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.