J-Dorama.de News

Noriyuki Higashiyama stars as samurai in "Ogawa no Hotori" film

info@j-dorama.de (Daniel Franz) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:57:47 +0100

Shonentai's Noriyuki Higashiyama (43) will star in a new movie called "Ogawa no Hotori." The film is being directed by Tetsuo Shinohara, who last worked with Higashiyama in the award-winning 2008 film "Yamazakura."

Like "Yamazakura," "Ogawa no Hotori" is based on a story by well-known author Shuhei Fujisawa. Higashiyama plays the part of a samurai in the fictional Unasaka clan (the clan appears in many of Fujisawa's works). For the climax scene, it is said that Higashiyama will undergo intense physical training.

Higashiyama's support cast consists of Ryo Katsuji, Ainosuke Kataoka, Machiko Ono, Chieko Matsubara, Takashi Sasano, Tokuma Nishioka, and Tatsuya Fuji. Theatrical release is scheduled for early summer 2011.

Keigo Higashino's "Himitsu" adapted to drama

info@j-dorama.de (Daniel Franz) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:52:05 +0100

The Keigo Higashino novel "Himitsu" ("The Secret") is being turned into a live-action drama series this fall, starring Mirai Shida (17) and Kuranosuke Sasaki (42). The show will air in TV Asahi's Friday 11:15pm time slot, starting in October.

Published in 1998, "Himitsu" was nominated for the Naoki Prize and the Yoshikawa Eiji Prize, while winning the Mystery Writers of Japan Prize. In 1999, director Yojiro Takita adapted it as a movie, starring Ryoko Hirosue (30) and Kaoru Kobayashi (58). The story involves a married couple, where the wife dies but her spirit ends up inside the couple's daughter.

Naturally, Shida is playing the role of the daughter and Sasaki is playing the father. Hikari Ishida (38) has been cast as the mother. Other cast members include Yuika Motokariya (22), Tantan Hayashi (21), Satoshi Hashimoto (44), Shouko Ikezu (40), Takeshi Masu (54), Ryou Ryuusei (17), Keiko Horiuchi (39), and Mitsuru Fukikoshi (45).

Kutsuna, Kanjiya, Yuuki receive award for stylish hair

info@j-dorama.de (Daniel Franz) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:52:54 +0100

The presentation ceremony for the 7th Beauty Week Award was held in Tokyo on Wednesday, slightly earlier than its usual September 4 date. The award is given every year to a group of female celebrities with stylish hair.

This year, the awards were given in categories by age (10s, 20s, 30s). The recipients were actresses Shiori Kutsuna (17) and Shihori Kanjiya (24), as well as talento Maomi Yuuki (30).

Eita, Kaela Kimura tie the knot

info@j-dorama.de (Daniel Franz) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:08:53 +0100

Eita (27) and Kaela Kimura (25) are now officially husband and wife. They both announced on their websites that they submitted their marriage registration on Wednesday.

The two surprised everyone in June when they revealed that they were engaged and that Kimura was five months pregnant at the time. In their messages on Wednesday, they declared that they are looking forward to soon raising their child as a family of three. Kimura is due to give birth in November.

Yukie Nakama, Rei Dan face off in winter drama series

info@j-dorama.de (Daniel Franz) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:49:54 +0100

The stars of one of Fuji TV's drama series this coming winter have already been announced. Although the show does not yet have a title, it will be led by Yukie Nakama (30) and Rei Dan (39), apparently working together for the first time. Filming already started on August 30.

The show portrays a suspenseful battle between two women. Nakama takes on the role of a mysterious "wicked woman," while Dan plays a housewife of a happy home. After the two meet, their peaceful lives become a complicated mess of both friendship and jealousy.

The series begins in January and will air in Fuji TV's Tuesday 10:00pm time slot.

Tomohiro Ichikawa to star in "Clone Baby"

info@j-dorama.de (Daniel Franz) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:44:26 +0100

This fall, TBS is creating a new 30-minute time slot for dramas on Friday nights at 12:20am, called "Friday Break." The first series in that slot is tentatively titled "Clone Baby" and will star 18-year-old actor Tomohiro Ichikawa. This will be his first starring role in a drama series.

The show, which revolves around human cloning, is described as a suspense and mystery story set in a metaphorical game of "musical chairs," involving elements such as psychological warfare.

Of the nine main cast members, six were chosen through audition: Ichikawa, Toori Matsuzaka, Yukari Taki, Kento Yamazaki, Daisuke Kikuta, and Yu Inaba. The other three main cast members are Akiko Kikuchi, Honoka Miki, and Tetsuya Makita.

"Clone Baby" will premiere in October.

"Deka Wanko" manga goes live-action

info@j-dorama.de (Daniel Franz) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:45:23 +0100

"Deka Wanko," a manga series by "Gokusen" creator Kozueko Morimoto, is being turned into a live-action television drama. The news is being announced in the new issue of Shueisha's magazine YOU, on sale September 1.

Started in 2008, the "Deka Wanko" manga is about a rookie detective named Ichiko Hanamori. She earned the nickname "Wanko" ("doggie") for her uncanny dog-like sense of smell, which helps her in solving unusual cases. The series is currently up to six collected volumes.

More details about the drama version may be revealed in the magazine.

Eiichiro Funakoshi suffering from health issues

info@j-dorama.de (Daniel Franz) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:17:37 +0100

Actor Eiichiro Funakoshi (50) is currently on break from work for health reasons. According to Shukan Josei, Funakoshi is suffering from a condition related to his facial nerves, which appears to be a type of nerve paralysis known as Bell's palsy.

The cause of his condition is unknown, but there is a high probability that it may be due to stress. Funakoshi has been hard at work, despite two losses in his family earlier this year - his younger sister committed suicide in February, and his mother, actress Yumiko Hasegawa, died of lung cancer in July.

Funakoshi's agency said that on August 19, the actor felt discomfort in his face. He still headed to Kyoto for filming of a new episode of his drama special series "Kariya Keibu," but because his condition had not improved, he was taken to a hospital for examination. The doctor reportedly diagnosed him with Bell's palsy.

Funakoshi is currently receiving treatment, and he hopes to return to work in early September.

Photos taken by Maki Horikita on exhibit

info@j-dorama.de (Daniel Franz) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:49:05 +0100

A collection of photographs taken by actress Maki Horikita (21) is currently on display in a major photo exhibit called "'PHOTO IS' 10,000 Nin no Shashinwa 2010," it has been learned.

Horikita took various pictures of scenery with her own camera while she was in Italy for a movie shoot. Those photographs were put together as a book, which was submitted to the exhibit for a special corner focused on photobooks. The same corner also includes a collection by model Nozomi Sasaki (22) that she took of her own dog.

The "PHOTO IS" exhibit is completely open to submissions, and all applicants get their entries displayed in at least one city as the exhibit tours the country. It is the largest exhibit of its kind in Japan, and admission is free at all of its stops.

Horikita is also featured on the exhibit's official website.

Takehiro Murata causes car accident

info@j-dorama.de (Daniel Franz) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:14:43 +0100

Actor Takehiro Murata (50) caused a traffic accident over the weekend, it has been revealed. Although Murata was unharmed, a young man suffered minor injuries due to the incident.

Just after 8:00pm on Saturday night, Murata was driving his car in Tokyo's Setagaya ward as he headed home. At one intersection, while making a right turn, his vehicle came in contact with a motorcycle coming from the opposite direction. The rider, a male part-time worker in his 20s, was injured in his right arm.

Murata stated that he was only paying attention to the path in front of his car as he was turning, rather than carefully checking for oncoming traffic. Police are investigating further and may charge Murata with negligent driving resulting in injury.

Junior Chihara to star in "Minami no Teiou" drama

info@j-dorama.de (Daniel Franz) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:20:18 +0100

Comedian Junior Chihara (36) has been given his first starring role in a television drama. The show is "Shin Minami no Teiou," a live-action adaptation of the popular "Minami no Teiou" manga by Dai Tennoji and Rikiya Gou.

"Minami no Teiou" has been in publication since 1992, collected into 103 volumes so far. It has already spawned 64 films (mostly direct-to-video), starring Riki Takeuchi (46).

The story centers on the loan shark Ginjiro Manda, known as the "king" of the Minami business district in Osaka. Feared by all, the ruthless Manda charges "toichi" (10% interest every 10 days) and yet stops at nothing to collect every last yen.

Shunsuke Daitou (24) plays Manda's underling. Ren Oosugi (58), Hisako Manda (52), Miho Shiraishi (32), Masahiko Nishimura (49), Hidekazu Akai (51), and Shige Uchida (32) have also been cast.

"Shin Minami no Teiou" will be broadcast by Fuji TV on September 21.

Yukina Kinoshita, Toshifumi Fujimoto now married

info@j-dorama.de (Daniel Franz) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:11:53 +0100

Talento Yukina Kinoshita (22) has reportedly tied the knot with comedian Toshifumi Fujimoto (39) of the duo FUJIWARA. Sources say that they registered their marriage on August 28, and they will personally make a public announcement about the marriage on the September 1 episode of "Quiz! Hexagon II."

The pair first met two years ago through that show, and their friendship turned into romance around May 2009. FRIDAY soon reported their relationship, and it was openly confirmed a couple weeks later. Since then, they have been seen together in public several times.

Masaru Nagai, Noriko Nakagoshi in rumored relationship

info@j-dorama.de (Daniel Franz) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:07:30 +0100

Nikkan Sports reports that actor Masaru Nagai (32) and actress Noriko Nakagoshi (30) are in a serious relationship, based on information from people close to the two. The pair apparently started dating after appearing together in the "Salaryman Kintarou 2" drama series that aired between January and March of this year.

During a press conference for a stage play earlier this month, Nakagoshi denied one tabloid's claim that she is dating Sanma Akashiya (55). At the same time, she hinted that she is in a relationship with someone else, and that person now seems to be Nagai, according to the new rumor.

Nakagoshi had appeared as a guest in two episodes of "Salaryman Kintarou 2." This was the first time that she worked with Nagai, and in interviews, both of them spoke highly of each other. Sources say that they often had meals together, and around springtime their relationship had progressed to romance. It is also said that marriage may not be far off.

Nagai was previously dating Ryoko Hirosue (30), but they broke up at the start of this year.

Joe Odagiri, Ken Watanabe play teacher and student in drama special

info@j-dorama.de (Daniel Franz) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:51:58 +0100

On October 11, TBS will broadcast a drama special titled "Hei no Naka no Chuugakkou," starring Joe Odagiri (34). The story is a human drama scripted by veteran writer Makiko Uchidate, filmed in an actual prison.

The story is set in the Asahimachi Junior High School, the only junior high school in Japan inside a prison. The school provides education to prisoners of all ages who were unable to receive the regular compulsory education. Odagiri plays the main character as a teacher in the school, and the show focuses on his interactions with the various students, which include Ken Watanabe (50) as a former steeplejack serving 15 years for two murders, Seiji Chihara (40), Hideji Ootaki (85), and Shota Sometani (17).

The drama was shot at the real location, within the Matsumoto Juvenile Prison in Matsumoto, Nagano. This is said to be the first television drama filmed within actual prison walls.

Kyouka Suzuki, Kyoko Fukada star in "Second Virgin"

info@j-dorama.de (Daniel Franz) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:33:50 +0100

NHK has announced the broadcast of a drama series titled "Second Virgin," starring Kyouka Suzuki (42) and Kyoko Fukada (27). Actor Hiroki Hasegawa (33) will play the male lead.

Suzuki plays a divorced producer in publishing who meets a man 17 years younger than her (Hasegawa) and begins having an affair with him. Fukada plays Hasegawa's wife.

The series will air on Tuesday nights at 10:00pm, beginning on October 12. It has also been announced that the theme song will be Kumi Koda's "Anata Dake ga," which goes on sale as a double A-side single with "Suki de, Suki de, Suki de" on September 22.