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Japanese Entertainment News & Info HERE! [part II]
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news: idols
Idoling!!! loses a member in less than two months
Fri, May 30, 2008 (1:54am EDT)
Fuji TV's idol group Idoling!!! is already seeing its first departure. 19-year-old Maia Kobayashi barely joined the group as member #10 on April 7 (eight other members were added at the same time), but on Thursday, the official websites for her agency and the group's television show both announced that she is retiring from show business.
Kobayashi's management said that she found it difficult to balance school with an entertainment career.
According to the Idoling!!! website, she is not being replaced, and the group will continue for now with 17 members.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: dorama
"Yasuko to Kenji" adaptation stars Masahiro Matsuoka
Fri, May 30, 2008 (2:26am EDT)
TOKIO's Masahiro Matsuoka will star in a new NTV drama series called "Yasuko to Kenji." It is based on a comical manga by artist Aruko that was serialized in Bessatsu Margaret between April 2005 and November 2006.
The show focuses on a man named Kenji (Matsuoka) and his younger sister Yasuko, whose parents died in an accident 10 years earlier. Kenji was once the leader of a gang, but in order to support him and his sister, he began making a living as a shojo mangaka. His character normally wears glasses and appears to be a gentle guy, but he throws off his glasses and reverts to his violent side whenever he tries to protect Yasuko from danger.
Part of the story follows Yasuko's romance with an intelligent and good-looking man named Jun Tsubaki. Jun's older sister Erika now runs a flower shop, but Erika was once a leader of a female gang, and she used to be in love with Kenji during those days.
The cast for the roles of Yasuko, Jun, and Erika have not yet been announced. The show will premiere in July, airing every Saturday at 9:00pm.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: artistes
ORESKABAND to play at Wizard World in Chicago
Fri, May 30, 2008 (2:44am EDT)
The all-girl sextet ORESKABAND has lined up another U.S. appearance, this time at the Wizard World Chicago comic convention, taking place June 26-29. The band is scheduled to play on Friday night (June 27) at 6:00pm. They will also participate in signings and fan events throughout the day. More information is available in the press release.
ORESKABAND will already be touring the U.S. this summer, as they have signed on for the entire length of the 46-stop Warped Tour. The tour starts in Pomona, California, on June 20 and runs until August 17.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: celebrity
Konishiki returns to Japan, 70 kilos lighter
Fri, May 30, 2008 (3:08am EDT)
Former sumo champion Konishiki arrived back in Japan on Friday after spending roughly a year in Hawaii, watching his health while building a career as a music producer. In February, he underwent gastric bypass surgery to treat his obesity, and it has now been revealed that he has reduced his weight by about 70 kilograms.
During his sumo days, Konishiki's weight reached a peak of 284kg in 1995. After he retired and went into entertainment, his weight rose to about 300kg. He took a break from show business and left for Hawaii in late 2006, reportedly to take better care of his health. Three months after his operation, he now weighs 230kg.
Konishiki will mark his return to Japan with a live appearance on the FM Yokohama radio show "KONY ISLAND" on June 1.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: idols
AKB48 launching SKE48 in Nagoya
Sat, May 31, 2008 (6:05pm EDT)
Akihabara idol group AKB48 has decided to expand into Nagoya. Using the name SKE48, the unit will start holding performances in the city's Sakae ward in the near future.
AKB48's popularity has grown rapidly through their almost daily performances in Akihabara, and just recently they completed their 1000th performance. They have also made their major label debut and made their first appearance at Kohaku Uta Gassen last year.
It is not yet clear whether the group will recruit new members for SKE48 or simply send their current teams to Nagoya, but a press conference on June 5 at the Sunshine Sakae will reveal more details.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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nws: artistes
80_pan to play at London music event
Sat, May 31, 2008 (6:39pm EDT)
Pop duo 80_pan (Hare Pan) is heading to London to participate in London Calling 2008, a major international music industry event. They will be the only artist from Japan at the event, which takes place on June 19-20.
Originally a trio, 80_pan has undergone two name changes and is now experimenting with electropop and new rave. Their new album "DISCO BABY," featuring production by a member of British band The Pipettes and by Scottish dance-punk band #disco, goes on sale July 2.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: idols/concert tour
KinKi Kids announce summer concert tour
Sat, May 31, 2008 (7:17pm EDT)
The highly successful duo KinKi Kids have scheduled a nationwide tour from July to November, their first summer concert tour since 2000. The total attendance is projected to reach 390,000 people, spanning 27 shows at 13 venues.
The tour starts at the Tokyo Dome on July 21, the 11th anniversary of their debut single. It ends on November 23 at the Kagoshima Arena. This tour will be the first time that the pair plays in Niigata, Nagano, Fukui, Oita, and Kagoshima.
All 26 of the KinKi Kids' singles have charted at #1, qualifying them for a Guinness World Record. They also hold a record for the most Tokyo Dome concerts, which will be extended to 32 with this tour.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: singer
Nana Kitade invited to anime festival in Germany
Sat, May 31, 2008 (8:47pm EDT)
Singer Nana Kitade has been announced as a musical guest at the 10th AnimagiC convention in Bonn, Germany, which is being held on August 1-3 (website here). This is her fourth consecutive year performing at a Japan-related event overseas. She previously made appearances in Hong Kong, U.S., and France.
Kitade is releasing a new single, titled "PUNK & BABYs," on July 23.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: manga magazine
Shogakukan suspends Young Sunday
Sun, June 1, 2008 (3:22am EDT)
Publisher Shogakukan formally announced on Friday that it has decided to suspend the publication of its Weekly Young Sunday manga magazine due to a long decline in sales. The magazine once had a circulation of around 800,000 in the early '90s, but in recent years it has fallen far behind rival magazines and is now averaging only about 200,000 copies.
Young Sunday premiered in 1987 as a semimonthly publication, but it switched to a weekly format in 1995. Currently, it is the home of popular mangas "Dr. Koto's Clinic" and "Kurosagi," among others. The magazine's last issue will go on sale July 31.
Shogakukan is also suspending its women's magazine Judy after August 23 and is revamping its information magazine Rakuda.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: actor
Makoto Fujita completes surgery
Sun, June 1, 2008 (12:11pm EDT)
In April, it was discovered that 75-year-old actor Makoto Fujita has esophageal cancer and has been undergoing radiation therapy for it. This past Monday, he received additional treatment in the form of surgery, which is said to have gone well.
Because of his illness, Fujita had to step down from his role in the play "Kenkaku Shobai," which starts in Tokyo this month. He was replaced by Mikijiro Hira, though he was scheduled to make his return for the Osaka performances that start in September. However, Fujita's doctor has advised him to rest for the entire summer while he continues to be treated, pushing his comeback until fall at the earliest. As a result, the show has had its Osaka run canceled.
This is the first time that the Shochikuza has canceled a show since the theater opened in 1997.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Sega ready for "World Destruction"
Sun, June 1, 2008 (12:35pm EDT)
Sega held a press event on Friday for its original Nintendo DS role-playing game, "World Destruction." It is a major project, getting both a manga and anime adaptation this summer to precede the game's launch on September 18.
The game's basic story centers around a boy named Kirie who becomes part of a group trying to destroy the world. Character voices are being provided by popular seiyus such as Mamoru Miyano (as Kirie), Toru Furuya, and Maaya Sakamoto. It was also revealed that actress Yui Ichikawa and actor Hiro Mizushima are voicing minor roles in the game.
The "World Destruction" anime series starts airing on TV Tokyo on July 7. Then on July 26, the manga begins serialization in Dengeki Maoh. The three different incarnations will feature the same characters, but the stories will be different.
Music group AAA is providing music for the video game and the anime.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: music awards
EXILE wins big at VMAJ 2008
Sat, May 31, 2008 (7:53pm EDT)
The 2008 MTV Video Music Awards Japan were held at the Saitama Super Arena on Saturday. Among the presenters were Shun Oguri and Yu Yamada, appearing together at an event for the first time since they publicly acknowledged their relationship in early May.
EXILE had the most successful night, taking three awards: Best Video of the Year ("I Believe"), Best Album of the Year ("EXILE LOVE"), and Best Karaoke Song ("Toki no Kakera").
Best Male Video and Best Female Video were won by foreign artists this year, going to Ne-Yo's "Because of You" and Fergie's "Big Girls Don't Cry." m-flo won Best Group Video, while Motohiro Hata earned Best New Artist Video.
A complete list of winners is available in the forums.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: celebrities
Yoshino Kimura, Yusuke Iseya split
Sun, June 1, 2008 (3:06am EDT)
 
On Saturday, talent agency Topcoat held a fashion event, produced by actor Hiroki Narimiya. Actress Yoshino Kimura, who is also managed by Topcoat, served as a model during the show. After the event, she was questioned about her rumored romance with actor Yusuke Iseya, but it appears that the two have already broken up.
Kimura and Iseya started dating in late 2006 while working together in Takashi Miike's "Sukiyaki Western Django." Their relationship was first reported in May of last year, and a few months later it was announced that they would play a couple in Fernando Meirelles' movie "Blindness," which opened the Cannes Film Festival this May.
According to several sources, the pair broke up in March of this year. While filming overseas for "Blindness," Kimura was apparently impressed by the acting of co-star Julianne Moore, strengthening her own desire to become an international actress. Iseya was similarly affected by the experience, and after returning to Japan, the two both decided to focus on their careers instead of love.
Kimura did not specifically talk about the relationship on Saturday. She was asked about the prospect of marriage, but she replied, "No, no, no... Right now, my work is important." Neither Kimura's nor Iseya's agencies have commented on the matter.
Souce: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: comedian
Comedian Arino Shinya (36, photo left) has been hospitalized with an abscess on his lung. Thought he condition was discovered early, he is expected to be in hospital for at least a month. According to his management agency, he underwent tests about a week ago after experiencing fever, exhaustion and loss of appetite, and was admitted to hospital on May 27. The other half of the duo Yoiko, Hamaguchi Masaru (36, photo right), is to step in for Arino on the six weekly TV and radio shows on which he is a regular. They include the popular Fuji TV comedy show "Mecha Mecha Iketeru!" On a recent edition, other cast members teased Arino about the huge amount of money he's been making in recent years away from TV, mostly through video games and books.
Source: www.japan-zone.com |
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news: idol
[J-ENT] Singer Matsuura Aya to perform in musical
Japantoday.com reported, 揝inger Aya Matsuura, 21, will appear in a new musical 揌onkie de Only You,擺/b] which features singer Mariya Takeuchi抯 songs to mark the 30th anniversary of her debut. Matsuura will play a 27-year-old woman who has just broken up with her boyfriend. Matsuura said, 揟he songs I will sing in the musical are all Takeuchi抯. But I would like to sing them as if they were mine. |
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news: artistes
[WaiWai] Is there more to the Southern All Stars hiatus?
In the latest edition of Wai Wai, 揫b]Southern All Stars and their charismatic frontman Keisuke Kuwata have often been regarded as Japan抯 version of the Rolling Stones. |
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news: actress
[FASHION] Actress Kanda Uno launches brand UNO KANDA
Japantoday.com reported, 揅elebrity Uno Kanda, 33, has expanded her line of fashion items with a new brand梉b]揢NO KANDA.擺/b] The new brand consists of handbags and accessories. Kanda has already made a fortune from her hosiery and wedding dress lines. |
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news: actors
New D-BOYS chosen
Mon, June 2, 2008 (12:17am EDT)
On Sunday, acting troupe D-BOYS held the final stage of its 5th audition. This year was the first time applications were allowed through the video website YouTube, resulting in a pool of about 22,000 candidates.
Out of the 11 finalists, the Grand Prix winner was 20-year-old Yusuke Yamada, a second-year college student. The Semi-Grand Prix went to middle schooler Yukito Nishii, who is now the youngest D-BOYS member at 12 years old.
The special judges' prize was given to 20-year-old Ryo Mitsuya, who has previously placed twice in an international unicycling competition.
With the addition of the three winners, D-BOYS now has 21 members.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: stage musical
Takarazuka takes on Korean drama
Mon, June 2, 2008 (12:19am EDT)
Next year, the Takarazuka Revue celebrates its 95th anniversary, which it will celebrate with a series of productions. The first is a stage version of the Korean drama series "Tae Wang Sa Shin Gi," also known by the English title "The Legend." Flower Troupe top stars Sei Matobu and Ayane Sakurano will star, while Shuichiro Koike directs.
"The Legend" originally aired in Korea from September to December of last year, and is currently being broadcast in Japan on NHK. The show has been fairly popular, partly due to starring actor Bae Yong Joon.
Performances of the play will start on January 1, 2009 in Takarazuka, Hyogo, and will move to Tokyo on February 13.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Post time 4-6-2008 05:52 PM
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