(Source: Sanspo) Singer-songwriter Yui (21), well-known for her hits such as CHE.R.RY and Rolling star announced on her official homepage on 29th August 2008 that she will take a break. The title of the post in question was : "I will refresh myself!"

She also wrote that after her new autumn releases, she will take a short break from public activity in preparation for new production activities for the coming year.

Yui was 17 years old when she passed the Sony Music Auditions and left her hometown Fukuoka for Tokyo and debuted the following year. She also debuted as an actress in the movie, The Song of the Sun (Taiyou no Uta). Together with her songwriting, Yui has not had time to take a break for the past 5 years.

Labels: Japan, YUI

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(Source: Sanspo) News was released on Do As Infinity's impending comeback on 30th August 2008 from their official webpage. According to their webpage, members of the band and staff met this spring to have a serious conversation, the result of which was the decision for the team to mount a comeback.

Do As Infinity was formed in 1999 and had disbanded on 29th September 2005. They will return on 29th September of this year, 2008. A free live concert has been scheduled tentatively for the 30th of September.

My favourite DAI song, people my generation should know this, not sure about you youngsters out there: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X0x9MZxa8Q&feature=related
(somehow I can't embed it here so there's the link: Fukai Mori~! --Deep Forest)

Labels: Do As Infinity, Japan

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(Source: Sanspo) V6's Okada Junichi (27) and Aoi Yuu (23) have been discovered to be dating! Today's issue of Friday magazine published photos of the couple sharing an umbrella in the rain! V6, incidentally, have just started their summer tour in Yoyogi in Tokyo. However, it was reported that a fire broke out in one of the trucks on the set of their concert, which contained some costumes.

According to Friday, the couple looked intimate and were apparently on their way to do some shopping. It appears that the two had the chance to know each other while working together on a drama called "Tiger and Dragon" which aired in 17th year of the Heisei era (2005), but as both were busy their relations cooled. Recently however, they have started warming up to each other again. After shopping, Aoi Yuu was reported to have walked back to her mansion house. When asked, both their respective agencies had this comment to make: As they are both adults, we will leave it to them to handle their private lives.

Yo people im back after a few days break. The cruise was peaceful, <3 sea <3 stars <3 sky~! Beautiful sea!! Staring at the stars was a bit painful for the neck. lovelove~

Labels: Aoi Yuu, Japan, Okada Junichi, V6

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(Pictures from: Erika-Sawajiri.net) Follow-up on this post. Sawajiri Erika returned to Japan on 19th August (looking so pretty!!!) I'm sorry, I'm a fan of the Betsu-ni Biatch. Hahaha! Ok back to packing!!! ^_^ ^_^ *pom poms*

Labels: Japan, Sawajiri Erika

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Hi people, since I'm gonna be uber busy this September.... I have found my primary school ex-classmate to be our new contributor /blogger at MFGB!!! HAHA. Except....... our friend here (fatfish) will only do Taiwanese gossip news. But whatever lah... gossip is gossip we're all so bored here so never mind right. Okay then see you all soon! Btw don't you think the painting's so nice? One of Kandinsky's Murnau seriesss..... i think.

Lovelove :-)

*edit: thanks for your kind comments, no worries people i mean that i'll only be overseas until next Thursday, then ill come back with my Japanese posts. Fatfish might still post on Taiwanese stuffs even after (and for-ever-after); just thought it'd be fun to diversify. haha. Cheers and see you! ^_^ ^_^

Labels: Announcements

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(Source: Sanspo) Koizumi Kyoko (42) attended the official press conference in Osaka for her new movie, Tokyo Sonata, yesterday 22nd August 2008. She stars along side Teruyuki Kagawa (42) for the first time and both play a couple in failed marriage.

Koizumi remarked that the experience of playing a wife in a marriage that was going to the docks was "fun". Reporters then further asked the secret of keeping a marriage together. Koizumi, who had been divorced previously (before getting together with Kamenashi Kazuya (22), my all-time favourite couple) replied in a slightly awkward and bittersweet tone, "Are you really asking me that?"

Yo peeps im off for one week, be back next thursday. Not my fault, some school shit. Meanwhile... I'm going to make an announcement on the next post.

Labels: J-Movie, Japan, Koizumi Kyoko

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Labels: Japan, Korea, sg Wanna Be

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(Source: Sanspo) Becky (24) attended the official press conference for Zebra's Mackee pens' new CM campaign yesterday, 21st August 2008. The CM goes on air on the 25th.

Becky, who loves Mackee pens (if you don't know what they are, click here) joked that perhaps she should change her name from Becky, to Mackee. Another campaign will be started on the 25th hence, for fans to choose between the two names "Becky" and "Mackee", the most popular of which will be Becky's name henceforth. The results of this poll will be released at the end of October.

Labels: Becky, CM, Japan

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(Source: Sanspo) Despite all the hoo-ha in the press about her, I still think she's freaking pretty. Anyway. It has been reported that Sawajiri Erika (22) has returned to Tokyo with her powerful hyper-media-creator boyfriend, Takashiro Tsuyoshi (44) on 19th August 2008.

Both had boarded the same plane from Okinawa to Haneda Airport but had apparently taken different exits from the airport. Paparazzi managed to get two shots of Takashiro leaving the airport, and it was said that Sawajiri ignored shouts from reporters by pretending to (or not) talk on the phone, leaving no comments.

Takashiro's birthday was on the 18th of August; it was also reported that Sawajiri had attended his birthday party in Tokyo on the 17th, one day prior to their departure for Okinawa. Photos of them enjoying a luxurious holiday at a high-class resort at Okinawa were also rumoured to have been taken.

Below are photos of the couple returning from Sawajiri's London hiatus and her pre-Betsu-ni days, respectively. In case you want to know more about the Betsu-ni incident, check out my archives here.

Labels: Japan, Sawajiri Erika

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(Source: Sanspo) Sex and The City (The Movie) premiered in Japan on 20th August, yesterday (2008,2008 :-) ). Stars like Ito Misaki (31), Fujiwara Norika (37) and Maeda Aki of MAX (27 --> sanspo says shes 27 but Wiki says she's 23) showed up decked out in all their celebrity finery.

Most eye-catching of them all was Ito Misaki, below, in a wedding dress which is remniscient rather of some Cosplay costume. Haha. I don't know who the Caucasian lady above with Fujiwara Norika is, and I do wonder why she got to accompany her on the glittery car. Thursday. One more day to Friday and then.... *pom poms*

*edit: Thanks to namika, who left the following comment:
The woman with the red hair is Patricia Field, she was the Costume Designer for Sex and the City, she chose all the clothes for the tv series and the Movie.
Among other projects she has also designed the outfits in Namie Amuro's music videos for her three songs from her single 60s 70s 80s.

Labels: Fujiwara Norika, Ito Misaki, Japan

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(Source: Sanspo) Singer-songwriter-actor Koike Teppei (22) made a surprise appearance at Odaiba on 18th August 2008 to promote his upcoming movie, Homeless Secondary School Student [ホームレス中学生] which opens on 25th October. The official website for this movie is here.

In case you were wondering, those 4 girls around him are NOT fans (like I thought they were oops :p) but apparently comprise a 4-member Korean pop-girl group called Chun Sang Ji Hee - but are known in Japan as Tenjochiki. Their wiki article is here. Yes, they are another SM Entertainment product sent to invade the Japanese market, and their reason for being here with Koike-san is that the theme song of his movie is sung by them. It is called [Here] and will be on sale starting from 22nd October.

Koike commented n his four flanking compatriots, saying that "Their Japanese is really good. Also, they are bright and cheery and full of energy." before breaking into a shy laughter. In response, the 4 ding-dongs went, "Kakkoii!!!!" [Cool!] which made him even more embarrassed. Sorry I called them ding-dongs larh... but seriously man. haha ^_^

Labels: Japan, Koike Teppei, Korea, Tenjoshiki

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(Source: Sanspo) Nankai Candies' Yamazaki Shizuyo, that is (the one in the middle). Just thought I'd try some alliteration ^_^. Anyway, halfie-looking Japanese model Suzanne (21), singer-celebrity Nakagawa Shoko (23) and comedienne Yamazaki Shizuyo (28) attended the official press conference for Kao's Haircare Brand 'Essential Damage Care' 's CM campaign.

When to describe their feelings of shooting the CM in 4 words, Suzanne, famous for playing up the role of an "airhead" or "baka" (in Japanese), replied: "万里の長城って感じ". I don't need to translate that for you to tell that that's more than 4 words right -_-. Haha anyway right after saying that Suzanne goes, "oh that's too many words, isn't it?" Anyway she said it was like the a really long fortress... but the Kanji characters are exactly those used to call the Great Wall of China in chinese. Something along those lines larh.

Anyway CM goes on air next month. Cheers!

Labels: CM, Japan, Nakagawa Shoko, Suzanne, Yamazaki Shizuyo

1 comments

(Source: Sanspo) Cosmetics giant Kose announced today (17th August 2008) that Johnny's Entertainment Unit, NEWS will front their new CM campaign for a new line of bath products containing rose fragrance called, "HAPPY BATH DAY Precious Rose".

The CM will start airing on the 19th of this month, and the product, which is made from rose essences, will be on sale starting on the 21st. Other than body and bath soap, the new line includes hair styling products and will cost between 168 and 1890 Yen. This line aims for both the male and female consumer market.

Members of NEWS had this to say about the new products that they were fronting : "If we passed by a girl who was wearing this fragrance, we will definitely turn around to give her a second look."

(Am translating this while watching Singapore's Table Tennis Team in the Olympic finals against China!!!! The doubles match.... haha. Happy Sunday people! ^_^ )

Labels: CM, Japan, Johnny's Entertainment, NewS

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(Source: Sanspo) Southern All Stars, which will disband and stop all activity next year, started their 30-year anniversary Thank-You Summer Tour on 16th August at Yokohama. They will hold concerts on the 16th, 17th, 23rd and 24th and will mobilize a total of 300,000 people.

Amidst a cheering crowd of 70,000, vocalist Kuwata Keisuke (52) said, "We have returned, please enjoy!" For a duration of 3 hours, Southern All Stars sang and danced, alternately making the audience laugh and cry, showing at the same time how the Southern spirit has not changed throughout these 30 long years.

"Southern will not be able to see you guys for a while, please remember us! If we ever come back with a new single, will we be able to meet up here again?" Kuwata shouted out to a crowd which shrieked in what sounded like a mix of despair and delight. Later on, Kuwata thanked the crowd for their 30-year long support and promised to meet up again.

There were many from the crowd who came from distant places just to support Southern. A housewife from Aomori (49) said that it was because of Southern All Stars that she and her husband clicked with each other and got married eventually. "Southern will never die!!" She intoned fervently.

This is my favourite Southern All Stars song, hope you like it. :-) Felt quite :( about them disbanding ... Anyway this is Manatsu no Kajitsu (about Summer lOve~) :-]





An aerial view of the 70,000 strong crowd.

Labels: Japan, Southern All Stars

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Labels: Japan, Nagasawa Masami

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(Source: Sanspo) Konishi Manami (29) attended the official launch of the NEC phone [N706ie] on 12th August 2008. The CM for the handphone was also launched on the same day.

Dressed in a long and elegant blue flowy dress, Konishi commented that although the phone was simple and fashionable, it was also compatible with formal wear like the dress she was wearing that day.

The phone comes with a pace-counter (it counts the number of footsteps you take) and her handphone reportedly recorded 12,331 steps on 11th August, when she was filming on a movie set.

(I like her dress! ^_^)

Labels: Japan, Konishi Manami

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Labels: Japan, Koizumi Kyoko

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Labels: Japan, Shibasaki Kou

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(Source: Entame) Rather non-descript news, if you consider the recent Ohno scandal. Anyway, KAT-TUN's Akanishi Jin (24) and Yamapi (23) were photographed hanging out late into the night on 31st July 2008. The 21st - 28th August issue of Josei Seven (the cover of which is featured above) promises readers two-shot photos of the two Johnny talents.

Story has it that Yamapi recorded on his official Keitai (mobile) diary that he was going to the beach with Akanishi on 1st August, the two were spotted hanging out at Roppongi the night before. After Akanishi had finished a live performance with the rest of KAT-TUN, he and Yamapi met up and walked down the streets, attracting much attention. When female fans discovered their presence, Akanishi reportedly waved gallantly at them, displaying his kakkoii (cool)-ness.

In the end, the two entered a ramen shop where Akanishi seems to frequent (as he greeted the staff there with much familiarity). Another story has it that after meeting at the ramen shop, the two went to a hair salon. Well well.

Labels: Akanishi Jin, Japan, Johnny's Entertainment, Yamapi

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Labels: Alice Nine, Japan

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(Source: GazouDaisuki) Recent photo of Kago Ai (apparently so, judging by the hair). Probably with her new friends/staff/make-up artistes or whoever. :-)

Labels: Japan, Kago Ai

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