Tokio to release a new single!

Johnny's pop group TOKIO have announced the release of a new single, called advance / Mata asa ga kuru, for February 3rd.

advance / Mata asa ga kuru, as with the group's latest singles, will be released in three different versions. Two of these will be limited editions, both featuring a DVD in addition to the CD. One will include the PV of advance and the other will include the video of Mata asa ga kuru.

The last edition, which is CD-only, will have two additional songs: CRY FOR THE MOON and Period. The instrumental counterparts of advance, Mata asa ga kuru and CRY FOR THE MOON will also be included in the disc.

Smap to attend a Softbank promotion event.

It's not unusual to see the five members of SMAP together, as they all appear on their weekly show "SMAPxSMAP." But when they got together yesterday at Akasaka Sacas in central Tokyo for a Softbank Mobile PR event, it was their first collective press conference since promoting a concert tour in 1999. And it was their first sponsor promotion event as a group in 20 years.

SMAP have been helping Softbank hock their phones and services in a series of commercials this year. And the latest television CM was filmed last month in New York, where member Katori Shingo was performing in the first ever original Japanese theatrical production to debut off-Broadway.

Nakamaru MVP of the Johnny's sport festival!

In several previous news+ articles we reported that the 'Johnny's Selected Members Large Sports Festival (ジャニーズ選抜大運動会)' had been held at Tokyo Dome. The various Johnny's members competed in baseball, soccer and in a relay race. They were divided into two teams; J-RED and J-WHITE. KAT-TUN member Nakamaru was part of J-WHITE and played superbly in all three sports. "I think I did a good job in soccer. The match lasted for a total of 20 minutes. My teammates made some great passes to me, and that helped me pull off a hat trick. I was surprised myself. Because of the amount of points I scored, I was chosen as the MVP. When I received the award I felt really happy." Along with his musical skills, he showed that he was equally talented in sports as well. But there was one problem. "After the event, my muscles started to hurt. It was more painful than in any other time of my life. As a result, I learned that I must regularly exercise. For that I should follow Ueda's example." The sports festival seemed to have been hard work! He should get a well deserved rest. His experience is bound to have a positive impact on his career as a KAT-TUN member.

Arashi top selling artist of 2009!

Oricon's year-end sales rankings for 2009 are out, and the results confirm that Arashi is the top selling artist of the year. They had the #1 single, the #1 album, the #1 music DVD, and were #1 for the first time in artist total sales.

In the 42 years of Oricon's history, no one else has topped all four categories in the same year.

Counting sales of singles, albums, music DVDs, and music Blu-ray Discs, Arashi grossed a total of more than 14.46 billion yen. At #2 this year was EXILE, who topped the list in 2008 with 19.58 billion yen in total sales.

In single sales, Arashi had the #1, #2, #3, and #5 releases, with "Believe / Kumori Nochi, Kaisei" in front at nearly 657,000 units sold. The only other artists to occupy the top three spots were Pink Lady in 1978 and Hikaru Genji in 1988.

Arashi are the first to have four of the top five, as well as the first to hold the top two spots in back-to-back years.

Their "All the BEST! 1999-2009" album sold over 1.43 million copies. In DVD sales, they were #1 and #2 with "5x10 All the BEST! CLIPS 1999-2009" (591,000) and "ARASHI AROUND ASIA 2008 in TOKYO" (428,000). More complete ranking lists are available on the Oricon website.

Yamapi and Keiko dating?

After appearing together in the drama Buzzer Beat, Yamashita Tomohisa and Kitagawa Keiko's onscreen romance has blossomed into real life. Last month, Japanese magazine Josei Seven took photos of them holding hands in the rain. Afterwards, Yamashita clarified that it was only the angle of the shot, as they are only friends. However, this month's issue of the magazine once again caught them on a date earlier in the month.



On that day, the two were seen leaving Kitagawa's place. Afterwards they went for a meal together. It was evident in the photos that Kitagawa was holding onto Yamashita's arm. They seemed very comfortable with each other and looked like an actual couple on a date. Approximately two hours later the two left the restaurant. Reporters found out the pair had switched their jackets. Even if they are insistent that they're 'only friends', their actions seem to prove otherwise.

From last Months Josei

BEST ARTIST 2009 Performers list!

BEST ARTIST 2009
Date: Dec 15th, 2009
Time: 7 PM (4 hours)
Station: NTV



The artist who will be appearing in the show are:

Aiko


Arashi


ayaka


Ikimonogakari


EXILE


Every Little Thing


KAT-TUN


Kanjani8


Kuwata Keisuke


Koda Kumi


GLAY


Kobukuro


SPEED


TOKIO


Nakashima Mika


NEWS


Perfume




Hamasaki Ayumi


Hirai Ken


V6


Porno Graffitti


Yuzu


Remioromen

LANDS releases Album!

LANDS (Jin Akanishi x Takeshi Kobayashi)
JACA-5189
2000 yen
US$23/87.81
Release Date: 2010/01/13



Description: Original album release from LANDS (Jin Akanichi x Takeshi Kobayashi) including previously released single "BANDAGE" and more for eight songs total.

First Press Details: First press comes with 24-page booklet (subject to change)
http://cdjapan.jp/d.html?KEY=JACA-5189

Arashi takes the top 4 for high first week oricon chart!!

Currently celebrating their 10th anniversary, Johnny's Entertainment group Arashi has seen their popularity skyrocket in the past year. It seems they have no intention of slowing down as they have been added to the lineup for NHK's Red and White Singing Contest.

Their newest single 'My Girl' has also become a hit, successfully earning them the top 4 spots on this year's Oricon singles chart with the highest first week sales. 'My Girl' has reached number 3 on the charts, just after 'Ashita no Kioku / Crazy Moon' and 'Believe / Kumorinochi Kaisei'. The fourth spot also belongs to them with their previous single 'Everything'. They seem to have effortlessly dominated the sales in the singles chart for 2009.

In addition, fans from all over the world were thrilled when they announced their appearance on NHK's Red and White Singing Contest. It is the first time that Johnny's Entertainment will be having four groups perform on the show. Arashi's popularity has continued to rise within this year, especially riding on the success of individual projects from all five members. To be invited to perform at the 60th Red and White Singing Contest during their 10th year seems very appropriate.

Trans. by: sparkles_n15 at asianfanatics.net

Kame, tegoshi and uchi to star in new drama!

The live-action drama adaptation of Tomoko Hayakawa's manga "Yamato Nadeshiko Shichihenge" was confirmed on Sunday. KAT-TUN's Kazuya Kamenashi (23) will play the lead role and will be joined by Hiroki Uchi (23) and NEWS member Yuya Tegoshi (22).

The comedic story revolves a group of handsome young men who are offered free lodging if they can turn the owner's niece into a proper lady. Kamenashi plays the short-tempered Kyohei Takano, while Uchi and Tegoshi play two of his housemates. Aya Omasa (18) has been cast as the niece Sunako, a solitary girl with low self-esteem. As the men work together to change Sunako, she and Kyohei begin to form a romantic relationship.

The cast also includes ballet dancer Shuntaro Miyao (25). TBS will premiere the series on January 15, airing every Friday at 10:00pm.

Kanjani8 member Maruyama Ryuhei infected with the Influenza

The spread of influenza seems to have slowed down in the entertainment world, but at least two more celebrities recently caught it. Ryuhei Maruyama (26) was diagnosed with influenza type A on Sunday, becoming the fifth Kanjani8 member to get it within the past three months. Last Friday, talento Ayana Tsubaki (25) was also diagnosed with the flu, and hers was confirmed to be the H1N1 virus.

Both Maruyama and Tsubaki are taking breaks from their schedules to recover. Maruyama will miss at least two TV recordings, while Tsubaki has had to cancel appearances at a live talk event, a magazine launch, and a radio program.

Jin's Movie "Bandage" sells 70000 advance tickets on first day

BANDAGE

Advance tickets for the movie "BANDAGE" (opens January 16) went on sale last Saturday. Now, Toho has revealed that about 70,000 tickets were sold on the first day, setting the record for a live-action film distributed by the studio.

Directed by music producer Takeshi Kobayashi and written by Shunji Iwai, the film has received lots of attention for being the first movie to star KAT-TUN member Jin Akanishi (25). In the movie, he plays the vocalist of a rock band called LANDS. The film's theme song was released this week as a single under the band's name, and it immediately captured the #1 spot on Oricon's daily ranking chart.

Sakurai Sho and Horikita Maki to star in new drama

Arashi's Sho Sakurai (27) and actress Maki Horikita (21) will play the leads in the TBS drama series "Tokujo Kabachi!!" next season. The drama is based on the sequel to the manga "Kabachitare!," which was turned into a drama series in 2001.

Sakurai plays Katsuhiro Tamura, a young man with a strong sense of justice. Although he believes that the law isn't always right, he becomes an administrative scrivener with the goal of manipulating the law in order to protect the weak.

On the other hand, Horikita plays Misuzu Sumiyoshi, a former delinquent who hates to lose and who is now a capable scrivener. Katsuhiro and Misuzu are always at odds, but they gradually come to understand each other.

The supporting cast includes Masatoshi Nakamura, Kenichi Endo, Katsumi Takahashi, and Yuko Asano. TBS will air the drama on Sundays at 9:00pm, starting on January 17.

It is also reported that the drama plans to try out a new incentive for viewers: a quiz question will be asked during the show, and a winner chosen from the viewers who submit the correct answer will receive a phone call from Sakurai himself.

Arashi to star in drama special: "Saigo no yakusoku"

Fuji TV announced earlier this month that all five members of the popular boy band Arashi will co-star in a drama special titled "Saigo no Yakusoku." This will be the first time they have acted together in a television drama since "V no Arashi" in 1999.

"Saigo no Yakusoku" is a human suspense story with a theme of "bonds." One day, a major building gets taken over in an unprecedented incident. Five young men who happen to be inside (played by Arashi) must try to escape the dangerous situation.

Fuji TV will air the drama at the start of 2010, though the exact date and time have not yet been decided.

They also announced that Kuroki Meisa will be the heroine of this drama and will co-star with the 5 Arashi members.

Actress Meisa Kuroki (21) has been chosen to play the heroine role in the Fuji TV drama special "Saigo no Yakusoku." It was recently announced that the drama will star all five members of Arashi.

"Saigo no Yakusoku" is described as a human suspense story involving the hijack of a major building. The members of Arashi play five young men who happen to be inside, and the story depicts their attempt to escape and their interactions with the other people caught up in the incident.

Kuroki plays the daughter of the building's company president. One scene features an argument between her character and Jun Matsumoto (26), who plays a motorcycle courier.

Fuji TV plans to broadcast the drama near the start of 2010.

Code blue gets 2nd season!!

Fuji TV recently confirmed that last year's popular "Code Blue" drama series is getting a second full season. The show's first season averaged 15.9% ratings, and a special episode that aired this past January achieved 23.1% ratings.

Although the drama originally aired in the network's Thursday 10:00pm time slot, it has now been moved to the Monday 9:00pm slot. Lead actor Tomohisa Yamashita (24) was also the star of "Buzzer Beat" this past summer, making him the first person ever to star in two "Getsu 9" dramas separated by only a season.

In addition to Yamashita, the main cast of Yui Aragaki (21), Erika Toda (21), Manami Higa (23), and Yosuke Asari (22) is returning. Other familiar faces include Masanobu Katsumura (46), Susumu Terajima (46), Tetta Sugimoto (44), and Ryo (36), while Kippei Shiina (45) is a new addition.

Kanjani8 announces countdown concerts!

It was announced earlier this month that Kanjani8 will be holding their own New Year countdown concerts this year. They have previously participated in the usual Johnny's Jimusho countdown event at the Tokyo Dome, but this will be their first time by themselves.

Kanjani8 will do three concerts at Osaka Dome, on December 30, 31, and January 1, with an expected total attendance of 135,000 fans. They will be the second Johnny's group to do a New Year's Eve concert at the Osaka Dome, after KinKi Kids performed there last year.

It was also announced that the group will release three singles next month on consecutive days. The first will be "GIFT ~Shiro~" on December 23, followed by "GIFT ~Aka~" on Christmas Eve and then "GIFT ~Midori~" on Christmas Day. Each will retail for 888 yen and include two or three tracks, for a total of 7 songs.

Back~ + Yamapi's first solo concert

First of all sorry for not posting so long again D:
I had alot of stuff going on and didn't have the oppurtunity to post on
this blog!

So I'm going to try to post here again!

First anouncement:



Yamashita Tomohisa's first Solo Concert
NEWS member Tomohisa Yamashita (24) has scheduled his first solo concerts, to be held at Yokohama Arena this November. Just before that, he will also release a new solo single, his first in more than three years.

Yamashita's first single as a soloist was "Daite Senorita" in May 2006, used as the theme song of the drama series "Kurosagi." The song has sold more than 800,000 copies.

His new song is an R&B tune titled "Loveless." It will be released on November 18. Then, on November 21-23, he will do a total of five shows at the Yokohama Arena.

Well its a bit to late to anounce this but oh well -_-;

Go HERE to see fanreports of these concert shows

The Guests on his concert where: Ikuta Toma, Nakamaru Yuichi, Tanaka Koki, Akanishi Jin
(No news member huh...?)

Johnny's idols take turns in mini-drama project

Several Johnny's Jimusho idols will participate in a television mini-drama project on Fuji TV. Titled "0 Goushitsu no Kyaku," the show will consist of six stories, each lasting for a month. The weekly episodes will be 15 minutes long.

The drama is set in a city hotel called Point, where there is a strange "Room 0" that can reveal one's "grade" as a human being. Various guests with different circumstances visit the room, hoping to determine their own worth.

The first story stars Arashi's Satoshi Ohno as a salaryman who visits the room with a kyabakura hostess, only to discover that she gets a higher grade than he does.

In the second story, Kanjani8's Ryuhei Maruyama and Shota Yasuda play a comedy duo. Although they get along well, they can't find success together, so they visit the room to measure themselves.

The rest of the stories will be led by Shigeaki Kato (NEWS), Shingo Murakami (Kanjani8), Keiichiro Koyama (NEWS), and Shigeru Joshima (TOKIO), in that order. Yu Yokoyama (Kanjani8) will appear throughout the entire series as the storyteller.

The project will start with Ohno's story on October 23. Fuji TV will air the show late on Friday nights, at 1:05am.

Yamapi new drama BUZZER BEAT

NEWS member Tomohisa Yamashita has the lead role in Fuji TV's upcoming Monday night drama series, tentatively titled "Buzzer Beat ~Gakeppuchi no Hero~." His female lead this time is actress Keiko Kitagawa, who graduated from Meiji University's School of Commerce one year after he did.

The love story has Yamashita playing a salaryman who belongs to his company's basketball team. Despite his appearance, he is completely weak under pressure when it comes to work and romance. Although he has a girlfriend (Saki Aibu), he falls in love with a spirited and cheerful woman who is unable to be straightforward (Kitagawa).

Shihori Kanjiya plays Kitagawa's friend, while Hideaki Ito serves as Yamashita's rival in love. Junpei Mizobata, Nobuaki Kaneko, Miki Maya, and Masaru Nagai are also part of the supporting cast.

Yamashita's only experience with basketball so far is in classes at school, so he is undergoing special training for two weeks. "Buzzer Beat" premieres in July.

Yamashita Tomohisa to star in new drama confirmed~

Title of drama: Buzzer Beat
Time: Fuji TV Monday 9pm
Drama cast: Yamashita Tomohisa, Kitagawa Keiko, Aibu Saki, Kanjiya Shihori, Ito Hideaki, Mizobata Junpei
Plot Summary: This is a youthful lovestory depicting how a man, working for a company sponsored basketball team, who's not very self-confident but straight-forward and a woman who is cheerful but strong-willed　with an attitude grow up through the trials and tribulations of love and friendship. Main role Yamashita Tomohisa. The female role of the woman the man falls in love with has been given to Kitagawa Keiko


credits: XQ

Tokio's Nagase Tomoya stars in new drama

TOKIO's Tomoya Nagase is starring in a new drama on NTV next season. The show, currently untitled, is described as a comedy revolving around a superspy character.

Nagase plays Kyosuke Yoroi, a swindler serving a 30-year sentence after being caught for more than a dozen cases of fraud. However, the government sees that Kyosuke's skills can be put to use, so it arranges for his release under the condition that he becomes a spy to help fight against terrorists. His character is a bit clumsy and gets easily carried away, but he also possesses athleticism and sex appeal.

Each episode will tell one story, with different guests appearing each week. As part of his spy work, Nagase will be dressing up in various disguises, such as a pilot, a doctor, and a Korean actor resembling Bae Yong Joon. He will also be equipped with an array of gadgets, such as a ring that turns into a pistol and a shoe that doubles as a cell phone.

With Nagase filling in the "James Bond" role, his spy team will also have a beautiful "Bond girl"-type character named Dorothy.

Ryoichi Kimizuka is in charge of the screenplay. NTV will start airing the series in July, putting it in the network's Saturday 9:00pm time slot.

Tegoshi starring in new drama as host!

More cast details have been revealed for Fuji TV's drama special "Dareka ga Uso wo Tsuiteiru." Lead actor Yutaka Mizutani is being joined by Yuya Tegoshi (NEWS), Mitsuki Tanimura, and Yoshiko Miyazaki.

First announced last month, the drama has Mizutani playing a salaryman falsely accused of groping on a train. One of the key themes is the resulting impact on him and his family. Miyazaki is playing his wife, while Tegoshi and Tanimura have been cast as their children. Tegoshi's character is a student who finds a job as a bar host.

Other cast members include comedians such as Cunning Takeyama and Zabungle's Ayumu Kato.

Fuji TV has not yet set a specific date for the drama to air, but the network plans to broadcast the episode in its "Kinyo Prestige" block (Friday 9:00pm) before the end of this year.

Kat-tun's Kazuya Kamenashi geusting in new drama/ Takuya Kimura starring in new drama

It was made known on Tuesday that Kazuya Kamenashi (23) will appear in a guest role in the new TBS drama series "MR.BRAIN" that stars SMAP's Takuya Kimura (36). It will be the first time the two act together in a project.

Kamenashi expressed his happiness about the opportunity. "I'm really happy to be called upon for my senpai's drama. On the set, I'm quite nervous but having fun. I'm grateful towards Kimura-kun." He also explained, "I couldn't have imagined acting together with Kimura-kun. I have to work hard and do my best."

Kimura was also positive. "I was really happy to hear that Kamenashi was coming in. I hope that he enjoys this view of the world." He then added in a compliment, "And above all, Kamenashi looks good in whatever he wears."

The series, which premieres on May 23, features Kimura as a neuroscientist who helps solve cases for the National Police Agency. Kamenashi will appear in the third episode (June 6), playing the role of a young elite doctor of a university hospital where a murder takes place.

(Actor Mizushima Hiro is also taking part in this drama)

Smap member comeback confirmed

SMAP member Tsuyoshi Kusanagi (34) is set to make his return to show business near the end of this month. Kusanagi was arrested last month for public indecency, after being found naked and drunk in a Tokyo park late at night, but prosecutors chose not to take the matter to court.

Kusanagi's first order of business is a recording on May 28 for the June 1 episode of "SMAP x SMAP." It will be followed by a taping later that night for "Bokura no Ongaku," which will air the next day. On May 29, Kusanagi will make his first actual reappearance on TV, as a guest on the live broadcast of "Waratte Iitomo!"



Fuji TV also revealed that before the incident, Kusanagi had already been tapped to star in the summer drama series "Ninkyo Helper." The show is described as a "nursing comedy," in which Kusanagi plays a gangster who winds up helping tend to the elderly. "Ninkyo Helper" will start in July and air on Thursday nights at 10:00pm.

Ikuta Toma's first leading role in movie

Popular young actor Toma Ikuta (24) will star in a new movie directed by Genjiro Arato, the producer responsible for the award-winning "Zigeunerweisen" in 1980. The film is "Ningen Shikkaku," based on the Osamu Dazai novel of the same name. Also known in English as "No Longer Human," the book is generally considered to be Dazai's greatest masterpiece.

Ikuta has recently had major roles in several television series, but this role will actually be his first time appearing in a movie. Published in 1948, the semi-autobiographical "Ningen Shikkaku" was Dazai's last completed work before he successfully committed suicide. Despite selling millions of copies, the story has never been adapted to screen. However, this year is the 100th anniversary of Dazai's birth, prompting the decision to create a movie.

Filming starts in July, with a release projected for spring 2010.