[News] Kimura turn down the nominee!

Posted: Wed., Dec. 20, 2006, 6:26pm PT

Japan nominations to Yamada drama
But star rejects actor nod

By MARK SCHILLING

---

Yoji Yamada’s 'Love and Honor' drew a record-tying 12 nominations for the Japan Academy Awards.

TOKYO -- Helmer Yoji Yamada's smash drama "Love and Honor" was tops Wednesday with 12 noms for the 30th Japan Academy Awards, but Takuya Kimura, who starred as the blind samurai in the period hit, has turned down his actor nom.

According to a Japan Academy spokesman, talent shop Johnny & Associates, which reps the pop star-turned-thesp, rejected Kimura's nom after a week of negotiations, saying it didn't "want to put him in a position of competing with other actors for the prize."

Johnny's, known for mass-manufacturing young male talent hyphenates, has a longstanding policy of not participating in music biz contests and awards. Its rejection of a Japan Academy nom is a first, however.

Kimura is a member of the pop group SMAP and has been a TV drama megastar for more than a decade.

The 12 nominations for "Love and Honor" equal the record for a live-action pic.

Comedy "Suite Dreams" received 11 noms and dramedy "Hula Girls" took 10.

Noms are made by the 4,400 Academy members in a total of 15 categories, including picture, director, actor and actress. Awards ceremony will be held Feb. 16 in Tokyo.

In the 29-year history of the Japan Academy Awards, several individuals have rejected noms, including Akira Kurosawa, who turned down a director nod for "Kagemusha" in 1980, citing scheduling conflicts, and Ken Takakura, who rejected an actor nom in 2002 for drama "Hotaru," saying he wanted to make way for younger actors.

Kazunari Ninomiya, who has earned some Oscar buzz with his turn as a baker-turned-solider in Clint Eastwood's "Letters From Iwo Jima," is a Johnny's talent as well. Firm has not said what it will do if he scores an Academy Award nomination.

Date in print: Thurs., Dec. 21, 2006,, Los Angeles
source: http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117956161.html?nav=news&categoryid=1985&cs=1

***

I really don't understand what happened anyway. Really sorry for Kimura and other talented actors from Johnny's v_v What a rules!

[Rev] Love and Honor Reviews

Love and Honor has been released last December 1st. Many reviews, positif and negatif, I'll post it here. Do not read if you don't like spoiler.

Takuya Kimura and Rei Dan in "Bushi no Ichibun" (c)LOVE AND HONOR FILM PARTNERS

Director: Yoji Yamada Running time: 121 minutes Language: Japanese

currently showing

click --> review by Mark Schilling

click --> review by Jason Gray

click --> review by Aaron Gerow for the Daily Yomiuri

[News] HERO to movie

Takuya Kimura's mega-hit TV drama to be filmized

The star of the recent hit "Love and Honor", Takuya Kimura, has been known for "King of J-drama". All the TV dramas that he starred became huge hits, and the biggest of them was Fuji TV's "HERO" in 2001. Kimura played a maverick prosecutor who pursues the truth in his own way, and the drama got the average rating of 34.3%, the highest among all Fuji dramas historically. A special one-time drama was also aired in July 2006, which also got 30.9% rating.

Fuji's hit-maker producer Chihiro Kameyama has been thinking of making it into a movie for 3-4 years, and finally decided to go ahead recently. The feature version's screenplay is currently written, and the same main cast, including Takako Matsu, Nene Otsuka, Hiroshi Abe and Masanobu Katsumura, are supposed to appear. Fuji is hoping the repeat of "Bayside Shakedown" pattern, the strong drama-movie combination with the same cast, with successful sequels and spin-offs.

The film's release is scheduled in September, 2007.

Oh, and by the way, I noticed Ryuganji already has more detailed report on his blog. See Ryuganji.

Source: SANSPO

December 06, 2006 posted at hogacentral

[News] Bushi no Ichibun

Source: Variety
Posted: Tue., Dec. 5, 2006, 3:05pm PT


Bond bested by blind warrior in B.O.
'Love' beats 'Casino' in Japan

By MARK SCHILLING

TOKYO -- A blind samurai beat James Bond to top the Japanese box office last weekend.

Helmer Yoji Yamada's "Love and Honor" (Bushi ni Ichibun), earned Y436 million ($3.8 million) beating fellow opener "Casino Royale's" $3.4 million.

Take was well up on the first weekend gross recorded by "The Hidden Blade," the second pic in Yamada's samurai trilogy, which finished its run with $7.9 million.

"Love and Honor" star Takuya Kimura is a member of the pop group SMAP and a TV megastar for more than a decade. He is helping to draw younger femme fans who would ordinarily never turn up for a samurai drama.

Distrib Shochiku predicts that "Love and Honor" will hit the Y5 billion ($43.5 million) mark, which would make it Yamada's biggest hit in a career that includes the 48 entries in the "Tora-san" series, itself a Guinness Book record.

[Movies] Korean movies

I watched Korean movies. On December 8-17, 2006 there's JIFFest event and me and friend found that they gonna show Korean blockbuster movie & won best director at KFA 'The Host'. We're so exciting and go get the ticket right away. It's rare to see Korean movies on big screen here.

Here's Korean movie - Weekend Box Office

11.24~11.26

Rank	Movie Title

1.	The Departed
2.	The Sunflower (Haebaragi)
3.	Step up
4.	Flushed Away
5.	The Devil Wears Prada

Source: http://english.chosun.com

[Data] L'Arc~en~Ciel

L'Arc~en~Ciel (from France word, means rainbow)
A Japanese rock band

The band build in 1991, and now consist of tetsu (bass, leader), hyde (vocal), ken (guitar) and yukihiro (drum). All member composed the songs and wrote the lyrics though most of the songs are by tetsu and hyde is the lyricist.
I started to like the band few months a go after saw their PV Jiyuu e no shotai on local TV. Untill now the song is one of my favorite that I never bored to heard it. Later I know about the band and that their genre is rock, Jrock. Never imagine that I listen to a rock music but later I hook on their music. Hyde's voice is something, their songs are something, and the four members are something (yes, including sakura- former drummer).

Their official story can read here by Tofu Records.

around 1996 - with former drummer, Sakura (on the right)


2004


2006

Official website http://www.larc-en-ciel.com/

[Data] HYDE

HYDE, the vocalist of rock band L'Arc~en~Ciel now also a solo artist since 2001. He had released 3 album already: Roentgen (released in March 27. 2002), 666 (released in December 3, 2003) and Faith released in 2006.

HYDE also do acting, appear in movie 'Moon Child' with Gackt (2003) and 'The Last Quarter' aka 'Kagen no Tsuki' (2004). From an interview he mentioned that actually Kagen no tsuki came first to him before Moon Child, though it filmed later.

I like his voice and his music too. My brother said that he is so cool, beside Kimura Takuya^^ My brother only watch Japan stuff that I watched xD Well, I don't know about 'cool' thing, but maybe I understand now. And I think hyde is much way cool then ;)

For his music, you can find here

Click image to see the DVD (English subtitle)

Click image to see the details of the DVD

For more info can read here at Tofu Records and you can see a video feature
on HYDE while in US is currently running on IMF's website here
HYDE official website is http://www.hyde.com/

[JDorama] Hana Yori Dango

Hana Yori Dango (Boys over Flowers)
花より男子

(2005-10-21 to 2005-12-16)

Creator: Yoko Kamio.

From manga, anime and drama series. The last one had been in several version. But I want to talk about the new version.

I love Hanadan! I never read the manga. I knew the story first from Meteor Garden. Since it said it's originally from Japan, I'm so curious how it would be with Japan actors. So here, Hana Yori Dango (Hanadan) 2005-2007.
They split the story to 2. First on 2005 and the 2nd in January 2007 (currently playing).
The first part is in 9 episodes. What should I tell, I'm sure none of you that didn't know Hanadan story. I won't tell the story anyway.

Hanadan 1
Casts. Here's the casts:
Doumyoji Tsukasa - Matsumoto Jun (Arashi)
Hanazawa Rui - Oguri Shun
Nishikado Soujiro - Matsuda Shota (read here)
Mimasaka Akira - Hiroshi Abe
Makino Tsukushi - Inoue Mao
-

Soundtracks.
Opening song - Wish (Arashi) here
Closing song/romance theme - Planetarium (Otsuka Ai) here


Hanadan 2
Casts.
Doumyoji Tsukasa - Matsumoto Jun (Arashi)
Hanazawa Rui - Oguri Shun
Nishikado Soujiro - Matsuda Shota (read here)
Mimasaka Akira - Hiroshi Abe
Makino Tsukushi - Inoue Mao
Shigeru -

Soundtrack.
Opening song - Love so sweet (Arashi) here
Closing song/romance theme - Flavor of life (Utada Hikaru) here

[News] Some news - Japan

Some interesting news..

This is excerpted from Yomiuri

TELEVIEWS / Familiar names top TV earnings list

...

Commercials are about the most lucrative work around considering the small investment of time, the wide exposure and the paycheck, but it is still a male bastion at the top. Nikkei Entertainment estimates 11 celebrities can charge 100 million yen or more for a commercial. Sayuri Yoshinaga is the only female on that list. The only other women in the top 25 are actress Nanako Matsushima and golfer Ai Miyazato, both in the 80 million yen category.

SMAP sits at the very top of the list, charging 250 million yen-300 million yen per CM. Takuya Kimura, who will make his first guest appearance on Dec. 1 on Tetsuko Kuroyanagi's legendary and revealing afternoon talk show Tetsuko no Heya (Mondays-Fridays, 1:20 p.m., TV Asahi network), individually holds eight contracts estimated to be worth 90 million yen each. Fellow SMAPsters Shingo Katori and Tsuyoshi Kusanagi each hold seven CM contracts in the 70 million yen range. SMAP will be able to open their own bank soon.

According to the magazine, the only others who can demand over 100 million yen are Ichiro and Hideki Matsui, at 170 million yen, soccer hero Hidetoshi Nakata, 150 million yen, and veteran rocker Eikichi Yazawa and actor Ken Watanabe, at 130 million yen.

...

(Nov. 25, 2006)

*****

source: Variety.com

Japan lines up for homegrown pix

First time local biz has beaten foreign films since '85

By MARK SCHILLING

TOKYO -- Japanese pics are on track to grab a majority share of the 2006 box office, the first time domestic product has beaten foreign films since 1985, according to numbers compiled by the Nikkei newspaper.

In the first 10 months of 2006, B.O. for Japanese pics accounted for 47% of the total. Tipping the scales for Hollywood was "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," which grossed Y10.8 billion ($92 million) following its November 2005 release.

From January to October, however, local pics occupied half of the top 10 B.O. spots, led by the Studio Ghibli toon "Tales From Earthsea" ($65 million) and sea actioner "Umizaru 2 -- Test of Trust" ($60 million).

The Japanese biz has a stronger lineup than Hollywood going into the holiday season, including Yoji Yamada's period drama "Love and Honor," headlined by local megastar Takuya Kimura ("2046"); "Nana 2," Kentaro Otani's sequel to his 2005 femme buddy pic that earned $34.4 million; and "Oh-oku," the film version of the hit Fuji TV drama about the women of the Shogun's court.

[Movie] Ichibun Takuya Kimura Special Box [Limited Edition]

Ichibun Takuya Kimura Special Box [Limited Edition] --> out of print

First ever official DVD release from Japanese heartthrob Takuya Kimura! Set to be released on his birthday, November 13, this DVD compiles Kimura's personal production diary from the set of "Bushi no Ichibun." Includes footage from 78 days of filming plus long interview with the actor, rare backstage footage, and visual diary from Takuya Kimura. Set includes explanation booklet and postcard. Special box set features bonus digipak design, special cell-phone strap, and serial-numbered Takuya Kimura original T-shirt.

This one is cost 7800 yen

Ichibun Takuya Kimura (Normal Edition) (Japan Version)

From music and hosting to television and film, Kimura Takuya's fame touches every corner of the Japanese entertainment industry. For his 34st birthday, November 13, 2006, the popular star presents his first ever official fan DVD release! Ichibun Takuya Kimura brings fans behind the scenes to the set of Kimura's highly anticipated upcoming film, Bushi no Ichibun. Following Twilight Samurai and The Hidden Blade, Bushi no Ichibun completes famed director Yamada Yoji's acclaimed samurai trilogy based on Fujisawa Shuhei novels.
For Kimura, who has starred in Wong Kar Wai's 2046 and countless hit dramas, Bushi no Ichibun marks his first foray into samurai films. He plays a blind, low-ranking samurai who sets out to avenge his honor. Ichibun Takuya Kimura follows Kimura through 78 days of filming, with exclusive footage, interviews, and a production diary.

Ichibun Takuya Kimura includes:
Bushi no Ichibun making of
Long interview
Kimura Takuya diary
Personal footage
Postcard
4-page booklet

This cost 3800 yen


source: http://cdjapan.co.jp & http://www.yesasia.com

***

My friend bought the limited edition version. I like the cell-phone strap, can't describe it, it's just great. The CD cover, the CD-case cover for limited and regular version are in different pose. So with the postcard inside.

Oh about the dairy, I think it meant by Kimura hand writing inside the making film. He wrote in the end of shooting day. His writing is great in latin but not in hiragana and kanji. Hardly read!!

[Info] It's tomorrow! L'Arc 15th Anniversary concert~

It's tomorrow! Ah at my place it's already 24. For L'Arc fans in Japan it must be a big day for next 2 days. I'm happy for you all.

Here's sneak peak from concert behind the scene
Source: http://larc-en-ciel.com/

Some capture from jack eyes.

There's hyde's guitar, ken and tetsu new picks and we can see them and crew team in the meeting.

[Prv] Books I read

I love reading. I don't think I read much but from manga till novel. Whether it's comedy, adventure, knowledge, a little of romance I like to read one. But I'm so picky. Romance like Sandra Brown, I don't read. When people said a book is good, I'll try to read it. How i choose what to read is mostly based on best seller book list. I remember how I got into Harry Potter few years back. I read US magazine, it's health magazine for bodybuider. There's a page that showed best seller book in a year. Among those books (politic, novel, health tip from famous person, etc) there is one book that rank in #1 with cartoon image on the cover. And I saw the updated page next few month and the cartoon cover is changed but not the big title 'Harry Potter' (and the Sorcerer's stone). Big curiosity and gladly I found in the book store near office.

I read more foreign books than local books. But for foreign books, most of I read in translated language. I have no problem with that though I prefer in original (in this case, in English) and as long as it has good translation. Sometimes i can't finish the book due to not-to-good translation. Like The Zahir by Paul Coelho (Brazilian writer), I couldn't continu to read.

I don't have fave authors, but I continually waiting for J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter and Agatha Christy's series, Mary Higgins Clark's, and some classical story like Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (I like it so much!), Emma, Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, and much more. And Harry Potter is my fave books. I like comics as well. Usually I read my books before bed (when I'm not tired), on weekend, but mostly I read on the way to office. The traffic in the morning is sooo unbearable, it's better to do something like reading book than complaint^^ I also have no problem reading while moving, though it said to be bad to the eyes @@

Recently I just finished 'The Chronicles of Narnia, the lion, the witch and the wardrobe' and just bought this afternoon Haruki Murakami's Norwegian wood. I happened to attracted by the cover, a Hinomaru (Japan's flag). I search on the net and found that he's a famous writer. Oh what I have is translated directly from Japanese, this is rare :)

So do you like reading? What's your fave books or author? I like to know more interesting books :)

To all who get a new book, happy reading!

[JDorama] 1 Litre of Tears (Icchi Rittoru no Namida)

I just finished watching this drama. I cried in every episode, I think I cried more in one episode. Both lead actor/actrees are great. I think all casts did great job here. The mother, Shioka and the younger sister, Ako especially did the most important roles. I highly recommend this drama. You may know how the story goes, but it's more interesting to watch it by yourself. And good soundtracks :)

1 Litre of Tears (Icchi Rittoru no Namida) (2005)

Cast:
Erika Sawajiri (her smile reminds me of Fujiwara Tatsuya's)
Nishikido Ryo (member of JJ News and Kanjani8 and my ID has nothing related to his name^^)
Naohito Fujiki (I just knew him from here though I heard him before from my friend)
Yakushimaru Hiroko (I remember the lady as bistro guest in SMAPXSMAP show this/last year)
Jinnai Takanori (I knew him from Katori Shingo no dorama 'Hito ni yasashiku')
Narumi Riko (I think the girl is a new comer)


Synopsis (from JDorama)
[Based on a true story]

This story is about a girl named Aya who suffered from an incurable disease, but lived life to the fullest until her death at 25. The original story is based on the diary Aya kept writing until she could no longer hold a pen. The book that later followed entitled “One Liter of Tears" has sold over 1.1 million copies.

Aya's only wish was “to live." By carefully depicting Aya's earnest desire to live, and the love of her family, friends, and lover, the drama, “One Liter of Tears" wishes to deliver her simple but strong message: “Just being alive is such a lovely and wonderful thing."

I made captures

Ikeuchi Aya

Asou Haruto



Asou-kun smile


If you want to watch it, can watch it in Youtube (11 episodes)
http://youtube.com/view_play_list?p=D26072EA7807306D

Soundtrack
Only Human by K (You know what, I thought the singer was She @_@ Yes I knew K, but this is the first time I hear his voice^^)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUYAp2pZgf8

Konayuki by Remioromen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jar2a8o6Ctg

The song class 3G sung for the competition
Sangatsu Kokonaka (3月9日) by Remioromen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ8576giBIc

Recently I finished 'Hana Yori Dango' (9 episodes). Highly recommend to watch!
Now I'm trying to get 'Nobuta wo Produce'. People said it's good :D

[Captures] Kareinaru Ichizoku - Press conference

Kareinaru Ichizoku Press conference held on November 14th, 2006

Here's my captures

Cancer

I might scared you, sorry. Currently I'm watching J-dorama titled 'Boku no ikiru michi' (The way I live). About the main cast had gastric cancer and told that he only got 12 months left. And after he admit his disease and the condition, he started to live happily as he could. Good story, good lesson. And I realize that my late grandmother had cancer, my dear friend also had cancer, someone I knew also had cancer (she's passed away now), and 2 of my neighbours had cancer and one of them have passed away. It is scary since no symptoms and when they found out, it's already late.

My friend had colon cancer. I'm sooo sad when she told me about it. I feel like I'm gonna lose her. But she was more down and depressed. She had operated since 2003 and thank God she's still in good health now. From her doctor she knew that the disease is heritaged and her uncle had it. Someone I knew had breast cancer. The progression is so fast. She didn't knew she had cancer till the tumor remove in one operation. 4 months later she died. When my grandmother (actually she's my grandmother cousin) got sick, we're so sad. Nothing can be done, it's late stadium.

Ok, be careful everyone..

cancer site :
http://www.cancer.org/
http://www.cancer.com/
http://www.cancer.gov/

[JDorama] Kareinaru Ichizoku (Kimura new drama)

Kareinaru Ichizoku, this is Kimura's new drama (TBS).
Casts: Kimura Takuya (Manpyo Teppei), Hasegawa Kyoko (M no Higeki), Kitaoji Kinya, Yamamoto Koji (Shinsengumi), Yamada Yuu, Nakamura Toru (Sleeping Forest, 2009 Lost Memories).
Official website: http://www.tbs.co.jp/karei2007/

Shooting started last October 15th and the press conference was held last few days this November. The drama will start on January 14th 2007 (the first episode 90 minutes^^). The story is based on an old book (1973) by Yamazaki Toyoko. (Info by yanie)

From shooting in Shanghai by sina.com (thanks to kimurafan)

[Movie] Bushi no Ichibun

Bushi no Icibun, the last movie on Yamada Yoji trilogy (Twiligh Samurai, The Hidden Blade) will release soon. The casts are Kimura Takuya (34) & Dan Rei (35).




The poster




Quote from the poster

[Pic] Samsung Card with JDG on the cover!

Source: http://www.samsungcard.co.kr and http://www.jang-donggun.com (many thanks to dreamer)


This is really great and seems I can't choose one^^ Oh I wish I live in Korea.

[Info] L'Arc~en~Ciel 15th Anniversary Concert

L'Arc~en~Ciel celebrate their 15th anniversary this year. Many events conducted from created L'Arc Cafe, release L'Arc box, re-release 2 album [Ark] and [ray] and now they gonna have a 2 days concert in Tokyo Dome from November 25-26. The good news is other than the show going to be on air at December 23, it will also broadcast to other 25 areas! How and when is still no info, but I really wish I can watch it later.

Here's the logo captured from the official website http://www.larc-en-ciel.com/