Weekly Shonen Magazine recently released a new manga series, published in favor of the new idol trend in Japan, AKB49 ~ Renai Kinshi Jourei.

The title is loosely based on the ever popular AKB48 group. AKB fans will be delighted to find manga versions of their favorite idols drawn into the comic. In this article below I’ll share with you some details and information regarding this series.

While we have no intention of spoiling the fun of reading this manga series yourself, we do have to give a heads up on what to expect from the AKB49 manga. Firstly, while most of the popular AKB48 idols will make an appearance, they are by no means the main cast of the story. Instead, the story follows a boy called Urayama Minoru and his misadventures of having to join the AKB48 team.

Source – SuperMerlion

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With Girls’ Generation, 4minute, KARA, and Brown Eyed Girls, Korean girl groups seem to be storming Japan. While Japanese K-pop fans are delighted, there are others who criticize this phenomenon, saying that this influx of translated K-pop tunes in Japan is lowering the quality of the Japanese music market*.

*Editor’s Note: Before anybody flips out about this comment, it’s not meant to suggest that Korean pop is of less quality than Japanese pop. It’s saying that transporting previously released music by simply translating it to Japanese with little to no effort does nothing to further the quality or originality of the music produced. Feel free to predictably fight about whatever below, but not this. Thanks.

Now though, it looks like its also going to be happening the other way around too. Popular Japanese female idol group SKE48 will make its first appearance on the 10th in Korea as guests at the KBS Seoul National Drama Awards 2010, marking the first export of Japanese idols to Korea.

SKE48’s Matsui Rena visited the Embassy of Korea in Japan’s Korean Cultural Center and stated, “We are nervous and excited as this is our first visit and performance in Korea, but we have prepared a lot for this. I’m looking forward to tasting all the different types of kimchi.” She also ambitiously added, “We want to visit Korea often after this and meet a lot of fans through good performances.”

Director of the Korean Cultural Center, Kang Ki Hong explained, “Hallyu (The Korean Wave) has come to Japan, and K-pop girl groups are becoming very popular recently, so it is a very meaningful occasion that Japanese girl groups can perform in Korea.” He added, “Rather than a one-sided investment, a balanced unilateral cross-cultural exchange, and cooperation such as this, will close the gap between Korea and Japan.”

Source – TokyoHive

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Gossip magazine “Shukan Josei“s reported on September 7th that ex-KAT-TUN member, Akanishi Jin, will debut in a Hollywood movie – “Pirates of the Caribbean 4“, to be exact, scheduled for release sometime in 2011.

‘Shukan Josei’ contacted Walt Disney Japan for confirmation on the rumor, and they answered that they have not yet been informed about it at the moment.

p/s – yet another cool rumors today~lol

Source – Tokyohive

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This past January Sakurai Sho and Horikita Maki played as rivals in the TBS drama ‘Tokujo Kabachi!!’. It seems that their relationship has gone beyond than just being co-stars in a drama.

According to a restaurant manager in Shinjuku, “I don’t have the slightest idea why, but somehow Sakurai-kun and Maki-chan have been appearing frequently at a gay bar, and it’s also curious that Endo Kenichi is also with them. It’s just a combination that’s unheard of. With bodies touching, Sakurai-kun and Maki-chan seemed like a pair of lovers. Looking over them from a distant was Kenichi-san, it’s like he was their guardian.”

Sakurai and Horikita are around the same age, enthusiastic about their jobs and also serious, perhaps these factors make them understand each other well. While filming for Tokujo Kabachi!!, Horikita said “Keeping in mind that we’re rivals at loggerheads, I always try to hate him even when there’s no filming.” Sakurai countered this, replying, “That doesn’t happen at all, the smiles actually never stop!”

Of course, Johnny’s are fussy about relationships. Sakurai might be using a third person to avoid media scrutiny. Up till now, he hasn’t been involved in any big scandals with the ladies. He must be really good at being discreet.

With Arashi’s popularity now going beyond SMAP’s, it’s natural that Sakurai would be careful regarding his relations with women. Being with both an intimate friend and a drinking mate at the same time seems like a sensible method for crisis management. If this relationship turns into love, perhaps Endo will be known as the Cupid with a gentle heart.

p/s – like always cyzowoman do~it always a rumours but it was fun!. I bet Syarel@JpopFun! fainted already read this news!~huhuhu

Source – unleashthegeek

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After Arashi made on Jet Plane, Arashi hits fans with on their way into a book titled “Nippon no Arashi” that is meant to promote the culture and beauty of Japan.

Copies of the book will be distributed to every elementary, junior high, and senior high school in Japan. The book features Arashi introducing all the sights of different parts of Japan, and contains photos of the boy band spending time with the local folks.

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Actress Eikura Nana will once again star in a CM for  Lotte products. The CM shows Eikura, relaxing in a kotatsu while eating Lotte’s “Yukimi Daifuku”, an ice cream wrapped in a thin layer of mochi (rice cake).

Even though the shooting for the CM took place during the early summer, Eikura was very impressed with the set as it really looked like they were in the middle of winter. Before filming the CM, Eikura revealed that she has been practicing stretching ‘Yukimi Daifuku’ just to make sure that it will look perfect for the CM. Because of her efforts, she has been pronounced as the “Master of Mochi Stretcher”

Source – Tokyohive

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Actress Umika Kawashima (16) and actor Aoi Nakamura (19) are co-starring in a BeeTV mobile drama titled “Sekai no Owari ni Saku Hana.” The drama tells of the painful first love between Taiyo and Saki, two youngsters who have been suffering from kidney disease since childhood and are waiting for transplants.

Kawashima and Nakamura worked together in a commercial for Calpis Water last year, but this will be their first time playing opposite each other in a drama. Other cast members include Shiro Sano (55), Michiko Hada (41), Yuta Nakano (24), and Mariko Tsutsui (47).

“Sekai no Owari ni Saku Hana” will begin distribution on September 20. A total of 12 episodes are planned for release.

Source – Tokyograph

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Eri Fukatsu won the best actress award at the 2010 Montreal World Film Festival in Canada on Monday for her performance in the Japanese film ‘‘Akunin’’ (Villain), directed by Lee Sang Il, according to the movie’s distributor in Japan.

At the award ceremony in Montreal on the closing day of the 34th edition of the film festival, Fukatsu expressed her thanks in French and said, ‘‘I think this is an award given to the (film’s) entire staff. I am very happy,’’ according to the distributor, Toho Co.

Fukatsu, also known for her role as mistress of a gang boss in the 2008 movie ‘‘The Magic Hour,’’ became the second Japanese actress to take home the best actress trophy after Yuko Tanaka, who won the prize in 1983 for her part in ‘‘Amagi Goe.’‘

In ‘‘Akunin,’’ a tragic love story based on the novel of the same title by Shuichi Yoshida, Fukatsu plays the part of a young woman who runs away with a construction worker who inadvertently killed someone.

The film, starring Satoshi Tsumabuki, will premiere across Japan on Saturday.

Past Japanese recipients of awards at the Montreal World Film Festival include Ken Takakura, who won the best actor prize in 1999 for his portrayal of an old railroad station master in ‘‘Poppoya’’ (Railroad Man).

In 2006, the Grand Prix of the festival was won by ‘‘Nagai Sanpo’’ (A Long Walk), directed by Eiji Okuda, and in 2008 the top award went to a Japanese film again—‘‘Okuribito’’ (Departures), directed by Yojiro Takita.

Source – Japan Toda

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In August, it was reported that the manga series “Musashino-sen no Shimai” by Yukiwo would be turned into a theatrical film. It has now been confirmed that the movie is live-action, and that it will star actress Natsuki Kato (25) and AKB48 member Chisato Nakata (19).

The story is a comedy about the carefree lives of two beautiful sisters in Saitama who love Gothic Lolita fashion. Kato plays the older sister Ran, an unemployed girl addicted to the internet, while Nakata plays Pandora, who works part-time at a maid cafe.

The movie’s release date has not yet been announced.

Source – Tokyograph

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KinKi Kids member Koichi Domoto will star as the character Kikuchiyo, who was originally played by legendary actor Toshiro Mifunebased on Akira Kurosawa’s famous 1954 film “Shichinin no Samurai” (“Seven Samurai”).

Yamamoto has apparently been preparing this production for the past three years. Although it is based on the Kurosawa movie, he explained that it will be set in the present day and that the method of expression will be completely different. It is being reported that Yamamoto plans to make it a 90-minute “spectacle show” with no lines of dialogue.

The rest of the “seven samurai” will be played by Akira Emoto (61), Riisa Naka (20), kickboxer Masato (31), Dachou Club’s Ryuhei Ueshima (49), Olympic gymnast Yukio Iketani (39), and dancer Kaiji Moriyama (36). However, the entire cast is said to consist of 500 people.

Yamamoto has designed “samurai fashion” costumes for the show, which will be complemented by lots of visual effects from water to fire to wire-flying. It will be performed at the Ariake Coliseum on November 20-21, with an anticipated total audience of 32,000. However, Yamamoto is hoping to have the show performed overseas as well.

p/s – hope “Seven Samurai” in anime also be on live-action~

Source – TokyoGraph

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