drama play movie

Takeno and Karasawa
in ‘Fumo Chitai (Waste Land)’ drama.

Fuji TV drama which will gonna broadcast for 6-months; from October 2009 to March 2010. Thursday 10 PM slot. The filming will be start in the middle of this July… and filming location will include snowy field at New Zealand. This is a special FujiTV 50th Anniversary Drama. The production cost = 1,800,000,000 yen.

Karasawa Toshiaki will be the lead. Wakui Emi’s role as his wife. Yanagiba Toshiro as his bestfriend. Koyuki as Karasawa’s lover. Takeno (Yutaka Takenouchi) as a supporting actor here… together with Amami Yuki, Ito Shiro, Abe Sadao, Furuta Arata, Sasaki Kuranosuke etc.

The story is based on all-time-bestselling novel by Yamazaki Toyoko (who also wrote Shiroi Kyoto and Karei-naru Ichizoku). The main reason why this novel become popular is because the novel was describing bribery much much similar to the actual Lockheed Scandal… even though Yamazaki-san wrote the book before the scandal became public.

The plot: During WWII, Iki (Karasawa) was a staff officer who was recruited by a big trading firm in 1959. At that time, they were in the middle of severe competition with other companies to get the contract and get chosen by Defence Department for the next fighter. Trying to sell their fighter, Iki paid bribes to one of the officer from the Defence Dept;  just to obtain the rival company’s estimate sheet.

Somehow, before Fuji TV decided to produce this, TBS station was already produced the same series in year 1979 – the same year I was born. hehe. Oh, one of the director is Hirano Shin [Esumi Makiko's husband].

Shingo and Koki Mitani
in ‘Talk Like Singing’ Broadway musical play.

Upcoming this November, Shingo and his beloved ‘father’, Koki Mitani will fly to New York… to perform a musical play titled “TALK LIKE SINGING”. FYI, this is an original Japanese musical play written by Mitani Koki. The play will be at Skirball Center, New York University on 12-22 November 2009 for total 13 shows. And put in mind, this is THE FIRST in Japanese theatrical play history! It’s Broadway ya’know.. Broadway is a Broadway! *ureshiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii*

the dialogues will be 50-50; English-Japanese. But Mitani-san is so confident to say that people will still laugh even they don’t understand the language. So this considered to be Shingo’s solo foreign debut in stageplay. oh, Matsumoto Koshiro-san also did “King and I” Broadway  play long ago.. but it was in fully English. Koshiro-san (Matsu’s father) must be happy to know this.. At last, Shingo could fulfill his promise to Koshiro Papa in SmaStation 2005.

The plot: The story of a young man named Taro (Shingo) with an unusual illness. There’s a ‘musical band’ inside his brain. As a result, he has difficulty to speak normally. Instead he expresses his thoughts and words through song. He winds up seeking help from a psycholinguistics doctor (Keiko Horiuchi) and a psychiatrist (Jay Kabira), who hatch up a plan to cure Taro by killing off the members of the band inside his brain.

*haha, such interesting story.^^  Btw, music will be directed by ex-Pizzicato Five member Yasuharu Konishi. I keep dreaming matsu will go to Broadway like her father.. but shingo got this first?! yatta, wish comes true. haha, when it comes to mitani koki… shingo will do ANYTHING for him!
such a good son XD

Matsu and Tadanobu
in ‘Villon’s Wife’ movie.

This is one of Dazai’s finest short stories. It is about a wife (Matsu) of a poet (Tadanobu), who virtually abandoned her. The setting was in the dark years of the early postwar era. The Wife was finding the meaning of her life by taking a job for a tavern keeper (restaurant’s owner) whom her husband has stolen money. Her determination of survival was tested by hardships, rape and her husband’s self-delusion. But still The Wife’s will was not broken.  What a pain story.

Demo ne.. Aaa, everyone. Listen. Demo ne.. despite to whatever obstacles The Wife received, she still has such a strong and cheerful character towards him. The Husband also showing his care towards his wife and family, in whatever his own way of style.  Aaa, romantic ka.^^ Kind of dramatic movie. Matsu and Tadanobu were having press conference this morning. And she gave a very, very, very interesting comment about her role. Haha, whatever that means. Because of this… Zettai, I’m looking forward to this! The movie gonna release on 10.10.2009.

under the tea tree

50 Years Anniversary of Fuji TV.. Shingo’s new special dorama “Kurobe no Taiyo @ The Sun in Kurobe” will be aired in this Spring.

Katori Shingo will be the lead cast as Kuramatsu Hitoshi. The story is about the colloboration of Kumagai Group’s Kuramatsu Team and Kansai Electric’s Kuroyon Building Office to complete Omachi’s tunnel project. Also the journey of completion of Kurobe dam. So, I’ll looking forward to their challenging experiences.

The dorama is based on original novel with the same title written by Kimoto Shoji. And Mr. Director is Kawake Shunsaku.

If you don’t know who is Kawake Shunsaku.. he is the one who directed Chuushingura 1/47 ( by Kimura-Matsu), Rocket Boy (by Somegoro), Niji wo Kakeru Ouhi (by Miho),  Our Textbook (by Miho), Proof of The Man (by Takeno), Gift (by Kimura), Oishii Kankei (by Tsuyoshi) and Gakkou e Ikkou! (by Nakai and Goro).

Kurobe dorama is the third time Shingo will work with Kawake-san. The first time was Sashow The Last Case (by Shingo, Sorimachi and Tsuyoshi) and the second time was Ai Kotoba wa Yuki (by Shingo, Yakusho Koji and Suzuki Kyoka) .

Matsu Takako. After K-20 movie, i’m gonna wait her movie of  “Villon’s Wife” next Fall”.

……………

under the tea tree.. there is an apple hiding.

11 to 12: rain sweet rain

Yeah i know.. lately i’m sooo lazy to update this blog.. And that’s because i’ve to keep updating other blogs, forums, doing survey, watching doramas and movies.. also hunting new potential young people (e.g Ikuta Toma, Moriyama Mirai, Narumi Riko etc) to become new members of treasure Jbox family.

and here.. monsoon season. so you can expect heavy rain, big thunder and strong wind.. with water everywhere… Yeah, we’re having flood and muddy stuff around. and a day before i was trapped inside the campus building.. damn, cannot go home. coz from front gate of university till the back gate… water from two lakes overflowed.. and so with the nearest river. the scary thing is South China Sea is just at the backside of my campus.. i hope there won’t be another tsunami in future. even in present situation, just watching those black clouds and strong waves.. huhu ~ kowai! It’s been how many days.. 1-2 weeks.. raining almost non-stop for the whole days. Hemm.. only God knows.

now for the  time being, let’s move back for awhile… to the past.

Tsuyoshi Kusanagi gonna starring in a period film titled “Ballad: Namonaki Koi no Uta” . Basically the movie revolves around a love story between a Sengoku-era general (Kusanagi) and a princess (Yui Aragaki). And Mr. Director is Takashi Yamazaki!(^^)/ Yes.. the person who directed The Returner, Always and the one who did CG for K-20 movie.

The story is actually based on the plot of the 2002 animated movie “Crayon Shin-chan: Arashi wo Yobu Appare! Sengoku Daikassen.” Previously the animation movie won many awards, including the grand prize in the animation division of the Japan Media Arts Festival. So what’s up with Ballad movie?

In “Ballad”, Kusanagi plays a general of a small state. The princess, played by Aragaki, is offered a political marriage with a daimyo of a neighboring state, and war ensues when she turns down the offer. A key character in the plot is a young boy named Shinichi (originally Shin-chan), who comes from the future. That 11-years-oldboy of Shinichi will be play by Akashi Takei.

The movie apparently budgeted at 2 billion yen; will heavily use CG effect for its battle scenes. The supporting cast includes Michitaka Tsutsui, Yui Natsukawa, Takao Osawa and Atsuo Nakamura. {hehe.. love it.. a line of old skools!} . The filming already begin since September and is expecting to finish in January. The movie will be release in September 2009.

Nakai Masahiro x Nakama Yukie’s new movie “Watashi wa Kai ni Naritai” (“I Want to Be a Shellfish”) already on roadshow now which start since 22 November aka The Husband and Wife Day. The new movie already tie-up with Mr. Children to come up with a ballad called “Hana no Nioi” - chosen as the theme song. It is a good song. I’m glad it’s from Mr. Children.. but i dun mind if it’s from Dreams Come True. Remember Nakai best re-make dorama “Suna no Utsuwa”? Yeah, the same director Mr “Giant” Katsuo Fukuzawa. Fukuzawa-san is tall and big.. Love seeing him with Nakai doing promotion. They’re like.. emm.. old buddies. Same like HERO Kimura Takuya-Masayuki Suzuki.

Back to Shellfish movie.. the movie depicts the tragedy of a man sentenced to death as a war criminal. Tsuyoshi also here in a minor role. I’ve been waiting this movie for how long.. a year?
Argh i feel old.. but worth for this long-hard waiting. With Yukie-san and Tsubasa-kun.. owh, they’re seriously lovely.. like a sweet nice family! Really good.. the chill-warm and off-screen funny do reminds me of HERO 2007 September Live Promo.
Huhu. Yokatta ne~ Fukuzawa-san picked Yukie as a co-star.
Hiro-chan, you should start getting advice from Goro-chan now!
Ah, I guess that’s the power of NakaNaka ~ ii ne.

Takako Matsu was participating as a chorus on Oda Kazumasa’s new song “Somewhere Today”..  And the filming of “Villon’s Wife” already finished. But does she taking rest now..? emm, no.. still doing CMs, attending interview, talk shows and movie promos. I really love her new Fujitsu airport CM. She’s sooo cuuute with pinky pinkish sweater! And Christmas bell already ringing and buzzing.. so you could expect to watch her new Yamazaki Christmast Cake CM.

“K-20 Phantom of the tale of countenance”. Greeting from the casts!
K-20 movie was entering Cannes Festival promo last April. Then the pre-show at Santa Monica on 7-8 November. And on 26 November, it’s time for Tokyo preview. Kaneshiro Takeshi, Takako Matsu, Nakamura Toru, Kanata Hongo etc were among on the stage.. happily welcoming audiences. Director by Asako Sato Yoshitsugu. Let’s wait for upcoming official nationwide roadshow on this 20 December 2008.

Next year, Matsu Takako with Miyazawa Rie will be perform The 14th NODA MAP performance play “Piper”. The director is of course Mr. Hideki Noda himself. Other casts will be Hashizume Isao, Kouzi Ookura, do Ki Tamotsu Kitamura, Kazue Komatsu, Tanaka Tetsuji, Sato Eriko, KONDORUZU and Hideki Noda. Piper will be showing from 4 January 2009 until 28 February, 2009 at Bunkamura Theater Cocoon.
The story? Ah, sounds interesting… Miyazawa and Matsu are sisters. And they are living on Mars planet in 1,000 years in future. Somehow both of them once dream of mankinds and trying to recall back the dreams.. and the story revolving around that issue and how they daily life going to be. {hehe, what’s that.. so M & M sisters are sort of aliens on Mars?}. Here the official site http://www.nodamap.com/en/piper/

“Man of La Mancha”. It’s already confirmed that Matsu will be together again in this classic masterpiece with her father Koshiro-san on next May 2009.  The official website: http://www.tohostage.com/lamancha/index.html

Oh, Btw… an interesting show “Our Era” from Fuji TV. Presented three-conversations together with father, son and daughter.. {should i say something like this is actually the first time happened?} Yes yes.. Koshiro Matsumoto, Ichikawa Somegoro and Matsu Takako were appeared for two episodes of Our Era on last 23 and 30 November. Aaa~ mitai na.. I wanna watch those. But still fine.. coz got written report from newspaper for early episode. And a friend also managed to catch up, watching the final episode. Next!

SMAP – ok what’s up with them.. ahh, i didn’t updating about their new album and new tour concerts yet. Actually all smappies non-stop updating about this group… so, i just let it cool down. it’s ok if these not gonna be hot topic anymore. after all, i’m living in treasure Jbox Just a moment… i finish others first.

Rena Tanaka was appointed to be in a panel of judges for Tokyo International Film Festival Competition recently. Applicants could be made from home, and easily being viewed, as a festival for young talent seems already grown. Around 171 entries being made this year 2008 and 15 works were nominated.  Taichi Suzuki’s “Paper” was selected by Rena for prize award. Rena now busy with filming and spending her free time on new hobbies.

Nanako will be doing a project with Fuji TV next year and Sorimachi will be endorse new product campaign. Father and son will be playing football for Kao Attack detergent. Such a father figure ne..Hemm, i wonder what Takeno doing now… lay down in his cozy hidden cave probably.

Shingo Katori will be acting in Special Drama next spring 2009 for Fuji TV 50th Anniversary “Kurobe Sun”. Meanwhile Goro Inagaki will be in a mystery, suspense dorama “Triangle” with Eguchi Yosuke and Ryoko Hirosue. Shingo will be a lead role while Goro only as supporting. Demo, to me.. whether lead or supporting role doesn’t really matter… it is not something important. i’m just expecting to see another sparkles and improvement to be better and better.

Somehow i need to return home now.. lil ‘bit sleepy now. ah, sou da.. i should buy a dinner now.. or else i’ll might end up sleeping in my car.

{hemm~ suddenly song of Roxette keep tune in my head…
baby babe we’re moving so fast. i try to hang on. try to hang on! … sleeping in my car i will undress you. sleeping in my car i will caress you. staying in the back seat of my car making love oh yeah. sleeping in my car i will possess you. sleeping in my car certainly bless you. laying in my back seat off my car making up making up…}

Sexy na… Hemm, Ignore me.. I’m tired.
Oyasumi ~ home sweet home

*The rest is still unwritten… Will be continued … [P. E . A . C. E]