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news: mudra
Fuji TV launches 'mudra'
Tue, April 10, 2007 (7:57pm EDT)
Fuji TV and FUJIPACIFIC MUSIC are collaborating on a project called "mudra" ("music + drama") to create mini-dramas based on songs as a way of promoting the music. The short videos (approximately three minutes each) are then made freely available on the Fuji TV website.
So far, two dramas have been created. The first, consisting of three episodes, is based on "Aisubeki Hito" by new singer Kurumi Enomoto, and it stars Reina Asami. The second work, lasting five episodes, uses the song "Haru Biyori" by DEL. Shugo Oshinari and Megumi Seki play the lead roles.
The videos can be seen on the Fuji TV website.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: movies
Live-action films announced for 'Yatterman' and 'Gatchaman,' among others
Tue, April 10, 2007 (9:20pm EDT)
Nikkatsu Corporation held an event on Tuesday to announce its lineup of new movies. A total of sixteen films were revealed.
The biggest news of the event was the live-action adaptation of the 1970s anime series "Yatterman." The film will be directed by Takashi Miike and is scheduled for release in the spring of 2009. Filming is projected to begin at the end of this year or in early 2008.
Miike is aiming to recruit some big names for the cast. He reportedly offered the role of Doronjo, the leader of the villains, to actress Angelina Jolie, but she turned down the offer.
The anime series "Science Ninja Team Gatchaman," also from the 1970s, is being adapted into a live-action film as well, though no details were given.
   
Other announcements included "Naoko" starring Juri Ueno (adapted from Nobuhiro Sakata's manga), "ARCANA" starring Maki Horikita, "Atashi ga Sanran Suru Hi" starring Kaho, "Bokutachi no Suki Datta Kakumei" starring Masatoshi Nakamura (who also starred in the play of the same name), and an adaptation of Takuji Ichikawa's novel "Boku no Te wa Kimi no Tame ni."
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: dorama SP
'Maison Ikkoku' site opens, broadcast set for May 12
Wed, April 11, 2007 (12:00am EDT)
The official website for TV Asahi's "Maison Ikkoku" drama special has opened. The broadcast date has been set for May 12 at 9:00pm.
Aside from co-stars Misaki Ito and Taiki Nakabayashi, the cast includes Kayoko Kishimoto, Ittoku Kishibe, Yumiko Takahashi, Ryo Hashizume, Shingo Yanagisawa, Nana Eikura, and Ikki Sawamura.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: music
Johnny's on top of the charts
Mon, April 16, 2007 (9:39pm EDT)
Oricon's charts for the past week showed strong sales by Johnny's artists.
Kanjani8's sixth single, "Zukkoke Otokomichi," sold 197,000 copies in its initial week, ranking solidly in first place. With this achievement they now hold three enka-related records (the group is classified as modern enka). They already held the record for highest first-week sales with last year's "Kanfuu Fighting." Now they have the most #1 singles (three), and are tied for the most consecutive #1 singles (two).
Also doing well for the week was KAT-TUN, whose "Live of KAT-TUN Real Face" topped the DVD rankings with 175,000 copies.
Endlicheri*Endlicheri (Tsuyoshi Domoto's solo project) sold 78,000 copies of his album "Neo Africa Rainbow Ax," but it was only good enough to come in second on the charts. YUI kept her top spot for the second week in a row.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: actress/CM
Juri Ueno in new Fibe Mini CM
Wed, April 11, 2007 (4:23pm EDT)
Actress Juri Ueno will appear in a new commercial for health drink Fibe Mini. The commercial begins airing on the 14th.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: actress
Gentosha recruits Nagasawa for ad campaign
Wed, April 11, 2007 (7:58pm EDT)
Publishing firm Gentosha is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its bunko division this year, and it has recruited actress Masami Nagasawa to be the face of a new ad campaign. 15,000 posters are being placed in bookstores across the country, and some will appear in Tokyo trains on Thursday and Friday.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: music
New host club unit to debut next month
Wed, April 11, 2007 (10:17pm EDT)
Another host club has generated a musical group. Like AcQuA EP, club Prince takes its name from the club where its five members work. The unit made its debut on Wednesday at their club, which is located in Kabukicho.
The group's leader, Yuga, was previously the vocalist for the group Kids Alive (under the name "Yuta"). After the group became inactive in 2003, he began working as a host, and in three months he became the number one host in the club.
Their debut single, titled "LOVE Dokkyun," goes on sale on May 2.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: artistes/CM
Yu Aoi, Anne in new TSUBAKI ad
Wed, April 11, 2007 (10:26pm EDT)
Actress Yu Aoi and model Anne appear together in a new commercial for Shiseido's hair care brand TSUBAKI. The commercial begins airing on the 13th.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: movie
Lee Byung-Hun added to 'HERO' cast
Tue, April 17, 2007 (5:46pm EDT)
It was announced on Tuesday that Korean star Lee Byung-Hun will appear in the upcoming "HERO" film, starring Takuya Kimura. He plays the role of a Korean prosecutor, completely opposite in personality from the unconventional Kohei Kuryu (Kimura). The two meet when Kuryu travels to Busan, Korea in pursuit of a case.
This is Lee's first appearance in a Japanese film. It is also the first time in the "HERO" series that filming has taken place overseas.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: celebrities
Oricon survey: most prominent 18-year-old
Thu, April 12, 2007 (5:33am EDT)
Oricon conducted an online survey of 1,000 people asking them who they felt would be the most prominent 18-year-old celebrity this year. Choices were limited only to celebrities who were 18 on April 1.
The number one choice was actress Yui Aragaki. She started off as a model in fashion magazine nicola, then moved on to become a gravure idol and actress. Her popularity has been increasing through multiple commercial and drama roles, and this summer she makes her big screen debut.
Second on the list was Rakuten Eagles pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. Tanaka was the ace of high school Komadai Tomakomai, which failed to defend its title at last August's Koshien tournament. He lost to Waseda Jitsugyo's Yuki Saito (admired by women across the nation as the "Handkerchief Prince";), but he at least ranked two places ahead of him in Oricon's survey.
 
Actress Erika Toda was ranked third, while actress Maki Horikita came in fifth. The rest of the top ten included table tennis star Ai Fukuhara, boxer Daiki Kameda, J Leaguer Takayuki Morimoto, singer Miliyah Kato, and Chunichi Dragons infielder Naomichi Donoue.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: musical
Shimatani to star in 'Anne of Green Gables'
Thu, April 12, 2007 (7:23pm EDT)
Singer Hitomi Shimatani has been chosen to star in a production of the "Anne of Green Gables" musical. Her last appearance in a musical was in the 2004 "Star Tanjou" ("A Star Is Born").
Also appearing in the musical are Jun Anna, Shinji Rachi, and Yuka Kono. 11 performances in 8 cities are scheduled, starting on August 18.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: celebrities
Oshio already cheating on Yada?
Thu, April 12, 2007 (7:43pm EDT)
 
Actor/singer Manabu Oshio is living up to his playboy reputation yet again. He and actress Akiko Yada got married last November, but weekly tabloid FRIDAY reports that Oshio is already cheating on her. Earlier this month, he was seen entering the apartment of a 25-year-old office worker. The lights were reportedly turned off after he had gone inside.
Oshio's agency stated that the wom\n is just a friend, and denied the claim that he is having an affair.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: artistes
Yoshiki brings 9 bands to Los Angeles
Thu, April 12, 2007 (8:04pm EDT)
Yoshiki (of X Japan), in collaboration with event production company 4 Fini, has organized an event called Jrock Revolution. The "festival" will last two days (May 25-26) at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles, and will feature nine Japanese bands.
The lineup consists of: alice nine., Vidoll, DuelJewel, Kagrra, Miyavi, DespairsRay, Merry, girugamesh, and MUCC.
It is also rumored that Yoshiki will announce the fourth member of his new band (with Gackt and SUGIZO) at the event.
The full announcement can be read at the JRock Revolution MySpace page. More information will be made available on the official festival website. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale on April 21 at 10:00am through Ticketmaster and Music Today.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Top 10 movies weekly ranking (as of 15/4/2007)
1) Tokyo Tower ~Okan to Boku to Tokidoki Oton~ - Joe Odagiri, Yuko Tanaka, Kirin Kiki, Yo Oizumi, Ryoko Hirosue, Nene Otsuka
2) Night Museum
3) Blood Diamond
4) Doraemon Nobita no Shinmakai Daibouken Shichinin no Mahoutsukai
5) Unfair the movie - Ryoko Shinohara, Yousuke Eguchi, Susumu Terajima, Hiroki Narimiya
6) Holiday
7) Sunshine 2057
8) Happy Feet
9) Battery
10) Taitei no Ken
[ Last edited by whitedove at 19-4-2007 05:35 PM ] |
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news: idol
Akanishi back in Japan
Thu, April 19, 2007 (11:00am EDT)
KAT-TUN's Jin Akanishi returned to Japan on Thursday. He took a break from the group last October to study language in Los Angeles, and KAT-TUN has been active without him in the meantime. With his return to the country, it is expected that he will resume activity with the group, though no date has been set yet. A press conference will be held on the 20th.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: movies
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It's a battle between American and Japanese comic heroes in the upcoming Golden Week holiday period. The two most anticipated movies set to open during GW are Hollywood blockbuster "Spiderman 3" and local manga adaptation "Gegege no Kitaro" and both are expected to do very well at the box office. Sony Pictures hosted a press conference in Tokyo yesterday for the visiting director and cast of the latest Spidey flick, which had its world premiere in the capital on Sunday. Sony are aiming to beat the |
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news: actor/CM
Kenji Sakaguchi in new coffee CM
Sat, April 14, 2007 (4:50am EDT)
Actor Kenji Sakaguchi will appear in a new commercial for Japan Tobacco's canned coffee line, Roots. The ad begins airing on the 17th.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: music
Bonnie Pink plans net performance from Sweden
Sat, April 14, 2007 (6:50pm EDT)
Singer-songwriter Bonnie Pink is currently in Sweden recording her next album, scheduled for release this summer. She is once again working with producer Tore Johansson, whom she first worked with in 1996 on her second album, "Heaven's Kitchen."
Bonnie Pink left for Sweden earlier this month, and she is expected to return to Japan in June. Before leaving Sweden, she plans to hold a live studio performance over the Internet on May 27. Fans can also send in requests for songs they would like to hear.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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'Nodame' named 2006 Drama of the Year by TVnavi readers
Sun, April 15, 2007 (5:01pm EDT)
Monthly magazine TVnavi announced the winners of its Drama of the Year 2006 awards, chosen by the readers. Last fall's "Nodame Cantabile" was named as Best Drama. Best Actor was awarded to Tsuyoshi Kusanagi for his performance in "Boku no Aruku Michi", while Best Actress went to Ryoko Shinohara in "Unfair."
Best Supporting Actor and Actress went to Seiji Fukushi ("Junjo Kirari") and Erika Sawajiri ("Taiyou no Uta"). Koki Tanaka ("My Boss My Hero") and Tomoko Murakami ("Busu no Hitomi ni Koi#eru") were both given Best Newcomer awards.
TV Navi Dorama Awards 2006:
Best Drama - NODAME CANTABILE (Fuji TV)
Best Actor - TSUYOSHI KUSANAGI (BOKU NO ARUKU MICHI - Fuji TV)
Best Actress - RYOKO SHINOHARA (UNFAIR - Fuji TV)
Best Supporting Actor - SEIJI FUKUSHI (JUNJOU KIRARI - NHK)
Best Supporting Actress - ERIKA SAWAJIRI (TAIYOU NO UTA - TBS)
Best Newcomer (Male) - KOKI TANAKA (MY BOSS MY HERO - NTV)
Best Newcomer (Female) - TOMOKO MURAKAMI (BUSU NO HITOMI NI KOI$HITERU - Fuji TV)
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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news: music
Ayaka reaches a million
Wed, April 18, 2007 (6:47pm EDT)
Singer-songwriter Ayaka's debut album "First Message," which was released last November, sold its millionth copy this past week.
The last Japanese female solo artist to sell a million copies of her debut album was more than four years ago, when Mika Nakashima's "TRUE" did it in late 2002.
Source: www.tokyograph.com |
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Post time 17-4-2007 02:02 PM
