Latest News from Japan Zone & Japan Store

Illustrator and designer Anzai Hajime (54) is best known to Japan veterans as the “Soramimi Hour” presenter on the long-running late night TV Asahi variety show “Tamori Club.” He announced yesterday that he has formed his own punk band, and that the four-member Lastorderz will be the very first act on stage at the Summer Sonic festival on August 10. He says he used his connections at TV Asahi, who are one of the event’s sponsors, to get his unknown band in the lineup. After that morning appearance, the band will head across Tokyo to the World Happiness festival, which will also feature techno pioneers HASYMO (aka Yellow Magic Orchestra). With Anzai on vocals, the band currently has a repertoire of 11 songs. For almost two decades, Anzai has been known as the “soramimi-ist,” presenting overseas music clips with lyrics that sound – often hilariously – like Japanese to the delight of host, top comedian Tamori. The clips are shown with short videos that capture the humor of the mistranslation.

The latest anime feature from Miyazaki Hayao (67) has got off to a flying start. “Gake to Ue no Ponyo” was watched by more than 1.25 million moviegoers over its opening three-day weekend, making almost ¥1.6 billion at the box office. The numbers compare well with those for “Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi,” Miyazaki’s 2001 hit that still holds Japan’s box office record. Among this year’s domestic movie releases, so far “Hana Yori Dango Final” has been the biggest hit, making about ¥4.8 in the 24 days since it opened. “Sen to…” was also a major success overseas, winning an Oscar and the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. So international interest is sure to be high for “Ponyo.” Plans are currently underway for the movie to open in Asia within the year, with a U.S. release unlikely until next year. Meanwhile, the movie’s theme song, sung by 9-year-old Ohashi Nozomi and middle-aged duo Fujioka Fujimaki, has made No.1 in the latest Oricon daily singles chart. The single first went on sale in December, but sources say only eight copies had been sold by February! That all changed as the publicity machine got into full gear and the movie opened last Saturday.

• Breakthrough British songstress Leona Lewis (22) is hoping to catch a bit of culture on her latest trip to Japan. She was at the British embassy in Tokyo yesterday to help launch the “UK-Japan 2008” festival. With this year marking the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the countries, the series of events aims to promote cultural exchange in various fields. Lewis said she hopes to introduce some of Britain’s many talented musicians to a Japanese audience. She made her first visit to Japan in May, and she says she spent her free time shopping in the capital. This time around, she plans to visit Kyoto and says she hopes to visit again before the end of the year. In the last few months, Lewis has enjoyed massive success from her debut album “Spirit” and the mega-hit single “Bleeding Love.”

The hugely popular duo Kinki Kids yesterday kicked off their first summer tour in eight years at the Tokyo Dome. The Johnny’s Jimusho duo of Domoto Tsuyoshi (29) and Domoto Koichi (29) usually play the 55,000-seat venue at the New Year, but yesterday they were celebrating the 11th anniversary of their CD debut in 1997. Those eleven years have seen them set multiple records for sales and consecutive No.1 singles. The next chart topper is likely to be “Secret Code.” Fans yesterday got their first listen to the song, which is the theme for Tsuyoshi’s upcoming Fuji TV drama series “33-pun Tantei.” The drama airs from August 2, while the single goes on sale August 27. It was also announced that Koichi’s recent movie The Sushi Prince Does New York will be out on DVD on October 1.

• Fukuyama Masaharu (39) and Shibasaki Koh (26) are to provide the theme song for the upcoming big screen adaptation of the successful TV drama series “Galileo.” The pair are reviving their roles, as a physics genius and a detective who combine their skills to catch a variety of criminals, for the movie “Yogisha X no Kenshin.” And with both having established music careers, collaborating on the movie’s theme song was a logical decision. Under the name Koh+, Koh will sing the ballad “Saiai,” which was written, composed and produced by Fukuyama. Though he has a long-established singing and acting career, this film is actually his first movie starring role. Directed by Nishitani Hiroshi, the movie will be in theaters from October 4.

• On top of the latest singles chart is five-member Korean vocal group Dong Bang Shin Gi (known in Japan as Touhou Shinki) with the less than catchy title “Doushite Kimi wo Suki ni Natte Shimattan Deshou”. They became the first non-Japanese Asian artists to top the domestic chart back in January and now have three No.1’s. That makes them the chart’s most successful overseas artists ever. Meanwhile, at No.6 on the chart is the cute theme song to “Gake no Ue no Ponyo,” the latest anime feature from Miyazaki Hayao.

Today is the Umi no Hi, or Ocean Day, national holiday. The weather in most of the country is not great but it is hot and so you can expect to see scenes like the above at any major beach. Which is why I’m heading for the hills.

The first new movie from acclaimed anime director Miyazaki Hayao (67) opened nationwide yesterday. “Gake no Ue no Ponyo” is refreshingly free of computer graphics, having been animated entirely by hand. The story tells of a young female fish who yearns to be human so she can be with Sosuke, the 5-year-old boy she loves. Miyazaki is hoping for success similar to that of his last mega-hit, 2001’s “Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi,” which won him his first Oscar, was seen at Japanese theaters by some 23.5 million people and made over ¥30 billion.

• Orange Range vocalist Ryo (22) revealed on his official website that he is married and a father. He says he got hitched in February and they had a baby girl in June, adding that he delayed the announcement because there was a danger his wife might lose the baby. Elder brother and OR bassist Yoh (24) got married in June 2007 and is also a father.

• Actress Oda Akane (29) also announced yesterday that she and a 37-year-old company employee had just tied the knot.

• Kudo Kankuro (38), the man behind such TV and movie hits as “Kisarazu Cats Eye” and “ping Pong” is to turn an award-winning stage production into a movie. The big screen adaptation of his 2005 hit “Donjuu” will star top actor Asano Tadanobu (34). Though “Kudokan” has directed several movies, it’s the first time for him to adapt one of his own plays.

Nobody knows for sure whether Southern All Stars are splitting up for good or just taking an extended break. But their huge popularity shows no sign of abating. The band, who announced back in May that they will be taking an indefinite sabbatical after this year, have seen dozens of their hits make the Top 100 in the music download rankings. They released about 100 songs on KDDI/au’s “Chaku-uta Full” service on June 25, the band’s 30th anniversary, followed by later releases on NTT’s DoCoMo and Softbank Mobile. 30 of the band’s hits made the DoCoMo chart Top 100, with the highest rank of #9 for “Tsunami,” their biggest hit and the best-selling J-pop single of all time. Also to commemorate the number 30, the first pressing of their latest single “I Am Your Singer” was just 30,000 copies, and 30,000 fans will be able to see them live at an anniversary concert at the Nissan Stadium in Yokohama in August.

• Comedian Jinnai Tomonori (34) had to apologize to fellow presenters and guests on the “Narutomo!” show yesterday after he turned up late. The Yomiuri TV show is broadcast on weekday mornings, with three days a week being live. Yesterday was one of those days. Jinnai, who now lives in Tokyo with his equally hard-working wife Fujiwara Norika, was doing his regular commute across the country on the shinkansen with comedian Inoue Satoshi. But Inoue failed to wake him up when they reached Osaka and Jinnai awoke to find himself in Okayama.

• Actress Kawashima Naomi (47) and her patissier fiance are to hold their wedding in June of next year. The couple plan to get married in France or Italy and follow that up with a wedding reception at the Ritz Carlton in Tokyo on June 23.

Japan Zone is back after a relaxing family vacation. Here’s a roundup of the main stories since the last entry on July 8.

The career of Yamamoto Mona (32) has taken yet another dramatic – and familiar – turn. She’s been put on indefinite probation by her management agency following a new romantic scandal. Yamamoto became a newscaster on the News23 show in late 2006 but really hit the headlines when she was fired just days later due to an affair with a married politician. After laying low for a few months she reappeared, thanks largely to the support of top star Kitano “Beat” Takeshi (61), whose Office Kitano represents her. She even donned a watermelon on her head as a sign of repentance and to indicate that she was ready to do anything to get her career back on track. This plus her beauty and intelligence helped her become a regular on the variety show circuit, though she is officially described as a freelance announcer. But then a story was published in a women’s weekly magazine that she was having an affair with Yomiuri Giants baseball star Nioka Tomoharu (32). She sent out a fax saying there was no “physical” relationship, but that hasn’t convinced too many people. Kitano has so far refused to comment on the story. Singer Wada Akiko (58) was among the more critical celebrities, saying she is now known not as a “free” (the Japanese word for freelance) announcer but as a “furin” (the word for extra-marital affair) announcer.

• Veteran rocker Imawano Kiyoshiro (57) has canceled all live appearances this summer to undergo treatment for cancer. The singer was treated for cancer of the throat in 2006 and returned to the stage in February of this year. Now the cancer is said to have appeared in his left hip.

• A man was recently arrested for attempted extortion involving caramel. The incident involves the limited availability of the hugely popular “nama kyarameru” candy, which is produced at the Hokkaido farm owned by talento Tanaka Yoshitake (50). The product, which sells for ¥850, is available at Chitose Airport and the farm itself, though only in small quantities. The suspect is accused of demanding 100 boxes by telephone, threatening violence if he was refused.

• Young actor Koide Keisuke (24) recently underwent emergency surgery for appendicitis. But just four days later he was back at work, taking part in filming of the final episode of the popular TBS drama series “Rookies.”

• Former martial arts fighter Sudo Genki (30) held a wedding reception in Tokyo on July 14. Sudo, now a talento, and his wife Ai (23) got hitched last November.

There have been a couple of recent marriages involving major music stars. Dreams Come True member Nakamura Masato (49) and the much younger Onaga Maki (20) of the band High and Mighty Color got hitched on June 22, though the news didn’t break until this month. Both musicians have seen their blogs overwhelmed with comments, particularly as Onaga has said she may quit the band within the year.

Meanwhile, talento/actress Megumi and Dragon Ash frontman Furuya Kenji are married and expecting a baby. The couple registered their marriage at a Tokyo municipal office on July 7, the date of the traditionally romantic festival of Tanabata. Though she started out as just another busty pinup model, Megumi has managed to carve out a career as an actress and variety show regular. Currently three months pregnant, she has pulled out of a theatrical production planned for early August but says she will continue doing TV work as long as her condition allows. The two started dating in 2006 and have been living in a house in Tokyo since last year.

• Comedian Matsumoto Hitoshi (44) of the popular duo Downtown has a new romantic interest. According to the July 3 issue of women’s weekly magazine “Josei Seven,” he is now dating half-Korean talento Ihara Rin (25), the weather girl on NTV’s morning show “Zoom In! Super.”

• Less happy news for actress Kato Ai (25) and soccer star Nakata Koji (29). Romance between the actress and the former Japan national team defender was first reported back in April 2004. As recently as the beginning of this year there were rumors of marriage. But sources close to both say they have split up. Kato’s agency said simply “She is currently in new York and we have heard no news of a breakup.”

Action star Jackie Chan (54) was recently in Japan to help promote an upcoming concert to raise money for the survivors of the major earthquake in China in May. “Heart Aid Sichuan” will be held at the Tokyo International Forum on July 14. It will feature Taiwanese-born Judy Ongg (58), Minami Kousetsu (59), Atari Kousuke (27), and young boy band w-inds. Yahoo! Japan will support the charity through its auctions service. Meanwhile, idol group Morning Musume donated ¥10 million to the cause following their first ever show in China on June 28. They took part in an event in Shanghai to promote the World Expo, which takes place in the city in 2010. The 9-member group includes two Chinese and recently held auditions in Taiwan. New Taiwanese members are expected to be announced within the year.

• Singer Matsuyama Chiharu (52) has canceled a series of concerts as he recovers from emergency surgery. He was diagnosed with unstable angina following a show on June 25 and underwent a coronary angioplasty, a medical procedure in which a balloon is used to open a blockage in a heart artery. He has been told to rest and has canceled all shows between June 27 and July 11. In his 32-year career, it’s the first time he’s been forced to cancel a show.

• Actress Maya Miki (44) is engaged to be married. She announced on her blog on July 1 that she and ballet dancer/actor Nishijima Kazuhiro (38) plan to tie the knot within the year. The two met when they worked together on the stage production “Stardust in Shanghai” in 2002. They started dating last summer and Nishijima proposed in March.

• Nakanomori Band have announced that they have officially split up. The four female members of the band said the decision was due to differences in musical direction. The band debuted in 2004 and won a best newcomer award. They won a record of the year award for “Fly High” in 2006. In all they released three albums and eight singles. Vocalist Ayako (23) is currently recovering from surgery she underwent in April to remove a cyst from her vocal chords.

On the verge of qualifying for their state pensions, The Who are finally to play their first solo concerts in Japan. 43 years after their debut, the legendary British rockers will play four cities in November. Of course, the band lost drummer Keith Moon back in 1978, and more recently bassist John Entwistle in 2002. With Moon replaced by Zack Starkey (42), vocalist Roger Daltrey (64) and guitarist Pete Townshend (63) did play Japan once, at the Rock Odyssey festival in Osaka and Yokohama in 2004, and they hinted last year that a tour to Japan and Australia was on the cards. Touring with the same lineup, they are scheduled to play Osaka Castle Hall on November 13, Yokohama Arena on the 14th, and Saitama Super Arena on the 16th. The premium event has to be the final show at the venerable Nippon Budokan on November 17, but the 40,000 or so tickets for the tour are likely to be like gold.

Actor Yakusho Koji (52) is working both sides of the camera for a change. One of Japan’s most accomplished actors, he is making his directorial debut in “Gama no Abura,” in which he also plays the lead role. The movie, described as a “fantasy drama,” tells the story of a day trader and his wife (Kobayashi Satomi, 43) as they breathe new life into their relationship. Describing his first experience behind the camera, Yakusho said, “It’s terrible! I hate giving the okay to a scene I’ve just performed, but it’s hard for me to say to do it again.” But he was full of praise for his young co-star Eita (25), who plays his son. “He doesn’t do the over the top acting that’s so popular with youngsters today. I have a lot of faith in him.” The movie is filming until the end of this month and is due for release next year. Distributors Phantom Film said, “Yakusho’s an internationally recognized actor, and we’re hoping to have the film shown at Cannes next year.”

• Former Morning Musume member Goto Maki (22) has joined the major Avex record label, the company announced yesterday. Goto quit the Hello! Project and Up Front Agency last year following the arrest on robbery and assault charges of her younger brother Yuuki (21). There were doubts as to whether she would be able to continue her career but she insisted, even as Yuuki was given a five-and-a-half year prison sentence in May, that she would not give up her music. The tenth anniversary of her debut is coming up in August and she will probably be back performing by then.

• Actress Kuroki Meisa (20) has made her official singing debut. She released the single “Like This” for download on Wednesday and attended a PR event for Toshiba’s latest model for the KDDI/au mobile phone service yesterday. The song is to be used in Toshiba’s TV commercials, on air from tomorrow. Kuroki did perform a number for the soundtrack of the movie “Crows Zero” but the new single is the first using her own name.

• Already having a breakthrough year, comedienne Edo Harumi has been handed one of the best – and toughest – PR jobs on TV. She was named yesterday as the marathon runner on this year’s NTV 24-hour charity telethon. She’s the fifth female runner, and the first since Sugita Kaoru in 2004. The physically and mentally demanding run is usually over 100km and the spectacle of a celebrity in pain, not to mention the inevitable tension as to whether they’ll actually reach the Tokyo studio before the show finishes, helps draw in large donations every summer. Edo, whose manic “gu, gu, guu!” routine has made her hugely popular this year, has been running 10km a day to get in shape for the August 30-31 show.