Broadcaster NHK has announced that actor Ito Hideaki (35) will star in a new drama series titled “Last Money ~Ai no Nedan~.” Inspired by a real-life series of murders for insurance money, the show is described as a tale of psychological suspense revolving around themes of love and money.
Ito, who has never before played the lead in an NHK series, has been cast as a claims adjuster for a life insurance company. While burdened with a past trauma involving an insurance claim, he begins investigating a woman suspected of marriage fraud, played by Takashima Reiko.
Supporting cast members include Nakamaru Yuichi (KAT-TUN), Matsushige Yutaka, Tabata Tomoko, Tanaka Tetsushi, Ibu Masato, and Natsuyagi Isao.
“Last Money” begins airing on September 13 in NHK’s Tuesday 10:00pm time slot and will continue for 7 episodes.
Source:
Oricon
The heroine of the “Rurouni Kenshin” live-action movie has just been revealed. Rising star Takei Emi (17) will take on the role of Kamiya Kaoru, playing opposite lead actor Sato Takeru’s (22) Himura Kenshin.
The movie, based on Watsuki Nobuhiro’s popular manga of the same name, was just officially confirmed last month. Filming begins in August, so Takei is already preparing with training in swordplay and other skills.
Theatrical release is planned for summer 2012.
Takei recently starred in the manga-to-drama adaptation “Asukou March!” She has also landed major roles in the 2012 taiga drama “Taira no Kiyomori” and the 2012 movie “Ai to Makoto 201X.”
Sources:
Oricon
Eiga.com
SKE48 members Matsui Jurina (14) and Yagami Kumi (17) are making their movie debuts together in a film titled “WAYA! Uchuu Ichi no Osekkai Daisakusen,” it has been learned.
Directed by Kohatsu Yo, the film stars comedian Itoda Jun, a member of the duo Speed Wagon. The story is set in the Endouji shopping arcade in Nagoya, near SKE48′s base in Sakae.
Itoda plays the part of Kantaro, a young man working at the cleaners who is chosen as the head of the arcade’s youth organization. He decides to plan a big event in honor of the arcade’s chairman, a stubborn old man named Shige (Yazaki Shigeru) who has been running a wooden clog shop for 30 years. However, his true objective is to reconcile the relationship between Shige and Shige’s friend Nobu (Lou Oshiba) after the two have a fight. But Kantaro’s little white lie ends up growing, turning his meddlesome plan into a mess.
Matsui plays Sanae, the granddaughter of the stubborn old man, while Yagami plays a cool high school student. Matsui was actually only 13 when the movie was filmed, even though her character is 18 years old.
Both Matsui and Yagami were chosen for their parts through an audition involving all of the SKE48 members, held by the director at the group’s theater in Sakae.
The cast also includes Itoda’s comedy partner Ozawa Kazuhiro, Mizuno Miki, Fujita Tomoko, Moro Morooka, Miwa Mizuki, and Kojima Noriko.
“WAYA! Uchuu Ichi no Osekkai Daisakusen” will open first in Nagoya in October, and other theaters across the country will follow.
Sources:
Eiga.com
2NE1 set for September debut in Japan
Due to the earthquake in Japan, 2NE1's debut plans were delayed. However, come September, 2NE1 will be making a lightning debut in Japan with a formal mini-album. YG Entertainment stated, "On September 21st, 2NE1 will be releasing a mini album and making their official debut in Japan through popular Japanese agency, Avex Entertainment."
On March 11th of this year, 2NE1 had visited Japan in order to appear on a popular music program in Japan, "Music Station". However, due to a huge earthquake at the time, their appearance and the release of their album were both postponed.
With their debut album release coming up, a download service for "I am the Best" will begin on Japan's biggest music mobile site, "Rekochoku," on July 20th, to kick off the 2NE1 countdown. To follow up, on August 10th and August 31st, they will release two more of their hit Korean songs as Japanese versions. Just like their group name, it will be in intervals of 21 days.
Leader CL stated, "After experiencing such hardships together, we feel closer with everyone. This time, we hope that we can create stages that we can enjoy together." Fellow member Sandara Park also revealed, "Still, when I think about the earthquake that day, my heart beats fast. It was a tough time but we'll still be going to Japan to work hard on our activities."
Are you excited for 2NE1 to debut in Japan?
Source: Herald M and YG Ladies
Credits: Karina @ Koreaboo
The hit drama series “SPEC ~Keishichou Kouanbu Kouan Daigoka Mishou Jiken Tokubetsu Taisakugakari Jikenbo~” from last year is going to continue in the form of a special episode and a theatrical movie. Toda Erika (22) and Kase Ryo (36) will return as co-stars.
Originally broadcast during the fall of 2010, “SPEC” was the spiritual successor to the 1999 drama series “Keizoku.” Toda and Kase played two police detectives dealing with unnatural cases, leading them into confrontation against people with special powers known as SPECs.
The special episode will air before the release of the movie, though no specific broadcast date has been announced yet. The episode is tentatively titled “SPEC ~Keishichou Kouanbu Kouan Daigoka Mishou Jiken Tokubetsu Taisakugakari Jikenbo~ Shou” and will take place one year after the drama series, focusing on addressing some of the questions that were left unanswered.
The movie is tentatively titled ”SPEC ~Keishichou Kouanbu Kouan Daigoka Mishou Jiken Tokubetsu Taisakugakari Jikenbo~ Ten.” Like the original series and the special episode, Tsutsumi Yukihiko (55) will direct. Details are still unknown, but the release has been scheduled for spring 2012.
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Actress and singer Mizuki Alisa (34) is said to currently be in a relationship with actor Shimizu Ryotaro (22). According to the Sports Nippon newspaper, the two of them started dating earlier this year, and Shimizu has already openly informed his father, comic impersonator Shimizu Akira (57).
Mizuki is currently starring in the TBS drama series “Hanawake no Yon-shimai” that started on Sunday. As previously reported, that drama makes this her 20th year in a row that she has had a starring role in a television series.
Shimizu, on the other hand, is a relatively new actor. He started out in 2006 with a minor role in “Komyo ga Tsuji.” He has also appeared in dramas such as “Elite Yankee Saburo” and the third season of “Gokusen.”
When reached for comment, Mizuki’s and Shimizu’s agencies both simply stated that the two are good friends.
Source:
Sponichi Annex
Hello! Project trio Buono! will star together in a movie for the first time. The movie is titled “Gomennasai” and is an adaptation of a popular mobile phone novel. Asato Mari (“Ju-on: Kuroi Shoujo”) is directing.
“Gomennasai” is a horror story set in a high school in the Kanagawa prefecture. The three main characters are Hidaka Yuka (Suzuki Airi), Kurobane Hinako (Natsuyaki Miyabi), and Sonoda Shiori (Tsugunaga Momoko). The story starts when Shiori is unable to beat the talented Hinako in a test, and she begins getting harassed about it. Hinako is later forced to write the script for a play that will be performed at the school festival, but from that point on, people around them begin to mysteriously die one by one.
The three members of Buono! will also apparently appear in secondary roles as themselves, addressing the audience about real-life horror stories.
The movie is scheduled to be released this fall. Buono! will also sing the theme song, which has not been given a title yet.
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On the 8th, actress Inoue Mao filmed on location in Azumino, Nagano for NHK's current asadora Ohisama. It has been exactly a year since filming first began in Azumino. On the day of filming, soba flowers were in full bloom. The sunny weather also allowed for filming to be completed smoothly.
Set in the Showa period, the times have finally settled down as it reached 1950 (Showa 25). The scenes filmed that day will show the dream of the Maruyama family. These will air during weeks 20 to 22 of the drama, which will be broadcasted from August 15 to September 3.
For Inoue it is her second time filming on location in Azumino. She says, "It's been a year since the crank-in. The seasons have come and gone, but it's great to come back." With the effects of the Tohoku earthquake, there are many things people are reflecting upon these days. Inoue believes there are lots of meaningful lines in the drama, with many more messages still to be conveyed. "I'm really grateful to play a character who cherishes everything around her."
It's the first time for Kora Kengo to film on location in Azumino. He plays of the role of Inoue's husband in the drama. Kora says that he's happy to be in Azumino. "The scenery here is amazing. There's an entirely new feeling you get filming on location than in the studio." With another month left to go, everyone promises to do their best to complete the filming.
Compiled from: Daily Sports Online & Nikkan Sports
Translated by: sparkles_n15 @ asianfanatics.net
The hit drama series “SPEC ~Keishichou Kouanbu Kouan Daigoka Mishou Jiken Tokubetsu Taisakugakari Jikenbo~” from last year is going to continue in the form of a special episode and a theatrical movie. Toda Erika (22) and Kase Ryo (36) will return as co-stars.
Originally broadcast during the fall of 2010, “SPEC” was the spiritual successor to the 1999 drama series “Keizoku.” Toda and Kase played two police detectives dealing with unnatural cases, leading them into confrontation against people with special powers known as SPECs.
The special episode will air before the release of the movie, though no specific broadcast date has been announced yet. The episode is tentatively titled “SPEC ~Keishichou Kouanbu Kouan Daigoka Mishou Jiken Tokubetsu Taisakugakari Jikenbo~ Shou” and will take place one year after the drama series, focusing on addressing some of the questions that were left unanswered.
The movie is tentatively titled ”SPEC ~Keishichou Kouanbu Kouan Daigoka Mishou Jiken Tokubetsu Taisakugakari Jikenbo~ Ten.” Like the original series and the special episode, Tsutsumi Yukihiko (55) will direct. Details are still unknown, but the release has been scheduled for spring 2012.
tokyograph
Actress Horikita Maki (22) has officially been announced as the star of an upcoming NHK morning drama, confirming a rumor from earlier this month. The drama is titled “Umechan-sensei” and is an original story written by Ozaki Masaya (“Kekkon Dekinai Otoko,” “Oniyome Nikki”).
The story is set in the devastated area of Kamata, Tokyo, in 1945 just after the end of the war. Horikita plays Shimomura Umeko, the youngest of three siblings whose father is a doctor at a university hospital. Compared to her outstanding sister Matsuko and brother Takeo, she lacks self-confidence, but an incident makes her determined to become a local doctor. However, her path is fraught with failures.
Horikita will play the character from the age of 16 up to her mid-30s. This is the first time that she has been cast as a doctor.
Filming is scheduled to begin in November of this year. The series will last 156 episodes, starting on April 2, 2012.
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