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Rimi Natsukawa becomes an actress – Tokyograph
Newlywed singer Rimi Natsukawa is ready to make her acting debut. She has been cast in ‘Minami no Shima no Furimun,’ a movie starring and directed by comedian Gori of Garage Sale. The movie is Gori’s first full-length directorial effort. The story is a comedy set in Okinawa, where both he and Natsukawa are originally…
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Yu Yamada’s “My All” (PV on YouTube)
Talented model/actress/singer Yu Yamada’s latest single—her first since last April’s “leave all behind”—is set to be released on the 21st of this month. The ballad, titled “My All,” is featured on the movie “Kanna-san Daiseikou desu!” that she’s starring in. Watch the movie’s trailer here. Ordering the single via this link helps us out at…
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HY’s “366日” used as the theme song to “Akai Ito”
If you should know the name of at least one indie label band from Okinawa along with all of the other things you’ve accumulated in your mind for 2008, know HY. The band, despite their continued popularity, remain unsigned to a major label (by choice) and have released a total of five albums in a…
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Yukie Nakama cameo in “Elite Yankee Saburo” – Tokyograph
The upcoming movie version of ‘Elite Yankee Saburo’ is being reinforced with the addition of top actress Yukie Nakama. Based on a TV Tokyo adaptation of a gag manga by Shuji Abe, the movie stars Hideo Ishiguro as a teenage otaku who gets mislabeled as an ‘elite’ delinquent. Nakama will play a very minor role…
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Wallpaper: Takeshi Kaneshiro in John Woo’s “Red Cliff” (TSUTAYA online)
One of the best films I’ve seen this year, John Woo’s “Red Cliff” gets the kabegami (wallpaper) treatment and the one we’re featuring (three in all) has actor Takeshi Kaneshiro (who plays strategist Zhuge Liang) in it. Go and download the wallpaper (in commemorating the Japan release of the film) from TSUTAYA online here. And…
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Kiroro, Keroro join forces – Tokyograph
The duo Kiroro will be singing their first movie theme song for the animated feature ‘Keroro Gunso 4,’ which is scheduled for release in March. Their song, titled ‘Minna Anata wo Aishiteru,’ will be released in February, ahead of the film’s opening. The film’s theme is ‘birth,’ which is appropriate for Kiroro as keyboardist Ayano…
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Yoshimoto Kogyo planning Okinawa film fest – Tokyograph
Last week, Yoshimoto Kogyo unveiled its plans to hold an international film festival in Chatan, Okinawa, next year. Known as the Okinawa International Movie Festival 2009, the event’s theme is ‘Laugh & Peace.’ It will take place on March 19-22. Among the works being screened are the 100 short films directed by Yoshimoto Kogyo entertainers,…
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Yui Aragaki to star in first period film
Those of you waiting to see Yui Aragaki don a kimono in a jidaigeki can look forward to an upcoming film called “BALLAD: Namonaki Koi no Uta.” Yui will play the part of a princess and the film will mark her first in a period drama set during the Warring States period of Japan’s history.…
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Eriko Imai to star in “Yuzuriha -Kimi mo mata tsugi no kimi e-“
Eriko Imai (SPEED) will star in an upcoming Japanese film titled “Yuzuriha -Kimi mo mata tsugi no kimi e-” which is set to hit theaters in Japan in Summer of 2009. Eriko’s previous film, the sequel to “Onmyoji” which she also starred in, was released in 2003. (Via Yahoo! Japan.)
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Alan sings “Nada Sou Sou”
OK, I know we don’t normally go outside of our Okinawan pop culture bubble but we had to blog about this J-pop singer that we’re totally excited about: Alan (in keeping with the Japanese infatuation with using lowercase for names, in the J-pop world her name is listed as alan). Alan is a Tibetan/Chinese singer…
Karakui 