Idol News

[iina]

And kickin' ass, right?

I rarely watch network TV. I never even heard of Bones, but I guess I'll give it a shot out of curiosity. We all know Seiko can act a bit from all her movies - hell, her ex-husband can testify that she can act like she's a faithful wife!

I was way too stressed out in January to start kickin' any ass Can't concentrate on anything at the moment. Oh well, maybe I'll start it some day in Japan... Or just stick to tea ceremony

Oh Seiko.

[hallo space gurl]

More Seiko "news"
http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2010/03/11/japanese_music_just_got_a_bit_weirder.shtml

Ayanokoji also provides the common link with another outlandish group, Yajima Biyoshitsu (Yazima Beauty Salon). He and comedy duo Tunnels have enjoyed a string of hits since October 2008, performing as a trio of Vegas showgirls who happen to be a mother and her daughters with the names Margaret (Kinashi Noritake, 48), Strawberry (Ishibashi Takaaki, 48) and Naomi (Ayanokoji). They've earned enough commercial success that there is now an album out and a movie spinoff due for release April 29, with none other than Matsuda Seiko (48) singing the theme song. The song "Aidoru Mitaini Utawasete" (Let Me Sing Like an Idol), which harkens back to her heyday as Japan's top idol singer in the 1980s, will be out as a single on April 21.

[hallo space gurl]

http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2010/04/08/japan_loses_two_veteran_directors.shtml

The Japanese movie industry lost a pair of its veteran directors in the last week.

Nishikawa Katsumi died at a Tokyo hospital of pneumonia on the morning of April 6. He was 91. Nishikawa joined Shochiku's studios in Ofuna in 1939 and spent 13 years working as an assistant director before landing his first directorial job. He moved to Nikkatsu in 1954 and in the following years he helped shape the career of a young Yoshinaga Sayuri (65) and Takahashi Hideki (66) in movies like 1963's "Aoi Sanmyaku" and "Izu no Odoriko" (poster left) and the late Ishihara Yujiro (1934-87) in "Wakai Hito" (1962). In the 1970s, he directed the golden couple of Yamaguchi Momoe (51) and Miura Tomokazu (58), who would later marry, in movies such as "Shiosai" (1975) and "Shunkinsho" (1976). In 2001, his hometown in Tottori Prefecture built a memorial hall in his honor.


Director and screenwriter Yamanouchi Tetsuya died of heart failure at his home in Hiroshima Prefecture on March 3, it was revealed yesterday. He was 75. After graduating university in 1957, Yamanouchi joined the Toei studio, and made his directorial debut with "Ninjagari" (poster right) in 1964. He is best known for turning out "jidaigeki" or period dramas for the big and small screen, though he often spiced things up with elements of horror and science fiction. He worked on the popular "Mito Komon" and "Oh-oka Echizen" TV series.

And as they say... death begets life...

http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2010/04/06/hard_gay_is_determined_not_to_be_a_onehit_wonder.shtml

Enka singer Nagayama Yoko (42, photo right) is finally realizing her dream. As a girl, she planned to get married and have a baby around the age of 20. Well she was only two decades late in achieving the first of those when she married American businessman Mark Smith (41) a year ago. And yesterday she announced on her blog the happy news that she is expecting her first child. She said she is a five months pregnant but won't be taking maternity leave until after she records the June 23 edition of her regular TV Tokyo show.


Nagayama says she plans to continue her career: "Being a mother and working, these are both precious treasures in my life. As for my work, I will try not to be a burden to my fellow staff." Speaking about having her first baby in her 40s, she said, "To be honest, I am a bit nervous. But I hope I can be an inspiration to other women of the 'arafo' generation." The term 'arafo' has been widely used in the last few years to refer to people, particularly those getting married or having children, who are "around forty."

http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2010/03/30/shibata_hatsumi_dead_at_57.shtml

The Start of Something Big?
Actor Miura Takahiro (24) is finally putting one of the finest pedigrees in Japanese showbiz into action. The son of actor Miura Tomokazu (58) and legendary pop idol Yamaguchi Momoe (51), he made his first public appearance yesterday as he was announced as the latest addition to famous the Lipovitan ad campaign. The energy drink's famous "Fight! Ippatsu!" TV commercials have run for almost 50 years and have featured many strapping young male duos. Miura teams up with Kane Kosugi (35), who's been doing the gig since 1999, in the 11th partnership. Kosugi knows a thing or two about living up to famous parents - his father is the legendary Hollywood ninja Sho Kosugi. Miura already has roles in three major movies coming out this year and will make his big screen debut in "Railways," due for release at the end of May.

[hallo space gurl]

http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2010/06/16/work_takes_its_toll_on_female_stars.shtml

Anime Company Sues for Noripi Fallout

A Tokyo animation company has sued the Sun Music Production for business losses suffered due to last year's drug arrest of former actress Sakai Noriko (39, photo right). Noripi voiced the lead character in "Dai-chan, Daisuki," an anime feature that was released in June 2007. At the Tokyo District Court on Monday, the anime company sought ¥21 million for lost revenue from TV and DVD distribution of the movie.

[innhel]

Anime Company Sues for Noripi Fallout

A Tokyo animation company has sued the Sun Music Production for business losses suffered due to last year's drug arrest of former actress Sakai Noriko (39, photo right). Noripi voiced the lead character in "Dai-chan, Daisuki," an anime feature that was released in June 2007. At the Tokyo District Court on Monday, the anime company sought ¥21 million for lost revenue from TV and DVD distribution of the movie.

Looks like everybody's still dog-piling on Nori-P. In this case, it's a pretty lame excuse. It's common knowledge that the anime industry is suffering big losses due to the lousy economy (it's even worse in Japan than the US) and anime is taking a huge hit. Also, a lot of people are downloading and pirating anime instead of buying it. And TV stations aren't buying broadcast rights for anime because it's just not as popular as it once was. Anime conventions in Japan have shrunk 25%.

If I was the judge in this case, I'd toss it out and laugh - even if I'd never heard of Nori-P.

[hallo space gurl]

All that and the video was made in 2007!! How much money could it make now anyway?

[Flashjeff]

All that and the video was made in 2007!! How much money could it make now anyway?

My guess would be....VERY little! Yeah, this is nothing more than piling on, kicking poor Nori-P while she's down. Pathetic!

[hallo space gurl]

http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2010/06/21/weekend_roundup.shtml

Ex-Wink Star Retires After Scandal
Former aidoru star Suzuki Sachiko (41) has announced her retirement from showbiz after a scandal blew up over the weekend. Last Thursday's issue of the magazine "Shukan Bunshun" reported that she had admitted to having a 4-year affair with married stage actor Tsuda Eisuke (39). Tsuda denied the affair in his blog on Friday, insisting that Suzuki was his sempai at their management agency and nothing more. As one half of the duo Wink, Suzuki was a major star from the late 1980s to the mid-90s.

Well, retirement is better than more x-rated releases.

[innhel]

http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2010/06/21/weekend_roundup.shtml

Ex-Wink Star Retires After Scandal

Well, retirement is better than more x-rated releases.

Sigh. I have to agree.

Interesting side note: I have Sachiko's "一年前の恋人" and Shoko's "Mysterious" (both PVs from the Wink album "Queen of Love") and Sachiko's viewings overwhelm Shoko's 12,000 to 8,000. Indicating perhaps that Sachiko was/is the more popular of the 2. But, like the Beatles or Simon and Garfunkle, the sum of the 2 as Wink was greater than it's parts.

[Flashjeff]

http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2010/06/21/weekend_roundup.shtml

Ex-Wink Star Retires After Scandal

Well, retirement is better than more x-rated releases.

Sigh. I have to agree.

Interesting side note: I have Sachiko's "一年前の恋人" and Shoko's "Mysterious" (both PVs from the Wink album "Queen of Love") and Sachiko's viewings overwhelm Shoko's 12,000 to 8,000. Indicating perhaps that Sachiko was/is the more popular of the 2. But, like the Beatles or Simon and Garfunkle, the sum of the 2 as Wink was greater than it's parts.

Indeed! I would agree with that assessment. What a shame that another important idol from the 80's has taken such a hard fall. I mean, at only 41, Sachiko still has a lot to offer the music world. A pity.

[hallo space gurl]

http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2010/07/05/a_fresh_start_for_takaoka_saki.shtml

Actress Takaoka Saki (37, photo left) is expecting a baby in the autumn, according to the Sankei Sports newspaper. Sources say she has been dating a 43-year-old Nagoya property company owner since the end of last year. The couple are said to be already living together but plan to wait until after the baby is born to officially tie the knot. Takaoka was previously married to actor Hosaka Naoki (42), with whom she had two children before they divorced in 2004. She has since been romantically linked to several other actors.

Takaoka changed her management to the major Avex label at the beginning of 2008. She appeared in a Ninogawa Yukio-directed stage production at the end of that year, and last year put her English language skills to good use in the U.S.-Japanese movie "The Hariyama Bridge."

[hallo space gurl]

http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2010/07/07/kyonkyon_nagase_reunited_for_mainichi_kaasan.shtml

Saibara Rieko's popular manga strip "Mainichi Kaasan" is to be adapted for the big screen, it was announced yesterday. Whoever did the casting pulled off a PR coup because the leading roles of a married couple will be played by actress Koizumi Kyoko (44, photo left) and actor Nagase Masatoshi (43), who divorced in 2004. The manga, which has run in the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper every Sunday since October 2002, is about the daily life of the Kamohara family, based on Saibara's own family. She married journalist and photographer Kamoshida Yutaka in 1996, with whom she had two children before the marriage ended in divorce in 2003. They got back together in 2006, but Kamoshida died of cancer in 2007.

Saibara (45) said of Koizumi, popularly known by her nickname KyonKyon, "We are women of the same generation who have been through a lot. I think she'll play me very well." The manga has been published in book form as five volumes, which have sold over 1.5 million copies. It has been running as an anime on TV Tokyo since April 2009.

[innhel]

[url]

Saibara Rieko's popular manga strip "Mainichi Kaasan" is to be adapted for the big screen, it was announced yesterday. Whoever did the casting pulled off a PR coup because the leading roles of a married couple will be played by actress Koizumi Kyoko (44, photo left) and actor Nagase Masatoshi (43), who divorced in 2004. The manga, which has run in the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper every Sunday since October 2002, is about the daily life of the Kamohara family, based on Saibara's own family. She married journalist and photographer Kamoshida Yutaka in 1996, with whom she had two children before the marriage ended in divorce in 2003. They got back together in 2006, but Kamoshida died of cancer in 2007.

Saibara (45) said of Koizumi, popularly known by her nickname KyonKyon, "We are women of the same generation who have been through a lot. I think she'll play me very well." The manga has been published in book form as five volumes, which have sold over 1.5 million copies. It has been running as an anime on TV Tokyo since April 2009.

Wow, KyonKyon looks great!

I'm still amazed at how many japanese celebrity couples are now divorced, but I guess it's no different than the general population. Half of the married people I know in Japan are now divorced. Nori-P waited too damn long. But Tororin is still happily married. I mean, it's Tororin - how could you go wrong? Nanno and Nami are still single.

[hallo space gurl]

http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2010/08/17/yamamoto_mona_finally_settles_down.shtml

Nagayama Yoko an "Arafo Mama"

Enka singer Nagayama Yoko (42, photo right) announced on her blog this morning that she became a mother for the first time yesterday. She and American entrepreneur Mark Smith (41) are the proud parents of a bouncing baby girl. Smith is the president and CEO of temp staffing company Skillhouse Staffing Solutions. Arafo is the Japanese abbreviation of "around forty" and has been popular in the last couple of years when referring to those who marry or have children after reaching that landmark age.

http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2010/08/05/kuwata_keisuke_recovering_after_surgery.shtml

Kuwata Keisuke Recovering After Surgery

Just a week after announcing that Kuwata Keisuke (54) had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer, management for the hugely popular singer said yesterday that he has undergone surgery. In a brief statement, the Amuse agency said the operation was a success. "He was able to speak immediately after the anesthetic wore off, and surprised the doctors by being able to walk a little the next day." The agency didn't give details of the surgery, but today's issue of the "Josei Seven" magazine says that Kuwata was admitted to a Tokyo hospital on July 30 and underwent a 6-hour operation on August 2. It said that the Southern All Stars vocalist will remain in intensive care for a few days at least but is thought likely to make a full recovery within the year. And of course he has the loving support of his wife and fellow band member Hara Yuko (53).

Stupid (@%@#ing cancer, I hate it!! Esophageal cancer, I read online, has a 5-year survival rate of only 25% but that catching it early increases the persons's chances of being in that percentage. Another article said that they caught it early for him. When are we going to cure this monster for good???