Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part IV]

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Ohba Kumiko remarries
Posted on May 22, 2011 by tokyograph



Actress and ’70s idol Ohba Kumiko (51) announced last Thursday on her blog that she has remarried. Her new husband is 10 years younger than her and works for a company unrelated to show business. They met around the end of last year and were dating for only five months.

The man is said to have been a fan of Ohba ever since he was young. Ohba was perhaps best known as an idol singer in the late ’70s with hits such as “Spring Samba.” She has also acted in numerous television dramas since that time.

Ohba is also known for having gone through many ups and downs during her career, such as the fire that burned down her parents’ home in 1987, her personal bankruptcy in 1994 due to the failure of her restaurant as a side business, and the painful loss of her mother in 1999.

Ohba previously married dancer Takahashi Tetsuya in 1999, but they divorced in 2005.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Actor Nagato Hiroyuki dies at 77
Posted on May 22, 2011 by tokyograph



Actor Nagato Hiroyuki passed away at a Tokyo hospital at 5:20pm on Saturday, May 21. He was 77 years old. According to his brother, actor Tsugawa Masahiko (71), Nagato died of complications resulting from pneumonia.

Last August, Nagato underwent a 10-hour bypass surgery, and he returned to work the following month. It seemed that he had made a complete recovery by November, but his health declined around the start of this year, resulting in his hospitalization. He was later discharged, though he returned to the hospital in April for rehabilitation. His health continued to grow worse, leading to his death on May 21.

Nagato was born in 1934 as Kato Akio, the son of actor Sawamura Kunitaro and actress Makino Tomoko. He first appeared on film in 1940, at the age of 6, using the stage name Sawamura Akio. In 1943, he began gaining popularity after appearing in director Inagaki Hiroshi’s “Muhou Matsu no Isshou” (also known as “Rickshaw Man”). By 1956, he achieved his first starring role with “Taiyou no Kisetsu” (“Season of the Sun”).

During the ’50 and the ’60s, Nagato was appearing in several films a year, a pace that slowed down only slightly in the following decades. In 1959, his starring role in Imamura Shohei’s “Nianchan” (“My Second Brother”) earned him Best Actor in the Blue Ribbon Awards, setting the record of youngest winner at that time at age 26.

Nagato married actress Minamida Yoko in 1961. She passed away in 2009 at the age of 76.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Ueto Aya returns in “Zettai Reido” sequel
Posted on May 22, 2011 by tokyograph



Ueto Aya (25) is confirmed to be returning to Fuji TV in a sequel to the 2010 drama series “Zettai Reido.” While the previous series had the subtitle “Mikaiketsu Jiken Tokumei Sousa,” the new series is subtitled “Tokushu Hanzai Sennyuu Sousa.”

The original show starred Ueto as rookie detective Sakuragi Izumi, who worked on difficult unsolved cases as part of a Special Investigations Office (based on an actual division established by Japan in 2009). This time takes place half a year later, after Sakuragi has been transferred to a different division that deals with current crimes.

The new “Zettai Reido” series will be broadcast in the same Tuesday 9:00pm time slot, starting in July. Before it begins, Fuji TV will air a 2-hour special episode called “Zettai Reido ~Mikaiketsu Jiken Tokumei Sousa~ Special,” which is set one month after the events of the first series.

Other returning cast members include Kitaoji Kinya (68), Miyasako Hiroyuki (41), and Yamaguchi Sayaka (31).

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Tenor Domingo donates $200,000 to quake-hit Japan

Tuesday 24th May, 09:57 AM JST

LOS ANGELES —

Tenor Placido Domingo and a vice chairman of the Los Angeles Opera donated Monday a total of $200,000 in relief money to help people affected by the March 11 earthquake and the tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan.

‘‘I know that your country is going to be rebuilt. I would like to help,’’ said Spaniard Domingo, one of the so-called Three Tenors, after giving the money to the U.S.-Japan Council in Los Angeles along with Sebastian Musco, the opera’s vice chairman. Domingo is also a director of the opera.

Reflecting back on his performance in Japan in April, which he didn’t cancel despite a spate of event cancellations by foreign artists, Domingo said, ‘‘When I saw that many people have canceled their trips, I know how important it was for me to be there, and I went.’‘

‘‘The public was more than enthusiastic. I’m glad that I went,’’ said the 70-year-old, who placed relief money collection box at the venue of his concert in Japan and called for the audience to support the disaster-hit areas.

Junichi Ihara, consulate general of Japan in Los Angeles, said, ‘‘I’m inspired that he has not only encouraged Japan with a performance but also offered such support.’’

Source: www.japantoday.com

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Lady Gaga album demand overwhelms Amazon servers

Tuesday 24th May, 12:38 PM JST



SAN FRANCISCO —

Much like the caller in the Lady Gaga hit song “Telephone,” some visitors to Amazon’s site received a busy signal Monday when they tried to download the digital version of the artist’s latest album, “Born This Way,” which the online retailer was selling for 99 cents on its release date.
  
Spokeswoman Sally Fouts said Amazon experienced a high volume of traffic that caused delays for those downloading the album—echoing a posting on the album’s product page on Amazon.com. Customers who ordered the MP3 version of “Born This Way” on Monday will get it for 99 cents, she said.
  
An early evening attempt to buy the album on Amazon and use its new server-based storage system went seamlessly. The album appeared instantly on Amazon Cloud Drive and could be streamed online right away. The album downloaded in a few minutes to a computer. The user’s storage space also registered the promotional 20 gigabytes of cloud storage that came with the album.
  
Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, is known for her pop music and outre fashion sense.
  
Customer reviews gave the album an average three out of five stars.

Source: www.japantoday.com

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‘Mrs’ Ayumi Hamasaki poses in first sexy shot after marriage

Tuesday 24th May, 03:00 AM JST



TOKYO —

Singer Ayumi Hamasaki, 32, was chosen among other world celebrities for the cover of “LOVE & HOPE,” a charity photo book created by renowned celebrity photographer Leslie Kee to raise money for the victims of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami.

Hamasaki and Kee, longtime acquaintances, began sharing their thoughts on the March disaster and exchanged ideas on ways to help the victims via Twitter shortly after the March 11 disaster.

According to organizers, the cover photo, taken in April, has Hamasaki posing with a short haircut and a diamond ring on her left hand. The photo is her first sexy shot after her January marriage to Austrian actor and model Manuel Schwarz. “I hope that this photo book will bring love and hope to many people around the world,” Hamasaki said in a statement.

The photo book also features portraits of over 200 celebrities, including Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez. All the proceeds will go toward reconstruction of the stricken areas through the Japan Red Cross.

The book, which costs 5,250 yen, goes on sale on June 1. A photo exhibition will open in Omotesando Hills in Tokyo starting on Friday, May 27.

Source: www.japantoday.com

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End of the Road for Mitani, Kobayashi
       
May 24, 2011



Mitani Kouki, Kobayashi SatomiTop screenwriter Mitani Kouki (49) and popular actress Kobayashi Satomi (46) took the entertainment world by surprise with today's announcement of their divorce. In a statement faxed to the media, they said they filed for divorce yesterday, ending 15 years of marriage. They said that many minor differences in opinion and values had accumulated over the years. No doubt their mutually busy showbiz careers also put a strain on their relationship. Sources close to the couple confirmed that they had grown apart in recent years and their lack of children had also played a part.

Mitani has penned many hit movies, TV dramas and even the first Japanese musical to play off-Broadway, and to mark his 50th year he has seven major projects in the works this year. Kobayashi is an established and naturally talented actress who regularly appears in TV commercials and dramatic roles. This week she starts filming the movie "Tokyo Oasis." She met Mitani when she starred in one of his shows, the 1989 Fuji TV comedy series "Yappari Neko ga Suki."

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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“Afro Tanaka” website announces additional cast members
Posted on May 23, 2011 by tokyograph



The live-action movie “Afro Tanaka” that was announced last month now has several more names attached to the cast. It was previously revealed that Matsuda Shota and Sasaki Nozomi would be playing the lead parts, and now they are being joined by Tanaka Kei, comedian Tsutsumishita Atsushi (of the duo Impulse), Komakine Ryusuke, Endo Kaname, and others.

The film, based on a comedy manga by Noritsuke Masaharu, tells the story of an afro-haired young man named Tanaka Hiroshi and his daily life with his friends. The four main friends are Okamoto Hajime (Tanaka), Osawa Mikio (Tsutsumishita), Inoue Shinya (Komakine), and Murata Daisuke (Endo).

Several others have been added as well, though their roles have not been announced: Hara Mikie, Minami, Fukikoshi Mitsuru, Minagawa Sarutoki, Henmi Emiri, and Lily Franky.

The movie is being released in 2012.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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FanimeCon 2011 announces Yoshiki as a guest of honor
Posted on May 23, 2011 by tokyograph



Anime convention FanimeCon 2011 has revealed a major surprise guest, just days before the event opens on May 27. X Japan leader Yoshiki will be in attendance “for only a few hours” on Saturday, May 28, and he will hold a panel and an autograph session while he is there.

More details about his events will be released on the official website. The convention, which is being held on May 27-30 in San Jose, California, is also hosting many other big guests, including Matsushita Yuya and FLOW.

Yoshiki was also a guest at Anime Central in Rosemont, Illinois, last weekend.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Miike Takashi likely working on “Phoenix Wright” movie
Posted on May 23, 2011 by tokyograph



Director Miike Takashi is rumored to be working on an adaptation of the popular “Ace Attorney” (“Gyakuten Saiban”) video game series. Rumors of the project spread over the internet a couple weeks ago, but it now has a partial confirmation thanks to an article on Huffington Post.

Miike was in France for the recent Cannes Film Festival, where his latest film “Hara-Kiri: Death of a Samurai” (“Ichimei”) – a 3-D remake of the classic “Harakiri” – competed for the grand prize. During an interview with Miike, he mentioned that in his next movie, “there will be very ‘little blood.’” According to him, “It is a very light comedy that I am filming now, a court drama, based on a video game, the Nintendo game DS” [sic].

That quote aligns with the earlier rumors of Miike doing an “Ace Attorney” movie, though he did not specifically name the video game.

According to multiple Japanese blogs, the rumored adaptation stars Narimiya Hiroki as the protagonist Naruhodo Ryuichi (known as Phoenix Wright in English versions of the games). Actor Nakao Akira is also supposedly involved in the project, possibly as Ryuichi’s friend Yahari Masashi (Larry Butz in the English versions).

Although there are other courtroom-based games for the Nintendo DS system, the “Ace Attorney” series is by far the most well-known and the most likely to get a high-profile movie adaptation.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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“Ouran High School Host Club” main cast confirmed (Updated)
Posted on May 23, 2011 by tokyograph



Last week’s confirmation of an “Ouran High School Host Club” drama series, starring Yamamoto Yusuke and Kawaguchi Haruna, is now truly official. On Tuesday, additional cast details were announced, confirming several names that were unofficially reported before.

As previously revealed, Yamamoto is playing the role of Tamaki, the president of the host club, while Kawaguchi is playing the central character Haruhi. The other cast members are being played by:



    Nakamura Masaya – Mori
    Daito Shunsuke – Kyoya
    Takagi Shinpei and Takagi Manpei – Hitachiin twins
    Chiba Yudai – Honey
    Ryusei Ryo – Umehito

TBS will broadcast the series in the “Friday Break” time slot (Friday night, 12:20am), beginning in July. More details will be released at a later date.

Update: Comic Natalie’s article is more specific about the twins, saying that Shinpei will play Hikaru and Manpei will play Kaoru.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Third “Team Batista” drama series adds Takahashi Katsunori, Konishi Manami
Posted on May 23, 2011 by tokyograph



Fuji TV’s popular “Team Batista” drama series is coming back for a third season. Ito Atsushi (27) and Nakamura Toru (45) are naturally reprising their roles as a doctor and a ministry official who unravel the truth behind mysterious deaths.

The “Team Batista” dramas are based on a novel series by mystery author Kaido Takeru, which have also been separately adapted as films starring Takeuchi Yuko and Abe Hiroshi. The television version with Ito and Nakamura started in 2008 with “Team Batista no Eikou,” based on the first book in the series. The second book, “Nightingale no Chinmoku,” was turned into a special episode, and then the third book, “General Rouge no Gaisen,” became the second season of the drama series, under the title “Team Batista 2: General Rouge no Gaisen.”

The third season is tentatively titled “Team Batista 3: Ariadne no Dangan,” after the fifth book of the series, “Ariadne no Dangan.” The story revolves around the planned establishment of a new autopsy imaging center, and a murder inside an MRI scanner. New cast members include Takahashi Katsunori (46) as an elite police bureaucrat, Konishi Manami (32) as a forensic doctor.



“Team Batista 3? will premiere in July, airing on Tuesdays at 10:00pm.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Yoshitaka Yuriko, Kagawa Teruyuki returning in “Kaiji” sequel
Posted on May 23, 2011 by tokyograph



More cast information has been released for “Kaiji 2,” the sequel to the 2009 movie adaptation of Fukumoto Nobuyuki’s gambling-themed manga “Tobaku Mokushiroku Kaiji.” Along with starring actor Fujiwara Tatsuya (29), both Yoshitaka Yuriko (22) and Kagawa Teruyuki (45) are returning in their roles from the first film.

In the new movie, the protagonist Kaiji (Fujiwara) is again saddled with debt, leading him to take his chances in an underground casino, facing off against its manager (Iseya Yusuke) and an “unbeatable” pachinko machine called “Numa.” Kaiji will be working together with Yumi (Yoshitaka), Tonegawa (Kagawa), and Sakazaki (Namase Katsuhisa).

The movie is being released on November 5, 2011.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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“IS” manga gets live-action drama with Fukuda Saki, Goriki Ayame
Posted on May 23, 2011 by tokyograph



Rokuhana Chiyo’s award-winning manga “IS ~Otoko Demo Onna Demo Nai Sei~” is being turned into a live-action series on TV Tokyo, co-starring actresses Fukuda Saki (20) and Goriki Ayame (18). This will be Goriki’s first lead role in a drama series.

“IS” stands for “intersexual,” a term referring to people who cannot clearly be classified as male or female, and who may biologically possess characteristics of both sexes. Rokuhana’s manga primarily deals with the troubles faced by the young Hoshino Haru (played by Fukuda), an intersexual who was registered as a girl at birth but has been raised as a boy.



Goriki plays Aihara Miwako, a mysterious classmate who tries to get close to Haru. Inoue Masahiro has been cast as Ibuki Kenji, a member of the soccer club whom Haru begins having feelings for. Nishida Naomi and Minami Kaho play Miwako’s and Haru’s mothers, respectively.



TV Tokyo has scheduled “IS” for a Monday 10:00pm time slot this summer, beginning in July.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Yuko Takeuchi: Filming at JAXA always a thrill

Wednesday 25th May, 03:45 AM JST



SAGAMIHARA —

Actress Yuko Takeuchi, 31, says she has learned a lot about space exploration after filming the forthcoming movie “Hayabusa,” in which she plays a researcher.

The Hayabusa unmanned asteroid probe was developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and launched on May 9, 2003. It arrived at an asteroid named Itokawa in mid-September of 2005, where it studied the asteroid’s shape, spin, topography, color, composition, density and history. It then landed on the asteroid in November 2005 to collect samples of asteroid material, before returning home to Earth triumphantly in June of last year. It became the first spacecraft designed to land on an asteroid and then take off again.

Takeuchi told press conference at the JAXA campus in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, that filming the movie was a constant thrill. Clutching her visitor’s pass, she said, “Holding this and commuting to work at JAXA simply never gets dull.”

“Hayabusa,” directed by Yumihiko Tsutsumi and co-starring Toshiyuki Nishida, will open in theaters across Japan on Oct 1.

Source: www.japantoday.com

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Sayonara, Nagato Hiroyuki       
May 25, 2011



Many veterans of the Japanese entertainment world turned out yesterday for the funeral of actor Nagato Hiroyuki, who was 77 when he passed away Saturday. The funeral was held at the Azabuyama hall of the Zenpukuji temple in Moto-Azabu, central Tokyo. The "moshu" (chief mourner) was his younger brother, actor Tsugawa Masahiko (71), who revealed that he himself had been at death's door on the same day. Having suffered a suspected heart attack, he was undergoing tests at the intensive care unit of a Tokyo hospital when he learned that his brother was being treated nearby for a gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Due to his condition, doctors refused to allow him to see his brother before he died.

Nagato never quite recovered following the October 2009 death of his wife, actress Minamida Yoko. He cared for her during her final few years as she battled with dementia. The two were among the "royalty" of the Japanese movie world, huge stars in the 1950s and 60's.

Source: www.japan-zone.com

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“Evangelion” theme song earned the most royalties in 2010
Posted on May 24, 2011 by tokyograph



Copyright collection agency JASRAC has released its annual ranking of songs based on royalty payments, which apply to internet distribution, karaoke machines, and other uses. For 2010, the top song was Takahashi Yoko’s “Zankoku na Tenshi no Thesis” (“Cruel Angel’s Thesis”), best known as the theme song of the “Neon Genesis Evangelion” anime series.

The song has always been popular since its release in 1995, but it has seen a resurgence in recent years thanks to the new “Evangelion” movies. In 2010, it continued to be sung frequently at karaoke parlors, and it was also used in many pachinko machines.

The top five songs in terms of royalties collected were:

Takahashi Yoko – Zankoku na Tenshi no Thesis
Kimura Kaela – Butterfly
Billy Banban – Mata Kimi ni Koishiteru
EXILE – Futatsu no Kuchibiru
GReeeeN – Kiseki

“Butterfly,” which was frequently used at weddings, ranked #1 in digital distribution royalties, while “Mata Kimi ni Koishiteru” was #1 in karaoke royalties.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Some details confirmed for “Detective Conan” drama series
Posted on May 24, 2011 by tokyograph



Word spread last week that the “Detective Conan” live-action special that aired in April would be turned into a full-length drama series, and today the project was officially announced. The main cast from the special will return, including lead actor Mizobata Junpei, Kutsuna Shiori, Akimoto Sayaka (AKB48), Otsuka Nene, and Jinnai Takanori.

“Detective Conan” was also turned into two drama specials in 2006 and 2008, starring Oguri Shun. This time, however, will be the first live-action series based on the popular manga.

Titled “Meitantei Conan: Kudo Shinichi e no Chousenjou,” the show will air on NTV in a Thursday 11:58pm time slot, starting on July 7. Although the specials were all entirely original stories, the upcoming series will include some parts from the original manga by Aoyama Gosho. Hattori Heiji, the rival of the protagonist Kudo Shinichi, will also appear in live-action form for the first time, though the actor playing the part has not yet been named.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Yamazaki Kento, Hashimoto Ai reunite for “Another” horror movie
Posted on May 24, 2011 by tokyograph



Kadokawa Pictures announced in February that Ayatsuji Yukito’s horror novel “Another” would be getting a live-action movie adaptation, and now details have finally been released. The film will co-star Yamazaki Kento (16) and Hashimoto Ai (15), who just starred together in the movie “Kanseitou” that was released last month.

Yamazaki plays Sakakibara Koichi, a boy who transfers to a middle school in a city by the mountains. However, his classmates soon begin dying one by one, and he finds himself teaming up with a mysterious girl (Hashimoto), who holds the key to the truth behind the incidents.

Furusawa Takeshi (“Avec Punch,” “Ghost Train”) directed the movie, which was shot entirely in Iga, Mie, between April 16 and May 12. Kadokawa is working with Toho for distribution, and they plan to release the film in early summer 2012.

Source: www.tokyograph.com

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Saturday Night (Finally) Live in Japan       
May 26, 2011



Japan will finally, and formally, have its own version of "Saturday Night Live." Starting June 4, Fuji TV will air a show using the same live format as the legendary late-night NBC comedy show that launched the careers of so many top comedy stars. It will air once a month in the 11:10pm time slot. The regular lineup will be led by top comedians Akashiya Sanma (55, profile) and Imada Koji (45), the inaugural host will be Okamura Takashi (40) of the comedy duo Ninety Nine (profile), and the first musical guest will be crooner Hirai Ken (39).

SNL has been a breeding ground for comedy talent since it first aired in 1975. It has launched the careers of such names as John Belushi, Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers and Will Ferrell. It has been aired in over 130 countries, and in Japan it is said to have inspired the legendary show "Oretachi Hyokinzoku." That show in turn made household names of Sanma and Kitano "Beat" Takeshi (64).

Source: www.japan-zone.com