Charts: SMAP sets record for Top 10s
Wed, March 12, 2008 (4:02pm EDT)
SMAP's latest single, "Sonomama / White Message," took the #1 spot on the charts this week with 115,000 in sales. All 42 of the group's singles have debuted in the top ten, which ties them with Southern All Stars for the record of "most Top 10 singles." At the same time, it puts them one ahead of B'z for the record of "most consecutive Top 10 singles." However, they are now tied with B'z for "most consecutive years with a Top 10 single" (18).
ORANGE RANGE came in at #2 with "Kimi station." Ayaka's newest ranked #7, while TVXQ and GReeeeN charted at #9 and #10, respectively.
"World World World," the newest album from Asian Kung-fu Generation, sold 100,000 copies to pick up #1 on the album charts. Also in the Top 10 were Every Little Thing (#2), Yo Hitoto (#3), AAA (#5), and Hitomi Yaida (#10). The LISMO commercial tie-in compilation, featuring several popular artists, ranked in at #7.
Josei Seven reports in its latest issue that actress Kyoko Koizumi and KAT-TUN member Kazuya Kamenashi are no longer dating. Late last month, Koizumi was at a drinking party, and she reportedly stated that they have already broken up. It is not clear when the breakup happened.
The two first made headlines as a rumored couple in April 2006. Due to Kamenashi's status as a young Johnny's star and the 20-year age difference between the two celebrities, the news attracted a lot of attention. However, neither of their agencies have ever confirmed the relationship.
Source: Sankei Sports
Shizu-chan to play boxer in NHK drama
Fri, March 14, 2008 (10:09pm EDT)
Comedienne Shizu-chan (Nankai Candies) will star in an NHK drama series this summer. Currently untitled, the drama tells the story of an OL who takes up boxercise to help relieve her stress, and she ends up becoming a heavyweight boxer.
The show will air in NHK's Thursday 8:00pm slot, starting on June 19.
Hotei, Kameda, KREVA form trio for Kurosawa remake theme
Fri, March 14, 2008 (4:31pm EDT)
Rock guitarist Tomoyasu Hotei is temporarily teaming up with hip-hopper KREVA and Tokyo Jihen bassist Seiji Kameda. Calling themselves "The THREE," they are doing the theme song for Shinji Higuchi's upcoming remake of the classic Akira Kurosawa film, "The Hidden Fortress" (original title "Kakushi Toride no San Akunin").
The movie was announced back in October, with Jun Matsumoto, Masami Nagasawa, and Hiroshi Abe leading the cast. The film's title is now being reported as "Kakushi Toride no San Akunin: THE LAST PRINCESS."
The creation of a three-man unit for the theme song is a direct reference to the "three villains" ("san akunin") of the movie's title. Their song, which is currently untitled, is a mix of rock and hip-hop. It will go on sale May 7, three days before the film opens in theaters (May 10). Hotei will also be releasing a separate "spinoff" version of the song as a digital single.
BUMP OF CHICKEN wins three at Space Shower MVA
Sat, March 15, 2008 (2:22pm EDT)
The 2008 SPACE SHOWER Music Video Awards took place on Saturday at the Nippon Budokan. The biggest winner of the night was BUMP OF CHICKEN, as "Hana no Na" picked up three categories: Best Video of the Year, Best Group Video, and the fan-voted Best Your Choice.
Motohiro Hata won Best Male Video with "Uroko," and Namie Amuro won Best Female Video with "Hide & Seek." 9mm Parabellum Bullet took Best New Artist Video for "Discommunication."
complete list of awards
Best Video of the Year
BUMP OF CHICKEN, "Hana no Na"
Best Your Choice
BUMP OF CHICKEN, "Hana no Na"
Best Male Video
Motohiro Hata, "Uroko -Director's Cut Ver."
Best Female Video
Namie Amuro, "HIDE & SEEK"
Best Group Video
BUMP OF CHICKEN, "Hana no Na"
Best New Artist Video
9mm Parabellum Bullet, "Discommunication"
Best Rock Video
Asian Kung-fu Generation, "After Dark"
Best Pop Video
YUI, "My Generation"
Best Hip-Hop/R&B Video
KREVA, "Strong Style"
Best Reggae Video
PUSHIM, "HEY BOY"
Best Groove Video
Denki Groove, "Shonen Young"
Best Impact Video
Spitz, "Gunjou"
Best CG/Animation Video
Yura Yura Teikoku, "Utsukushii"
Best Story Video
Miliyah Kato, "LALALA feat. Wakadanna (Short Movie Ver.)"
Best Art Direction Video
Chatmonchy, "Tobiuo no Butterfly"
Best Technical Works Video
Tokyo Jihen, "Killer Tune"
Best Conceptual Video
Maximum the Hormone, "Zetsubou Billy"
Best International Video
JUSTICE, "D.A.N.C.E."
Best Director
Yuichi Kodama
Best Creators' Choice
DOES, "Shura"
Breakthrough Video
ET-KING, "Itoshii Hito e"
Best SSTV Only Edition
Crystal Kay, "Anata no Soba de"
Aragaki named "Best Girl of 2007"
Sun, March 16, 2008 (2:56am EDT)
The 6th Tokyo Girls Collection (for 2008 spring/summer) took place on Saturday. Dozens of popular models participated in the fashion show, and CHEMISTRY gave a special performance.
This time, the event established a new award to honor the female celebrity who had the most successful year. The recipient of the "Best Girl of 2007" title was actress Yui Aragaki, who said she was nervous as she appeared on stage. Although she used to primarily be a model, she has reportedly walked a runway only once before.
"Kitaro" sets ratings record for "noitaminA"
Sat, March 15, 2008 (6:56am EDT)
The anime series "Hakaba Kitaro" has set a new ratings record for Fuji TV's late-night anime time slot "noitaminA" (Thursday nights 12:45-1:15am). The second-to-last episode aired on March 13 and achieved ratings of 5.8%, beating out the previous high set by "Nodame Cantabile." Ratings peaked at 7.3% during the broadcast.
Teen model Asami Tanaka gets first acting role with Hey! Say! JUMP
Sun, March 16, 2008 (10:46pm EDT)
14-year-old Asami Tanaka, a model for SEVENTEEN magazine, will make her acting debut next month. She has been added to the cast of the NTV drama special "Sensei wa Erai!"
The drama stars Hey! Say! JUMP members Yuto Nakajima, Ryosuke Yamada, Yuri Chinen, and Daiki Arioka as middle schoolers who try to turn a dull teacher (Yusuke Santamaria) into a charming man. Tanaka will play one of their classmates.
The young model won the Miss Seventeen competition last year and made her debut in September. In addition to this drama, she has been signed to two commercial contracts this spring. She will also make her big screen debut in the summer movie "Jersey no Futari," directed by Yoshihiro Nakamura and starring Makoto Ayukawa and Masato Sakai.
Yoshio Kojima's big screen debut
Mon, March 17, 2008 (3:16am EDT)
Comedian Yoshio Kojima will make his film debut with a small part in Takashi Miike's adaptation of the novel "Kamisama no Puzzle," originally written by Shinji Kimoto.
Hayato Ichihara and Mitsuki Tanimura are starring in the sci-fi romance/comedy about two students who attempt an experiment to unravel the origins of the universe. In one part of the story, a hidden camera video of Tanimura's character appears on the Internet, and Ichihara invades another college campus in search of the culprit. However, he gets stopped by the sports-minded Kojima, and a fight between them ensues.
Kojima, who was reportedly chosen for the role due to his physical build, will appear on screen wearing a white tank top, rather than his trademark bathing suit.
Utada ringtone downloaded 700,000 times in 4 days
Mon, March 17, 2008 (3:29am EDT)
Between March 10 and 13, Hikaru Utada made her hit 1999 single "First Love" available for free as a ringtone in Japan. In those four days, it was downloaded more than 700,000 times.
Utada ran a similar promotion in December with her debut single "Automatic," and that achieved 500,000 downloads in the same amount of time.