Yearly Archives: 2005

Fuji TV yesterday announced a special series with the theme of the real-life experiences of women in their prime over the last century. The 3-part series, “Onna no Ichidaiki” (A Woman’s Biography) is scheduled to air in the autumn, and will feature three talented actresses, Miyazawa Rie (32), Yonekura Ryoko (30) and Amami Yuki (38). Miyazawa will play the famous writer and Buddhist nun Setouchi Jakuchou, who married while still a student but later abandoned her husband and children, and at the age of 51 entered a monastery. Yonekura will portray the late theater actress Sugimura Haruko (1909-97), who’s only vice was said to be men. She was only the third woman to receive an Imperial award for outstanding cultural contributions. And Amami will take on the role of the late singer Koshiji Fubuki (1924-80), a major “chanson” star of the post-war Showa era, whose behind-the-scenes life was even more dramatic than her on-stage appearances. Amami and Koshiji were both stars of the famous Takarazuka all-female theater troupe.

• It may not be very rock ‘n’ roll, but rock singer Imawano Kiyoshiro (54) has had his bicycle stolen. The order-made “orenji-go” was no ordinary bicycle though, and set the eccentric singer back a hefty ¥1.6 million. The singer left his bike locked on the street in the Shin-Okubo area of Shinjuku in Tokyo for an hour or so on Sunday evening and found nothing but a severed chain when he came back. He posted a message on his official website asking for his beloved bike to be returned.

Singer Hamasaki Ayumi (26) made a surprise guest appearance yesterday at the premier of the new movie “Shinobi.” Starring Nakama Yukie (25), currently one of the hottest actresses in Japan, the movie features Ayu’s “Heaven” as the theme song. The singer’s surprise appearance on the stage of the Marunouchi Piccadilly movie theater in Yurakucho, waering the tiniest of mini skirts, sent the audience into a frenzy. Her new song is due for release as a single on September 14, while the movie opens on the 17th.

• The recent Fuji TV 2-part drama “Tsumiki Kuzushi Shinso” did as well as expected in the ratings, managing a respectable 23.5% rating on the second night. A second TV dramatization of a book that has sold over 3 million copies over the last 30 years, it starred Tachi Hiroshi (55) and Sugita Kaoru (40) as the parents of a delinquent daughter, played by Adachi Yumi (23). The original TV series was a social phenomenon when it aired on TBS in 1983, with the final episode achieving a remarkable 45.3% audience rating. The drama dealt with darker aspects of family life that had hardly been touched upon before. It was also made into a movie that same year.

• NHK has announced the title of 2007’s taiga drama, the annual extended series that focuses on historical figures. The series will be titled “Fuurinkazan,” a phrase that is translated as “as fast as the wind, as quiet as the forest, as daring as fire, and immovable as the mountain.” The central figure in the series is Yamamoto Kansuke, a general and master military tactician under the command of legendary warlord Takeda Shingen during the Sengoku Jidai (warring period). The series is based on the writings of Inoue Yasushi (1907-1991) to mark the centenary of his birth.

Hollywood superstar Johnny Depp (42) arrived in Japan on Saturday for his first visit in ten years. Depp arrived in the afternoon by private jet at Narita Airport. The time of his arrival hadn’t been announced, but there were still about 2,000 fans waiting for him when he left customs and he seemed taken by surprise by the size of the crowd. He arrived in town to promote “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” his latest collaboration with director Tim Burton. The movie will have its Japanese premier tonight. Dressed in a cowboy hat and chocolate colored suede jacket, looked quite different from his latest Willy Wonka image, sporting the scruffy beard that he needs for the sequel to “Pirates of the Carribbean.” Depp’s first and only previous visit was in 1995 to promote “Deadman.”

• Yasuoka Yutaka (31), a member of the popular acapella group Gospellers, got married recently. He made the announcement on Saturday on his official website, saying he was very happy but offering no further details.

• Press reaction to Kitano “Beat” Takeshi’s latest movie has been mixed. After its first ever screening at the Venice International Film Festival on Friday, Kitano (58) himself seemed to think maybe he’d gone too far in making such an obscure film in “Takeshis’.” He commented drily that he didn’t think he was in the running for a second Golden Lion award and would go back to making a more orthodox movie next time. The Italian papers, while giving mixed reviews, consider Kitano a big enough star to give their reviews of the movie top billing.

Movie director-actor-comedian Kitano “Beat” Takeshi (58) took everyone by surprise when he showed his latest movie in its entirety yesterday at the Venice International Film Festival. It was the world’s first look at “Takeshis'” and created a buzz among the international media, who had expected that a “surprise screening” would be no more than a preview. There was an audible gasp of surprise among the 800 or so reporters gathered when the titles for the movie roled on the screen. The movie, which has also been added to the competition category, ran for an hour and 50 minutes. It’s based around the premise of real-life star Beat Takeshi meeting a spitting image convenience store worker named… Kitano Takeshi. At a post-screening press conference, Kitano said, “This isn’t a movie you can understand, it’s a movie you experience physically. I want it to confuse viewers.” It’s a project he’s been envisaging for more than ten years and finally realized as his 12th movie. Kitano has won awards at venice in the past – the Golden Lion grand prix for “Hanabi” in 1997 and the director’s award for “Zatoichi” in 2003. The film isn’t due for release in Japan until November.

Korean actor Bae Yong Joon (33) is still in the news, with his latest Japan trip coming to a close. Just as well, it would seem, as he appeared tired and a bit irritatable at last night’s press event for his latest movie, “Shigatsu no Yuki” (April Snow). More than 1,100 media people and 90 TV cameras turned up at the event, held at a central Tokyo hotel. This is way more than the 830 media who turned up for the Steven Spielberg/Tom Cruise press conference for “War of the Worlds.” In order to keep his throngs of Yon-sama’s female fans away, security was tight all day, with media people having to show both an invitation and a meishi (business card) to get in.

• Awards for the most beautiful legs in Japan went to actress/model Sato Eriko (23), talento Kanda Uno (30), and Pink Lady member Mii (47), one award for each decade. The awards were sponsored by shoe manufacturer Kuraray.

• “Seven Swords,” the Hong Kong movie that opened this week’s Venice Film Festival, is an homage to legendary director Kurosawa Akira. Director Tsui Hark (55) said he was honored to be able to dedicate the picture to Kurosawa on such a grand stage. Also showing was “Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.” For the second straight year, Square Enix showcased the production, though this time they showed the full feature in the out of competition category rather than last year’s short edit shown by special invitation in the digital movie category. Directed by Nomura Tetsuya (34), the film has been eagerly awaited by millions of FF fans worldwide. “FF VII: Advent Children” goes on sale in Japan on September 14.

Southern All Stars will release their first original album in seven years on October 5. The TV commercial for the album will take the form of a tearfully apologetic press conference by the band to apologize for leaving fans waiting for so long. Of course, they have been active over that period, playing concert tours and putting out plenty of singles. They re-released 44 singles at one time in June, pretty much taking over the Top 50 in the charts. So the new album is likely to be the year’s biggest seller and maybe even a record breaker. The new commercial airs from September 4.

• Yesterday’s PR event featuring Korean actor Bae Yong Joon (33) drew tens of thousands of fans. In Japan to promote his latest movie, “Shigatsu no Yuki” (April Snow), he appeared at the Saitama Super Arena. The venue was full to capacity with 25,000 mostly middle-aged women and another 3,000 who couldn’t get tickets milled around outside buying merchandise and hoping for a glimpse of their idol. Another 5,000 fans gathered at 6 spots around the country to watch a live satellite feed from Saitama. The movie opens in Japan on September 17.

• The number of people nationwide who refuse to pay their annual subscription to public broadcaster NHK continues to increase. With over 1.2 million people now refusing to pay, NHK is looking into ways to deal with the problem. Of course, it’s largely a problem of its own making, after a series of financial and other scandals dealt a serious blow to the company’s once-solid image. And by going after subscribers money before carrying out real reform of its organization, NHK risks stirring up even more resentment.

Korean actor Bae Yong Joon (33) is back in Japan yet again. It seems he just can’t keep his multitudes of middle-aged female fans happy without making regular trips. A change of hairstyle for a recent appearance in Seoul got such an online bashing from Japanese fans that he returned to his old style before setting foot in Narita Airport. He was at the Tokyo International Forum yesterday for the Japan Premier of his latest movie “Shigatsu no Yuki” (Snow in April). To avoid mass panic and a repeat of the injuries suffered by fans on Yon-sama’s previous visits, only 4,000 tickets were sold and seating was pre-arranged by lottery. About the same number of ticketless fans were waiting outside the venue to catch a glimpse of their idol. There was another large turnout today for an appearance at the Saitama Super Arena, which Yon-sama merchandising selling like hot cakes. It’s sure to be yet another very profitable couple of days in Japan.

• Life is imitating art for popular actress Yada Akiko (26). She and actor Oshio Manabu (27) are said to be seriously involved after they appeared together in the TBS drama series “Yume de Aimasho” (Let’s Meet in Our Dreams), which ran from April to June. They were reportedly seen together on a date in June and they travelled together to Hawaii during the summer.

• Model Nishimura Miho (24) has denied rumors of a split with Livedoor CEO Horie Takafumi (32). Horiemon has entered himself in the upcoming Sept. 11 general election, running in the Hiroshima constituency of powerful LDP rebel Kamei Shizuka. Perhaps he’s spreading himself a little too thin (though he seems to have put on weight) and his love life is suffering for it. Nishimura says she wants get married and have kids someday, but that the election and a possible political career has to come first.

The Nikkei Entertainment magazine recently published the results of its latest poll of the most popular and unpopular foreign celebrities in Japan. Top of the “out” list by a mile was Kaya (photo), the loud-mouthed American wife of singer/actor Kawasaki Mayo. She was followed by the king of lame jokes, Dave Spector. Third was singer Anges Chan, with many people complaining that even after many years in Japan, her Japanese pronunciation is strange. Next was Brazilian singer Marcia, who divorced hubbie actor Otsuru Gitan a year ago. Rounding out the Top 5 was Taiwanese pin-up Yin Ling of Joy Toy – yes, that’s her name! No further comment required, I guess. Doing better was Thane Camus, who topped the “in” list. Apart from his frequent variety show appearances, Thane has his own English school and talent agency for foreigners. Second in the list was Nigerian Bobby Ologon, who has burst onto the scene this year. He has been in the ring against K1 fighters and even landed a role in the latest movie in the “Tsuri Baka” series. Third was Korean actress and variety show regular Yoon SonHa.

• Among the highlights of Nippon TV’s 24-hour TV marathonwere the 100km run by a 59-year old lawyer and a scrawled message from a recovering baseball legend. Lawyer Maruyama Kazuya became the oldest runner to complete the annual gruelling 100km marathon that is always a centerpiece of the show. He is a regular panelist on the popular variety shows that feature fictional legal situations. Former Yomiuri Giants great Nagashima Shigeo (69) is still in rehab following a stroke but managed to sign a brief message, “Ikiru” (To Live), which he sent to the live show. He remains partially paralyzed on his right side.

Popular kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro (59) is taking an extended break to undergo treatment for leukemia. He was first diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia in May 2004, and he had treatment which was thought to have been successful. He made his comeback for a performance in Paris last October with his son, the current Ichikawa Ebizo (27). He and his son toured around Japan in June in celebration of the younger actor’s succession to the Ebizo name. The reoccurence of the disease was discovered during a regular checkup this month.

• Singer Kuraki Mai (23) has been doing the rounds in a yukata (light summer kimono) to promote her new album. “Fuse of Love” went on sale on August 24 and is her first release in a year and eight months. Her yukata is purple, which she says is her lucky color. It seems to have helped, as the album is currently at No.3 in the Oricon daily album chart.

• Meanwhile, top of the weekly album chart for the second week is the “Disco Zone” album by East-European group O-Zone. The infectious single “Koi no Maiahi” is still sweeping the country and popular as ever with young music fans. Actually sung in Moldovan, an online animation that put Japanese “lyrics ” to it caught the public imagination on 2Channel, the country’s biggest BBS.

Young movie director Toyoda Toshiaki (36) was arrested this week for possession of stimulant drugs. Five packets of the drug (about 3.9g) were found by police at his home in Komae, Tokyo. He admitted that the drugs were for his own use. Toyoda’s latest feature, “Kuuchu Teien” (Garden in the Sky) was due for release in October but the date is likely to be extended. Star of the movie, actress Koizumi Kyoko (39) is said to have been shocked by the news. Toyoda made his directorial debut with 1998’s “Porno Star,” winning a newcomer’s award from the Director’s Guild of Japan. Other films such as “Nine Souls” and promo video work for popular band Asian Kung-fu Generation had won him acclaim, making him one of the rising stars of the business.

• A TV company director was arrested in Tokyo on Wednesday for secretly filming up a woman’s skirt. Fukushima Tatsuo (45), an employee of NTV affiliate Nippon Terebi Video, was arrested after a woman noticed he had his mobile phone under her skirt on an escalator at Shimbashi station on the Ginza subway line. Fukushima has admitted and apologized for the incident.

• Yoshimoto comedian Tokui Yoshimi (30) had his briefcase stolen from his car this week while he was enjoying a late dinner. He was downing a bowl of gyudon (rice covered with beef and vegetables) when the window of his Peugeot was broken and the briefcase stolen. In fine comic fashion, he said the only thing he wanted back was his mobile phone, as it had the phone number of a female college student he had recently met. Tokui is one half of the manzai duo Tutorial.