Rokuhana Chiyo’s award-winning manga “IS ~Otoko Demo Onna Demo Nai Sei~” is being turned into a live-action series on TV Tokyo, co-starring actresses Fukuda Saki (20) and Goriki Ayame (18). This will be Goriki’s first lead role in a drama series.
“IS” stands for “intersexual,” a term referring to people who cannot clearly be classified as male or female, and who may biologically possess characteristics of both sexes. Rokuhana’s manga primarily deals with the troubles faced by the young Hoshino Haru (played by Fukuda), an intersexual who was registered as a girl at birth but has been raised as a boy.
Goriki plays Aihara Miwako, a mysterious classmate who tries to get close to Haru. Inoue Masahiro has been cast as Ibuki Kenji, a member of the soccer club whom Haru begins having feelings for. Nishida Naomi and Minami Kaho play Miwako’s and Haru’s mothers, respectively.
TV Tokyo has scheduled “IS” for a Monday 10:00pm time slot this summer, beginning in July.
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Ueto Aya (25) is confirmed to be returning to Fuji TV in a sequel to the 2010 drama series “Zettai Reido.” While the previous series had the subtitle “Mikaiketsu Jiken Tokumei Sousa,” the new series is subtitled “Tokushu Hanzai Sennyuu Sousa.”
The original show starred Ueto as rookie detective Sakuragi Izumi, who worked on difficult unsolved cases as part of a Special Investigations Office (based on an actual division established by Japan in 2009). This time takes place half a year later, after Sakuragi has been transferred to a different division that deals with current crimes.
The new “Zettai Reido” series will be broadcast in the same Tuesday 9:00pm time slot, starting in July. Before it begins, Fuji TV will air a 2-hour special episode called “Zettai Reido ~Mikaiketsu Jiken Tokumei Sousa~ Special,” which is set one month after the events of the first series.
Other returning cast members include Kitaoji Kinya (68), Miyasako Hiroyuki (41), and Yamaguchi Sayaka (31).
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Esumi Makiko (44) is starring in her first drama series in four years. Titled “Bull Doctor,” the show has her playing a forensic doctor, while Ishihara Satomi (24) plays a police detective. The series also features SMAP member Inagaki Goro (37) as another forensic doctor who is dating Ishihara’s character.
Esumi’s character Tamami is the “bull doctor” of the show’s title, which comes from the word “bulldozer.” Ignoring any opposition from the people around her, she uses any means necessary to determine the truth behind the deaths of the bodies she examines. Because of her personality, she is constantly at odds with both Ishihara and Inagaki’s characters.
The screenplay is being written by Hashibe Atsuko, who also worked on hit dramas like “Freeter, Ie wo Kau,” “Boku no Ikiru Michi,” and “Kyumei Byoto 24 Ji.”
NTV will broadcast “Bull Doctor” on Wednesday nights at 10:00pm this summer, beginning in July.
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The Nikkan Sports newspaper reported today that Arashi member Ninomiya Kazunari (27) and popular model Sasaki Nozomi (23) are in a serious relationship, though the story has not been confirmed by any official sources.
According to the newspaper, Ninomiya and Sasaki got to know each other in April 2010 when Sasaki made a guest appearance on Arashi’s show “Himitsu no Arashi-chan!” (TBS). It is said that they started truly dating that winter. Due to their popularity, they have avoided going out on dates in public, instead finding room in their busy schedules to spend time together at Sasaki’s apartment.
That apartment is in a high-class building with many celebrity residents. One of the building’s residents, who was not identified in the newspaper’s article, stated that Ninomiya has been seen there as much as twice a week. It is also said that Sasaki’s apartment is a 2LDK (2 bedrooms, living, and dining room) with an area of more than 100 square meters, plenty enough for even a whole family.
According to the newspaper’s sources, Sasaki has told close friends about the relationship, happily declaring that she and Ninomiya are “practically living together.”
So far, neither side has issued a comment on the matter.
NEWS 24 indicated that the management agencies for Ninomiya and Sasaki have responded, each stating it has heard that the two are just friends.
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The TV Asahi drama special “Saigo no Bansan,” which aired on May 14, is getting a sequel in the form of a whole series this summer. Sato Koichi (50) will reprise his starring role. Miura Haruma (21), who only appeared on screen for 45 seconds in the drama special, will be playing a major role in the series.
“Saigo no Bansan” was previously described as the “ultimate mystery/suspense story,” featuring a star-studded cast, led by Sato as a police detective trying to solve a particular case. The series will take place after the events of “Saigo no Bansan,” as the case has not yet been completely closed. Sato’s character has received orders from above and has become a newly appointed instructor at a police school, while Miura plays one of the young trainees.
Like the special, Inoue Yumiko is writing the screenplay for the series.
The show has not yet been given an official title. TV Asahi will broadcast it on Thursdays at 9:00pm, starting in July.
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Talento and gravure idol Uehara Miyu has just passed away at the age of 24. She was found hanged in her apartment in Meguro, Tokyo, earlier today (May 12). Police are currently investigating the incident as a suicide.
According to the police, an acquaintance discovered Uehara at around 2:00am and called 119. An emergency team rushed to the scene to find an unconscious Uehara, and she was confirmed dead at a hospital about an hour and a half later.
Uehara made her debut as a race queen in 2006. She became popular about two years later for her reputation of being a “poor idol,” having grown up in poverty as the youngest of 10 children.
Just two days before her death, she wrote a blog entry talking about her worries with her love life, starting off with the words, “I hated the sky today.” She continued, “In reality, I can’t do love. I used to always be in a relationship, but I’m losing my understanding of how to love or have a romance.” It appears she closed her message with a genuine plea for advice.
Uehara just celebrated her 24th birthday on May 2.
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Fuji TV announced today that the 2007 drama series “Hanazakari no Kimitachi e ~ Ikemen Paradise” is coming back this summer, but with an entirely new cast. Instead of the original lead actress Horikita Maki, the new series will be led by AKB48’s Maeda Atsuko.
Based on the popular manga series by Nakajo Hisaya, “Hanazakari no Kimitachi e” (abbreviated as “Hana Kimi”) tells the story of a girl named Ashiya Mizuki who lives in the United States. She falls in love with a young high jumper named Sano Izumi after seeing him on television, but when he suddenly quits the sport, she decides to take action. In order to get close to Sano and help him return to high jumping, she moves to Japan and disguises herself as a boy to enroll in Sano’s all-boys high school.
In the first drama series, the male leads were played by Oguri Shun and Ikuta Toma, though the show also featured other popular actors like Mizushima Hiro and Okada Masaki. The new show will reportedly have a fresh cast, and the setting and story will also be changed. Rather than being a sequel to the first series, Fuji TV’s announcement suggests that this will be a new retelling of the story. However, plot details are being kept secret for now.
The original series averaged 17.3% ratings over its 12-episode run, and the finale reached 21.0%.
Naturally, AKB48 will be in charge of the new show’s theme song, to be released in August, likely as the group’s 22nd single. The center member and other participants will be decided in AKB48′s Senbatsu election, which starts on June 9.
The drama series will start in July and air on Sundays at 9:00pm.
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Previously linked with Matsumoto Jun, Kimura Ryo, baseball player Saito Yuki, Miyao Shuntarou and Yamashita Tomohisa, Kitagawa Keiko is currently rumoured to be dating actor Hosoda Yoshihiko, one year her junior. Both actors belong to the same management company and had roles in last season's TBS drama, LADY ~ Saigo no Hanzai Profile.
The latest edition of Josei Seven reports that both actors went out for a meal together at a popular yakiniku restaurant before returning to Kitagawa's apartment for the night. According to eyewitness accounts, the actors were joined by Hosoda's friends, who he introduced to Kitagawa. It seemed like he was the one who made the reservation at the restaurant, as he was attentive in ordering food for the group.
Their management company says that it's not uncommon for actors to go out for meals together, but insists they are not dating. The company also clarified that Kitagawa had friends over at her house that night and there were four of them altogether. However, Hosoda did not leave Kitagawa's apartment till 11:30 p.m. the following day. In other words, he was over there for 24 hours. Josei Seven has taken the opportunity to label Kitagawa as a nikushoku joshi (carnivore women).
Kitagawa Keiko Rumoured to be Dating Hosoda Yoshihiko
Excerpt from: Infoseek
Translated by: sparkles_n15 @ asianfanatics.net
Perfume’s hit song “Polyrhythm” will make its world debut this summer. The song will be used in all versions of Disney and Pixar’s upcoming movie “Cars 2,” the sequel to the 2006 animated film “Cars.” In addition, “Polyrhythm” will also be included on the movie’s CD soundtrack that will be released worldwide in June.
Like the first movie, “Cars 2″ features anthropomorphic cars in a story revolving around racing. “Polyrhythm” will play during a scene at a party the night before the World Grand Prix race in Japan.
The movie’s staff had been searching for music by a Japanese artist to use in that scene, and a Perfume fan on staff suggested the song to director John Lasseter. When they tried it out alongside the neon signs and other bright visuals in the scene, they found the cute pop tune to be a perfect match.
“Cars 2″ opens in the United States on June 24. In Japan, it will hit theaters on July 30.
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Koike Eiko (30) will finally achieve her dream of starring in a romantic comedy. She will play the main character of a BeeTV mobile drama called “Ese Nikushoku Joshi no Renai Jijou,” scheduled to begin this month.
Koike plays the 33-year-old Madoka, a single working woman whose stylish appearance causes everyone to assume that she is a “nikushoku-joshi” (“carnivorous woman”). However, when it comes to matters of romance, she is actually the opposite – a passive “soushoku” type (“herbivorous”). As a result, she is constantly getting her heart broken.
Her supporting cast will be played by Kaname Jun (30), Nonami Maho (30), Hiraiwa Kami (31), Suzuki Ami (29), Aijima Kazuyuki (39), and Masu Takeshi (55). The screenplay is by Nakazono Miho, the writer of shows like “Yamato Nadeshiko” and “Haken no Hinkaku.”
BeeTV will begin releasing the drama on May 20, with updates every Monday. A total of 12 episodes are planned, each approximately 10 minutes in length.
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The complete main cast of the “Wild 7” movie adaptation was uncovered on Monday during an on-location press conference in Kawaguchi, Saitama. It was previously reported that the film includes lead actor Eita and Kanjani8 member Maruyama Ryuhei as two of the titular group of outlaws, but it is now known that the rest are being played by Shiina Kippei, Abe Tsuyoshi, Ukaji Takashi, Hirayama Yusuke, and Matsumoto Minoru.
Also joining the cast is Fukada Kyoko, who will play the story’s heroine as Yuki, a mysterious woman working as a sommelier at an Italian restaurant. Her character is said to be an important one, holding the key to the story.
As explained in previous reports, “Wild 7″ is based on an action manga by Mochizuki Mikiya from the 1970s, telling the story of a motorcycle-riding group of former convicts (the “Wild 7″) who get selected by the police to combat terrorists and other criminals. Nakai Kiichi will be playing the police superintendent who oversees the group.
Kaname Jun and Motokariya Yuika have been cast as newspaper reporters chasing after the incidents that the “Wild 7″ are involved in. Yoshida Kotaro plays an official with the Public Security Intelligence Agency.
The film has now been given a release date around the start of 2012.
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The AM2 convention just announced visual-kei band Sadie as one of this year’s musical guests, but it immediately followed that up with the news that female pop-rock band SCANDAL will also be performing.
SCANDAL formed in 2006 and made their indies debut in 2008. That same year, they toured the U.S. as part of the SXSW Japan Nite tour, and they also made a stop at the Sakura-Con convention in Seattle. They also performed at conventions in France and Hong Kong that summer, before they made their major label debut a couple months later.
SCANDAL’s connections to anime include songs used in “Bleach” and “Fullmetal Alchemist.”
According to the Sports Nippon newspaper, talento Ogura Yuko (27) is looking to hold her wedding this fall. It appears that she has decided to have it in Hawaii, and sources say she is currently there to visit a chapel that will likely be the venue for the wedding.
Ogura is engaged to popular hair and makeup stylist Kikuchi Isao (40). Their relationship was discovered in January of last year, and in November it was learned that Ogura had accepted Kikuchi’s proposal.
The two are said to be in the process of choosing a date for the wedding. On several occasions in the past, Ogura has declared that she wants to get married by the age of 28. Given that holding weddings on birthdays is not uncommon, there appears to be a good chance that they will aim for Ogura’s 28th birthday, on November 1.
Source:
Sponichi Annex
Rumors of a solo debut by AKB48’s Maeda Atsuko are now confirmed. Her first single is titled “Flower” and will be used in her movie “Moshi Koukou Yakyuu no Joshi Manager ga Drucker no Management wo Yondara” (“Moshidora”), which opens in theaters on June 4, 2011.
Maeda personally announced the news on Saturday during AKB48′s handshake event at Nagoya Dome. The song is said to be a slow ballad and will be released on CD on June 22. There will be 3 versions, with different coupling songs and DVD content. It will be released through King Records, the same label as AKB48. More details will be revealed at a later date.
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Kanjani8 member Maruyama Ryuhei (27) will appear in his first movie, it was announced today. He is joining lead actor Eita (28) in the movie adaptation of Mochizuki Mikiya’s action manga “Wild 7,” which was unveiled in February.
The original manga, serialized between 1969 and 1979, revolved around a group of seven motorcycle-riding outlaws who receive authorization from the police to combat criminals and terrorists. Eita is playing Hiba Dairoku, the leader and the youngest of the group.
Maruyama has been cast as the member Pairou (or possibly Pyro), an original character for the movie taking the place of the character Happyaku from the manga. Pairou’s grandfather is American, making him a quarter-American. His specialties are explosives and machinery.
Filming is already in progress and is planned to finish in May. Warner Bros. has not yet set a release date for the movie.
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