Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part IV]

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ZARD's 20th anniversary being commemorated with memorial concerts, multiple releases
Thu, January 6, 2011 (7:31pm EST)



This year marks the 20th anniversary of the debut of the beloved pop group ZARD, so naturally several projects are in the works to honor the occasion. One of those is another set of memorial concerts for vocalist Izumi Sakai, who passed away in 2007 at the age of 40.

Although ZARD began as a five-member group in 1991, ZARD was essentially Sakai's solo project. During her career, she released 11 original albums and dozens of singles, with several of those releases becoming million sellers. After being diagnosed with cancer in 2006, she had been hospitalized for nearly a year before her accidental death in May 2007.

Several memorial concerts for ZARD were held in 2007 after her death, with so many fans attending that the concerts went on tour. Additional memorial concerts were held in 2008 and 2009. This year, a concert will be held on May 27 (Sakai's death anniversary) at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, followed by another on May 29 at the Osaka International Convention Center.

Like the previous shows, these will incorporate large screens displaying footage of Sakai singing (some of it previously unreleased), accompanied live by a group of guest musicians. One representative from ZARD's agency says that they are thinking of making this 20th anniversary concert the last one.

There will also be a few ZARD releases in the upcoming months: a 6-CD box set containing 99 songs (February 10), four separate photobooks (also on February 10), and three separate DVDs of the past memorial concerts (April).

A special exhibit about Sakai's 20-year career featuring photos, videos, and possessions will be doing a 4-city tour, starting in February. The Tokyo exhibit will take place on May 25-30 at the Takashimaya building in Shinjuku.

It has also been announced that a special 20th anniversary website will be launched on January 15.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Japanese-style customer service winning hearts in Europe

TOKYO —

Japanese commercial establishments are well known for their meticulous and cordial customer service. Some Japanese firms have seen success in Europe by incorporating such standards of service into their business strategies.

Usagiyama, a Japanese-style inn on the outskirts of Zurich that serves haute cuisine from Kyoto, is one such establishment trying to charm locals with Japan’s unique customer service.

Una Huegli, a 39-year-old lawyer, visited the inn with his wife to celebrate their wedding anniversary and was particularly struck by the deferential deportment of the staff. ‘‘I was quite surprised when a maid knelt before opening a sliding door to enter a room,’’ he said. The service at the inn, which goes all out to meet customer needs, is impeccable, he said while sipping a bowl of green powdered tea in a Japanese room in the inn.

Manager Masafumi Kurahayashi, a 52-year-old former investment banker, spent 650 million yen to construct the establishment in 2003 in the hope of promoting Japanese culture.

The inn’s restaurant made a name for itself as it prepared unique Japanese dishes using locally produced vegetables. ‘‘Making the very best out of things that are at hand is the motto of Japan’s tea ceremony and it appeals to European customers,’’ Kurahayashi said.

Fast Retailing Co has also exported Japanese-style customer service to France and has seen good results.

At its Uniqlo casual clothing shop that opened near the Opera national de Paris in autumn 2009, around 30 shop clerks gathered one day to rehearse their lines shortly before the store opened in the morning. They chanted in unison ‘‘Bonjour’’ and a phrase meaning, ‘‘Please tell me when you need any help.’‘

A sign displayed in the shop’s jeans department reads, ‘‘Jeans 100% Qualite Japonaise,’’ suggesting the store is geared up to meet the tough standards required of a retailer that serves Japanese people, known to be among the world’s most demanding customers.

Once the store opened, as soon as customers began flocking around a checkout counter, a clerk rushed to man another register to serve shoppers as quickly as possible.

To pass muster, a shop clerk has just 90 seconds to wrap a product, hold out a receipt to the customer with both hands and look at him or her in the eyes with a smile. This level of attentiveness is somewhat rare in Paris where shop clerks often chat with colleagues instead of serving waiting customers.

‘‘Shoppers will likely come again if they are served promptly and treated nicely,’’ said 29-year-old shop manager Caroline Gire.

The shop is so popular that it has to restrict admission on busy days.

It is often asked why such attentive customer service has taken root in Japan and why it is enjoying a good reception outside the country.

‘‘The Japanese tend not to verbalize and try to work out another person’s feelings (without asking directly) and that’s how the Japanese have learned to be considerate to others,’’ said Noriko Takenouchi, a senior manager in charge of service innovation at All Nippon Airways Co. ‘‘It’s impossible to devise a perfect instruction manual on how to care for each customer.’’ She believes therefore that Japanese-style customer service cannot be completely copied by foreign firms.

Nissan Motor Co also goes to extraordinary lengths to satisfy customer needs. The door of its Infinity luxury car that debuted in Europe in 2008, for example, unlocks automatically when a person holding its key approaches. When the car door is opened, the driver’s seat shifts back, turns several degrees toward the driver and lowers slightly to make it easiest to climb in.

‘‘Foreign critics said in the past that we were trying to make up for the inadequacies of our cars’ functions by throwing in nonessential frills,’’ said Shiro Nakamura, Nissan’s chief creative officer in charge of design and brand management. ‘‘Now that we have caught up in terms of product performance, our ability to offer features tailored to customer needs has become an asset that enhances the uniqueness of our products.’‘

Nissan President Carlos Ghosn and other foreign executives also helped the automaker to rediscover its uniquely Japanese traits that were long forgotten by its Japanese staff and decided to reflect the company’s passion for meeting every conceivable customer need in its overall business strategy.

Thirty years after first venturing abroad, Shiseido Co drew up a new service manual in 21 languages in 2010. Through the manual, titled ‘‘Omotenashi (hospitality) Credo,’’ the major cosmetics maker tried anew to instill in its employees around the world the company’s dedication to cordial interaction with customers.

‘‘The warmth of Japanese-style customer service should be welcomed all the more in this age when person-to-person relationships have become so tenuous,’’ said Jean-Charles Viti, vice president of Paris-based Shiseido Europe S.A.S.

‘‘Foreigners, who are knowledgeable about Japan, tend to frequent small Japanese inns where they are treated with gentle attention to their needs,’’ said Susumu Takahashi, vice chairman of the Japan Research Institute.

Foreigners appreciate Japanese-style customer service and it is a strength that can be applied in various sectors including tourism and manufacturing, Takahashi said.

It could become a great asset for Japan as it tries to blaze a new trail in the shadow of the world’s two titans—the United States and China, he added.

Source: www.japantoday.com

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Film by 14-year-old director from Okinawa to hit cinemas

TOKYO —

A film directed by a 14-year-old boy has gained such popularity in his native Okinawa Prefecture that it will be commercially screened at theaters on the mainland beginning with three cinemas in Tokyo and Yokohama this weekend.

The feature film titled ‘‘Yagi no Boken’’ (adventure of a goat) by Ryugo Nakamura, a third-year student at Okinawa Higashi Junior High School in Okinawa City, has drawn 40,000 viewers during screenings at community centers in the prefecture last year, leading to the upcoming theatrical release.

The film depicts lives of local boys and other people in the Yambaru area in the northern part of Okinawa Island through the escape of a goat kept for food.

‘‘Goats are food in Okinawa,’’ Nakamura said. ‘‘Many films portray Okinawa like a tropical paradise. I hope people will know about its real culture and tradition.’‘

Producer Yuichi Ide said, ‘‘I would like people across the country to see this film because of its quality. You would not believe it was shot by a junior high school student.’‘

Nakamura, who will turn 15 on Monday, began shooting independent movies when he was eight with the video camera of his father who died in an accident. He has created more than 30 short films thus far.

Critics raved about his short film ‘‘Yagi no Sampo’’ (a goat on a walk), which served as the groundwork for the latest feature, at the Okinawa tourism drama competition in 2009.

For the latest movie, most actors and crew members were chosen from top local professionals, and Cocco, a renowned female singer born and raised in Okinawa, sings the theme song of the movie.

Nakamura wrote a letter to Cocco asking her to provide the song for the film.

The film is scheduled to hit theaters in many parts of Japan after being released in Tokyo and Yokohama on Saturday.

Source: www.japantoday.com

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AKB48 wins 'Single of the Year' award

Friday 07th January, 02:00 AM JST



TOKYO —

AKB48 and Arashi were the big winners at this week’s 25th annual Gold Disc Awards Ceremony, which honors the achievements of top-selling musicians. The top-selling Japanese band of 2010 was Arashi who sold 3,459,333 singles and 1,461,170 albums. The international music category award was picked up by Lady Gaga, 24.

Meanwhile, AKB48, the all-girl idol group created by Yasushi Akimoto, picked up the award for “Single of the Year” for their song “Beginner.” Attending the event were members Yuko Oshima, 22, Minami Takahashi, 19, and Yuki Kashiwagi, 19. “This award is really heavy,” the girls said to the audience. “I think we’re going to need to guard this carefully so it doesn’t get fingerprints all over it.”

Source: www.japantoday.com

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Aya Ueto, EXILE leader Hiro try to dodge press

Saturday 08th January, 03:27 AM JST



TOKYO —

Hiro, the 41-year-old leader of rock band EXILE, and actress Aya Ueto, 25 were photographed by Friday magazine entering his apartment together recently. The magazine speculated that Ueto might have moved in with Hiro, but she has denied it. However, Hiro has made no denials, instead saying that he will make a comment when he is ready.

The couple first met while Ueto was taking dance lessons around the time she broke into the mainstream in 1997. They have been dating under the press radar since before Hiro was designated EXILE’s new lead, and apparently became seriously involved last summer, according to the tabloids.

Source: www.japantoday.com

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Dark Ducks chorus group member Takamizawa dies of heart failure

Saturday 08th January, 08:42 AM JST

TOKYO —

Hiromu Takamizawa, a member of the male chorus group Dark Ducks, died Friday of heart failure at his home in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, his family and agency said Saturday. He was 77.

Takamizawa, a tenor, joined the group in 1952. The group was formed the previous year by three members of a male choir at Keio University—Toru Sasaki, Tetsu Kiso and Hajime Toyama.

The quartet sang a wide variety of songs, including the Russian folk song ‘‘Tomoshibi’’ (little flame), ‘‘Yukiyama Sanka’’ (homage to snow mountain), as well as children’s songs. The group had numerous hits during its active period of more than a quarter of a century.

The Dark Ducks also performed in countries such as Russia during the Soviet years and the United States. In 1993, all four members received the Medal with Purple Ribbon, which is given to people who have made important contributions in areas including the arts.

Source: www.japantoday.com

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Beat Takeshi appears in ad for ECC language school

Sunday 09th January, 05:28 AM JST



TOKYO —

Movie director “Beat” Takeshi Kitano, 63, is appearing in a new TV commercial for language school ECC. In the commercial, he speaks in English, French and Chinese.

Takeshi said that he was initially anxious about speaking foreign languages in a TV commercial, but his constant practice enabled him to perform perfectly.

Source: www.japantoday.com

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Maki Horikita happy to play villain for first time

Monday 10th January, 03:13 AM JST



TOKYO —

Actress Maki Horikita, 22, will play a villain for the first time in her upcoming movie, an adaptation of Keigo Higashino’s popular novel “Byakuyako” (Into the White Night), which will co-star Kengo Kora, 23. “This year I’d like to try lots of new things,” Horikita said.

One such new challenge, she said, is playing a villain for the first time in her career. “The idea that people are going to watch it and think, ‘This girl’s really scary’ is a little unsettling,” she said. ” However, I hope as many people as possible will see the movie.”

“Into the White Night,” directed by Yoshihiro Fukagawa, will be released on Jan 29.

Source: www.japantoday.com

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Comedy Creator Yokozawa Dies       
January 10, 2011



Yokozawa Takeshi (photo left), the man who created some of Japan's best-loved comedy shows, died yesterday at a Tokyo hospital of pneumonia. He was 73. A native of Gunma Prefecture, he joined Fuji TV in 1962 after graduating from the prestigious Tokyo University. He worked in a variety of divisions before moving to TV production in 1974. In 1980, he was a leading force behind the show "The Manzai," which led to a boom in the double act form of standup comedy that remains so prevalent to this day. He later went on to produce two legendary shows - "Oretachi Hyokinzoku," which made superstars of Kitano "Beat" Takeshi (63, photo center, profile) and Akashiya Sanma (55, photo right, profile), and "Waratte Iitomo," the vehicle for the comedy and hosting talents of Tamori (65, profile) which has been on the air every weekday afternoon for 28 years.

In 1990 Yokozawa also took on the post of president of Virgin Japan, and he quit Fuji TV in 1995 to become president of the Tokyo branch of Yoshimoto Kogyo (profile), the major talent agency that represents most of the top comedy acts in Japan. He also worked as a professor at Kamakura Womens University and as a media commentator.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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TOKIO's Taichi Kokubun to run Tokyo Marathon
Sat, January 8, 2011 (9:20pm EST)



TOKIO member Taichi Kokubun (36) has declared that he will be taking on the challenge of running his first full marathon. On February 27, he plans to participate in the annual Tokyo Marathon, and he stated that he will aim to complete it in under four hours.

Kokubun currently appears as the main caster (called the "chief editor") on the Saturday broadcasts of the Fuji TV show "Sport!" The program's production team asked Kokubun at the end of November about the possibility of running the marathon. Since he is already a sports enthusiast who enjoys activities such as futsal and jogging on his own time, he agreed to the proposal, saying that he has no reason to refuse. He also said that it his responsibility as the "chief editor" on the show.

Kokubun quickly began training three times a week under the guidance of a specialist. He reportedly tries to squeeze in training at every opportunity, despite his hectic schedule. He is a regular on 10 different radio and television shows, and TOKIO is preparing for a nationwide tour that begins in March. He was quoted as saying, "Using 'I'm busy' as an excuse is the most uncool."

The Tokyo Marathon has been held in its current form since 2007. Many celebrities have participated in the marathon in past years, including Fuji TV announcer Rio Hirai (28), actor Masato Wada (31), and talento Erika Okushi (30).

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Hidetaka Yoshioka handles transplants in medical miniseries
Sat, January 8, 2011 (10:11pm EST)



Actor Hidetaka Yoshioka (40) is set to star in a drama series for the first time since "Dr. Koto Shinryojo" in 2006. He will lead a 5-episode series titled "CO: Ishoku Coordinator," starting on March 27 on WOWOW (Sundays, 10:00pm).

The show is a medical drama about an organ transplant coordinator, dealing with the heart transplant of a 6-year-old boy. The subject of transplants garnered widespread attention last July when Japan revised its organ donation laws, allowing organs of a brain-dead person, regardless of age, to be donated with the consent of family members even without the person's prior consent.



Other cast members include Yusuke Santamaria, Yoshino Kimura, Yumi Aso, Go Riju, Kisuke Iida, Akiko Yada, Machiko Ono, Takeo Nakahara, Haruka Kinami, Yuka Itaya, Kosuke Toyohara, Mitsuru Hirata, and Isao Hashizume.

Takehiko Hata ("Dragon Zakura," "Tentai Kansoku") wrote the screenplay. Jiro Shono is directing, and Naoki Sato is in charge of the soundtrack. Filming has already finished.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Tsuyoshi Kusanagi to publish translation of Korean short stories
Sat, January 8, 2011 (10:45pm EST)



SMAP's Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (36) is publishing an anthology of stories translated from Korean, it has been announced. He reportedly spent about a year on the translation, which will be released by Wani Books under the title "Tsuki no Machi, Yama no Machi" on February 4.

The anthology is a collection of 29 short true stories about the lives of common people, selected from a bestselling series by a writer and prep school teacher named Lee Chol-hwan. The original series has had seven volumes published since 2000, with a total of approximately 3.6 million copies sold.

Kusanagi's fluency in the Korean language has boosted his popularity in Korea, where he is known by the stage name Chonan Gang. He has previously published a couple works in Korean, but this is his first translation of an existing Korean work into Japanese.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Aoi Nakamura, Maaya Sakamoto pair up for live-action "Kimi to Boku"
Sat, January 8, 2011 (11:46pm EST)



The popular Flash anime "Kimi to Boku" ("You and I") is being turned into a short live-action film, starring young actor Aoi Nakamura (19). Voice actress and singer Maaya Sakamoto (30) will co-star in a voice-over role.

Created by Shigeto Yamagara, "Kimi to Boku" was launched online in 2001 and has attracted 4.8 million page views since then. The story, based on Yamagara's own experiences, revolves around the friendship between an aspiring manga creator (played by Nakamura) and an American Shorthair cat (voiced by Sakamoto). The relationship is described from the perspective of the cat, who is the "boku" ("I") of the title.

Sakamoto is also in charge of the film's theme song, titled "Tegami." The song is included on Sakamoto's newest album "You can't catch me," which goes on sale on January 12.

Takashi Kubota ("BADBOYS") is directing the film, which has a reported running time of 45 minutes. Theatrical screenings will begin in a small number of theaters in May.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Exist Trace plans major label debut for summer
Sun, January 9, 2011 (11:19pm EST)



The all-female visual-kei band exist†trace announced on Sunday that they will make their major label debut early this summer. However, no details about the release have been revealed, including the name of the label.

exist†trace formed in 2003. They have performed several times in Europe, and this year they will be holding their first U.S. performance at Sakura-Con 2011 on April 22-24 in Seattle, Washington. The band released their newest album "TWIN GATE" this past November, which also got a U.S. release in December through JapanFiles.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Kento Yamazaki, Ai Hashimoto star in adaptation of Galileo Galilei's "Kanseitou"
Mon, January 10, 2011 (12:17am EST)



A song by rock band Galileo Galilei is being turned into a live-action movie, titled "Kanseitou" ("Control Tower"). The film will star 16-year-old Kento Yamazaki ("Clone Baby," "Atami no Sousakan") and 14-year-old Ai Hashimoto ("Kokuhaku").



Galileo Galilei formed in 2007 but made their major label debut in February 2010 with the mini-album "Hamanasu no Hana." Most recently, they have been getting attention with their upcoming single "Boku Kara Kimi e," which is currently used in commercials for Shinken Zemi Koukou Kouza.

The song that is being adapted to film is also titled "Kanseitou." It was the first one ever written by Galileo Galilei's vocalist/guitarist Yuuki Ozaki, released on CD only during the band's indie days. The song will naturally be used as the movie's theme song, so it will likely be re-released in the future.

Director Takahiro Miki ("Solanin") heard the song during a live performance, and he was immediately inspired to turn it into a movie. The song revolves around the 100th Year Memorial Tower in Wakkanai, Hokkaido, treating it as a tower that watches over the lives of the people around it, as they deal with their hopes and uncertainties for the future.

The "Kanseitou" movie was shot entirely in Wakkanai. The story follows a young boy named Kakeru (Yamazaki) and a lonely transfer student named Mizuho (Hashimoto) who form a band and try out for an audition.

Theatrical release is scheduled for this spring.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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7th Toho Cinderella Audition names youngest winner ever
Sun, January 9, 2011 (9:27am EST)



The 7th Toho Cinderella Audition was held on Sunday, setting a new record as 10-year-old Moka Kamishiraishi became the competition's youngest grand prize winner ever. Kamishiraishi, a 5th-grader from Kagoshima, bested a field of 44,120 entrants.

Four special judge's prizes were handed out this year, including one to Kamishiraishi's older sister Mone (12). The others were Narumi Hayashi (14), Junna Matsushima (13), and Hirona Yamazaki (16).

This year, a "New Generation Award" was established, given to Ryo Ogawa (10) and Minami Hamabe (10).

The past Toho Cinderella Auditions were held in 1984, 1987, 1991, 1996, 2000, and 2006. The competition launched the careers of several stars, including Yasuko Sawaguchi, Maki Mizuno, and Masami Nagasawa.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Leader Ai Takahashi to graduate from Morning Musume this fall
Sun, January 9, 2011 (9:10am EST)



Morning Musume leader Ai Takahashi (24) will graduate from the group and Hello! Project at the end of Morning Musume's fall tour, it has been announced. The news was delivered during the Hello! Project winter concert at Nakano Sun Plaza on Sunday.

Takahashi joined Morning Musume in August 2001 as a 5th generation member, which means that she has the most seniority out of the current members. She has also served as the group's sixth leader since June 2007.

Morning Musume just added four members a week ago with its 9th generation, following the graduation of Eri Kamei, Junjun, and Linlin on December 15. Last summer, at the time it was decided that the three members would graduate, producer Tsunku told Takahashi that she should also think about the timing of her own graduation. As a result, she will continue her duties as leader while the new recruits ease into the group. At the end of Morning Musume's fall tour, she will pass on the role of leader to Risa Niigaki (22).

Takahashi said that she plans to continue her music career, including stage shows and live performances.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Junji Sakamoto, Yoshio Harada team up for movie "Oshika-mura Soudouki"
Mon, January 10, 2011 (10:08am EST)



Director Junji Sakamoto ("Zatoichi The Last," "Yami no Kodomotachi") is in charge of a new movie titled "Oshika-mura Soudouki." The project was proposed by actor Yoshio Harada, who is also part of the star-studded cast that includes Michiyo Okusu, Ittoku Kishibe, Takako Matsu, and Koichi Sato.



The movie is set in Oshika, Nagano, sometimes described as one of the most beautiful villages in Japan. Harada acted in the 2008 drama "Oshasha no Shan!" that revolved around the popular Oshika Kabuki troupe, and he became fascinated with the area. That led him to create the proposal for "Oshika-mura Soudouki," and Sakamoto wrote the screenplay based on that proposal.

The story revolves around the odd relationship between a restaurant owner named Zen Kazamatsuri (Harada), his ex-wife Takako (Okusu), and Osamu, the man she ran off with 18 years earlier (Kishibe). When the two elopers show up at his shop, Zen lets the two of them stay there, despite his lingering resentment. However, Takako is now dealing with a failing memory, and the only thing she can remember with clarity are her lines from the roles she played as an actress before she disappeared. To help her out, Zen and the other villagers decide to put together a performance.

According to reports, filming had to be done on a tight schedule of only two weeks during November of last year. The climactic scene is said to feature the Oshika Kabuki troupe, along with 850 extras gathered from all over Japan.

"Oshika-mura Soudouki" will premiere in theaters on July 16, 2011.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Hiroshi Tamaki visited Caribbean islands for travel show
Mon, January 10, 2011 (7:09pm EST)



Actor Hiroshi Tamaki (30) recently visited the Caribbean for the special program "Chikyu Daikikou SP: Caribbean Dream," scheduled to air on TBS on February 5. This was Tamaki's first time in an overseas travel journal show.

On December 20, Tamaki set out to Jamaica, where he swam in the ocean and met with Olympic gold-medalist sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser. He then traveled to Costa Rica, where he spent two days in search of a quetzal bird and enjoyed Christmas at his tour guide's home.

Lastly, he went to Cuba and jammed on the guitar at the home of Eliades Ochoa, one of the musicians for the famous Buena Vista Social Club. He also celebrated New Year's Day for the first time overseas.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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RIZE's Nobuaki Kaneko dating fashion designer
Mon, January 10, 2011 (7:33pm EST)



A women's magazine recently claimed that actor and RIZE drummer Nobuaki Kaneko (29) is in a relationship with fashion designer and reader model Saori Nakamura. On Monday night, Kaneko updated his blog, confirming that the news is true.

The magazine had reported that the two went on a date to a shabu-shabu restaurant before spending the night together, calling it a "shabu-shabu sleepover."

Kaneko acknowledged that Nakamura is his girlfriend, though he mildly criticized the magazine for revealing further details about her identity, since she is not a regular celebrity.

Source: www.tokyograph.com