Toma Ikuta, Miki Fujimoto in "Grease"

The hit Broadway musical "Grease" is being performed in Tokyo later this year, and it was announced on Friday that rising actor Toma Ikuta is playing the lead part of Danny Zuko. His supporting cast includes Sayaka Kanda as his girlfriend Sandy, former Morning Musume member Miki Fujimoto as the Pink Ladies leader Rizzo, and Musical Academy member Tomoyuki Yara as Kenickie.

The production opens at the Aoyama Theatre on October 20 and will finish up in Osaka during November.

source: tokyograph + meoinkie2 @ ASIANFAN + Lanz@IASCOOP

BoA's Hit Song Created into TV Drama in Japan

Singer BoA's ninth single "Shine We Are" which nabbed the number one spot on the Japanese Oricon Chart in May, 2003, will be created into a TV drama.

AVEX, one of the largest recording companies in Japan, said it has decided to create 100 short dramas--based on the songs of the artists it manages--to celebrate its 20th founding anniversary. The dramas will be aired starting April 7 on Asahi TV.

"Otome" is a two-minute drama that will be broadcast from Monday to Thursday. The dramas will bring together some of AVEX's biggest hit songs with various scenarios.

"I Can't Always be a Dreaming Girl," a hit song by Aiga and Nanase, will be broadcast on April 7 as the first part of the drama series, followed by "Tomorrow Again" by ELT, "Love2000" by Hitomi and "Shine We Are" by BoA.

AVEX, which celebrates its 20th founding anniversary on April 11, will also release a complilation album entitled "20 Years 200 Songs" as part of its celebration projects. AVEX has released a total of 200 million albums including single albums over the past two decades

source: KBS

Big Bang's 2nd Japan Mini Album "WITH U"

Jacket: Unavailable at the moment
Release Date: 2008/05/28
Label: YG ENT. JAPAN/ Village Again
CD: 1
Product Number: VYGJ-0002

The topic of conversation! Debuted in January 2008 and became the topic of interest, it’s Big Bang.
The contents of their upcoming album are a collection of their past hits and a new song+single.
The focus of the album is new song “With You”, a dance number with their R&B color!
Also, Maroon 5 remake number “This Love” and first Japanese song “My Girl” included!
The perfect album with a strong POP feel by Korea’s No. 1.
Special extravagant package, and limited editions of the CD picture.
[*T/N: not sure, but I think CD picture is the artwork on the actual CD itself]

Tracklist
1. Intro
2. With U (new song)
3. Last Farewell
4. This Love
5. Mad About You (side note by kVIP for gyang xD - “I hope this is Babo”)
6. We Belong Together
7. Shake It
8. My Girl - Taeyang’s solo (Japanese Version)

Credit: Tower Records
Translated by melodygreenleaf. Do not add to or remove this line.

Super Junior, 1st fan meeting in Japan

Super Junior is holding its first fan meeting called “SUPER JUNIOR 1st PREMIUM EVENT in JAPAN” on July 8 at Nippon Budokan. Super Junior said that it has heard that it has fans in Japan so it wants to spend a happy time with them through this fan meeting.

Meanwhile, yesterday, Super Junior’s official Japanese homepage was opened and Korean albums of Super Junior are to be licensed in Japan.

Source: Edaily
credit:krnloop

X Japan announces Paris show in July

The first of X Japan's three reunion concerts took place on Friday. Before the second concert on Saturday, the band held an urgent press conference to announce that they have finalized plans for a performance in Paris on July 5 (possibly at Japan Expo). According to the band, they hope to draw a crowd of about 20,000 people.

Full details have not yet been publicized, but they did mention that video footage of guitarist hide will be played during the show, similar to the reunion concerts.

Yoshiki also explained at the press conference that the 2-hour-20-minute delay for the first show was caused by equipment problems. And although Yoshiki fainted after the band's 8th song on Friday, he was in fine condition for Saturday's performance, which started on time and was completed with a full 13-song set, including a drum solo by Yoshiki that reportedly lasted 20 minutes.

source: Tokyograph

Pop idol Teppei Koike to play homeless teen in film

Pop idol Teppei Koike, 22, of the popular singing duo WaT, will play a homeless teen in a film based on a best-seller written by a comedian, film producer Toho says. Koike will play a 14-year-old teen who spends his summer holidays in a park after his parents separate due to bankruptcy. The book “Homeless Teen (Homeless Chugakusei)” was written by comedian Hiroshi Tamura, 28, last year, based on his true experience. Two million copies of the book have been sold so far.

The film is scheduled to be released this autumn.

source: japantoday

Lee Dong Gun to debut in Japan as singer

Lee Dong Gun, who is currently facing the tragic death of his younger brother, is going to debut in Japan as a singer and release a Japanese maxi single album entitled “Tsuki Akari,” which will be released on the 26th. Lee Dong Gun signed a contract with Sony Music Japan for this singing venture.

Aside from the new song “Tsuki Akari,” the single also includes “YOUR SONG,” and the Korean versions of Matsuda Seiko’s hit “Anatani Aitakute-MISSING YOU,” and Tokunaga Hideaki’s “Last Excuse.”

According to Lee Dong Gun he was glad to to to be back as a singer and to be able to work on great songs, especially Matsuda Keiko’s song, in a good working environment.

“I carefully chose the hit songs of this generation that fans will like to listen to. It’s my goal to reach the top spot of the Oricon chart,” Lee Dong Gun said.

Lee Dong Gun debuted as a singer in 1998 and released 2 albums and has concentrated as an actor since 2000.

source: http://krnloop.wordpress.com