Actress-pianist Nao Matsushita and model Izumi Mori introduce new VAIO laptop



Thursday 17th July, 10:45 AM JST
TOKYO —
Actress-pianist Nao Matsushita, 23, and model Izumi Mori, 25, on Wednesday introduced Sony’s new VAIO laptop computers. Matsushita, who created music for the ad, said, тАЬI tried to think of instrumental music that would match the image of the product. Since I like words ‘feel’, ‘future’ and ‘forte,’ I named the music score ‘f.’тАЭ
Mori also said, тАЬWith the new VAIO, I can make a short movie easily. It’s very light and handy. The keyboard doesn’t break my long nails.тАЭ

Misaki Ito stars as widowed apartment manager in TV drama

Thursday 17th July, 06:34 AM JST
TOKYO —
Actress Misaki Ito, 31, will play the part of a widowed apartment manager in a special drama “Mezon Ikkoku,” which is based on a popular comic story. Ito’s character interacts with a student tenant who falls in love with her. The drama is the second installment. The first in the series aired in May, 2007.
Asked about her views on relationships, Ito said, “Even if I have rivals, I always speak honestly about my feelings to the guy, whatever people think.”
The drama will be aired July 26 on the TV Asahi network.

Wacoal signs up Hamasaki for underwear ads in Asian market

Wednesday 16th July, 10:21 AM JST
TOKYO —
Lingerie maker Wacoal has signed up singer Ayumi Hamasaki, 29, for its lingerie advertising campaign in the Asian market. According to Wacoal, photos of Hamasaki in Wacoal underwear will be used for advertisements in China, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Vietnam from the end of July. The ads will not be used in Japan, the company said.
A spokesperson for Wacoal said, тАЬMs Hamasaki has the highest profile in Asia and is supported by females fans in their 20s who are our target consumers.тАЭ The company is expecting a synergy effect from the ads with her Asian tour in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Taiwan from Sept 20.
Photos were taken by Mika Noguchi who is president of lingerie maker Peach John and Hamasaki’s close friend.

Norika Fujiwara gets big kiss scene in musical

Wednesday 16th July, 06:30 AM JST
TOKYO —
Actress Norika Fujwiara, 37, this week introduced her first musical, тАЬThe Drowsy Chaperone,тАЭ in which she has a kiss scene with comedian Takeshi Nadagi, 37. Fujiwara said, тАЬI didn’t tell my comedian husband about the big kiss scene, but now he knows. He just told me Nadagi is a nice guy.тАЭ
Fujiwara will play the main character of Janet and Nadagi will be her fianc├й Robert. The musical will run next year in Tokyo from Jan 5-29 and Nagoya from Feb 13-15.

Season 7 of '24' to be screened in Daiba ahead of U.S. debut

Wednesday 16th July, 05:26 AM JST
TOKYO —
The latest series of popular American TV drama series “24” will be screened in Daiba on the last day of a film event that goes from Aug 18 to 31, Fuji TV said.
The first episode of season 7 will be screened on August 31 prior to its debut in the United States. All the participants will be required to sign confidentiality agreements and registration that prohibit writing any comments online and they will have to leave their mobile phones and any other recording devices at the door before the screening.

Eriko Tamura introduces 'Heroes'

Tuesday 15th July, 10:04 AM JST
TOKYO —
Actress Eriko Tamura, 35, who has been in the United States since 2000, returned to Japan this month and showed up at a press conference on Monday to introduce the popular TV drama series “Heroes,” in which she appears as Masi Oka’s girlfriend.
Tamura said her time in the U.S. was mostly spent going to auditions as she pursued her dream to be an actress in Hollywood. “Since I couldn’t speak English at all, I even hated to pick up the phone. It wasn’t just the language; cultural differences were also an issue. I failed in lots of auditions. But I always believed in my dream and I’m really happy now because I’ve been working hard so far.”
Season two of “Heroes” will be aired in Japan on satellite broadcast channel Super!Drama TV from July 29.

X Japan announces world tour schedule

Friday 11th July, 04:27 AM JST
TOKYO —
Rock band X Japan will start its world tour in Paris on Nov 22, their agent said this week. The group had been delaying the tour since leader YOSHIKI suffered pain in his neck and hands and canтАЩt easily move.
The agent said YOSHIKI’s doctor has given him the green light to tour from November. The world tour will kick off at the Palais Omnispots de Paris Bercy, and the band will tour other European countries, the United States and Asia with schedules to be announced, the agent said.