8-year-old child actor Suzuki Fuku will make his solo singing debut this December. It was confirmed on Wednesday that his first single (titled “Iya Iya YO~!!“) has been given a release date of December 5, but ringtones for the song are already available. Suzuki, along with “Kaoru to Tomoki, Tama ni Mook” co-star Ashida Mana […]

AKB48 research student Mitsumune Kaoru (19) has withdrawn from the group, it was announced on Wednesday. According to AKB48’s official blog, Mitsumune had voluntarily chosen to leave the group due to her poor health condition. Mitsumune joined AKB48 in December 2011 after passing the auditions for the 13th generation of research students. She had received […]

For the first time, popular actor and newly-appointed “Iron Chef” host Tamaki Hiroshi (32) will act in a stage play, and he will take on the starring role as a war photographer. The play, titled “Hotel Majestic,” is an original work revolving around Sawada Kyoichi, the photojournalist who won the 1966 Pulitzer Prize for Photography […]

2013 marks the 20th anniversary of the debut of TRF. The group already announced the release of the singles best album “TRF 20TH Anniversary COMPLETE SINGLE BEST” that goes on sale November 21, and now they have announced a second project to celebrate their anniversary. The project is a tribute mini-album sung by several idol […]

Acclaimed director Mitani Koki (“Suteki na Kanashibari,” “The Magic Hour“) has just announced the impressive cast of his upcoming film “Kiyosu Kaigi,” based on a historical novel he published earlier this year. Yakusho Koji, Oizumi Yo, Kohinata Fumiyo, and Sato Koichi, who have all appeared in Mitani films before, will play the four leads of […]

On Sunday, it was officially announced that there will be a third AKB48 documentary movie, titled “DOCUMENTARY OF AKB48 No flower without rain: Shoujotachi wa Namida no Ato ni Nani wo Miru?” The movie is scheduled for release on February 1, 2013. The movie follows in the footsteps of “DOCUMENTARY of AKB48 to be continued” […]

Production studio Toei has revealed some details about “Boku ga Shokei Sareru Mirai” (roughly meaning “The Future Where I Am Executed”), the second movie under its “TOEI HERO NEXT” label. The movie will reunite “Kamen Rider Fourze” actors Fukushi Sota and Yoshizawa Ryo. This is Fukushi’s first movie role outside of the “Kamen Rider” franchise. […]

Back in February, FRIDAY had the surprising scoop that actor Asano Tadanobu (38) and actress Naka Riisa (23) were dating. However, the Sankei Sports newspaper now reports that the pair have broken up, less than one year later. Based on information from multiple sources, the newspaper says that Asano and Naka’s relationship was the casualty […]

Actor Yamada Takayuki (29), who got married on New Year’s Day this year, updated his official website on Friday night to announce some joyous news: he and his wife are expecting their first child. Yamada said that his wife has entered the stable period of her pregnancy. Because his wife isn’t in show business, he […]

Kanjani8‘s Yasuda Shota (28) and actress Aso Kumiko (34) are set to co-star in a new movie next year, titled “Bashauma-san to Big Mouth.” The movie is a romantic comedy directed by Yoshida Keisuke (“Junkissa Isobe,” “Sankaku“). This will be Yasuda’s first starring role in a theatrical film (not counting Kanjani8’s “Eight Ranger“). It will […]

21-year-old AKB48 member Kitahara Rie (currently part of Team B and sister group SKE48) has landed her first starring role in a theatrical movie. Titled “Joker Game,” the film is yet another entry in the idol-filled “survival game” suspense genre. Kitahara’s supporting cast includes Takatsuki Sara (15) of the idol group bump.y, Koike Yui (21) of […]

Japan lost one of its leading film directors on Wednesday night, as Wakamatsu Koji passed away at a hospital in Tokyo. He was 76. His death was the result of an unfortunate accident last week, in which he was hit by a taxi while crossing a street. According to the Yotsuya police department, at around […]

Actor Moriyama Mirai (28) is going to soon make his voice acting debut, taking on the role of Jesus for the animated film version of Nakamura Hikaru‘s comedy manga “Saint Young Men.” It will also be the first anime voice role for actor Hoshino Gen (31), also known as the leader of the band SAKEROCK, […]

NHK held a press conference on Tuesday to officially announce its choice of hosts for the 63rd Kouhaku Uta Gassen. For the third year in a row, Arashi will serve as hosts for the White Team. For the Red Team, NHK appointed actress Horikita Maki, continuing its trend of selecting the heroine of the network’s […]

Fuji TV‘s quirky detective drama series “Lucky Seven” is going to return next year with a special episode. Naturally, Arashi member Jun Matsumoto will reprise his starring role, along with the rest of the main “seven,” which includes Eita, Nanako Matsushima, Yo Oizumi, and Riisa Naka. “Lucky Seven” aired in Fuji TV’s coveted “Getsu 9” […]