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Music: Toru Yonaha’s 3rd album near completion
Most of you who know me IRL know that I’m a fan of Toru Yonaha’s music so it’s no surprise that I’m going to hype his upcoming 3rd album to death until its release. The recording part is finished and they’re adding the finishing touches for the CD’s booklet. All that’s left is the mix…
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Film: ‘The Yakiniku Movie: Bulgolgi’ to screen at this year’s LVHIFF
From the LVHIFF 2007 site: THE YAKINIKU MOVIE is sure to drive LVHIFF filmgoers into a feeding frenzy after the screening! It’s the tale of Hyon and Yonchi, two long lost brothers from Korea reunited in Japan by their passion for barbecue…only to find themselves on opposite sides of the ultimate bulgogi smack down! […]…
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Show your support
From the NYT: “Okinawans Protest Japan’s Plan to Revise Bitter Chapter of World War II” For the past quarter of a century, Japan’s high school textbooks had included the accepted historical fact that that Okinawans had been coerced into mass suicides by Imperial Army soldiers. But six months ago, the Education Ministry said that next…
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Desktop: Canon’s Enjoy Photo with three beauties
Wow, Canon’s been rolling out the desktops (and screen savers) for their Enjoy Photo website once a month (which is pretty quick for for a non-calendar desktops) but who’s complaining? Grab the desktop (available in widescreen too) and screen saver featuring Yu Yamada for your Mac/PC over here (choose from the picture that reads ダウンロード…
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Yui Aragaki to debut at Budokan – Tokyograph
Details of Yui Aragaki’s new music career were announced on Monday. On December 5, she will release her first album, titled ‘Sora.’ Then on December 21, she will give her first live performance in front of 10,000 fans at the Nippon Budokan. Aragaki is only the third artist (and first female idol) to debut at…
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Video: Cocco’s ‘Fuuka Fuusou’ DVD release
Cocco’s VHS+CD single “Fuuka Fuusou”, available only in Okinawa (also check out her “Jugon no Mieru Oka” single), will be extending its life with a DVD release on November 21, 2007. While the VHS+CD can still be found in Okinawa (I picked up a copy at Tower Records [or was it Takara Records?] in March…
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Autumn 2007’s line-up of J-dramas
Summer 2007’s J-drama line-up proved to be a successful one for actors from Okinawa so how does autumn look? Abarenbo Mama (Fuji TV) stars Aya Ueto in the lead role Hataraki Man (NTV) stars Yu Yamada in a supporting role Joshi Deka! (TBS) stars Yukie Nakama in the lead role Otoko no Kosodate (TV Asahi)…
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Music: ‘Sanshin punk rock band’ Yamato
Yamato is a three-piece band from mainland Japan who are labeling themselves as a “sanshin punk rock band.” Lead vocalist, Hitoshi Tawaratsumida from Kagoshima Prefecture, plays sanshin and guitar (albeit not at the same time 😛 ) for the trio. The band’s second album, “Tabi no waraji no tsume wo kiru” (11/7/07 release), will feature…
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Music: Kariyushi58 to release their 1st full album
Mark your calendars, Kariyushi58, a three-piece band from Okinawa, will release their first full album “Soro soro, kariyushi” on October 23, 2007. The 13-track album, featuring the hit singles “Anmaa” and “Te to Te”, will be an indie music release from LD&K Records. Check out the group’s PVs on YouTube. [Via bounce.com.]
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TV: Manami Higa’s ‘Dondo Bare’ finishes strong
It got off to a weak start but how you finish is what’s important, right? NHK’s 76th Asadora (if you’re keeping track, “Churasan” was the 64th), “Dondo Bare” starring Manami Higa, finished its run on September 29 with a strong finish at 23.2% for the final episode — contrast that with the 14.9% for the…
Karakui 