MissMonika wrote:

Nakashima is the only surviving member of the original cast, which included young stars like Miyazaki Aoi, Narimiya Hiroki, Matsuda Ryuhei and Matsuyama Kenichi.

Narimiya Hiroki's still playing Nobu. Nana Press Con link with photos
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arcticbleue wrote:

Narimiya Hiroki's still playing Nobu. Nana Press Con link with photos

yui looks really different on H2
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[IMG=http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m203/aznbogchi/asiandrama.gif]

Entertainment news from Japan-zone.com-Your Guide to Japan and Japanese Culture:

November 6, 2006

Veteran rakugoka, led by Katsura Utamaro (70), had them rolling in the aisles last week, not in Tokyo or Osaka but in New York. The host of long-running NTV entertainment show "Shoten" and three others put on a performance of the traditional Japanese comedy in their own language for a full house of about 280 at the Japan Society in Manhattan. Thanks to his storytelling skill and with a little help from English subtitles on a screen behind him, Utamaru had the audience of Japanese and locals in stitches as he regaled them for 30 minutes with his story "Shirimochi". "There were some foreign audience members who were laughing the whole time. It was great!", he enthused. He was supported by Sanshotei Yumetaro (58), Sanshotei Charaku (64) and Hayashiya Imamaru (64). Rakugoka rely on just two props, a folding fan and a towel, as they sit seiza-style on a cushion and give their well-honed renditions of stories that often go back generations. Utamaru will visit Mexico next May with fellow performer Sanyutei Rakutaro (56), and in November he has a show scheduled in India.

• Former sumo Yokozuna Musashimaru (35) is to make his Hollywood debut in next year's movie "Ocean's 13" with George Clooney (45) and Brad Pitt (41). It is the first time for a member of the Sumo Council to appear in a movie. He and fellow former Grand Champion Akebono recently filmed a scene where they play themselves in their sumo heyday, fighting in a sumo basho (tournament) in Las Vegas. "It was fun," said the Samao-born oyakata (stablemaster).

• Multiple Grammy award winner John Legend (27) will play his first ever Japan dates next January. Supporting his recently released second album, "Once Again", he wil play Osaka's Nanba Hatch (Jan. 10), Tokyo International Forum (Jan. 11) and Nagoya Diamond Hall (Jan. 13).
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MissMonika wrote:

Entertainment news from Japan-zone.com-Your Guide to Japan and Japanese Culture: November 6, 2006 Veteran rakugoka, led by Katsura Utamaro (70), had them rolling in the aisles last week, not in Tokyo or Osaka but in New York. The host of long-running NTV entertainment show "Shoten" and three others put on a performance of the traditional Japanese comedy in their own language for a full house of about 280 at the Japan Society in Manhattan. Thanks to his storytelling skill and with a little help from English subtitles on a screen behind him, Utamaru had the audience of Japanese and locals in stitches as he regaled them for 30 minutes with his story "Shirimochi". "There were some foreign audience members who were laughing the whole time. It was great!", he enthused. He was supported by Sanshotei Yumetaro (58), Sanshotei Charaku (64) and Hayashiya Imamaru (64). Rakugoka rely on just two props, a folding fan and a towel, as they sit seiza-style on a cushion and give their well-honed renditions of stories that often go back generations. Utamaru will visit Mexico next May with fellow performer Sanyutei Rakutaro (56), and in November he has a show scheduled in India.

taiga......taiga.....arigataiga......i wonder if he shout like that....

Orion wrote:

taiga......taiga.....arigataiga......i wonder if he shout like that....

or maybe
tiger.....tiger.....jirettaiga
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Orion wrote:

taiga......taiga.....arigataiga......i wonder if he shout like that....

DAYEM...to see a real rakugo performance in the US with English Subs...wow, that's a RARE treat...i would have loved to attend that....sounds like ppl had lots of fun.

Entertainment news from Japan-zone.com-Your Guide to Japan and Japanese Culture:

November 7, 2006

Sequel movie "Death Note - The Last Name" had the best opening weekend of any domestic movie this year. In the three days since it opened in theaters on November 3, it pulled in \1.2 billion at the box office and was seen by almost a million people. As it was a three-day holiday weekend, the figures are not an exact comparison, but Studio Ghibli's latest anime release "Gedo Senki" (Tales From Earthsea) made about \950 million in its first three days in July. Death Note stars Fujiwara Tatsuya (photo right, 24) and Matsuyama Kenichi (photo left, 21) were in Tokyo's Shibuya CinePalace yesterday to greet fans who helped raise the total audience above the one million barrier. Distributors Warner Entertainment Japan say they expect the two movies to make them a total of over \10 billion. Revenue will also get a boost from a Death Note tribute album, due to be released on December 20 and featuring artists such as Orange Range who are fans of the original manga series. Read our Death Note feature article.

• Actress Sudo Risa (30) is the latest to announce a "shotgun wedding". Her management agency faxed the media yesterday saying that she registered her marriage on November 5, an auspicious "tai-an" day in the traditional Japanese calendar. She is expecting a baby next February. There was no info about her new husband except to say that the couple met about six years ago. A friend of the actress say they started dating in 2004. A stage and TV veteran of 20 years, Sudo recently appeared in the theatrical production "Jailbreakers", staring Tokio's Matsuoka Masahiro (29). She has appeared in popular TV drama series including "Yamato Nadeshiko" and "Densha Otoko".
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MissMonika wrote:

Entertainment news from Japan-zone.com-Your Guide to Japan and Japanese Culture: November 7, 2006 • Actress Sudo Risa (30) is the latest to announce a "shotgun wedding". Her management agency faxed the media yesterday saying that she registered her marriage on November 5, an auspicious "tai-an" day in the traditional Japanese calendar. She is expecting a baby next February. There was no info about her new husband except to say that the couple met about six years ago. A friend of the actress say they started dating in 2004. A stage and TV veteran of 20 years, Sudo recently appeared in the theatrical production "Jailbreakers", staring Tokio's Matsuoka Masahiro (29). She has appeared in popular TV drama series including "Yamato Nadeshiko" and "Densha Otoko".

i hope shido nakamura (yuko's husband) isn't the father.

wouldn't be surprised.

krim wrote:

wouldn't be surprised.

that would be his coup de grace wouldn't it?

Tu_triky wrote:

i hope shido nakamura (yuko's husband) isn't the father.

Or maybe Guitar Otoko's wish came true?

thtl wrote:

Or maybe Guitar Otoko's wish came true?

lol. "guitar otoko"

.....that was jacked when she swindled him.

as the japanese would say...."guitar otoko, kawai so ni"

Tu_triky wrote:

.....that was jacked when she swindled him.

I think you got it wrong. Guitar Otoko was swindled by the girl played by Iwasa Mayuko. Sudo Riso was 'Yuko', Herme's friend who ended up going out with Guitar after he made his love confession in the Tokyo Dome.

thtl wrote:

I think you got it wrong. Guitar Otoko was swindled by the girl played by Iwasa Mayuko. Sudo Riso was 'Yuko', Herme's friend who ended up going out with Guitar after he made his love confession in the Tokyo Dome.

oh yeah, my mistake....

Entertainment news from Japan-zone.com-Your Guide to Japan and Japanese Culture:

November 8, 2006

The Best Formalists for this year are actress Yonekura Ryoko (31) and Italian model and man about town Girolamo Panzetta (44). Naturally enough, both turned up at the ceremony to give out the awards, sponsored by the Japan Formal Wear Association, in suitably formal attire. Panzetta wore a tuxedo, while Yonekura was stunning as always in a cream-colored backless dress and \12 million-worth of Tiffany jewelery. Asked if she had any comment about the romance between her former boyfriend, kabuki actor Ichikawa Ebizo (28) and talento Sato Eriko (24), Yonekura said, "Not really. I'm envious, I guess. I'll do my best, too!" Panzetta is regarded as the pioneer of the "choi-waru" look, describing middle-aged guys who like to look a "little bit bad".

• Also sporting the Tiffany look yesterday was actress Koyuki (29), who was the official guest at the opening of this year's illuminations at Roppongi Hills. In a flowing pink dress and wearing Tiffany bling of diamond ring, necklace and bracelet worth \100 million, she pushed the button to light up the 400m of illuminated trees. Also at the event were model Oshikiri Moe (26) and actor Nagai Masaru (28).

• Comedian Shimizu Kyoichi died last Saturday at his home in Osaka from a blood clot in his lung. He was just 41. A former member of the Yoshimoto manzai duo Pinokkio, he recently had been appearing in Yoshimoto's theater revues.

• Talento Wakatsuki Chinatsu (22) recently underwent checks at a hospital after suffering from stress and exhaustion. The popular young celebrity appears on six regular TV shows and two more on the radio. She had to suddenly cancel her recording of two Fuji TV horse-racing shows last weekend. She is expected to return soon for the busy year-end recording rush.
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MissMonika wrote:

The Best Formalists for this year are actress Yonekura Ryoko (31) and Italian model and man about town Girolamo Panzetta (44). Naturally enough, both turned up at the ceremony to give out the awards, sponsored by the Japan Formal Wear Association, in suitably formal attire. Panzetta wore a tuxedo, while Yonekura was stunning as always in a cream-colored backless dress and \12 million-worth of Tiffany jewelery.

12 million?? Dang.

Here's the backless part of the dress:

bmwracer wrote:

12 million?? Dang. Here's the backless part of the dress:

Is it my imagination, or is that dress a bit see-through??

dochira wrote:

Is it my imagination, or is that dress a bit see-through??

i think the diaphanous layer lies atop a less transparent swath of fabric.....keep dreamin' son.

dochira wrote:

Is it my imagination, or is that dress a bit see-through??

I agree with Triky: your imagination is getting the best of you.

bmwracer wrote:

I agree with Triky: your imagination is getting the best of you.

honestly i was flabbergasted by the price of that garment though....12 million yen....dayem that is a lot of money!

Live Rates as of 2006.11.08:


12,000,000.00 JPY = 101,907.71 USD

it must be an authentic haute couture dress

edit: sorry i stand corrected..the JEWELRY is worth that much...okay makes much more sense now!