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Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part IV]
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Nagasawa Masami, Okada Junichi play lead voices in Ghibli’s “Kokurikozaka Kara”
Posted on May 12, 2011 by tokyograph
Studio Ghibli has announced its voice cast for its new feature film “Kokurikozaka Kara,” scheduled to open in theaters on July 16. Nagasawa Masami (23) has been cast as the main character, and V6 member Okada Junichi (30) has been cast as the main male character.
The movie is the second film directed by Miyazaki Hayao’s son Goro, who debuted with “Gedo Senki” (“Tales from Earthsea”). As reported last year, the movie is adapted from a shoujo manga of the same name by Takahashi Chizuru and Sayama Tetsuro.
The story takes place in 1963 Yokohama, where the Komatsuzaki family runs an old lodging house. Nagasawa will voice Komatsuzaki Umi, the family’s daughter. The film revolves around her everyday life at high school, particularly with another student named Kazama Shun (played by Okada), in whom she takes an interest.
Other characters are being voiced by Fubuki Jun (58), Takeshita Keiko (57), Naito Takashi (55), Kagawa Teruyuki (45), Ishida Yuriko (41), Omori Nao (39), and Kazama Shunsuke (27).
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Hula girls from disaster-hit Fukushima spa perform for evacuees
TOKYO —
Dancers from a spa resort in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, began touring shelters across Japan this month to perform for survivors of the March 11 quake and tsunami while the facility featured in the 2006 movie ‘‘Hula Girls’’ has remained closed since the disaster.
The tour began May 3 at a shelter in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, the city where the Spa Resort Hawaiians is located, and the troupe traveled also to a facility Thursday in Kazo, Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, for evacuees from Futaba, a Fukushima Prefecture town hosting the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
Five dancers and Kazuhiko Saito, president of Joban Kosan Co, operator of Spa Resort Hawaiians, visited the tourism ministry in Tokyo on Thursday and asked Akihiro Ohata, minister of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism, to help restore tourism in the city of Iwaki following the disaster and the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
Spa Resort Hawaiians, popular before the disaster, plans on reopening in October.
The film by director Lee Sang Il is a story about the spa facility that found success by making hula and other Hawaiian performances a major attraction.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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12-year-old Japanese girl wins 1st prize at violin contest in Poland
Friday 13th May, 04:14 PM JST
TOKYO —
A 12-year-old Japanese girl won first prize at an international competition for young violinists in Poland, her father said in Japan on Friday. Yurika Shima, who hails from Kobe and currently lives in Vienna, won the first prize for violinists aged under 13 at the 4th International Miroslaw Lawrynowicz Young Violinist Meeting, a four-day violin contest held from Monday in the city of Plock.
The competition, named after late Polish violinist Miroslaw Lawrynowicz, has been held biennially since 2005 and is organized by the Ministry of Culture of Poland and music institutions in the city.
Shima played Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto at the finals on Wednesday, beating seven other finalists, according to her father Toshiaki.
Shima, who started playing the violin when she was three, passed the entrance exam for the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna in June 2007, where she is now attending a preparatory course.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Japan appoints 'gagaku' performer Manabe as cultural envoy
Saturday 14th May, 03:19 AM JST
TOKYO —
The Cultural Affairs Agency on Friday appointed Naoyuki Manabe, a composer and performer of the ‘‘gagaku’’ imperial court music of ancient Japan, as its cultural ambassador who will promote cultural exchanges and creative activities while living abroad through May 2012.
During his one-year assignment, the 39-year-old Yokohama native will live in seven countries including Germany, France and Russia, and run workshops for students of local music universities including performances on the sho—a type of wind instrument used in gagaku, the agency said.
Manabe will also work with foreign composers and engage in concert activities in an ensemble of Japanese and Western instruments, according to the agency.
The cultural ambassador system, launched in fiscal 2003, aims to promote understanding about Japanese culture and the networking of art personnel in and outside Japan. Activities include lectures given by artists and intellectuals, with the agency sharing a portion of travel and related expenses.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Norika Fujiwara touts kiwifruit
Saturday 14th May, 03:30 AM JST
TOKYO —
Norika Fujiwara, 39, was in a musical mood this week for the launch of her new commercial for Zespri kiwifruit. The ad features the new song “Juice Girl feat. The Samos,” by Anna Tsuchiya, 27. Fujiwara pretended to play a guitar in time with the track for the ad, a first for the actress. “I play a mean air guitar. I might enter the world championships,” she chuckled.
The new commercial started airing on Friday. Tsuchiya’s song goes on sale from June 8.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Post Last Edit by whitedove at 15-5-2011 13:13
Rock n Roll Never Dies
May 13, 2011
Aging rocker Uchida Yuya (71) has been arrested by Tokyo Metropolitan Police for stalking a middle-aged woman who wanted to break up with him. He has acknowledged charges of writing intimidating letters and having spare keys made to her home, but denies that he was trying to threaten her. The pair had been dating since about December 2009 but the woman (50) says she had suffered violent attacks since March of last year. In a letter found in her mailbox on April 2, Uchida wrote, "I have contacted your employer. I told them one of their employees is involved with a criminal gang and doing drugs. I haven't given them your name yet! You have a week to think it over and call me! There is still time!"
A veteran rock musician who dropped out of high school in order to emulate his idol Elvis Presley, joining a rockabilly group at the age of 17. He switched between bands several times in the late 1950s and early 1960s before starting a movie career. He was one of the members of a special band put together to open for the Beatles in June 1966. Uchida has also insinuated himself into political life. He ran in the Tokyo gubernatorial election in 1991 and last year attended public review and prioritization meetings of government programs. His trademark is to append the phrase "rock 'n' roll" to every statement he makes. Reports on his arrest didn't mention f he took that same attitude into police custody. Uchida has been married for almost 40 years years to top actress Kiki Kirin (68), with whom he has a daughter, actress Uchida Yayako (35), but they have been separated for all but the first two years. He is also the father-in-law of popular actor Motoki Masahiro (45).
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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Casts unveiled for “Futari Ecchi” live-action projects
Posted on May 13, 2011 by tokyograph
The latest issue of Young Animal has unveiled details about the “Futari Ecchi” live-action project that was announced last week. There will actually be two adaptations with separate casts, one as a theatrical film and the other as a web drama.
“Futari Ecchi” is originally a manga by Katsu Aki about the sexual growth of a inexperienced young couple. It was previously turned into a 3-part television drama by WOWOW in 2000.
The movie version will star gravure idol Morishita Yuri (26) and “Juken Sentai Gekiranger” actor Miura Riki (27) as the couple. Their supporting cast includes adult star Yokoyama Miyuki, as well as Ninomiya Atsushi, Nakamura Aimi, Emi Hidehiko, Nakamatsu Hideki, Ochi Takahiro, and Kubota Mika.
The web version, on the other hand, stars adult actress Nanaumi Nana (22) and actor Fukushima Shinnosuke. The supporting cast has Kase Takao, Handa Sasa, Shiraishi Marumi, Tomoda Ayaka, YUKIO, Kamata Natsumi, Tochihara Rakuto, Seto Saki, Suo Yukiko, and Suwa Taro.
Both the movie and the web drama are planned for release this summer. More details will be announced in future issues of Young Animal.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Hatsune Miku to perform 3D concert at Anime Expo 2011
Posted on May 13, 2011 by tokyograph
The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) has announced that virtual idol Hatsune Miku will hold a concert at the 2011 Anime Expo convention. This will be the character’s live concert debut in the United States.
The show at Anime Expo is based on Miku’s “39's Giving Day” concert (“39? can be read as “Miku”), her first ever solo concert that was held in Japan on March 9, 2010. Visuals for the show will be provided by SEGA under the overall supervision of Crypton Future Media, the company that created the Vocaloid synthetic voice software used for Miku’s music. The concert will feature holographic 3D projection, which was not used in the original “39's Giving Day” concert.
Blogger Danny Choo, who is attending the convention as a guest of honor, revealed that he will also serve as MC for the concert and related events. According to Choo, the other Vocaloid characters Kagamine Rin, Kagamine Len, and Megurine Luka will also make appearances.
Miku was recently chosen as the image character for a U.S. ad campaign for Toyota’s 2011 Corolla.
Anime Expo is being held on July 1-4 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The concert will take place on July 2 at the Nokia Theater, sponsored by SPJA, Crypton Future Media, SEGA, Tokyo Kawaii Magazine, and Toyota.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Model Hinami Kyoko lands movie debut in “Nanatsu Made wa Kami no Uchi”
Posted on May 13, 2011 by tokyograph
Teen fashion model Hinami Kyoko (17) is starring in the latest film from horror director Miyake Ryuta (“Ju-on: Shiroi Roujo”). Hinami has made appearances in a couple television dramas before, but this is her big screen debut.
Titled “Nanatsu Made wa Kami no Uchi,” the movie is described as a suspenseful thriller, involving the mysterious disappearances of three girls and a mother. It all ties into a traumatic incident that took place in a forest 10 years earlier, and a young high schooler (Hinami) who has closed off her heart and is constantly going to a church.
Kirishima Reika, Asuka Rin, Fujimoto Nanami, and Komakine Ryusuke have also been cast. Endo Koji is handling the soundtrack. The movie opens in theaters on August 20.
Hinami entered show business after winning nicola’s 10th Model Audition in 2006. She has appeared in several magazines but is currently exclusively signed to non-no. Since April of this year, she has been a regular on Fuji TV’s morning show “Mezamashi TV.”
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Razor Ramon HG celebrates second child
Posted on May 14, 2011 by tokyograph
Sumitani Masaki (35), better known as Razor Ramon HG or “Hard Gay,” is now a father of two. His agency announced that his second child, a girl, was born at around 2:00pm on May 12.
Sumitani has been married to former gravure idol Suzuki Anna (28) since 2006. In 2008, they gave birth to a son.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Charity song for quake victims to be released on CD
Sunday 15th May, 05:00 AM JST
TOKYO —
A month after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, popular Japanese singers and artists from Amuse, an entertainment production company, got together and recorded “Let’s Try Again” – a charity song dedicated to the victims and survivors.
Originally planned to be sold only online, Amuse decided to release an album including the song and the music video after the company received a series of fan requests. The song is a nine-minute combination of 14 songs performed by Amuse artists, put together and arranged in a music medley by singer Keisuke Kuwata.
The 54 performers include popular bands and artists such as BEGIN, Southern All Stars, the female disco trio Perfume, Masaharu Fukuyama, as well as actresses Riisa Naka and Yuriko Yoshitaka.
All profits from “Let’s Try Again will go towards reconstruction and relief operations in the three most devastated prefectures after the earthquake, Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima via Japan Red Cross.
Sales start on May 25. Price is 1,300 yen.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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L’Arc~en~Ciel anniversary concerts to stream live to theaters in Japan and overseas
Posted on May 14, 2011 by tokyograph
Rock band L'Arc~en~Ciel announced on Friday that their anniversary concerts at the Ajinomoto Stadium on May 28-29 are going to be streamed live to 40 theaters across Japan. In addition, the concerts will be shown in 6 theaters internationally, though there may be delays due to the time zone differences. The international theaters are in Paris, London, New York, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Seoul.
The two concerts are being held in celebration of the band’s 20th anniversary. At the end of March, L’Arc~en~Ciel announced that they decided to donate all proceeds from the concert to the Tohoku earthquake relief efforts. A portion of the proceeds from the theater viewings will also be donated to charity.
40 theaters in Japan have been designated for the live streams. Tickets are being sold for 4,000 yen.
Ticket details for the international screenings will vary. The participating theaters are:
Paris (CGR Cinemas)
London (Apollo Piccadilly Circus)
New York (Big 59 Manhattan)
Taiwan (Vie Show Hsin Yi)
Hong Kong (MCL Cinema)
Seoul (Cinus)
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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T.M.Revolution to star in Japanese production of musical “Rock of Ages”
Posted on May 14, 2011 by tokyograph
Nishikawa Takanori (also known as T.M.Revolution) revealed that he will star in Japan’s first production of the popular musical “Rock of Ages.” The musical premiered in Los Angeles in 2006 and has been performed on Broadway since 2009, and a movie version is being released in the United States in 2012.
“Rock of Ages” incorporates classic rock hits from the ’80s, including bands like Bon Jovi, Journey, and Europe. Nishikawa will be singing these songs in his starring role for the Japanese production, which is being performed in celebration of All Night Nippon’s 45th anniversary.
The musical will run at the Tokyo International Forum from October 28 to November 6. Nishikawa will also perform the musical in other parts of Japan, but the schedule has not yet been announced.
Nishikawa also announced that he is releasing a new single titled “FLAGS” on June 22, which will be the first of his 15th anniversary year. The song will be the opening theme of the “Sengoku Basara” anime movie that premieres on June 4, as well as the theme song of the “Sengoku Basara” video game (PlayStation Portable) that goes on sale on July 21.
The single’s B-side “The party must go on” will be the ending theme of the “Sengoku Basara” movie.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Yakusho Koji portrays WWII naval commander Yamamoto Isoroku
Posted on May 14, 2011 by tokyograph
Yakusho Koji (55) is set to star in a film called “Rengo Kantai Shirei Chokan: Yamamoto Isoroku,” directed by Narushima Izuru. He will play the part of Yamamoto Isoroku, who was the commander-in-chief of Japan’s Combined Fleet during the attack on Pearl Harbor in World War II.
The movie is a 1 billion yen project that has been in the works for the past four years. It promises to show a side of Yamamoto that has not been publicly known before, and the production staff declared that it wants to present an image of “what a Japanese leader should be.”
Born in 1884, Yamamoto grew up to become a graduate of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1904, and he served during the Russo-Japanese War. He later studied at Harvard University, then was promoted to captain within the Japanese Navy in 1923.
He continued to rise in the ranks, though he was personally opposed to many of the military actions taken by Japan before and during World War II. Although he was strongly reluctant to engage in war against the United States, Yamamoto was responsible for the planning of the preemptive attack on Pearl Harbor, which Japan hoped would be devastating enough to prevent the American naval forces from being able to interfere with Japanese operations in the Pacific.
After his defeat at the Battle of Midway, Yamamoto died in 1943 during a flight to the Solomon Islands when his aircraft was ambushed by American fighter planes.
The movie appears to focus on portraying Yamamoto as one who loved peace, cherished his subordinates, and agonized after becoming commander-in-chief. The production team describes Yamamoto as someone who “thought about human life and the future of Japan, and who possessed decisiveness and a forward-looking international sensibility.” Because of Japan’s current plight due to the recent Tohoku earthquake and Fukushima nuclear crisis, the staff also hopes to somehow present the meaning of true leadership.
According to a quote from someone involved in the project, Yakusho was the only actor ever considered for the role, and the movie would have been canceled if he turned it down. He was offered the part during the summer two years ago, and he accepted during the winter of last year.
The battle scenes will make extensive use of CG and special effects. Filming starts in Tokyo on May 15, and will continue in various parts of Japan with cooperation from the Ministry of Defense.
Toei plans to release the movie in theaters on December 23, 2011.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Japanese singer Yui eyes bigger foreign fan base
HONG KONG —
Popular Japanese singer-songwriter Yui is eyeing a larger foreign fan base as she went on her first foreign publicity tour in Hong Kong.
The 24-year-old pop sensation, whose full name is Yui Yoshioka, arrived in the southern Chinese financial hub on Saturday to drum up support for her first full-fledged overseas concert in Hong Kong on June 26.
Yui, who was street performer early in her career, sang in the Tsim Sha Tsui tourist district on Saturday and performed at a suburban mall on Sunday.
Yui told reporters on Sunday that she was encouraged by her fan support in Hong Kong. Sony Music executive presented her with a guitar-shaped trophy at Sunday’s press conference in honor of her strong sales in the city, which include two platinum albums and 750,000 song downloads.
“I have always received many messages from Hong Kong fans. I’ve always wanted to visit. So I was very happy to receive the invitation from the Hong Kong promoter,” she said through a translator.
Yui said she is working on a line of memorabilia for sale at the June concert, the proceeds of which will go toward victims of Japan’s recent earthquake and tsunami.
Yui debuted in 2004 and shot to fame after her appearance in the 2006 Japanese movie “Taiyo no Uta,” which means “Song of the Sun.” She also performed “Goodbye Days,” the hit song from the film’s soundtrack.
Her four album releases are “From Me to You,” “Can’t Buy My Love,” “I Loved Yesterday” and “Holidays in the Sun.”
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Naomi Campbell to hold Japan charity show in Cannes
Monday 16th May, 12:32 AM JST
Print
CANNES, France —
Naomi Campbell’s charity is piggybacking on the high-wattage Cannes Film Festival to organize a fashion show in aid of the Japanese Red Cross’ earthquake and tsunami relief fund.
The show will be held Monday at a historic market not far from the headquarters of the French Riviera movie showcase, which is in full swing though May 22.
Campbell told Associated Press Television News that the theme of the show is red carpet, so “we thought it was appropriate” to stage it in Cannes.
She added, “You have to remind people that they still need help, so it had to be now.”
Campbell’s Fashion for Relief charity staged its first show in 2005 and says that since then it has raised 4.5 million pounds ($7.2 million).
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Akiko Wada becomes COPD awareness ambassador
Monday 16th May, 04:01 AM JST
TOKYO —
Singer Akiko Wada, 61, has been selected as the celebrity ambassador to raise public awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Wada was joined at a press event to launch the campaign this week by Jun Itoda and Kazuhiro Ozawa of comedy duo Speed Wagon.
Wada became involved in public awareness and anti-smoking campaigns after herself being diagnosed with early-stage COPD in 2008. “I used to smoke two packs a day. I was diagnosed with pulmonary emphysema and told that if I didn’t stop smoking, it would become COPD. So I quit,” she said.
The disease, often caused by smoking, is comprised primarily of three related conditions - chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma and emphysema. In each condition there is chronic obstruction of the flow of air through the airways and out of the lungs, which is generally permanent and may be progressive.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Funeral held for Miyu Uehara in Kagoshima
Monday 16th May, 12:00 PM JST
KAGOSHIMA —
A funeral was held Sunday for TV personality and gravure model Miyu Uehara at her family home in Kagoshima. Uehara, 24, who apparently hanged herself at her Tokyo apartment last Thursday, is survived by nine siblings and her father Hisao Fujisaki, 79, who performed the role of chief mourner at her funeral. Her mother Ichiko passed away in March of last year, aged 79.
As he accepted the condolences of around 70 mourners, he recalled their last conversation. “She said she wanted to come home to Tanegashima. She said she wanted to be beside her mom in heaven. I stayed on the line until I thought she was okay. I was informed of her death a few hours later. Perhaps there’s something else I could have done,” he said.
Uehara was the youngest of 10 children who left the family to become a model. Her father told mourners: “I wanted her to make something of herself and then to give back to the community from which she came. I apologize to everyone on her behalf that she didn’t do so.”
Uehara, whose real name was Mutsumi Fujisaki, was dubbed the “poverty idol” by the media. She became popular on TV shows talking about her experiences with her “big, poor” family.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Sato Koichi, Miura Haruma team up in “Saigo no Bansan” sequel
Posted on May 15, 2011 by tokyograph
The TV Asahi drama special “Saigo no Bansan,” which aired on May 14, is getting a sequel in the form of a whole series this summer. Sato Koichi (50) will reprise his starring role. Miura Haruma (21), who only appeared on screen for 45 seconds in the drama special, will be playing a major role in the series.
“Saigo no Bansan” was previously described as the “ultimate mystery/suspense story,” featuring a star-studded cast, led by Sato as a police detective trying to solve a particular case. The series will take place after the events of “Saigo no Bansan,” as the case has not yet been completely closed. Sato’s character has received orders from above and has become a newly appointed instructor at a police school, while Miura plays one of the young trainees.
Like the special, Inoue Yumiko is writing the screenplay for the series.
The show has not yet been given an official title. TV Asahi will broadcast it on Thursdays at 9:00pm, starting in July.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Uji Koji’s Fukuda to marry
Posted on May 15, 2011 by tokyograph
Fukuda Kaoru (33), the tsukkomi of the comedy duo Uji Koji, is getting married in early June. He revealed his marriage plans in a blog entry on Saturday night.
According to Fukuda’s management office, his girlfriend is a younger woman not in show business. They met about four years ago, when she was an assistant in a ceramics class that Fukuda attended.
Fukuda plans to register their marriage around the start of June, and then they will hold a private wedding ceremony in the middle of the month.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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