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news: celebrities
Kamenashi, Koizumi split
Wed, March 12, 2008 (5:13pm EDT)
 
Josei Seven reports in its latest issue that actress Kyoko Koizumi and KAT-TUN member Kazuya Kamenashi are no longer dating. Late last month, Koizumi was at a drinking party, and she reportedly stated that they have already broken up. It is not clear when the breakup happened.
The two first made headlines as a rumored couple in April 2006. Due to Kamenashi's status as a young Johnny's star and the 20-year age difference between the two celebrities, the news attracted a lot of attention. However, neither of their agencies have ever confirmed the relationship.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: actress
Actress Akemi Negishi dies at 73
Wed, March 12, 2008 (4:43pm EDT)
Actress Akemi Negishi died of ovarian cancer on March 11, it was learned on Wednesday. She would have turned 74 later this month.
Negishi was born in 1934. She dropped out of high school and joined the Nichigeki Dancing Team. In 1952, she started acting, and she soon gained international recognition when she was cast as the star of the 1953 Japan-U.S. collaboration "Anatahan," directed by Josef von Sternberg. She went on to appear in many more films, including Akira Kurosawa's "Donzoko" (1957) and "Akahige" (1965).
Negishi was also active in television and theater. Her recent performances include Yukio Ninagawa's 2001 production of "Chikamatsu Shinju Monogatari" and a 2005 short film called "Barameraba," directed by Ninagawa's niece, Yuki Ninagawa.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: talento
Talento Ohigashi Megumi (36) has been hospitalized after being hit by a minibus. She was on her way to the NHK studio on Tuesday afternoon when she was hit by the bus making a right turn at a junction. She suffered a broken leg and is expected to need three months to recover. Police say that Ohigashi and the 28-year-old driver gave conflicting statements about the color of the traffic signal at the time, and they are looking for witnesses. Ohigashi started her showbiz career as an unsuccessful idol singer. She married former Kintestsu Buffaloes baseball player Ohkubo Hideaki (38) in 1998 and has since worked as an occasional reporter and commentator.
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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news: dorama
"Cat Street" to be adapted to live-action
Thu, March 13, 2008 (4:56pm EDT)
Manga magazine Bessatsu Margaret (Shueisha) has announced that Yoko Kamio's "Cat Street" manga series is being turned into a live-action drama. The story revolves around a former child actress who has become withdrawn due to a traumatic event. As a "stray cat" of society, she finally finds her place at a special school for people with similar social problems.
The drama will reportedly air this summer on NHK.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: stage play
Stage version of "Sanchome no Yuhi" announced for fall
Thu, March 13, 2008 (5:55pm EDT)
Ryohei Saigan's manga "Sanchome no Yuhi" is being adapted into a stage play for later this year. The manga, which deals with Tokyo life in the 1950s, has already been adapted into two popular films in 2005 and 2007.
The script for the 3-act, 3-hour play is currently being written, though no details have been revealed yet. A main cast announcement is expected to be made within the next few days.
Performances will start in November at the Meijiza in Tokyo.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: idols
Perfume's first regular show on NTV
Thu, March 13, 2008 (6:09pm EDT)
Technopop unit Perfume will host their first regular show on terrestrial television starting next month.
The program, titled "Friday TV Lab HAPPY," will air on NTV at 12:25am on Friday nights. The show will have Perfume reporting and discussing interesting entries gathered from various celebrity blogs throughout the week. Also on the show are popular model Naoko Tokuzawa and comedienne Sumiko Nishioka.
Broadcast begins on April 4.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: singer
Singer Sawamura dies of heart failure
Thu, March 13, 2008 (6:34pm EDT)
Singer Mitsuko Sawamura (real name Mitsuko Nakajima) died of heart failure on Tuesday morning at her home in Setagaya, Tokyo. She was 66.
Sawamura grew up in Okinawa and began singing as a child at a U.S. military base there. She later moved to Tokyo after being scouted and rose to popularity.
Sawamura was also active in film and theater. One of her biggest roles was in the 1956 movie "The Teahouse of the August Moon," which starred Marlon Brando.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: celebrities
Ryoko Hirosue divorces
Thu, March 13, 2008 (4:21pm EDT)
Actress Ryoko Hirosue revealed on Thursday that she and designer/model Takahiro Okazawa have divorced. According to the announcement made on her official website, various circumstances have made it difficult for the couple to continue with their marriage. However, Hirosue stated that she still respects and trusts Okazawa, and they intend to still treat each other as parents of their child.
The couple surprised the entertainment industry when they announced their marriage in December 2003. Hirosue was pregnant at the time, and she gave birth to their son four months later. She finally returned to work in 2005 with the Fuji TV series "Slow Dance."
Rumors of a separation started about two years ago when a women's magazine reported that the pair were living apart, and they were rarely seen together.
Hirosue has been given custody of their son. Neither side requested consolation money during divorce talks. Okazawa has already moved out of their Tokyo apartment.
Meanwhile, Hirosue's acting career is picking up, as she has been cast in Yojiro Takita's "Okuribito" (due out this fall) and Kazuaki Kiriya's "Goemon" (early 2009). She has also reportedly been given a role in a television drama for this summer, but details were not revealed. In addition, she has signed commercial contracts with 4 different companies.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: artistes/movie
Hotei, Kameda, KREVA form trio for Kurosawa remake theme
Fri, March 14, 2008 (4:31pm EDT)
  
Rock guitarist Tomoyasu Hotei is temporarily teaming up with hip-hopper KREVA and Tokyo Jihen bassist Seiji Kameda. Calling themselves "The THREE," they are doing the theme song for Shinji Higuchi's upcoming remake of the classic Akira Kurosawa film, "The Hidden Fortress" (original title "Kakushi Toride no San Akunin").
  
The movie was announced back in October, with Jun Matsumoto, Masami Nagasawa, and Hiroshi Abe leading the cast. The film's title is now being reported as "Kakushi Toride no San Akunin: THE LAST PRINCESS."
The creation of a three-man unit for the theme song is a direct reference to the "three villains" ("san akunin") of the movie's title. Their song, which is currently untitled, is a mix of rock and hip-hop. It will go on sale May 7, three days before the film opens in theaters (May 10). Hotei will also be releasing a separate "spinoff" version of the song as a digital single.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: dorama
Shizu-chan to play boxer in NHK drama
Fri, March 14, 2008 (10:09pm EDT)
Comedienne Shizu-chan (Nankai Candies) will star in an NHK drama series this summer. Currently untitled, the drama tells the story of an OL who takes up boxercise to help relieve her stress, and she ends up becoming a heavyweight boxer.
The show will air in NHK's Thursday 8:00pm slot, starting on June 19.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: singers/dorama
Lisa Halim, JAY'ED sing theme for keitai drama
Sat, March 15, 2008 (6:46am EDT)
 
Singers Lisa Halim and JAY'ED are collaborating on a song titled "Setsunai Kurai, Ai$hiteta." It will be used as the theme song for a mobile phone drama called "teddy bear," based on a mobile novel of the same name that became popular on the website Mahou no iRando.
The two artists first met through Halim's sound producer. Both are half-Japanese (Halim is half-Indonesian and JAY'ED is half-New Zealander). Halim made her major label debut just last year, while JAY'ED is set to make his debut this May.
According to Sports Nippon, the original novel tells of a high school girl whose boyfriend is suffering from an illness that will cause him to lose his memory. Model Mirei Kiritani has the lead role in the drama, which will have a 3-minute episode released daily for a month, starting on April 1. The drama is being made available for free.
"Setsunai Kurai, Ai#eta" is already on sale through chaku-uta services, but the CD single will be released on April 16.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: anime
"Kitaro" sets ratings record for "noitaminA"
Sat, March 15, 2008 (6:56am EDT)
The anime series "Hakaba Kitaro" has set a new ratings record for Fuji TV's late-night anime time slot "noitaminA" (Thursday nights 12:45-1:15am). The second-to-last episode aired on March 13 and achieved ratings of 5.8%, beating out the previous high set by "Nodame Cantabile." Ratings peaked at 7.3% during the broadcast.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: idols
C-ute chosen as new Rakuten Eagles supporters
Sat, March 15, 2008 (7:05am EDT)
C-ute has been selected to sing this year's support song for the Rakuten Eagles. The song, titled "Koero! Rakuten Eagles," will be released on March 20.
C-ute is the 4th Hello! Project unit to sing the team's support song, after Morning Musume, DEF.DIVA, and GAM.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: talento
Suzanne no longer a "fujoshi"
Sun, March 16, 2008 (4:19am EDT)
The otaku idol group Nakano Fujoshi Sisters held a live show on Saturday. During the event, talento Suzanne publicly declared her departure from the unit. Due to her boost in popularity through the Fuji TV show "Quiz! Hexagon II," she has found it difficult to make time for the group. However, she said that she will definitely return someday.
Nakano Fujoshi Sisters was formed last June as a project produced by talento Hanawa. The other members of the group are Yoko Inui, Chiaki Kyan, Yuka Kyomoto, Erika Ura, and Yuka Konan.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: actor/actress
Ohkouchi, Takuma expecting a child
Sun, March 16, 2008 (8:13pm EDT)
On Sunday, actress Nanako Ohkouchi announced via a fax to the media that she is soon to become a mother.
Ohkouchi married actor Takayuki Takuma in November 2006. She is now four months pregnant with a due date in September.
She stated that she plans to continue working after the child is born.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: music video awards
BUMP OF CHICKEN wins three at Space Shower MVA
Sat, March 15, 2008 (2:22pm EDT)
The 2008 SPACE SHOWER Music Video Awards took place on Saturday at the Nippon Budokan. The biggest winner of the night was BUMP OF CHICKEN, as "Hana no Na" picked up three categories: Best Video of the Year, Best Group Video, and the fan-voted Best Your Choice.
Motohiro Hata won Best Male Video with "Uroko," and Namie Amuro won Best Female Video with "Hide & Seek." 9mm Parabellum Bullet took Best New Artist Video for "Discommunication."
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Post time 17-3-2008 06:42 PM
