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Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part IV]
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AKB48 Riding a Million-Selling Wave
November 11, 2010
Move over Morning Musume, AKB48 are now the new queens of the oversized female pop unit world. The group have seen their 18th single, "Beginner," become another No.1 hit on the Oricon chart. But it is also the first single in more than three years to sell over a million copies in a month. The song has sold 1.03 million copies since it was released on October 27 and yesterday it was formally recognized by the Japan Record Association as a million seller for October. The group's label, King Records, issued a statement saying, "In a time when CD sales are in constant decline, we are delighted to have a million seller. We'd like to thank all the fans who every day give us such huge encouragement and support." The last single to break the monthly million barrier was "Sen no Kaze ni Natte" by tenor Akikawa Masafumi in August 2007.
Now in their fifth year, the AKB48 concept was created by producer Akimoto Yasushi (54, photo left). Based in the geek mecca of Akihabara, the group is made up of constantly changing sub groups who perform there daily in a special theater. The concept has spawned a slew of spinoff groups and similar troupes in the central Nagoya district of Sakae (SKE48) and Namba in Osaka (NMB48). On Tuesday, Akimoto and several AKB48 members were on hand to receive an award from the Shogakkan-published young businessmen's magazine "Dime" (photo). The award acknowledged the group and World Cup soccer star Hasebe Makoto (26) as the leading personality trends of the last year, while the main award went to the Viera 3D TV from Panasonic.
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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Charts: Ikimono Gakari, NEWS
Wed, November 10, 2010 (10:39am EST)
Ikimono Gakari topped the album charts this week with the best album "Ikimono Bakari ~Members BEST Selection~," selling 457,000 copies. As reported earlier, that sets this year's current record for first-week sales by a female-vocal artist.
Bon Jovi's "Greatest Hits" was #2 on the charts at 54,000 copies sold. Another overseas artist, Jamiroquai, also entered the charts at #7. The only other new releases in the top ten were from CHAGE and ASKA's ASKA (#8) and Kusuo (#10).
On the single charts, NEWS led the way with "Fighting Man," selling over 150,000 copies. They now have 13 consecutive #1 singles starting with their debut, putting them slightly ahead of KAT-TUN for the time being. However, they are still far behind the current record-holder KinKi Kids, who hold a world record at 29 consecutive number-ones starting with their debut.
Kana Nishino charted at #3 with her new song, followed by BREAKERZ at #4. Mami Kawada made her return to the top ten with a new single at #6. The rest of the top ten were also new releases, coming from The Gospellers, Sekai no Owari, Dragon Ash, and Oratorio The World God Only Knows.
Meanwhile, AKB48 was all over the DVD charts, achieving their first #1 in the variety/owarai rankings with their television show "AKB48 Nemousu TV." They actually took both the #1 and #2 spots with two simultaneously released DVDs for the show. The group also dominated the idol/image rankings: DVDs for Aki Takajo, Erena Ono, Tomomi Itano, and Watarirouka Hashiritai ranked #1, #3, #4, and #5 respectively.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Versailles concert to be shown in 3D on Panasonic TVs nationwide
Wed, November 10, 2010 (11:39am EST)
Visual-kei band Versailles is teaming up with electronics maker Panasonic for a nationwide promotion. The band's concert at Tokyo JCB Hall on April 30 of this year was filmed in 3D, and that footage will soon begin playing on Panasonic's 3D television sets inside 8,000 retail stores throughout Japan.
The exposure will undoubtedly bring more attention to Versailles, who just released their newest single "DESTINY -THE LOVERS-" on October 27. At the same time, Panasonic is looking to highlight their 3D TVs.
Although the nationwide broadcasts are scheduled to start near the end of this month, the Panasonic Center in Ariake, Tokyo, is already playing the footage up until November 14 (no admission required).
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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"Battle Royale 3D" planned for U.S. release
Wed, November 10, 2010 (6:44pm EST)
The 3D conversion of the movie "Battle Royale" (directed by the late Kinji Fukasaku) was shopped at the recent American Film Market (November 3-10). It drew attention from more than 50 distributors in 13 countries, and among them was Anchor Bay Entertainment, which has picked up the U.S. distribution rights and is planning a 2011 release.
The violent but controversial film was a hit in Japan when it was originally released in 2000. Although it found popularity among fans around the world, it was never picked up for release in the U.S., partly due to events such as the Columbine High School massacre in 1999. Now, ten years later, the film has finally secured U.S. distribution with the 3D conversion overseen by Fukasaku's son Kenta. Kenta also directed the poorly-received sequel "Battle Royale II: Requiem" in 2003, and that film (in 2D) will reportedly get U.S. distribution through Anchor Bay Entertainment as well.
The 3D version of "Battle Royale" opens in Japan on November 20.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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"Beginner" certified as first million single since 2007
Wed, November 10, 2010 (10:11am EST)
Just before the release of AKB48's latest single "Beginner" two weeks ago, it was announced that more than 1 million copies were being shipped. On November 10, the Recording Industry Association of Japan officially certified that it has shipped 1 million copies, becoming the group's first single to reach that milestone.
The last single to achieve a certified million was Masafumi Akikawa's "Sen no Kaze ni Natte" in August 2007.
"Beginner" already sold approximately 827,000 copies in its first week, setting a new record as a female group. In its second week, the single sold roughly an additional 64,000 copies to put its total sales at around 891,000 copies, as it edges closer to a potential 1 million in actual sales.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Tsuyoshi Kusanagi stars in "Fuyu no Sakura"
Wed, November 10, 2010 (6:11pm EST)
 
SMAP's Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (36) is set to star in a new TBS drama series this winter, titled "Fuyu no Sakura." The heroine role will be played by Miki Imai (47), who has not appeared in a drama series since she starred in "Brand" in 2000.
"Fuyu no Sakura" is described as a pure love story with similarities to the popular Korean drama "Winter Sonata" (titled "Fuyu no Sonata" in Japan). Kusanagi plays a gentle glass craftsman in Yamagata who has no experience in love. Imai plays an older housewife with a husband and daughter who goes on a trip alone to Yamagata, hoping to see sakura trees blooming in winter. She gets into an accident, but is saved by Kusanagi. He ends up tending to her, and the two are soon drawn to each other.
  
Takeru Sato (21) will play Kusanagi's brother, who left Yamagata and coincidentally worked as a trainee doctor at the hospital run by Imai's husband, played by Masanobu Takashima (44). Rosa Kato (25) will play Sato's girlfriend.
"Fuyu no Sakura" will start in January, airing on Sunday nights at 9:00pm.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Teenage model Emi Takei promotes own photo book
Friday 12th November, 03:10 AM JST
TOKYO —
Model Emi Takei, the first teenager picked by Japan’s top cosmetic maker Shiseido Co to advertise its popular Tsubaki shampoo brand, promoted her first photo book at a recent event in Tokyo. ‘‘You can see plenty of photos in this book,’’ the 16-year-old said about the volume titled ‘‘Kaze no Naka no Shojo’’ (A Girl in the Wind), a collection of photos of her taken in Guam and Nagano Prefecture.
‘‘There was a swimsuit session, which was my first, so I was a bit worried. But when I saw the finished work, I was moved,’’ she said.
Takei, a Nagoya native, also expressed her hope that the publication of the book will bring her more fame, saying, ‘‘I think this year is a turning point in my career and I’ll work more diligently next year.’’
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Bon Jovi rocks on in cup noodles commercial
Friday 12th November, 04:34 AM JST
TOKYO —
The latest installment of Nissin Foods’ Cup Noodles commercials, in which famous artists parody their lyrics to sing about the budget noodles, started airing on TV this week, and features footage of Bon Jovi performing “You Give Love a Bad Name” at London’s Wembley Stadium in 1995.
The fourth installment of Cup Noodles commercials this year comes after R&B singer MISIA’s “Everything,” British funk band Jamiroquai’s “Virtual Insanity” and power pop group GLAY’s “HOWEVER” featured in the first three.
In the latest commercial, the original lyrics of “Shot through the heart, And you’re too blame, You give love a bad name, I play my part and you play your game, You give love a bad name, You give love…a bad name,” have been changed to “Musukosan, wa Chu san de, Juken benkyo shiteta, Yashoku no kappu nudoru, Okasan ga wasureta, Musokosan wa…suneta.” The new lyrics tell the story of a third year junior high school boy studying for his exams, and his mother forgetting his late night cup noodles, leading the boy to sulk.
The 15 and 30-second versions of the commercial can also be seen at the products’ web site: http://www.cupnoodle.jp/cm/index.html.
Bon Jovi released their latest “best of” album “Bon Jovi GREATEST HITS” last week, and will play at Tokyo Dome on Nov 30 and Dec 1.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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NHK Japanese TV is filming Reni’s Maid Cafe on Nov 20
November 11, 2010 by J!-ENT
New York, NY –November 8th-, 2010 – Aspire Communications, Inc. is pleased to announce NHK, a Japanese Major TV Network is filming Reni’s Maid Café and show on November 20th, Saturday for their program, “Tokyo Fashion Express.”
NHK, Japanese TV Network, is filming Reni’s Maid Show AGAIN!! Say “Hi” to Japan!!
http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/
Let’s have Lunch together at Reni’s Maid Cafe, “Moe Moe Honey.” Cosplayers are always welcome, and you get discount if you cosplay!!
Join the Moe Movement in NYC v(^o^)v We are trying to bring Japanese authentic Pop culture here in New York, and our Maid cafe has been very successful because of Reni’s angels.
Please keep supporting Reni and Moe Movement!! Our top performer, a Japanese Cosplay Singer, Reni Mimura sings and dances her original tunes in Moe Style with MoeMoe Dancers, MoeMiru and MoeHime will be there too?????
What: Reni’s Japanese “Maid” Show + Maid Cafe!!
When: 11/20 Saturday 12PM – 3:30PM
Where: 2nd Floor of Amber Asian Cuisine
432 6th Avenue (9th & 10th Street)
Charge: $12 at Door $10 If you Cosplay (Lunch not included)
For more Information, please visit Reni’s website at
http://www.renireni.com/
Source: www.nt2099.com/J-ENT |
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Aki Hoshino to marry next spring?
Thu, November 11, 2010 (9:39am EST)
Just about a week ago, gravure idol Aki Hoshino (33) publicly confirmed her relationship with jockey Kosei Miura (20) for the first time. On Thursday, some news outlets have reported that the two are getting married next year, but Hoshino's agency has already denied those rumors.
Hoshino began dating Miura during the spring of 2009, but their relationship was never officially confirmed until Hoshino acknowledged it at an event earlier this month. According to Sports Hochi, multiple sources have stated that Miura told his close friends that he is getting married next spring. It is speculated that the couple may tie the knot on March 14, which is White Day in Japan and also happens to be Hoshino's 34th birthday.
However, Hoshino's agency has responded to the news. Although the company said that it is leaving Hoshino's private life alone, it still insisted that the reports of marriage are untrue.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Kagrra to disband in March
Thu, November 11, 2010 (10:02am EST)
Rock band Kagrra announced on Thursday that it is planning to disband next year. Their last performance will be a concert at Shibuya's C.C.Lemon Hall on March 3, 2011.
In comments made by Kagrra's members, they indicated that they could not continue with the band in its current state. "Right now, we've done all that we can do and want to do as Kagrra," said guitarist Shin.
The band celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. Before their final concert, they will release one more album titled "Hyakki Kenran" on February 2, then hold a 5-concert tour on February 13-25.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Arisa Nishida chosen as new Toray campaign girl
Thu, November 11, 2010 (10:17am EST)
Fiber maker Toray has chosen its 2011 Swimwear Campaign Girl. 17-year-old model Arisa Nishida will be the new face of the company, starting next year.
Managed by Avex, Nishida made her debut as a model just last year. This summer, she appeared in a commercial for Suntory's C.C.Lemon soft drink and participated in the Girls Award fashion show.
Toray has appointed a Swimwear Campaign Girl every year since 1981.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Eiichiro Funakoshi stars in mystery series "Honboshi"
Thu, November 11, 2010 (10:40am EST)
Eiichiro Funakoshi (50) has landed the lead part in a TV Asahi mystery drama series next season, titled "Honboshi ~Shinri Tokusou Jikenbo~." The show will air in the network's Thursday 8:00pm time slot, starting sometime in January.
Funakoshi plays a former psychologist and doctor who now works as an investigator. With his ability to see through lies based on a person's mannerisms and facial expressions, he uses psychological experiments to unravel criminal cases and determine the true culprits.
Psychology has become a very popular theme in Japan lately, thanks in part to successful American dramas such as "Lie to Me" and "The Mentalist." "Honboshi" is at least the third Japanese drama with a psychology theme to be announced for the winter 2011 season - Keiko Kitagawa (24) is starring in a series about criminal profiling, while Nao Matsushita (25) is playing a detective who pairs up with a psychology professor.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Japan's latest nail awards announced
Thu, November 11, 2010 (11:07am EST)
  
The Japan Nailist Association is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, so on November 11 (designated as "Nail Day") the organization presented a few special "lifetime achievement awards." The recipients were Kumi Koda (27), Ayumi Hamasaki (32), and Becky (26), though only Koda was in attendance to receive the awards on behalf of all three.
This is not the first time for any of them to receive recognition for their nails. Every year at the International Nail Expo in Tokyo (being held on November 28-29 this year), several "Nail Queen" awards are handed out. Koda, Hamasaki, and Becky have each won three times, placing them in the "Hall of Fame" and making them ineligible for future awards.
Incidentally, the 2010 Nail Queen winners have already been revealed. Kyoko Fukada (28) is receiving her third award in the actress category, becoming the fourth person to join the "Hall of Fame." The others are Suzanne (24) in the talento category, Marie (23) in the artist category, tennis player Ai Sugiyama (35) in the sports category, Junpei Mizobata (21) in the men's category, and Uno Kanda (35) in the special award category.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Ryuta Sato, Kumiko Aso star in dog movie
Thu, November 11, 2010 (12:28pm EST)
 
"Kyou no Wanko" ("Today's Doggie"), a popular segment from the Fuji TV morning show "Mezamashi TV," has given birth to a theatrical film, it has been learned. The movie revolves around one of the dogs that appeared on the show and features performances by Ryuta Sato (30) and Kumiko Aso (32).
Fuji TV is producing the film based on a true story from the small island of Miyakejima, which had to be evacuated in 2000 due to eruptions from the island's volcano, Mount Oyama. At the time of the evacuation, a dog named Rock was separated from its owner, but the two were miraculously reunited when the island's residents were partially allowed back onto the island 5 years later. Since then, the dog has been a local celebrity, and its fame spread beyond the island when it was featured in a special episode of "Kyou no Wanko" in 2007.
Using that story as a model, the movie "Rock ~Wanko no Shima~" will depict the bonds between the members of a family and their dog. Sato and Aso have been cast as the father and mother, with Ryunosuke Hashino (7) playing their son. Mitsuko Baisho (63) has also been cast.
Isamu Nakae is directing the film. The movie is planned for release in summer 2011.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Takeshi Kitano, Hitoshi Matsumoto team up for variety show
Thu, November 11, 2010 (1:23pm EST)
 
Popular comedians Takeshi Kitano (63) and Hitoshi Matsumoto (47) are working on their first collaboration, a variety show on NTV titled "Takeshi to Hitoshi ~Nippon wo Omoshiroku Project~."
The show's producer is Toshio Tsuchiya, who previously worked with Kitano on "Tensai Takeshi no Genki ga Deru TV!!" and with Matsumoto on "Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!" Tsuchiya initiated the project, asking both comedians if they were willing to do a collaboration. They each agreed, and the show was born.
The concept behind the program is "Let's make Japan more interesting!" Abbreviated as "NOP" (for "Nippon Omoshiroku Project"), the show will search for people with stand-out talents and highlight them on camera. Kitano and Matsumoto will then advise those people on how to enrich their talents, aiming to build them up as good examples of Japan's interestingness to the rest of the world.
Tsuchiya expects that the interaction between Kitano and Matsumoto will be the biggest attraction of the show, given that they are two of the most prominent comedians in Japan and have never worked together before. In fact, Tsuchiya has been meeting with each of them separately so that they will come face-to-face for the first time when the show is filmed later this month.
"NOP" will be aired as a single episode on December 10, but Tsuchiya is hoping to make it a continuing project with a new episode every three months.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Starz picks up live-action remake of anime series "Noir"
Thu, November 11, 2010 (8:14pm EST)
According to Hollywood Reporter, the U.S. cable network Starz is in the development stage on a live-action series titled "Noir." The show is a remake of the 2001 anime series of the same name about two female assassins who carry out their missions while piecing together their own mysterious pasts and the reason they have been partnered together.
Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert are executive producers for the series. The two worked together on "Spartacus," as well as films such as "Drag Me to Hell" and the "Evil Dead" series.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Saki Fukuda, Yuya Matsushita co-star in "Quartet"
Thu, November 11, 2010 (8:01pm EST)
Actress Saki Fukuda (20) has been chosen to lead a drama series on TBS and MBS titled "Quartet." The drama is based on a hardboiled crime/action story by author Arimasa Osawa, who wrote the popular "Shinjuku Shark" novel series.
Fukuda will be taking on a role unlike her previous characters. She plays the part of Shun, a descendant of a "zanryu-koji" (a Japanese orphan left behind in China at the end of World War II). Now living as an illegal resident in the fictional city of Midori, she is one of three young people helping police in undercover investigations. Fukuda will be wearing a full-body tattoo for this serious action drama, which includes heavy topics such as bootlegs drugs being tested on people, and people treating others as slaves. Fukuda is also learning some Chinese for the part.
Fukuda's co-star is singer and actor Yuya Matsushita (20), who will play the rough and reckless Takeru. Although he has acted in a few films and stage productions, this is his first appearance in a television drama. He has also been tapped to provide the show's theme song "paradise," which involves producer Kiyoshi Matsuo and songwriter Jin Nakamura.
TBS and MBS will broadcast "Quartet" in a late-night time slot, starting in January.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Shun Oguri caught cheating by FRIDAY
Thu, November 11, 2010 (6:37pm EST)
There have been rumors before that popular actor Shun Oguri (27) has cheated on his girlfriend, actress Yu Yamada (26). The latest issue of FRIDAY now has photographic evidence of it, as he was seen entering a love hotel with a woman late at night earlier this month.
FRIDAY reports that Oguri was drinking with a large group of friends (a total of more than 20 people) at an izakaya in Akasaka. A nice mood was building between him and a woman sitting next to him, who was described as resembling model Nozomi Sasaki (22). When she got up to use the restroom, Oguri followed, and the two were alone together for more than 10 minutes.
Oguri left the restaurant early with several other friends, though he got into his company's car, which had come to pick him up. He then met up with the woman, who had also left the restaurant but was not far away. They got out of the car in an alley near Tokyo's Meguro Station and entered a nearby love hotel through the back entrance. About an hour and a half later, they left the hotel separately, each taking a taxi back home.
Oguri has been dating Yamada since the spring of 2008. It has been reported that the two are living together, though there have also been rumors that the two are breaking up due to Oguri's cheating.
Oguri's agency said it was unable to comment at the moment due to the absence of his manager. Yamada's agency said it would not comment on her personal life.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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