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Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part IV]
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Kawase Naomi to lead international directors in creating short films for quake victims
Posted on May 18, 2011 by tokyograph
Director Kawase Naomi (41) is currently at the Cannes Film Festival for her film “Hanezu no Tsuki.” She held a press conference there on Tuesday, where she announced that she plans to create a short film anthology with other top directors from around the world. The project is being dedicated to the victims of the Tohoku earthquake.
The anthology’s title is “3.11 Sense of Home.” As the name suggests, the overarching theme will be “home,” though that concept broadly refers to everything from one’s native country to a hometown to the importance of family.
To tie the concept even further to the March 11 date, Kawase and the other participating directors plan to make each of their films 3 minutes and 11 seconds in length. Kawase has reportedly lined up 8 directors, though she is aiming to have about 20 in the end. The names revealed so far are Thailand’s Apichatpong Weerasethakul (who won the Palme d’Or at Cannes last year), Spain’s victor Erice, and Japan’s Momoi Kaori.
Kawase plans to first screen the film at a local temple in Nara at 2:46pm on September 11, exactly six months after the earthquake struck. The film will then be screened in earthquake-affected areas.
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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Vienna Philharmonic performs charity concert for Japan
Thursday 19th May, 07:32 AM JST
VIENNA —
The Vienna Philharmonic performed a charity concert at the Vienna State Opera in the Austrian capital on Wednesday to help the victims of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11.
‘‘Both the Vienna State Opera and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra have a close connection with Japan,’’ Clemens Hellsberg, 59, the orchestra’s chairman and first violinist, said.
‘‘What happened in Japan was a shock for us,’’ he said. ‘‘We want the people (in Japan) to know that they are not forgotten in this situation.’‘
All proceeds of the concert will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross while members of the orchestra, including conductor Daniele Gatti, forwent their performance fees.
Andre Comploi, spokesman of the Vienna State Opera, estimated that about 130,000 euros (about $185,200) will be donated.
At the concert, which also marked the 100th anniversary of the death of Gustav Mahler, the Vienna Philharmonic played Mahler’s Symphony No. 9.
The audience was asked not to applaud at the end of the performance but to commemorate the victims of the catastrophe with a moment of silence.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Aki Hoshino launches own beauty products
Friday 20th May, 05:55 AM JST
TOKYO —
“Talent” Aki Hoshino, 34, this week launched her new line of beauty products. The line includes a night lipstick, a liquid foundation and a massage gel. “They make your skin silky and smooth,” she said.
“Are you having these products applied to your back for you?” asked one journalist, in reference to Hoshino’s relationship with 21-year-old jockey Kosei Miura. “That service has not yet been offered,” she replied with a grin.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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ZONE to reunite for the month of August
Posted on May 19, 2011 by tokyograph
 Image from: Natalie
Girl group ZONE is reuniting for a single month, it has been learned. Although MIZUHO has permanently retired from show business, the reunion will bring together the other three members: MIYU, MAIKO, and TOMOKA.
ZONE made their major label debut a decade ago in 2001, and they eventually disbanded in 2005. They decide to come back together for the month of August 2011, which marks the 10-year anniversary of their first big hit, “secret base ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~.” In doing so, they will fulfill a line from that song’s lyrics, which said, “Believe that we can meet again in August 10 years later.”
The group will perform two reunion concerts on August 14-15 at Akasaka BLITZ.
It has also been revealed that there will be a ZONE tribute album released on August 10, titled “ZONE Tribute ~Kimi ga Kureta Mono~.” The album will feature female artists from the same generation as ZONE, covering their songs.
The 2-disc limited edition of the album, available only until the end of August, will come with a best collection selected by the group’s members. It will also contain an original “answer song” to “secret base,” though details about it are still unknown.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Yamamoto Yusuke, Kawaguchi Haruna lead cast of live-action “Ouran High School Host Club”
Posted on May 19, 2011 by tokyograph
According to Anime News Network, the long-rumored live-action adaptation of “Ouran High School Host Club” (“Ouran Koukou Host Club”) is finally becoming a reality. Yamamoto Yusuke (23) is being billed as the show’s star, with teen model/actress Kawaguchi Haruna (16) playing the female lead.
“Ouran High School Host Club” is a popular comedy/romance manga by Hatori Bisco that started in 2003, which also had a successful anime adaptation in 2006. For years, there has been talk of a possible drama adaptation, but the rumors have always been false until now.
The story revolves around a high school girl named Fujioka Haruhi (Kawaguchi) at the prestigious Ouran Academy, who stumbles upon a group of male students who have formed their own club as hosts. Accidentally breaking an antique vase, Haruhi ends up owing the club a vast amount of money, and she ends up posing as a host in order to repay her debt.
Yamamoto will play the part of Tamaki, the president of the club. The rest of the actors playing the club members have not yet been officially announced, though more details will likely be revealed in next week’s issue of LaLa (Hakusensha).
TBS will broadcast the series, starting in July.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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AKB48 revival concerts to be streamed live in 35 theaters
Posted on May 19, 2011 by tokyograph
From May 24 to June 12, AKB48 and its related groups (SKE48, NMB48, SDN48) are performing revivals of all 19 of their live stage shows up until now. It has now been announced that those performances will also be streamed live to 35 theaters across the country, giving fans nationwide a chance to see them in action.
The series is titled “Minogashita Kimitachi e” and is intended to give fans an opportunity to see concerts that they may have missed before. With that in mind, they decided to stream the shows to theaters in various regions, expanding their reach. This continues their increasing trend of streaming live events to theaters. They also recently announced that their 3rd Senbatsu election (for the members of their 22nd single) on June 9 is also being shown in theaters.
The 19 shows in the “Minogashita Kimitachi e” series will be performed one per day between May 24 and June 12, with a break on June 9 for the Senbatsu election. The 35 participating theaters are spread across 20 prefectures, with Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, and Aichi getting the most.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Kamiki Ryunosuke, Taketomi Seika to play main voices in Madhouse’s “To Aru Hikuushi e no Tsuioku”
Posted on May 19, 2011 by tokyograph
“To Aru Hikuushi e no Tsuioku,” the upcoming anticipated film from animation studio Madhouse, now has an official voice cast for its leads. The protagonist Karino Charles will be played by Kamiki Ryunosuke (18), while the heroine Fana del Moral will be played by model and gravure idol Taketomi Seika (16).
The movie is based on the fantasy light novels of the same name by Inumura Koroku, about a mercenary pilot named Charles (Kamiki) who takes on an assignment to protect a girl named Fana (Taketomi), the successor to an empire’s throne.
A veteran staff has been assembled for the project, including director Shishido Jun (“Saiunkoku Monogatari”), screenwriter Okudera Satoko (“Summer Wars,” “Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo”), and character designer Matsubara Hidenori (the new “Neon Genesis Evangelion” films).
Kamiki has had plenty of major voice acting roles, such as starring in the previous Madhouse film “Summer Wars.” He has also been in a couple of Studio Ghibli films, with his most recent one being last year’s “Karigurashi no Arrietty.”
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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3 early Higashino Keigo novels get drama specials
Posted on May 19, 2011 by tokyograph
Popular mystery author Higashino Keigo (53) is having three of his early works adapted to the small screen – “11 Moji no Satsujin,” “Brutus no Shinzo,” and “Kairoutei Satsujin Jiken.” Fuji TV will broadcast all three as 2-hour drama specials in its Friday night time slot over three consecutive weeks.
Plenty of Higashino’s works have already been turned into television dramas or theatrical films, such as “Galileo,” “Byakuyakou,” and “Ryusei no Kizuna.” However, the adapted works have mostly been books that he published in the late ’90s and afterward. The three adaptations this time are based on books between the late ’80s and early ’90s.
  
“11 Moji no Satsujin” will air first on June 10, starring Nagasaku Hiromi (40) as a mystery author chasing after the truth about her murdered lover. The next week will be “Brutus no Shinzo,” with Fujiwara Tatsuya (29) as an elite researcher plotting the perfect crime. Last but not least will be “Kairoutei Satsujin Jiken,” in which Tokiwa Takako (39) stars as a woman risking her life to take revenge against the criminal who killed her lover in a fake double suicide.
None of the three stars have ever appeared in a work based on one of Higashino’s novels before.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Esumi Makiko, Ishihara Satomi, Inagaki Goro in drama series “Bull Doctor”
Posted on May 19, 2011 by tokyograph
 
Esumi Makiko (44) is starring in her first drama series in four years. Titled “Bull Doctor,” the show has her playing a forensic doctor, while Ishihara Satomi (24) plays a police detective. The series also features SMAP member Inagaki Goro (37) as another forensic doctor who is dating Ishihara’s character.
Esumi’s character Tamami is the “bull doctor” of the show’s title, which comes from the word “bulldozer.” Ignoring any opposition from the people around her, she uses any means necessary to determine the truth behind the deaths of the bodies she examines. Because of her personality, she is constantly at odds with both Ishihara and Inagaki’s characters.
The screenplay is being written by Hashibe Atsuko, who also worked on hit dramas like “Freeter, Ie wo Kau,” “Boku no Ikiru Michi,” and “Kyumei Byoto 24 Ji.”
NTV will broadcast “Bull Doctor” on Wednesday nights at 10:00pm this summer, beginning in July.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Kyoko Hasegawa, Yui Aragaki collaborate with Uniqlo for charity
Saturday 21st May, 04:57 AM JST
TOKYO —
Actresses Kyoko Hasegawa, 32, and Yui Aragaki, 22, took part this week in an ongoing charity event by their agency LesPros Entertainment to benefit victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster. As part of the “Happy Charity Project,” the two women revealed a clothing line that they designed in collaboration with Uniqlo.
Hasegawa designed a series of polo shirts and polo one-piece outfits, while Aragaki unveiled two pieces of casual clothing for wearing athome.
The project also features a “Dream Support” event, letting children take part in various auditions.
Aragaki’s clothes go on sale Saturday, while the polo collection will debut June 6. Proceeds will go to the Japan Red Cross Foundation.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Group from quake-hit Sendai sings at Carnegie Hall concert
Saturday 21st May, 09:01 AM JST
NEW YORK —
A charity concert for Japan’s earthquake and tsunami victims was held Friday night at New York’s Carnegie Hall, with a chorus group based in quake-hit Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture giving a performance expressing hope for recovery.
The mixed chorus group Hagi performed at the Japan-U.S. Chorus Charity Concert for Sendai, whose planning was led by Masaki Shirota, 61, a Sendai native and member of the Men’s Glee Club of New York, and Hagi group leader and Sendai resident Maki Suemitsu, 58, professor of Tohoku University.
About two years ago, the two, who both belonged to the university’s men’s choir as students, came up with the idea of holding a joint Japan-U.S. chorus festival at Carnegie Hall to deepen bilateral ties.
The plan led to the creation of Hagi in Sendai, drawing its members from chorus fans in the city and from the former members of the university choir. The singers in the two countries practiced intensively for the concert scheduled for May.
After the massive earthquake and tsunami hit northeastern Japan on March 11, it appeared that the event would likely be cancelled or postponed, but organizers decided to hold the concert as scheduled at the urging of quake-affected members.
Suemitsu looked back and said, ‘‘It was good that we decided to come.’‘
The group of over 100 sang pieces such as ‘‘Umi no Uta’’ (The Poem of the Sea) by Japanese composer Ryohei Hirose, followed by performances by the Alexandria Harmonizers, a renowned amateur choir based in Virginia, the Men’s Glee Club of New York, which comprises Japanese expatriates, and others.
For the finale, performers sang songs with deep associations with the prefecture, such as ‘‘Aobajo Koi Uta,’’ a 1970s hit song, and ‘‘Saitara Bushi,’’ a Miyagi folk song.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Sado conducts Berlin Philharmonic
Saturday 21st May, 10:16 AM JST
BERLIN —
Prominent conductor Yutaka Sado, 50, led the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in a regular concert for the first time Friday in front of an audience of more than 2,000.
It was the fulfillment of a 40-year-old dream for Sado, who as an elementary school student had written in his graduation essay that he wanted ‘‘to become a conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic.’‘
Sado, who was born in Kyoto, said he hoped to send a message to those affected by the March 11 earthquake disaster in Japan to ‘‘keep hold of their dreams’’ too.
CDs and DVDs of the performance will be made with their royalties to be donated to the disaster-hit areas.
On Friday, the orchestra played a contemporary piece by Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu and Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony. The performance drew a long ovation.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Yaguchi Mari, Nakamura Masaya may be getting married this month (Updated)
Posted on May 20, 2011 by tokyograph
 
Talento and former Morning Musume member Yaguchi Mari (28) and former D-BOYS member Nakamura Masaya (25) are reportedly getting married this month. According to the Sports Nippon newspaper, it seems that they may submit their marriage registration as early as Sunday, May 22.
Yaguchi and Nakamura revealed last May that they were dating. In December, it was rumored that they would get married this spring. According to Sports Nippon, they had originally planned to register their marriage in mid-March, but due to the Tohoku earthquake, they decided to postpone it until May. Nakamura has been active with his agency’s “WAE Charity Project” and with volunteering, while Yaguchi has been participating in charity events and fundraisers as well.
Yaguchi is currently touring as part of the Dream Morning Musume group. The group has two performances in Hiroshima on May 21, and then two more in Gunma on May 29. If Sports Nippon’s information that they are planning for a May marriage is correct, then they will likely do it between those two dates.
The newspaper says that the two of them have already privately notified their agencies of their coming marriage. However, neither agency has publicly confirmed this news. If true, more details should be learned in the coming week.
Update: The news has been confirmed by one of their agencies. Oricon reports that they will hold a press conference on Sunday, May 22.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Matsuda Shota to star in golden time drama series
Posted on May 20, 2011 by tokyograph
Popular young actor Matsuda Shota (25) is confirmed to be starring in a drama series this summer. He will be in a currently unnamed series in NTV’s Saturday 9:00pm time slot, making this his first lead television role during golden time (7:00pm-10:00pm).
In this unusual story, Matsuda plays a child welfare official working at a child consultation center, while Takahashi Katsumi (50) plays a charitable yakuza boss. These two lead completely different lives, but one day, their souls are suddenly switched. As a result, Matsuda begins dispensing odd advice about the “rules of society” and other things. While his colleagues naturally see this as a problem, the children gradually come to rely on him.
  
Narumi Riko (18) will also have a main role as one of the youths at the center. Kobayashi Satomi (45) and Uchida Yuki (35) have also been cast. Oishi Tetsuya (“BECK,” “Death Note”) is in charge of the script, and Nakajima Satoru (“Deka Wanko”) is directing.
The series is scheduled to premiere in July.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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MAX’s REINA announces marriage, pregnancy
Posted on May 21, 2011 by tokyograph
REINA (33) of the girl group MAX is now married. Her agency announced today that she registered her marriage on May 16, and she is currently five months pregnant with her first child.
REINA’s husband is not in show business, and no other personal details about him have been revealed.
According to her agency, MAX will continue with its current lineup, though their activities may be limited depending on REINA’s condition. It is not yet known when REINA will begin her maternity leave, or when she plans to return after the child’s birth.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Baby Loves Disco-Japan to mark 3rd anniversary with charity event
Sunday 22nd May, 05:17 AM JST
TOKYO —
Baby Loves Disco-Japan will mark its 3rd anniversary with a charity event for survivors of the March 11 earthuake and tsunami in the Tohoku region.
The event will take place on Sunday May 29 from 12 noon until 3 p.m. at restaurant 57 in Roppongi. During the afternoon, there will be disco lessons, a hula hoop show & lesson, face-painting, raffles and brunch.
Baby Loves Disco focuses on offering a family activity based on accessibility, flexibility, unique and refined interactive experience for the whole family and their friends, that best accommodates the hustle-bustle lifestyle of individuals living in a big city like Tokyo, say organizers.
Baby Loves Disco has grown to be a worldwide phenomenon. Parties have been held in 27 U.S. cities and around the globe including Israel, Poland, Sweden, UK, Japan, Hong Kong, Dubai and Australia.
The fee for the event is 3,000 yen in advance for adults (3,500 yen at the door), and includes one drink, snacks and a raffle ticket. For children up to 12 years of age and seniors (60 and over), the cost is 2,000 yen in advance or 2,500 yen at the door, which includes juice bar, snacks and one raffle ticket. All proceeds of raffle tickets will be donated to charity.
To purchase tickets, visit http://www.eventsbot.com/events/eb392871678. For more information, visit www.babylovesdisco.co.jp.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Techno-pop girl group Perfume appears in ad for new Kirin drink
Sunday 22nd May, 06:58 AM JST
TOKYO —
Techno-pop girl group Perfume are appearing in a new ad campaign for Kirin Beverages’ canned alcoholic drink, Chuhai Hyoketsu. The commercial features a dance performance by the group set to their new single, “Laser Beam.”
At a press conference where the new campaign was announced, the girls were asked how they get after a few drinks. “My face gets really red,” replied 22-year-old Ah-Chan. Nocchi, 22, said, “I become much more outgoing,” while Kashiyuki, also 22, said she has a lot of fun drinking.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Wen meets SMAP; hopes friendship will bloom through songs
Sunday 22nd May, 08:25 AM JST
TOKYO —
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with Japanese pop group SMAP on Saturday and expressed hope that their songs will help to bloom flowers of friendship between the two countries as they are scheduled to perform in China later this year.
SMAP sang their hit song, ‘‘Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana’’ (The only flower in the world), in Chinese during their meeting at a Tokyo hotel with the Chinese leader, who is in Japan for an annual trilateral summit that also involves South Korea.
‘‘I hope that your performance in China will plant seeds of friendship between China and Japan, and that they will bear beautiful flowers,’’ Wen told the five-member all-male group, which had to cancel their performances in China twice last year.
The group is scheduled to hold its first overseas concert in Beijing on Sept 16, according to its management firm Johnny & Associates.
Group leader Masahiro Nakai told reporters after meeting with Wen, ‘‘It was regrettable (that we had to cancel our performance twice). We have strongly wanted to do our first show overseas in China.’‘
The group canceled an event at the Shanghai World Expo last June due to safety concerns about the venue as well as a live show in Shanghai in October as Japan-China relations deteriorated after a Chinese fishing boat collided with Japanese patrol ships off the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Russell Brand deported from Japan leaving Katy Perry behind
Monday 23rd May, 07:13 AM JST
TOKYO —
British actor Russell Brand, who was touring Japan with his singer wife Katy Perry, was deported from the country on Sunday, apparently due to a past drug offense. Perry wrote on Twitter: “So…my husband just got deported from Japan. I am so. sad. I brought him all this way to show him my favourite place #tokyodreamscrushed. It was for priors from over 10 years ago!”
However, Perry added that she would not be canceling any of her concerts in Japan scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. ”...But of course show must go on no matter the daily aftershocks or husband kidnappings,” she tweeted.
Brand also posted a series of messages on Twitter. In one, he wrote: “Planning escape from Japanese custody. It’s bloody hard to dig a tunnel with a chopstick.” Of his short time in detention, he tweeted: “Stockholm syndrome kicking in. Just asked my guard out for (vegetarian) sushi. He giggled.”
Brand, 35, who married Perry, 26, last October, has had various run-ins with the law for drug use and assault.
Source: www.japantoday.com |
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Ninomiya Kazunari, Sasaki Nozomi rumored to be a couple (Updated)
Posted on May 22, 2011 by tokyograph
The Nikkan Sports newspaper reported today that Arashi member Ninomiya Kazunari (27) and popular model Sasaki Nozomi (23) are in a serious relationship, though the story has not been confirmed by any official sources.
According to the newspaper, Ninomiya and Sasaki got to know each other in April 2010 when Sasaki made a guest appearance on Arashi’s show “Himitsu no Arashi-chan!” (TBS). It is said that they started truly dating that winter. Due to their popularity, they have avoided going out on dates in public, instead finding room in their busy schedules to spend time together at Sasaki’s apartment.
That apartment is in a high-class building with many celebrity residents. One of the building’s residents, who was not identified in the newspaper’s article, stated that Ninomiya has been seen there as much as twice a week. It is also said that Sasaki’s apartment is a 2LDK (2 bedrooms, living, and dining room) with an area of more than 100 square meters, plenty enough for even a whole family.
According to the newspaper’s sources, Sasaki has told close friends about the relationship, happily declaring that she and Ninomiya are “practically living together.”
So far, neither side has issued a comment on the matter.
Update: The management agencies for Ninomiya and Sasaki have responded, each stating it has heard that the two are just friends.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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