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Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part II]
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news: movie
Spielberg's DreamWorks to remake "Yomigaeri"
Wed, May 21, 2008 (1:46am EDT)
The 2003 box office hit "Yomigaeri" is headed for Hollywood. Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks studio has picked up remake rights to the film, and production is expected to start as early as this fall.
The award-winning movie was based on a novel by Shinji Kajio. The story revolves around the mysterious revivals of people who were once dead, reuniting with their loved ones and showing no signs of aging. Directed by Akihiko Shiota, the movie featured a stellar cast that included Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Yuko Takeuchi, and Kou Shibasaki.
William Nicholson ("Gladiator") is writing the script. No other staff or cast have been announced so far, but Spielberg himself is listed as a possible choice for director. The budget is reportedly as high as 10 billion yen.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: idol
Yuki Goto sentenced to five and a half years
Wed, May 21, 2008 (3:00am EDT)
The criminal trial of Yuki Goto, the former EE JUMP member also known for being the brother of Maki Goto, came to an end on Wednesday. The judge handed him a prison sentence of 5 years and 6 months, though prosecutors had requested 8 years.
Goto was found guilty of theft (which he admitted to) in an incident that took place last September, as well as assault against a security guard (which he denied and claimed was carried out by an accomplice). The judge determined that Goto was the leader behind his group's repeated thefts, and he also remarked that Goto had not shown proper repentance for his actions.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: actress
Actress Miyazaki Masumi (40) has been divorced since last November, she reveals in today's issue of women's magazine "Fujin Kouron." She and her TV cameraman husband (54) married in Las Vegas in 1994 and, with their two children, lived in Los Angeles and Hawaii until Miyazaki returned to work in Japan in 2005. That led to tensions in the marriage and later that year she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Miyazaki debuted in 1983 and appeared in the popular "Bebop High School" movie series from 1985-88. Her career has also included soft porn movies and nude photo books.
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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news: event
Avex held a party at the Cannes International Film Festival yesterday to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The company has recently been expanding beyond its usual music base into movies, and actress Takaoka Saki (34) was on hand for the announcement that she is to appear in a movie produced by Hollywood star Danny Glover. "The hariyama Bridge" is a joint U.S.-Japan production and is to be premiered at Cannes next year. The party also featured, among others, actor Oshio Manabu (30) and singer Suzuki Ami (26), and performances from Kyoto geisha Katsuno and shodo (calligraphy) artist Kaneda Sekijo.
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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news: actress
[J-ENT] Actress Take$hita Keiko resigns as products safety ambassador
JapanToday.com reported, 揂ctress Keiko Take$hita resigned Wednesday as the industry ministry抯 ambassador for publicizing product safety just two days after her appointment after it emerged that she had appeared in ads for a water heater manufacturer whose products caused several consumer deaths, the ministry said. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Take#a offered to resign from the post, saying she had appeared in advertisements for gas appliances manufactured by Paloma Industries Ltd. between 1986 and 2005. |
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news: idols
[J-POP] Morning Musume prepares for performances in Korea, Taiwan and China
Mainichi Daily News reported, 揂ll-girl pop group Morning Musume attracted some 2,000 fans to their concert in Tokyo on Sunday, as they wrapped up their nationwide 揼reatest hits |
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news: artiste
RIZE loses guitarist Nakao
Thu, May 22, 2008 (1:05am EDT)
Yoshihiro Nakao, a guitarist for rock band RIZE, has left the group. The group's three remaining members announced the news on the band's official website, saying that there had been creative differences.
RIZE had already planned a nationwide tour starting on June 2. They said that they will continue with the concerts as a trio, without recruiting a support guitarist.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: dorama
"Chiritotechin" gets a spinoff
Thu, May 22, 2008 (2:32am EDT)
NHK is planning to air a spinoff of its recent morning drama series "Chiritotechin," which starred Shihori Kanjiya as a rakugo artist. The special episode is titled "Chiritotechin Gaiden Maigo 3 Kyodai" and will apparently focus on the three siblings of Kanjiya's character.
The show is scheduled to air at 8:00pm on July 25 in the Kansai region and sometime in August for the rest of Japan.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: actress
Tomoko Hoshino gets married
Thu, May 22, 2008 (3:19am EDT)
Actress Tomoko Hoshino got married earlier this month, it has been announced. The 50-year-old actress, who has recently become active as an essayist, tied the knot with a 46-year-old newspaper reporter. No date for a ceremony has been scheduled yet, but the couple is considering a honeymoon in Hawaii.
The couple first met nine years ago. Hoshino said she didn't see him as a romantic possibility at first, but they continued to keep in touch as the reporter was sent on overseas assignments in countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq. The turning point in their relationship came last May when he proposed before being sent abroad yet again. They chose to submit their marriage papers on May 12, exactly one year from that day.
Hoshino made her debut in NHK's 1980 Asadora "Nacchan no Shashinkan." Her other works include a starring role in a 1981 drama special based on the long-running cartoon "Sazae-san."
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: artiste
Singer Saiji Hideki (53) found himself drowned out by the noise of Shibuya yesterday. On a rooftop in the popular Center-gai shopping street, he was taking part in a publicity stunt for online dating site Match.com. Due to the 20m height of the roof and the usual high noise level, only a few passersby even noticed that someone was "shouting out love" from the rooftops, and almost no one realized it was one of Japan's top stars (yes, he is in the photo!). The gathered TV cameras and reporters were enough to cause a crowd to form, blocking the street. But the "guerilla" stunt didn't have police approval and the authorities moved in and issued a stern warning to Media Concierge, the company that staged the event. Saying that he'd had a bad feeling about the event from the start, Saijo referred to a similar stunt in Shibuya by Go Hiromi back in 1999 that led to six people being prosecuted. He added that his fear of heights had made yesterday's experience even worse. He never even got past the intro of his famous hit, a cover of the disco classic "YMCA."
Source: www.japan-zone.com
[ Last edited by whitedove at 26-5-2008 06:30 PM ] |
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news: celebrities
Young actress Kuroki Meisa (19) has been romantically linked with handsome musician Ken, according to today's issue of weekly magazine "Friday." The two are said to have got together in New York, where Ken is based and he was recently spotted spending the night at Kuroki's Tokyo apartment. He and his American musical partner perform as the unit 2Soul and have created hits for artists such as Hirahara Ayaka (24) and Ai (26).
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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news: singer/event
AX 2008 hosts Yoko Ishida
Fri, May 23, 2008 (12:20am EDT)
Singer Yoko Ishida, known for many anime theme songs, is returning to Anime Expo this year. She has been invited to the convention as a musical Guest of Honor, joining pop duo Jyukai and otaku idol Shoko Nakagawa. Ishida last performed at Anime Expo in 2004.
More details can be found at the website for this year's expo, which is being held July 3-6.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: movie
Gal Sone gets acting start in "Kamen Rider Kiva" movie
Fri, May 23, 2008 (1:28am EDT)
Competitive eater and talento Galsone is making her acting debut later this year, playing a Medusa-like foe named Sayaka in the upcoming "Kamen Rider Kiva" movie. Her character is an underling to the villainous Kamen Rider Arc, played by Neptune's Ken Horiuchi. She will also get a chance to show off her eating skills in the movie.
The film is being directed by Ryuta Tasaki and opens on August 9.
The 22-year-old Galsone, who entered show business in 2006, said that she had been aiming to try acting. As this is her first role, she admitted that she was worse than the rest of the cast, but she said she enjoyed it and is hoping to get more opportunities to act in television dramas or in films.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: movie
Comedian Shinagawa brings autobiography to big screen
Fri, May 23, 2008 (1:58am EDT)
Comedian Hiroshi Shinagawa, who is one half of the Shinagawa Shoji duo, has announced that he will be turning his autobiographical novel "Drop" into a movie. The novel has sold 300,000 copies and was turned into a manga that is still being serialized in Monthly Shonen Champion.
Shinagawa will be taking on the duties of screenwriter and director. He directed a short film in 2003 as part of the omnibus "Kantoku Kansen: Director Infection," but this will be his first full-length project.
The story is set in Komae, Tokyo, during the 1980s. As a youth, Hiroshi was a college-bound student at a private high school, but as a fan of the delinquent-genre manga "Be-Bop High School," he began getting in trouble and was transferred to a public school.
Casting is in the final stages, with filming scheduled to start in mid-June. Shinagawa is aiming for release in spring 2009.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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survey
Oricon: which manga would you want to see in Hollywood?
Fri, May 23, 2008 (11:12am EDT)
Given the recent trend of American filmmakers picking up the rights to make movies based on anime and manga properties, Oricon polled 900 people, asking them which manga series they would like to see redone by Hollywood.
The #1 choice was "Death Note," which has already spawned three films in Japan and is perhaps the most likely of the Top 5 list to ever see a successful Hollywood version. #2 was the much less likely "One Piece." It was followed by a more reasonable choice of "Slam Dunk," which inspired the Taiwanese movie "Kung Fu Dunk" that was released earlier this year.
Tied for the #4 spot were two lesser known classics: Akimi Yoshida's "Banana Fish" and Naoki Urasawa's "Monster." It was announced in 2005 that the latter would get a film version scripted by Josh Olson ("A History of Violence"), but almost nothing about the project has been announced since then, even though the film is reportedly dated for a 2009 release.
Which manga would you want to see in Hollywood?
1) Death Note
2) One Piece
3) Slam Dunk
4) Banana Fish
5) Monster
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: dorama
"Code Blue" confirmed: Yamapi, Gakky, Toda
Fri, May 23, 2008 (12:00am EDT)
Rumors of a Fuji TV drama series titled "Code Blue" were confirmed on Thursday. The show has assembled a cast packed with young stars and established veterans, led by NEWS member Tomohisa Yama$hita.
The drama's full title is "Code Blue: Doctor Heli Kinkyu Kyumei." The concept is based on Japan's proposal for an emergency medical service using helicopters to quickly reach those in need. A special bill was passed in June 2007 that should foster widespread adoption of the system.
Yama$hita stars as a young doctor-in-training, working under the guidance of an experienced "flight doctor" (Toshiro Yanagiba). Some scenes will be filmed with a real helicopter, adding to the show's tension.
 
The supporting cast includes Yui Aragaki, Erika Toda, Manami Higa, Yosuke Asari, Kiyoshi Kodama, Ryo, Tetta Sugimoto, Susumu Terajima, and Masanobu Katsumura.
Fuji TV will broadcast "Code Blue" on Thursday nights at 10:00pm, starting sometime in July.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: awards
Aoi Miyazaki wins Galaxy Award
Sat, May 24, 2008 (2:42am EDT)
Some of the winners of the 45th Galaxy Awards were announced on Friday. Sponsored by the non-profit Japan Council for Better Radio and Television, the awards honor contributions in radio and television between April of last year and March of this year.
Actress Aoi Miyazaki was given the Individual Award for television, based on her starring role in the NHK taiga drama "Atsuhime." This is the first time a taiga drama lead has won that prize since it was established during the 21st Galaxy Awards.
A special 45th anniversary award was given to 75-year-old talento/writer/composer Rokusuke Ei. Last year's drama series "Utahime" won the My Best TV Award, which is determined by public vote.
The other awards will be announced on June 3.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: dorama CD
Aya Hirano does "Ima, Ai ni Yukimasu" drama CD
Sat, May 24, 2008 (2:51am EDT)
Takuji Ichikawa's best-selling novel "Ima, Ai ni Yukimasu" is getting an audio drama CD release, after having already been adapted as a 2004 film (which led to the marriage between Shido Nakamura and Yuko Takeuchi) and a 2005 television series. The story has also been picked up for a 2009 U.S. remake titled "Be With You," starring and produced by Jennifer Garner.
 
The drama CD will feature voices by popular seiyus Aya Hirano and Megumi Ogata, among others. It will be released on June 25.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: movie
"Shonen Meriken Sakku" making-of videos to be shown in theaters
Sat, May 24, 2008 (2:30pm EDT)
"Shonen Meriken Sakku," the upcoming comedy film by Kankuro Kudo that stars Aoi Miyazaki, is experimenting with a special PR campaign that will last from now until its opening next February. A few theaters throughout Japan will be showing "making-of" clips of the movie, with 20 different episodes being released on a biweekly basis.
"Making-of" footage is usually released as a DVD bonus or as a television special, but producers have decided to try using it as publicity material. Kudo had the scenes filmed on two digital cameras. For the theaters that don't have the capability to screen digital video, the clips will be shown on monitors in the lobby. Each video will also be available on the movie's website after it finishes its two-week run.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Post time 25-5-2008 03:53 PM
