Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 46182 Location: Los Skandolous, California Country:
Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 5:12 am Post subject:
tabana wrote:
Ok, thanks. Sounds like a long time ago though. They just might stop for a while until it cools down. In a few months, nobody will remember what they did.
good now they can get really drunk while the band is on hiatus....YOSH!
The band with the flashiest names in all of Japanese pop are back! Kome Kome Club, who enjoyed huge popularity in the 1980s and 90s, are making their comeback after a 9-year absence, though only temporarily. They officially launched the comeback yesterday and will be recording and performing only until the end of October, with an album planned for September to be supported by a national tour. The group turned up at Tokyo FM's Spain-zaka radio studio in Shibuya on Sunday, their first appearance together since a farewell concert at Tokyo Dome in March 1997. Led by vocalist Carl Smokey Ishii (46), the group consists of Bon (bass), Ryo-J (drums), Be (guitar), James Onoda, Joplin Tokuno (guitar/keyboards), Flash Kaneko (sax), and dancers Mari and Minako.
• In baseball, the Yomiuri Giants just can't seem to win. Win over fans, that is. Long regarded as Japan's team, the Giants are off to a very good start this season and currently lead the Central League. But according to Video Research, their TV audience rating for April was the lowest ever. The monthly average for Giants night games was only 12.6%, a further decline from last year's record low. The lowest rating for the month was for the Hiroshima Carp game shown on TBS on April 26. May 02, 2006 _________________
Popular model/talento Rinka (32) is to release her first pop single in 11 years. "Millions Kisses" is to go on sale on the Avex label in July and will include a DVD. The jacket for the new single includes a bikini poster and a selection of sexy photos. Rinka made her singing debut in 1993 but last released anything in 1995. She has been something of a pioneer for the current crop of fashion models who are crossing over to the TV circuit. The timing of the new release is no doubt related to the growing number of singers using sex appeal as their main marketing weapon. The leader in the field is currently Koda Kumi (23), but she's recently been joined by former CC Girls member Aota Noriko (38) and pin-up girl Kumada Yoko (23).
• It was revealed yesterday that TV Asahi announcers Murakami Yuko (27) and Nishiwaki Kyosuke (35) got married on April 29. In a regular corner on yesterday's "Yajiuma Plus" early morning show, Nishiwaki presented the day's newspaper headlines and, red-faced with embarrassment, included one from the sports papers about his own marriage.
• NTV announcer Osugi Kimie (42) is five months pregnant with her first child. She and her husband, who is nine years younger, have been married for four years. Osugi was previously married from 1996 to 2001 to an entrepreneur who was two years younger.
• Actor Odagiri Jo (30) is to make an appearance at Cannes for the second year in a row and the third time since 2003. His new movie "Yureru" will be shown as part of the Director's Week at the 59th Cannes International Film Festival, which runs from May 17-28. The movie, directed by Nishikawa Miwa, is scheduled to open here in July. May 03, 2006 _________________
If you thought the Korean boom had cooled off in Japan, think again. Korean star Lee Byung Hun (photo, 35) held a fan event at Tokyo Dome yesterday and no less than 42,000 fans turned out to catch a glimpse. Also in attendance for the 3-hour show were his co-star in the TV drama series "Utsukushii Hibi" (Beautiful days) Choi Ji Woo (30), so popular here she is known as "Ji Woo-hime" or Princess Ji Woo, and several top pop artists.
Here's the latest singles chart (up to May 8).
1. Tabibito - Ketsumeishi
2. Dear Woman - SMAP
3. Junrenka - Shonan no Kaze
4. Age Age Every Kishi - DJ Ozma
5. Believe - Ai
6. Frienger - Otsuka Ai
7. 19-sai - Suga Shikao
8. Yuruginai Mono Hitotsu - B'z
9. Real Face - KAT-TUN
10. Bouken Desho Desho? - Hirano Aya
• Hoping to make it back into the charts soon is T.M.Revolution. The singer will be celebrating his 10th year in showbiz this month and has announced a greatest hits album, "Billion", that will go on sale on June 7. The jacket has been designed by popular art director Sato Kashiwa. _________________
The veil is finally being lifted on Studio Ghibli's latest anime feature. The title song and lead role of "Gedo Senki" are performed by newcomer Teshima Aoi (18). Since February, previews shown at movie theaters nationwide have featured only the song and text, with no mention of who was singing. The studio planned to keep everything under wraps until the official release in July, but was overwhelmed by the number of requests from fans wanting more information. From today, a TV commercial tie-up with Asahi Soft Drinks will feature the song and is the first visual glimpse at the movie and its star. Teshima is described as a tall 18-year old beauty from Fukuoka who is a fan of Louis Armstrong, Fred Astaire and Billy Holliday. She did her recording alone in the studio, buts says "When I realize I'll be standing on stage with (co-stars) Okada Junichi (of pop group V6) and Sugawara Bunta, I get very nervous!" Studio Ghibli's summer releases have continually broken box office records, but the latest film marks the first time that studio founder Miyazaki Hayao (65) has handed the reins over to his son Goro (39). Goro originally said he'd never get involved in the world of anime and worked as a building design consultant. The closest he got to his father's work was designing the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, west of Tokyo. But the draw of the family business has proved too strong. His first venture is into a world of dragons and a tale that seeks to remind people of what has been lost in the world of today, based on the "Tales from Earthsea" fantasy novels. The final, 1236th cut of the film was completed on Saturday, according to the Studio Ghibli website.
• Hip hop unit Teriyaki Boyz represented Japan at yesterday's MTV Asia Awards show. Broadcast from Bangkok to an estimated 100 million homes across the continent, the show was the biggest exposure yet for the unit led by fashion designer Nigo (35). His "A Bathing Ape" brand, which enjoys huge street cred, is gaining increasing popularity across Asia. Naturally the band appeared on stage wearing BAPE t-shirts and launched into a version of "Heartbreaker", their debut single which was produced by popular French duo Daft Punk. The show was hosted by Kelly Rowland, formerly of Destiny's Child.
• Morning Musume members Konno Asami (19) and Ogawa Makoto 818) have announced that they will be "graduating" from the pop group. The announcement was made yesterday during the final show of their national tour at the Saitama Super Arena. Konno, who celebrated her birthday yesterday, told fans that she is going to go to college. Ogawa plans to study abroad. The group's 30th single, unnamed but due for release on June 21, will be the pair's last. _________________
Um...this is kinda posted in the wrong spot. Should ask in the NEWS thread in the J-Artists part of the forum.
But that clip is from Long Love Letter, and there are currently no English subtitles available. I think the first episode has softsubs somewhere but it only got that far. _________________
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 46182 Location: Los Skandolous, California Country:
Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 7:50 am Post subject: Re: YAMAPI's drama
MissMonika wrote:
Um...this is kinda posted in the wrong spot. Should ask in the NEWS thread in the J-Artists part of the forum.
But that clip is from Long Love Letter, and there are currently no English subtitles available. I think the first episode has softsubs somewhere but it only got that far.
very diplomatic of you unlike my dealings with airheads named fukakyon.
Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 2652 Location: The OC Country:
Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 1:43 pm Post subject: Re: YAMAPI's drama
Tu_triky wrote:
i commend your restraint......
i was farting around myspace for a minute and i went to your space...the background music by NEWS....nice a true j-ent trooper.
Lol. Thanks. I have a soft spot for NEWS since most of those guys are pretty decent singers, compared to a lot of Johnny's boys. But I changed my music to Yuna Itoh. _________________
A bunch of forged tickets for the popular Takarazuka theater revue have been discovered. The tickets for the all-female revue, which enjoys huge popularity and fierce loyalty among its predominantly female fans, had fetched up to ten times their face value on Internet auction sites. The forgeries were for yesterday's final performance of the Moon Troupe's show "Never Say Goodbye", the last appearance for retiring top "male" star Wao Yoka (photo). One 46-year old woman from Takarazuka City went to the local police station after being refused entry to the show. She said she had bought the two tickets, face value \7,500 each, for \150,000.
• Actor Nishimura Kazuhiko (39) has married calligraphry artist Kunishige Tomomi (27). The couple registered their marriage at the municipal office of Kunishige's home in Yamaguchi Prefecture yesterday. the couple met on the set of a TV show last summer. Nishimura, who first became known through the Lipovitan D TV commercials and became popular following the 2004 Fuji TV drama series "Botan to Bara", divorced actress Tachihara Mai (36) in January 2005.
• Boxing sensations the Kameda brothers scored big in their recent fights. Not only did both flyweight Koki (19) and super-flyweight Daiki (17) win their fights by knockouts, but the TBS broadcast pulled in a peak audience rating of 40.8% in the Kanto region. The number is remarkable given that they were not even title fights. Third brother Tomoki (14) is also an amateur boxer. _________________
Hugely popular rock group B'z have sold over 75 million CDs in Japan. And now they are set to become the first Asian artists on Network Live. The US-based online service offers downloads of live performance video by the world's top recording artists, including the Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi and Madonna. Kevin Wall, who was Executive Producer of last year's Live 8, is the company's CEO. The service is set to launch in Japan in June, and footage of the upcoming B'z show at the Osaka live house "Nanba Hatch", scheduled for September 1, will be available on the new service in the autumn. The show itself will be a first for the band at such a small venue, and attended by 1,000 lucky fans selected from those who buy the new album "Monster", due out on June 28. For those who can't wait, the next single "Splash!", out on June 7, will include a DVD with the first available footage of last year's concert tour. The CD/DVD tieup is also a B'z first.
• Former Fuji TV announcer Uchida Kyoko (29) and Yoshimoto Kogyo employee Kimoto Kimitoshi (32) are to hold their wedding ceremony and reception in July. The couple got married in March and were first introduced by comedian Hamada Masatoshi (42), one half of the Yoshimoto duo Downtown and a co-presenter of Fuji's sports variety show "Junk Sports".
• Following yesterday's story about forged Takarazuka tickets being sold on Internet auction sites, it seems Johnny's Jimusho have been hit by the same problem. The agency handles almost all of Japan's major boy bands and the fake tickets were for shows by three top artists during the spring. They were all photocopied from tickets sold through the Lawson convenience store chain and sold online. They were discovered at the concert venues. Like Takarazuka, Johnny's artists enjoy huge fanbases and tickets can be very hard to find, leading to huge markups and huge potential profits for forgers. Buyers beware. _________________
Actor Nakamura Ryu (29) revealed on his official website yesterday that he recently got married. He and model Takuma Yui registered their marriage on January 23 and held a wedding ceremony in a church on the Hawaiian island of Oahu during Golden Week. Still a fairly minor name, Nakamura had a supporting role in the Fuji TV drama series "Hakusen Nagashi", which has aired on and off since 1995. In addition to his acting career, he has been a professional surfer since 2000. Takuma runs her own fashion apparel company.
• Hollywood-based actor Watanabe Ken (46) showed off his English skills to the foreign media yesterday. Just the third Japanese actor (after Mifune Toshiro and Ikebe Ryo) to meet the press at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Tokyo's Yurakucho, Watanabe introduced himself in English. Though he answered questions in Japanese, he was largely able to understand them without an interpreter. The Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee spoke about his roles in such films as "The Last Samurai" but was there largely to promote his new film "Ashita no Kioku" (Tomorrow's Memories). "I wanted to bring to foreign audiences a Japanese movie that didn't have samurai or ninja!" The movie, expected to open in the US at the end of this year or early in 2007, is a drama that tells of one man's struggle with early-onset Alzheimer's Disease. Watanabe is the star and also executive producer.
• Publishing company Kodansha yesterday announced the winners of its 30th annual manga awards. Winning the general category was "Mushishi" by Urushibara Yuki, which has appeared in the "Gekkan Afternoon" manga since 1999. It has also been made into an anime by Fuji TV. The award for boy's manga went to "Air Gear" by Oh!Great (Ogure Ito), while for girl's it was "Life" (Suenobu Keiko). The children's section award went to "Kicchin no O-Hime-sama" (Kobayashi Miyuki & Ando Natsumi). _________________
Former Dreams Come True member Nishikawa Takahiro (41) was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment yesterday at the Tokyo District Court. The former DCT keyboard player was discovered in possession of stimulant drugs by police in February. This followed a previous arrest in 2002, for which he received a suspended sentence. This time around, prosecutors had sought a 2-year prison term for the two-time offender. Nishikawa's brother presented a plea for clemency, suggesting that he would take part in anti-drugs campaigns. But the judge replied that he should do so after having served his time. Nishikawa left DCT in early 2002 to pursue a solo career, which never took off.
• Soul singer Kubota Toshinobu (43) has been forced to postpone two weeks of shows on his his nationwide tour. He was diagnosed with Meniere's disease after suffering dizziness and hearing loss following a show on May 4, and was told to take two weeks' rest. He hopes to be back on the road for the May 19 show in Hiroshima.
• Hip hop unit Black Eyed Peas are to play the Nippon Budokan. The chart-topping US group, whose worldwide album sales have topped 18 million, will be making their fourth trip to Japan but this will be the first time for them to play arena shows here. They're scheduled to play the Budokan on July 13 and 14, after a July 11 show at Osaka Castle Hall. _________________
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