Entertainment news from Japan-zone.com-Your Guide to Japan and Japanese Culture:
November 18, 2006
It seems the ailment that bothering popular talento and pin-up girl Wakatsuki Chinatsu (22) is more serious than it seemed. As we reported here about ten days ago, she recently underwent checks at a hospital after suffering from stress and exhaustion. A regular on six TV shows and two on the radio, she had to suddenly cancel her recording of two Fuji TV horse-racing shows. She had been resting at home since the beginning of the month but her condition is said to have remained the same, and doctors have advised her to check into hospital for treatment of up to a week. The last couple of months of the year are the busiest for many celebrities, with a whole host of year-end special programs being recorded.
• Major record label Avex has announced that it is establishing a fully-owned Chinese subsidiary. The company that has such top stars as Hamasaki Ayumi and Koda Kumi on its books will be aiming to develop local talent from its new Avex China office in Beijing. The company begins operations from today.
• Actor Nakaya Noboru died at a Tokyo hospital of chronic lung disease on Thursday. He was 77. A veteran of stage, movies and TV, he was married to actress Kishida Kyoko from 1954 to 1978. He was a founding member of En, one of Japan's leading theater troupes.
• Flamboyant comedian Michael (34) has been taking a break since the end of October. It turns out the reason is that he's looking after his mother, who had a stroke in September. He made his showbiz debut in 1990 in the musical "Starlight Express" and later was a member of an idol group, a dancer and a choreographer before turning to comedy in 2002.
Entertainment news from Japan-zone.com-Your Guide to Japan and Japanese Culture:
November 20, 2006
Quentin Tarantino (43) is to have a cameo role in the new movie by Miike Takashi (46). A hugely prolific director with 34 movies in the last 11 years, Miike has tried his hand at comedy, violence and horror. For his latest project, "Sukiyaki Western Django", he is turning for inspiration to the 'spaghetti westerns' of the 1960s, with Franco Nero's "Django" (1966) being one of the most influential. Tarantino, whose role is described simply as a 'mystery man', will be in Japan later this month to film his scenes. Filming began at the Syonai Eigamura open set in Yamagata Prefecture at the weekend. The movie stars Itoh Hideaki (31) and, borrowing heavily from old Japanese history, involves a rivalry between the "Genji Gang" and the "Heike Gang". The Japanese cast members, including "Memoirs of a Geisha" star Momoi Kaori, Sato Koji and Kimura Yoshino, spent two months in intensive language training to handle the script, which is all in English. The theme song, "Sasurai no Jango", is sung by veteran enka star Kitajima Saburo (70). Miike recently had a guest appearance in "Hostel", the splatter movie produced by Tarantino, who has heavily influenced his work. "I wanted Tarantino to be in this project as I see him as the 'anti-Hollywood', someone who's trying to change Hollywood," he said. Django is scheduled to open in the autumn of 2007 and is sure to feature in film festivals worldwide.
• Another U.S.-Japan tie up is between hip hop star Kanye West (29) and the 5-man unit Teriyaki Boyz, led by fashion leader Nigo (35). West is due to visit Japan later this month to take part in an event organized by fashion brand Fendi and produced by Nigo. West will be performing and will feature the new song "I Still Love H.E.R.", though the single isn't due for release till January 24. He first met Nigo three years ago on his maiden visit to Japan and was originally supposed to take part in last year's Boyz debut album, "Beef or Chicken". That plan fell through due mainly to West's rapid success.
• Up and coming actress Mimura (22) announced that she married conductor Kim Seikyo (36) on November 15. Sources say the couple are already living together in Tokyo. Kim is decribed as the new Ozawa Seiji in classical music circles. The couple met on the set of last year's movie "Kono Mune Ippai no Ai wo", in which Mimura played a violinist and Kim a conductor.
Entertainment news from Japan-zone.com-Your Guide to Japan and Japanese Culture:
November 21, 2006
The latest single from Mr. Children is their 25th straight chart-topping hit. "Shirushi" entered the Oricon singles chart at No.1, putting the band in second place to rock unit B'z, who have done it an amazing 38 straight times. In the album charts, "Stop the Clocks", the first greatest hits collection from Oasis, is at No.1. Surprisingly, it's only the third time ever that a western artist has had two consecutive chart-topping albums, and the first time in more than 11 years. And the soundtrack for Fuji TV's drama "Nodame Cantabile" has reached No.7, the highest ranking for an album of classical music. The series is based on a best-selling manga.
• Hollywood actor Watanabe Ken (47) is the face of the new Nissan Skyline. He appeared at a launch event for the company's flagship sedan in Ginza yesterday. He took the opportunity to send encouragement to baseball pitcher Matsuzaka Daisuke (26), who may soon also be headed for a new career in the U.S. A new Nissan TV commercial featuring Watanabe airs from today.
• And continuing the theme of music and TV commercials, popular rock/hip hop group Dragon Ash are to do a CM tie-up for the first time. Their new single, "Rainy" will be used in the CM for snowboard brand kissmark, which will feature vocalist Kj (27) showing off some of his moves. The single goes on sale December 6.
• And finally, guitar legend Eric Clapton (61) was back "home" yesterday. His latest Japan tour, which opened in Osaka, arrived at the venerable Nippon Budokan, one of his favorite venues. Stopping between songs only to greet the 10,000 fans with "Domo arigato", Clapton played a 17-song set that included the classic blues number "Five Long Years". Two new dates have been added at the Budokan on December 8 & 9. That will bring his total to 70 shows at the venue, putting him third behind local legends Yazawa Eikichi and Matsuda Seiko, who have played there 82 times each.
MissMonika wrote:• And finally, guitar legend Eric Clapton (61) was back "home" yesterday. His latest Japan tour, which opened in Osaka, arrived at the venerable Nippon Budokan, one of his favorite venues. Stopping between songs only to greet the 10,000 fans with "Domo arigato", Clapton played a 17-song set that included the classic blues number "Five Long Years". Two new dates have been added at the Budokan on December 8 & 9.
I'm a B.B. King fan myself. But I do recognize how immensely talented Clapton is and admire his efforts through the years to promote the blues, an often overlooked genre.
shin2 wrote:But I do recognize how immensely talented Clapton is and admire his efforts through the years to promote the blues, an often overlooked genre.
Entertainment news from Japan-zone.com-Your Guide to Japan and Japanese Culture:
November 22, 2006
Newscaster Yamamoto Mona (30) is to make her TV comeback earlier than expected. Forced to step down after less than a week on the TBS "News23" show in October following the revelation of an affair with a married politician, she has been given a helping hand by none other than Kitano "Beat" Takeshi (59). His Office Kitano has hired her to appear on NTV's New Year's Day special "Owarai Ultra Quiz", which ran from 1989 to 1996 and is being revived after an almost 11-year absence. Japanese TV is harsh in its treatment of celebrities caught up in scandals but usually allows them to return to work after a period of penitence. Since she lost what was to be her breakthrough job, Yamamoto is said to have been attending English conversation and cookery classes.
• Celtic's Japanese midfielder Nakamura Shunsuke (26) scored from a spectacular free kick to defeat powerhouse Manchester United in the Champions Legaue in front of home fans early this morning, Japan time. He is the first Japanese player to reach the last 16 of Europe's top club championship. United missed a last minute penalty, and the 1-0 final score ensured that Celtic would finish no lower than second in their group. United now need a result against Benfica in two weeks to qualify. Nakamura also scored a free kick against the English Premier League leaders earlier in the group stage but was on the losing end of a 3-2 scoreline.
• Talento and mangaka Ebisu Yoshikazu (59) is getting remarried. He went through a period of depression after losing his wife to pulmonary hypertension in 2001. Two years later, the weekly women's magazine Josei Jishin set up an omiai, or arranged meeting with a view to marriage, with four women. Ebisu met his new fiancee (40) at that time, and he says he knew at first sight that he wanted to marry her. He is known to be a huge fan of kyoutei (motorboat racing), and her home in Osaka is close to the local racing venue. Their first date was at the Tamagawa Kyouteijo in western Tokyo.
• Celtic's Japanese midfielder Nakamura Shunsuke (26) scored from a spectacular free kick to defeat powerhouse Manchester United in the Champions Legaue in front of home fans early this morning, Japan time. He is the first Japanese player to reach the last 16 of Europe's top club championship. United missed a last minute penalty, and the 1-0 final score ensured that Celtic would finish no lower than second in their group. United now need a result against Benfica in two weeks to qualify. Nakamura also scored a free kick against the English Premier League leaders earlier in the group stage but was on the losing end of a 3-2 scoreline.
This could be the kick that he shot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOfVGLKDY_o&mode=related&search=
Check out some of the other clips of him.
His free kick is spectacular. I don't remember him doing any of that in the World Cup though..... :sweat: :sweat:
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