will star, and Korean actor Park Hae Jin will sing the show's theme song.
 
"Shakking: Zeni no Tatsujin" was based on Shigeru Tsuchiyama's debt-themed manga series "Shakking," which has also been adapted as a series of live-action films. In the new drama, titled "Shakking 2: Unmei no Houshuu," Nakamura plays the president of a loan company, who is stuck with a debt of 900 million yen along with two other people (Manami Honjo, Mitsuru Fukikoshi). Together, the three of them must use their powers of deceit and trickery to accumulate enough money to repay their debt. Like the previous series, "Shakking 2" will be full of suspense, but it will also weave in a love story.
Park Hae Jin will sing the theme song in Korean, but it will count as his singing debut in Japan when it gets released on November 2.
"Shakking 2" will last 8 episodes. WOWOW will broadcast the series in the same Saturday midnight time slot as the first series, starting on January 8.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fumi Saimon turns Quruli song into manga
Tue, October 26, 2010 (12:47pm EDT)
This past July, the band Quruli released their single "Mahou no Juutan." It has now been announced that the song will be turned into a short manga, drawn by popular manga artist Fumi Saimon.
The "Mahou no Juutan" manga will be a 32-page story, published in the next issue of Shogakukan's weekly magazine Big Comic Spirits (on sale November 1). The manga is the fifth special project the magazine has done this year in honor of its 30th anniversary. In addition, the same issue will contain a dialogue between Quruli and Saimon.
Saimon has written several very popular series, which were later turned into successful television dramas. Her works include "P.S. Genki Desu, Shunpei," "Tokyo Love Story," and "Asunaro Hakusho."
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Announcer Yumi Kasuga expecting first child
Tue, October 26, 2010 (8:42pm EDT)
Fuji TV announcer Yumi Kasuga (35) will soon become a mother. She is seven months pregnant and is expected to give birth in late January. She has been married for almost 8 years to another Fuji TV employee, who is seven years older than her.
Kasuga joined Fuji TV in 1997. She was one of the main casters on "FNN Super News Weekend" for four years before leaving the show at the end of last month. Currently, she is still in charge of Thursday broadcasts of "BS Fuji News." She plans to go on maternity leave at the end of this year and will return to work after the child is born.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hikari Mitsushima marries director Yuya Ishii
Tue, October 26, 2010 (10:36am EDT)
The management agency of actress Hikari Mitsushima (24) announced that she and director Yuya Ishii (27) just got married. The two filed their marriage registration on Monday.
The sudden announcement led Mitsushima's agency to clarify that she is not pregnant, and she plans to continue with her acting. Although no details about their relationship have been disclosed, it may have started when Mitsushima starred in Ishii's award-winning film "Kawa no Soko Kara Konnichiwa" (also known as "Sawako Decides") last year.
Both Mitsushima and Ishii are rising stars in their respective fields. Mitsushima started out at a young age as a member of the musical group Folder (which later became Folder5), then moved into acting in 2005. Besides "Kawa no Soko Kara Konnichiwa," she has appeared in many movies and dramas, including Sion Sono's "Ai no Mukidashi" ("Love Exposure") and the second "Bloody Monday" television series.
Meanwhile, Ishii has already earned acclaim and several awards as a director, with films like "Hangyaku Jiro no Koi" and the aforementioned "Kawa no Soko Kara Konnichiwa." He recently began working on his latest film, titled "Azemichi no Dandy."
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Akina Nakamori cancels dinner shows due to poor health
Tue, October 26, 2010 (9:08pm EDT)
Sports Hochi reports that singer Akina Nakamori (45) has suddenly canceled 10 dinner shows scheduled for December, due to problems with her health. However, she has given no explanation of her condition, and her official website still has not yet made an announcement about the cancellations.
Nakamori had planned to perform her dinner shows at high-class hotels in seven cities throughout the country between December 11 and December 24. Tickets had already gone on sale. Nakamori has not held a concert so far this year, so these shows would have been her only live performances of the year.
The sudden announcement could indicate a serious illness, since the shows are more than a month away. Her record label was reached for comment, but it stated that it has only heard that the shows were canceled due to "poor health." The hotels have also not been given any other information beyond that.
One rumor being reported by another news source is that Nakamori has to undergo surgery to remove a polyp in her throat, and will consequently be unable to sing for some time after that. However, that story has not yet been confirmed.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Author
