Actress Saki Fukuda (20) has been chosen to lead a drama series on TBS and MBS titled "Quartet." The drama is based on a hardboiled crime/action story by author Arimasa Osawa, who wrote the popular "Shinjuku Shark" novel series.
Fukuda will be taking on a role unlike her previous characters. She plays the part of Shun, a descendant of a "zanryu-koji" (a Japanese orphan left behind in China at the end of World War II). Now living as an illegal resident in the fictional city of Midori, she is one of three young people helping police in undercover investigations. Fukuda will be wearing a full-body tattoo for this serious action drama, which includes heavy topics such as bootlegs drugs being tested on people, and people treating others as slaves. Fukuda is also learning some Chinese for the part.
Fukuda's co-star is singer and actor Yuya Matsushita (20), who will play the rough and reckless Takeru. Although he has acted in a few films and stage productions, this is his first appearance in a television drama. He has also been tapped to provide the show's theme song "paradise," which involves producer Kiyoshi Matsuo and songwriter Jin Nakamura.
TBS and MBS will broadcast "Quartet" in a late-night time slot, starting in January.
AKB48 certified as “Pop group with the most amount of members” by the Guinness book
It’s been reported that AKB48 has officially been certified by the Guinness book, as the “Pop group with the most amount of members.” As a special intro on the latest “Guinness World Record (TM) 2011,” which will be released on November 18th, there will be a special interview with AKB48’s producer, Akimoto Yasushi, as well as the profiles of the members.
Akimoto commented, “I’m very honord to be certified on the Guinness World Record. This will be one of the records which we will see with fans, how far AKB48 can go.”
"Akunin," "Bandage" top nominations for 35th Hochi Film Awards
Sun, November 14, 2010 (2:36am EST)
The nominees for the 35th Hochi Film Awards have been decided. Sang-il Lee's "Akunin" received the most nominations, with 9 candidates in 6 categories, including a Best Actress bid by Eri Fukatsu (37). Fukatsu already won an award for that role at the Montreal World Film Festival in September.
Nominations are partly based on public votes. "BANDAGE," starring Jin Akanishi, received a total of 5 nominations, and it was #1 in votes in 4 categories.
The full list of nominees has not been released, but the judging committee will select the winners in the coming days. The results will be officially announced around the end of this month, and the presentation ceremony will be held in December.
Hikaru Utada sings theme song for "Ashita no Joe" movie
According to U.Blog, the iPhone version of the EMI Music website has revealed some information about Hikaru Utada's song "Show Me Love (Not A Dream)." The website lists it as the theme song for the live-action "Ashita no Joe" movie, which stars Tomohisa Yamashita.
"Show Me Love" will be available as a chaku-uta and chaku-uta full starting on November 17 through Recochoku, while distribution through other mobile sites and PC will start a week later on November 24.
The "Ashita no Joe" movie will be released in Japan on February 11, 2011.
Miura Haruma and Erika Toda To Play Lovers And Teachers In An Upcoming Drama Full of Drama
Today Fuji TV has officially announced their Monday drama for the next season and revealed that actress Toda Erika (22) and actor Miura Haruma (20) will play the leading roles.
The title of the drama is "Taisetsu na Koto wa Subete Kimi ga Oshiete Kureta" and it will depict a complicated love story of two young teachers whose relationship is being put on a trial by betrayal and other conflicts.
Toda will play a cheerful and lively English teacher at a senior high school who is about to get married to her long-time boyfriend and fellow teacher played by Miura. Both of them have been classmates during their senior high school and university days and eventually became a couple that recently decided to get married someday soon. She loves her job and lives a happy private life, but all that is about to collapse when she finds out that her fiancé has a forbidden relationship with one of the schoolgirls at their school.
Miura himself usually is a very bright and sincere teacher as well. Even the parents of his students trust him blindly due to his sincerity, but what they don't know is that he is having a relationship with one of the girls of his new class. He himself feels very bad about betraying his fiancée, but after learning about the darkness that filled up that girl's heart he chose to help her out of this misery.
The producers about the difficult challenges they've prepared for Toda and Miura, "There are only a few actress that can grow into their roles like Toda Erika and Miura Haruma fits perfectly into the role of the young teacher whose life begins to turn into the wrong direction thanks to his fresh appearance and delicate acting."
In addition Toda already seems to be emotionally attached to her role, "Affection is something that you give.
That's something I have definitely found out and the one thing I'd like to convey through the universal theme of love."
Miura is ambitious as well, "There's a lot of pressure since it's my first Monday drama and my first role as a teacher, but I'm really looking forward to start working with Toda and everyone else."
In January we will find out whether their love will be able to bear all the conflicts and betrayals.
Arashi set a couple records this week with their latest single "Hatenai Sora," selling 572,000 copies. This easily put them in first place on the weekly charts, while popular electropop group Perfume settled for #2 with their new song "Nee."
Except for AKB48's "Beginner" at #6, the top ten consisted entirely of new singles. J Soul Brothers charted at #3, followed by Yusuke and Korean group KARA. Idol groups Berryz Koubou and Momoiro Clover were #7 and #8 respectively, while Ken Hirai and Alice Nine took the last two spots.
On the album charts, Ikimono Gakari's compilation album "Ikimono Bakari ~Members BEST Selection~" held onto the #1 spot for the second week in a row, adding 207,000 more copies sold. Its sales total after those two weeks is roughly 664,000, surpassing Kana Nishino to become this year's #1 female-vocal album. Overall, it is #2 behind Arashi's "Boku no Miteiru Fuukei."
New releases from Kiyoshi Hikawa and Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi landed at #2 and #3, while Ken Hirai also released a B-side collection to reach #5. The Cro-Magnons had the only other new album in the top ten, placing 7th.
On the DVD charts, Mr.Children's documentary "Mr.Children / Split the Difference" sold 115,000 copies in its first week to take the top spot in the overall rankings. In terms of the music DVD rankings, they now have 8 consecutive number-ones, setting a new record.
Kazumasa Oda's "Jiko Best" ships 3 million
Wed, November 17, 2010 (8:12pm EST)
As further proof of his steady popularity, singer Kazumasa Oda (63) has just achieved a huge milestone. His compilation album "Jiko Best" now exceeds 3 million copies shipped, as of November 17.
Of course, Oda is not the first to reach 3 million with an album. Within the past decade, both Kobukuro and Hikaru Utada have done so (the latter multiple times). However, Oda is the first solo male artist to achieve that feat, and he is also the oldest at 63 years and 2 months.
"Jiko Best" has been selling well ever since its release in April 2002. It reached 1 million copies shipped after its first month, then reached 2 million in December 2004. In May of this year, it appeared on Oricon's weekly album charts (top 300) for the 400th time.
Kiyoshi Hikawa wins his 6th Nihon Yusen Taisho
Thu, November 18, 2010 (8:17am EST)
The presentation ceremony for the 43rd Nihon Yusen Taisho was held on Thursday. This year, the Grand Prize went to enka singer Kiyoshi Hikawa (33). This is his second consecutive year to receive that honor, and his sixth time overall.
The other artists competing for the Grand Prize were Kana Uemura, Miyako Otsuki, JUJU, Kana Nishino, Hilcrhyme, FUNKY MONKEY BABYS, and Kaori Mizumori.
The rest of the winners were already announced at the start of this month.
Post time 12-11-2010 02:01 AM
Author
nak dier bersatu kembali ngan shida mirai... 
shida mirai sgt2 cemerlang dlm Himitsu... 
