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Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part IV]
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"Akunin" wins three prizes in 35th Hochi Film Awards
Mon, November 29, 2010 (8:22pm EST)
The results are in for the 35th Hochi Film Awards. Sang-il Lee's "Akunin," which had received 9 nominations in 6 categories, ended up taking home 3 prizes: Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actor.
The winners are:
Best Picture: "Akunin"
Best Foreign Film: "Avatar"
Best Actor: Etsushi Toyokawa ("Kondo wa Aisaika," "Hisshiken Torisashi")
Best Actress: Eri Fukatsu ("Akunin")
Best Supporting Actor: Akira Emoto ("Akunin")
Best Supporting Actress: Rie Tomosaka ("Chonmage Purin")
Best Director: Tetsuya Nakashima ("Kokuhaku")
Best Newcomer: Nanami Sakuraba ("Shodo Girls!! Watashitachi no Koshien"), Takahiro Miura ("RAILWAYS")
The awards will be presented at a ceremony on December 21.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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AI to collaborate with The Jacksons for Michael Jackson tribute concerts
Mon, November 29, 2010 (12:32pm EST)
It has been announced that singer AI (29) will be collaborating with The Jacksons (consisting of Jackie, Tito, Marlon and Jermaine) next year, as part of a concert series paying tribute to the late pop legend Michael Jackson. AI announced the news during her 10th anniversary concert at Nippon Budokan on Monday night.
According to an exclusive article by CNNGo, AI will serve as the emcee for the first two shows of the concert series, expected to be held in October 2011. She will also be recording new songs with the group earlier in the year, which she will then perform with them on stage at the concerts.
CNNGo reports that the two concerts are tentatively set for October 14-15, with multiple special guest artists standing in for Michael Jackson, though the lineup is currently a secret. After the two shows in Tokyo, the Jacksons will likely continue the tribute series with concerts around the world, and AI may be serving as the emcee for those as well.
AI has recently collaborated with several international artists, including Judith Hill, Chaka Khan, and Boyz II Men.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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'Rakugo' storyteller to entertain Iraqi children
Wednesday 01st December, 03:03 AM JST
OSAKA —
Japanese ‘rakugo’ storyteller Shofukutei Kakusho gets ready to entertain children in war-torn Iraq by performing traditional comedic routines. ‘‘I cannot get the sad faces of the children I saw on video out of my mind. I want to bring them laughter that can warm their hearts,’’ Kakusho told a press conference in Osaka as the head of the nonprofit organization Entertainers Without Borders.
Kakusho, 50, plans to show children his art at four locations in or around the Kurdish autonomous region of Sulaimaniyah, including an elementary school in the town of Halabja, where 5,000 people were killed by chemical weapons during Saddam Hussein’s rule. He will also visit a refugee camp for Sunni Muslims. The storyteller, who has gone on similar performance trips overseas such as to Brazil since the group’s establishment in 2006, will narrate monologues in Japanese and use written explanations and oral translation in Iraq.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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'Gantz' movie to be released in U.S. ahead of Japan
Wednesday 01st December, 03:13 AM JST
TOKYO —
Arashi member Kazunari Ninomiya, 27, perhaps best known to overseas audiences for his role in Clint Eastwood’s “Letters From Iwo Jima,” and Kenichi Matsuyama, 25, who played “L” in the movie adaptation of “Death Note,” are to star together in the forthcoming movie “Gantz,” directed by Shinsuke Sato. The movie, based on the the manga and anime of the same name written and illustrated by Hiroya Oku, 43, tells the story of friends Kei Kurono and Masaru Kato who find themselves embroiled in a supernatural demon-hunt in purgatory after dying in a train accident.
In an unprecedented move, the dubbed English version of the movie is scheduled for release in over 300 theaters across the United States on Jan 20 next year,
ahead of the Japanese release date. “I’m really pleased that lots of people in America are going to get the opportunity to see the movie,” said Matsuyama. Ninomiya added: “There are a lot of people around the world who have a deep affection for the ‘Gantz” franchise, so I’m sure it’s the best thing for the series.”
Sato shot “Gantz” back to back with its sequel “Gantz: Part II.” The first movie is due to hit Japanese screens on Jan 29 next year, with the sequel following soon after on April 23.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Luna Sea to Play Free Xmas Show
December 01, 2010
Rockers Luna Sea announced yesterday that they will be playing the first ever free show at Tokyo Dome this Christmas. The band, currently on a comeback after a 3-year hiatus, will perform regular paid shows on December 23 & 24, but have added a free show on Christmas Day. The only condition for the "Lunacy Kurofukugentei Gig" is that fans must wear black, an idea the band used a couple of times in their indie days. A lottery for the 50,000 tickets opens on the band's official site today.
Luna Sea are currently on their 20th anniversary "Reboot" world tour, which they kicked off with a concert in Germany on November 27. Their first tour in ten years, it will end with the Tokyo shows. The band reunited back in May, launching Facebook and Twitter accounts, and have released a new song and video on the date of every full moon since. They have moved to the Avex record label as of today and are recording an album of covers of their own songs. "Luna Sea" is scheduled for release on March 16, 2011.
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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Ebizo was "Looking for a Fight"
December 01, 2010
More details are emerging about last week's assault on kabuki star Ichikawa Ebizo (32). It has been reported that he was not exactly the innocent victim he has claimed to be. His provocative behavior included hair pulling and forcing his drinking partner to drink tequila from an ashtray. Police have confirmed a DNA match between Ebizo and the blood found spattered in and near the Minami Aoyama bar where the assault took place.
Meanwhile, the man for whom an arrest warrant has been issued is described as a 26-year-old, half-Japanese, half-American who was a promising soccer player in his youth. A talented but unmotivated striker for the Tokyo Verdy junior youth team, he was thought to have a future in the J-League. But after graduating junior high school, he was increasingly in trouble with the police and ended up as leader of a "bosozoku" street gang. His current whereabouts are still unknown and police are trying to get him to turn himself in.
The kabuki production in Kyoto in which Ebizo was to appear started its scheduled run at the Minamiza theater yesterday. Ebizo's role was performed by Kataoka Nizaemon (66), and the packed house didn't seem to mind the change in the lineup. It means that Kataoka and Bando Tamazaburo (60), two of the leading stars of Kabuki, are teamed up again as they were last year. The decision to go ahead with the production was a given, as tickets for the first two weeks were sold out. Tickets for the closing fortnight, which went on sale Monday, have also been selling well.
The situation with another production scheduled for January is less clear. Ebizo is expected to need about 2 months to make a full recovery following reconstructive surgery on his face. But due to the large number of shows on around the country during the festive New Year season there is a shortage of actors who can take his place for the January 3-25 run at Le Theatre Ginza in central Tokyo. So it is thought likely that he will try to take to the stage earlier than his doctors would like, which of course would delight fans and go some way towards making up for the trouble he's caused the kabuki world.
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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Ryuhei Matsuda unharmed in motorcycle accident
Tue, November 30, 2010 (8:51am EST)
Actor Ryuhei Matsuda (27) was involved in a minor traffic accident while riding a motorcycle late on Monday night, it has been learned. Fortunately, no one suffered any injuries.
Police say the incident occurred at around 2:00am on November 30. Matsuda was passing through an intersection in Tokyo's Meguro ward when his motorcycle collided with an oncoming taxi that was trying to make a right turn. Matsuda was knocked to the ground but was not hurt.
The accident is currently under investigation, though it appears that the taxi's 60-year-old driver was not paying adequate attention to the road ahead.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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"Tetsuo: The Bullet Man" to play in U.S. theaters
Tue, November 30, 2010 (9:50am EST)
It was recently announced that the first live-action "GANTZ" movie will be getting a wide release in the United States, but that won't be the only Japanese action film playing in American theaters this January. On the same weekend that "GANTZ" opens, Shinya Tsukamoto's "Tetsuo: The Bullet Man" will also begin a theatrical run, though on a smaller scale.
Whereas "GANTZ" is reportedly aiming to be shown in 300 theaters in the U.S., "Tetsuo: The Bullet Man" will play in a little over 10 major cities, including New York, Chicago, Detroit, and Denver.
Tsukamoto's "Tetsuo" series has become a cult classic, starting with "Tetsuo: The Iron Man" in 1989 and the sequel "Tetsuo II: The Body Hammer" in 1992. While the third film, "Tetsuo: The Bullet Man," is based on the same theme of a man transforming into machine and becoming a human weapon, it is the first in the series to be filmed in English, with American actor Eric Bossick as the star. The movie had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in 2009, and its U.S. premiere this past April as part of the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.
The North American distributor for "Tetsuo: The Bullet Man" is IFC Films. The movie is planned to open in theaters on January 21, 2011.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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NTV experiments with interactive drama "The Music Show"
Tue, November 30, 2010 (10:12am EST)
NTV will broadcast a drama special in early January titled "The Music Show," which promises to be the first of its kind: the show's viewers will be able to determine the story's ending through an interactive voting process.
The drama is being written and directed by Takuro Oikawa, who also worked on the similar 2009 drama "The Quiz Show," which starred Arashi's Sho Sakurai. Like that show, the setting for "The Music Show" is a television program with "ordinary" contestants. Here, they will be competing as part of a music artist audition, while tension builds towards the final decision.
Viewers with television sets capable of digital data transmission will reportedly be able to vote for the competition's winner, affecting the story's outcome. The drama will also feature some original songs, which will be available as digital downloads on the Internet immediately after the show ends.
With Japan completing its shift from analog to digital television next year, this show may become a test case for similar interactive experiments in the future.
   
The cast will star Ikki Sawamura as the show's MC, Ken Yasuda as the producer, and Keiko Toda and Mirei Kiritani as two contestants. The judges will be played by Nana Katase and Toru Kazama.
 
"The Music Show" is scheduled for broadcast on January 2 at 11:30pm.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Ryuichi Kawamura to sing 100 songs at Budokan
Tue, November 30, 2010 (10:43am EST)
LUNA SEA member Ryuichi Kawamura (40) is aiming to outdo himself with a special solo concert at the Nippon Budokan on March 13, 2011. During the concert, which is titled "Genkai no Sono Saki e: 100 no Monogatari ~Epilogue~," he will perform a total of 100 songs over a span of more than 6 hours.
In February 2008, Kawamura held a concert called "70 no Monogatari" at the same venue, in which he performed all 70 songs from his original solo albums. This time, he will be increasing the setlist by nearly 50%.
General tickets for the concert will go on sale on February 5.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Hitomi Yaida to resume activities
Tue, November 30, 2010 (8:03pm EST)
Singer Hitomi Yaida (32) will make her comeback with her first new song in three and a half years. She has signed a new contract with Universal Music and will start off with a single called "Simple is Best" in February.
Before that, Yaida will perform two concerts in January. The first will be at Shibuya AX in Tokyo on January 17, and the second will be at Namba Hatch in Osaka on January 20.
Yaida made her major label debut in 2000 and is known for hits such as "my sweet darlin'." She got married in 2007, and in October 2009 she gave birth to her first child.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Yusuke Iseya directs second film "Seiji"
Tue, November 30, 2010 (8:53pm EST)
Actor Yusuke Iseya (34) recently finished work on his second film as a director. "Seiji ~Riku no Uo~" is an adaptation of a bestselling novel by writer Tomoki Tsujiuchi, who has had a few other works turned into movies before ("Shin-san," "Aozora no Roulette").
When Iseya first debuted as an actor in 1998, he already had aspirations of becoming a director. After taking a film course in New York, he directed his first film "Kakuto" in 2002, which he also co-wrote and starred in.
Iseya finally got another chance to direct when he was offered the position for "Seiji" five years ago, and he accepted without hesitation. Iseya also contributed to the screenplay for the movie, but unlike "Kakuto," Iseya will not be starring in it.
"Seiji" takes place at a drive-in, run by an intriguing man named Seiji. The protagonist of the story is a 4th-year university student, and the story explores interactions between him, Seiji, the drive-in's female owner, and the other regular customers.
Filming finished on October 14 of this year. The cast has not yet been publicly revealed, but the film is slated to open next summer.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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"Shinzanmono" drama gets special episode
Tue, November 30, 2010 (7:13pm EST)
The drama series "Shinzanmono" will be returning to television with a special episode at the start of next year. Based on a Keigo Higashino novel, the drama originally aired this past spring with Hiroshi Abe (46) as the lead actor. This time, the story will adapt an earlier book in the same novel series.
"Shinzanmono" was the 8th book in Higashino's "Kyoichiro Kaga" series. The special episode, titled "Akai Yubi ~ Shinzanmono: Kaga Kyoichiro Futatabi!," is based on the 7th book, "Akai Yubi." The story features the same characters. In particular, Abe will return as the detective Kyoichiro Kaga, while Meisa Kuroki (22) and Junpei Mizobata (21) will also be back in their same roles.
Tetta Sugimoto, Naomi Nishida, Yasuko Tomita, Sumie Sasaki, and Tsutomu Yamazaki have also been cast.
TBS will broadcast "Akai Yubi" on January 3. The episode will be two and a half hours long.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Ryuhei Maruyama doesn’t want to copy Johnny Depp in upcoming play
Posted by: momoedgewood on: 11:34 JST December 1, 2010
Kanjani8's Ryuhei Maruyama (27) attended a press conference for his upcoming stage play “Gilbert Grape” in Tokyo yesterday, reports Daily Sports.
It is the first time the story has been adapted for the stage. The story had already been made into a movie “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” starring Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio back in 1993, which itself was adapted from a novel of the same name.
At the press conference Maruyama had been reported to have said he had no intentions of copying Johnny Depp’s Gilbert character.
“I can’t become Depp. I want to play this role in my own way with what comes naturally to me,” he said.
Akiyoshi Nakao (22), who will play Maruyama’s little brother in the play, said he had big dreams for the future after meeting the Johnny’s star.
“Maruyama-san is a really approachable Kansai brother figure. I hope I can become good friends with him and maybe even join Kanjani8 one day,” he said.
“Gilbert Grape” will begin its Tokyo season on January 16, before moving to Osaka from February 18.
Source: http://momoedgewood.wordpress.co ... p-in-upcoming-play/ |
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Crowe and arrows
By Chris Betros
TOKYO —
Over the last few years, Russell Crowe has accumulated quite a few war wounds due to the physical workload in his movies. “Let’s see. I’ve torn both Achilles tendons, I’ve suffered shin splints, my left thigh has degenerated, I’ve had two operations on my left shoulder, and I have occasional problems with my ribs and neck,” said Crowe, 46, who was in Japan recently to promote “Robin Hood,” which opens in Japan on Dec 10.
Clearly showing a few extra kilograms, Crowe said he has allowed himself to relax for the past 12 months. “I like to shape my body for a role, but as I get older, that is getting harder to do. In my normal life, exercise is almost non-existent. I look forward to my next role as a warrior, so I can get focused on getting into shape again. For ‘Robin Hood,’ I spent six months learning archery and getting muscular enough to survive the long shoot day after day.”
“Robin Hood” marks Crowe’s 5th collaboration with director Ridley Scott. “I’ve heard people describe Ridley and myself as an old married couple. In many ways, we are—we don’t hesitate to criticize each other; at other times, we understand what is required without saying anything. I think of Ridley as like a painter and I get to hold the paint. If he needs more blue, I try my best to give it to him.”
Lining up with Crowe in “Robin Hood” is Australian actress Cate Blanchett as Maid Marian. “She is an exceptional actress,” said Crowe. “A couple of years ago, Cate, Nicole Kidman, Geoffrey Rush and I were on a stage in Sydney being honored on postage stamps. I wondered why Cate and I had never worked together. So I asked the audience of 2,000 if they’d like to see us in a movie and there was a roar of approval. Two days later, by coincidence, the studio called Cate and asked her to be in ‘Robin Hood.’”
Crowe, who was last in Japan in 2002, said he hoped Japanese audiences would enjoy the spectacle of “Robin Hood” and the messages it contains. “I’ve been a big fan of the mythology of Robin Hood since I was a kid, and there have been many movie versions, but I felt that none of them explained how this man came to be a resistance fighter, what makes him tick.”
Although Crowe has a reputation for being difficult with journalists, he was in an affable mood while in Tokyo. He certainly seems to have mellowed, which perhaps could be attributed to his becoming a family man. “Getting married and having children was the greatest thing to happen to me,” he said. “I knew my wife for 14 years before we married in 2003 and we now have two boys—Charlie, 6, and Tennyson, 4. Having two young minds to refocus me is an enriching experience.”
Those two young minds will have an extra treat this Christmas. In a rare day off, the actor spent seven hours walking around Tokyo, until he ended up in Kiddy Land. “They’ll be getting some toys. All the instructions are in Japanese, so I hope they aren’t too hard for dad to assemble. It was such a treat for me to finally see Tokyo. Whenever I have been here in the past, all I saw was my hotel room and a few restaurants.”
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Norika Fujiwara to star in 'Marguerite' musical in March
Thursday 02nd December, 03:32 AM JST
TOKYO —
Actress Norika Fujiwara, 39, is to start in a forthcoming stage production of Michel Legrand’s musical “Marguerite.” The musical tells the tale of a 40-year-old Nazi
sympathizer, the titular Marguerite (Fujiwara), who falls in love with a young French resistance fighter while she is the mistress of a Nazi officer. Playing the role of her young lover is Mario Tashiro, 26, who plays the piano and performs “China Doll” in the show.
“When the offer came, I immediately started practicing alone,” Fujiwara said at a press conference this week.
Following the news that her costar Hideki Saijo was taken to hospital in early November with enteritis, after having apparently contracted the norovirus, Fujiwara said, “The other day I even went to Beijing to have a checkup from a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.”
“Marguerite” opens at the ACT Theater in Tokyo from March 11 to 28.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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The Price of a Fiery Temper
December 02, 2010
More updates on the Ichikawa Ebizo (32, photo) assault case. The latest details on the half-Japanese, half-American man for whom an arrest warrant has been issued include a report in the Sankei Shimbun newspaper that he was possibly the victim of the incident. The 26-year-old man, who has a wife and twin children has told friends that he didn't throw the first punch. He also suffered injuries in the fight with Ebizo, and has a doctor's letter saying he will need about two weeks to recover from his injuries. He says he has no intention of going on the run but has not turned himself in to Tokyo police because the media reports on the incident have been "unfair."
If the claims that Ebizo was not simply a victim of assault but actually started the fight prove to be true and he is prosecuted, it would have serious repercussions for his career. In addition to any legal penalties, probably no more than a few hundred thousand yen, he would be expected to go through a self-imposed period of penitence. He would not be able to appear in a stage production scheduled for January. If the show is cancelled the losses would be several hundred million yen, and even if Ebizo were replaced by another actor, ticket cancellations would be likely as he is the star of the show. He would also lose several lucrative commercial contracts, with the cost of losing his three major contracts believed to be about ¥500 million.
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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Kato Koji on the Mend
Talento Kato Koji (41) made a telephone appearance yesterday on the NTV morning show he regularly presents. He spoke about the 2-hour surgery he underwent on November 29 to repair the fracture dislocation to his right ankle that he suffered playing futsal. He expressed his surprise after the surgery that he had 5 bolts inserted in his ankle. He is expected to be out of the hospital in about a week and will return to work after a period of rehabilitation.
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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"Kamen Rider" gives birth to idol group
Wed, December 1, 2010 (3:07pm EST)
The "Kamen Rider" franchise is turning 40 years old next year, and one of the projects commemorating its anniversary is a new female idol group called Kamen Rider GIRLS. The five-member unit made their debut at a special music event on Monday.
Each of the members represents a different Rider, with their outfits designed to match the Riders' images. The group consists of Kaori Nagura (19) as Kiva, Erika Yoshizumi (18) as Den-O, Yurika Hirokawa (20) as Ryuki, Hitomi Isaka (18) as OOO, and Nao Yasuda (20) as Blade. However, more members are expected to be added in the future.
Kamen Rider GIRLS will release their first digital-only single "Koi no Rider Kick" on December 15.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Kana Nishino tops Recochoku 2010 rankings
Wed, December 1, 2010 (3:22pm EST)
http://upload.indomp3z.us/pics/2010/1266950502/Kana%20Nishino%20–%20Best%20Friend.jpg
Mobile music service Recochoku has announced its 2010 download rankings, and Kana Nishino dominates the list. In addition to being the #1 artist in the chaku-uta and chaku-uta full categories, she has two of the top 5 chaku-uta songs and three of the top 5 chaku-uta full songs.
Chaku-uta:
"Ring a Ding Dong" - Kaela Kimura
"Aitakute Aitakute" - Kana Nishino
"Motto Tsuyoku" - EXILE
"FOREVER LOVE" - Shota Shimizu x Miliyah Kato
"Best Friend" - Kana Nishino
Chaku-uta Full:
"Aitakute Aitakute" - Kana Nishino
"Butterfly" - Kaela Kimura
"Best Friend" - Kana Nishino
"if" - Kana Nishino
"Shunkashuutou" - Hilcrhyme
Artist (Chaku-uta):
Kana Nishino
Artist (Chaku-uta Full):
Kana Nishino
New Artist (Chaku-uta):
ICONIQ
New Artist (Chaku-uta Full):
KARA
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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