TV / Movies

Japan Box Office Report – February 11th/12th

by HPriest on February 14, 2012

"Always: Sunset on Third Street 3" / "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" / "Kirin no Tsubasa"

"Always: Sunset on Third Street 3" / "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" / "Kirin no Tsubasa"

This week’s box office report has been stamped with a dragon tattoo, while “Hayabusa” returns back home in fourth, and everyone’s favorite “Ace Attorney” lies down the law on fifth.

David Fincher captivated the Japanese audience with his latest work, “The Girl with the …

TV / Movies

Drama Prime Time Report – December 16th~18th

by HPriest on December 20, 2011

Drama Prime Time Report – December 16th~18th

Drama Prime Time Report – December 16th~18th

Here is the Friday and weekend edition of the Drama Prime Time Report, highlighted by various concluding dramas, including the grand finale for TBS’s 60th anniversary work, ‘Nankyoku Tairiku‘.

Two dramas aired their final episode on Friday, ‘Sengyou Shufu Tantei‘ (TBS) and ‘11 Nin mo Iru!‘ (TV Asahi). Somehow, both of them had …

Concerts / Events, Endorsements

Watanabe Ken & Horikita Maki promote NTT DoCoMo’s new line-up

by HPriest on October 20, 2011

Actor Watanabe Ken and actress Horikita Maki attended a press conference of NTT DoCoMo to introduce their new ‘2011-2012 Winter/Spring Models’ lineup of mobile and smart phones, as well as their newest mobile services.

Both of them have been working as image characters for NTT DoCoMo for a while now and, in the most recent commercials, disguised themselves as actual smart …

Interviews, TV / Movies

Watanabe Ken and Kikuchi Rinko talk about their movie, “Shanghai”, with Yahoo! Japan

by ustar on August 30, 2011

Yahoo! Japan recently conducted an interview with Watanabe Ken and Kikuchi Rinko about their movie, “Shanghai“.

Check out their interview below!

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Interviewer: What did you most expect when you decided to be a part of this project?

Kikuchi Rinko: When I read the script, I thought it was a rich story that cannot be dealt by ordinary means. The cast was already chosen, …

TV / Movies

Japan Box Office Report – August 20th/21st

by HPriest on August 23, 2011

"Kung Fu Panda 2" / "Harry Potter 8" / "Transformers 3"

"Kung Fu Panda 2" / "Harry Potter 8" / "Transformers 3"

Nothing can stand in the way of the final move in the “Harry Potter” series and once again it claimed first place for the second week in a row (fifth time overall). It added another billion Yen to its revenue, adding the total up to 8 billion Yen (104 …

TV / Movies

Watanabe Ken promotes his movie, “Shanghai”!

by halicolipocky on August 19, 2011

On August 18th, actor Watanabe Ken (51) promoted his upcoming movie “Shanghai” (directed by Mikael Hafstrom) in Osaka.

“Shanghai” is a suspense movie featuring the city of Shanghai during the Pacific War with various conspiracies along with the men and women who gets swallowed into the plot. Watanabe will play a navy intelligence officer with a logical character, he commented about …

Internet

Which male celebrities would look best in a casual business suit?

by halicolipocky on July 9, 2011

On July 9th, Labor Administration Research group, jin-jour, asked a group of business men and women from the ages of 20 to 50 years old on which male celebrities would look best in casual business attire, also known as ‘cool biz’.

‘Cool biz’ is the modern style of wearing a business suit without the tie. The Japanese proverb of, “Even in …

Concerts / Events, TV / Movies

Japan wins five awards at the Monte-Carlo TV Festival 2011

by HPriest on June 11, 2011

This year’s “51st Monte-Carlo TV Festival” had quite a number of Japanese nominees and during yesterday’s award ceremony they took a total of five awards.

First and foremost, the TBS drama special “Hei no Naka no Chuugakkou” (“A School Behind Bars“), that aired back in 2010, won the award(s) for “Best Television Film” and the special “Monaco Red Cross” award. Starring …

Internet

Ken Watanabe joins Twitter!

by bazinga on May 27, 2011

Actor Ken Watanabe joined Twitter earlier this month in order to spread awareness about the 2011 Tohoku earthquake.

The star’s first tweet on May 11th was “Joining twitter for causes close to my heart.” Since then, he’s been actively thanking celebrities and athletes for showing support to victims in Japan, as well as directing them to “unite for japan“, an …

TV / Movies

Watanabe Ken to star in yet another “Hayabusa” themed film

by HPriest on May 9, 2011

Watanabe Ken (r.) and director Takimoto Tokiyuki

Watanabe Ken (r.) and director Takimoto Tokiyuki

Today it was announced that actor Watanabe Ken is going to star in a new Toei production titled “Shouwakusei Tansaki Hayabusa – Haruka Naru Kikan“.

Toei already announced the production back in January, followed by Shochiku and their announcement that they’re going to work on a 3D-live-action film in February. Not too …

Concerts / Events, Endorsements

Ishino Mako and Asakura Aki attend event for NTT docomo

by Kanki on February 25, 2011

Actresses Ishino Mako (50) and Asakura Aki (19) participated in NTT docomo’s “New Model Presentation 2011 Spring”.

In Docomo’s new CM, Ishino plays a mother who lives in the country. She laughed, “At 16 I went from Kobe to Tokyo, and the phones back then were rotary style phones”.

Ishino isn’t really good with electronics, but she did a quick test of …

Concerts / Events

Anne says she would like to try the overseas market

by HPriest on January 18, 2011

Actress Anne, the daughter of Hollywood actor Watanabe Ken, appeared at a press conference for the 68th Golden Globe Awards in Tokyo.

In America, the award show has already ended and all the winners have been announced, but the Japanese won’t be able to see the whole show in all its glory until January 22nd on AXN. Anne has been …

Endorsements

Watanabe Ken and Darth Vader for a DoCoMo ad

by akikat on September 3, 2010

Yes, you read it right. Watanabe Ken (50) will appear in an ad campaign for DoCoMo, with Darth Vader himself. The two attended an event in Tokyo together in which Watanabe commented, “This is an unusual shot.”

On the other hand, Watanabe also surprised his fans when he revealed that he and his wife Minami Kaho (46) had …

TV / Movies

Odagiri Joe and Watanabe Ken to play teacher and student in SP

by akikat on August 31, 2010

A special drama titled, “Hei no Naka no Chuugakou”, starring Odagiri Joe and Watanabe Ken will be shown on October 11 on TBS. It is a human drama scripted by writer Uchidate Makiko, and it was filmed in an actual prison – a first for any Japanese drama.

The story revolves around Asahimachi Junior High School, …

TV / Movies

Watanabe Dai attends premiere of his new movie

by Shiso on July 3, 2010

Actor, Watanabe Dai, appeared at the premiere of his new movie “Lost crime -senkou-” on the 3rd in Tokyo. This movie is about an unsolved mystery, “300 million yen holdup incident” during the Showa era. Dai plays a new face detective who follows the incident.

Dai said, “I was always nervous surrounded by veteran actors, but I tried my best.”

Dai is the son of big star, Watanabe Ken, and the director said, “I shot this with the wish that Dai will be a greater actor than his father someday. This is also the story of Watanabe Dai’s growth as an actor.”

Check out the trailer after the cut!