Miliyah Kato, Mai Kuraki to perform at 'LOVE in Action Meeting' for Red Cross

Mai Kuraki

TOKYO — The Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) has announced the addition of two big names in Japanese entertainment - Miliyah Kato and Mai Kuraki – to its 2011 “LOVE in Action Meeting” event to be held in June this year at the Budokan in Tokyo.

The upcoming live performance in June is part of JRCS’s initiative “Love in Action Project,” launched first in 2009, to promote blood donation awareness among Japan’s young generation. In recent years, the number of young people donating blood has decreased.

JRCS officials, together with the cooperation of the government, have publicly begun to acknowledge the threat of possible future blood donation shortages. With the launch of “LOVE in Action Meeting,” organizers hope that more young Japanese will become aware of the importance of donating blood.

JRCS has announced that 8,000 people will receive free invitations to the concert, and winners will be selected via a drawing. Those who are interested can apply via JRCS’ website (see below).

Kato and Kuraki will be joined by other popular musicians and idol groups such as Shota Shimizu and all-girl group AKB48.

Application for free tickets can be made until Sunday May 8.

Website: http://ken-love.jp
http://ken-love.jp/m/ (Mobile website)

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Miniskirt Police recruit new members

The new members of the Miniskirt Police
SANKEI

TOKYO —
Popular glamor model group Miniskirt Police have recruited four new members into their ranks. The existing members of the force introduced the new members at a press event in Tokyo.
One of the new recruits, 20-year-old Chika Aikawa, actually spent six months in the Kanagawa police traffic division but is more optimistic about her career prospects in the Miniskirt Police, saying, “I’m hoping to become Chief of Police some day.”
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Katy Perry to perform in Japan next spring

Katy Perry

TOKYO — American pop singer Katy Perry, 26, will be coming to Japan in May for her first Japanese concerts since her marriage. So far, concerts on the May 23 and 24 have been announced at Tokyo’s Studio Coast live event space, with further dates expected in Osaka and Nagoya.

Perry married popular British comedian Russel Brand, 35, in India on Oct 23 this year. The sudden announcement of her forthcoming Japanese performances will delight fans, as the dates will mark her fourth visit to Japan since August of last year. The Japan performances are part of Perry’s second world tour.

Perry, who has been nominated in four categories for this year’s Grammy Awards, said in a statement to media: “It’s been an amazing year. I’m really grateful for all the support I’ve received from my Japanese fans.”

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Emiri Henmi: 'Dating's going well'

Saturday 18th September, 07:00 AM JST
TOKYO —
Actress Emiri Henmi was the special guest at a launch event for Chinese appliance maker Haier’s new washing machine designed for duvets. Naturally, the media were more interested in the 33-year-old’s relationship with fellow actor Kenji Matsuda, 38, which came to the public’s attention in August.
When asked about her love life, Henmi replied, “It’s going well. Right now I’m happy.”
Asked about doing housework, Henmi said: “To be honest, when it comes to housework I prefer cooking rather than doing the washing. My specialty is hamburgers. My other half says he likes them too.”

Aya Ueto becomes Tomei Expressway PR spokeswoman

Friday 24th September, 03:19 AM JST
TOKYO —
Singer Aya Ueto has been named 2010 Tomei Expressway Maintenance PR character and will appear in TV commercials and on posters to inform the public about the maintenance work.
Child commercial star Seishiro Kato, 9, will act alongside Ueto in the campaign. “I was very excited to act with Seishiro. He’s my hero,” gushed Ueto.

Kumi Koda to represent Japan at 2011 Mnet Asian Music Awards

Kumi KodaJapan Today

TOKYO —Singer Kumi Koda, 29, will represent Japan at the 2011 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) in Singapore on Tuesday.

MAMA features talent from 45 Asian countries and typically draws a viewership of around 2 million. The 2011 show will mark the event’s 13th consecutive year.

The event’s organizers reportedly requested Koda specifically to perform at the event, citing her powerful stage presence, Sankei Shimbun reported.

Japan Today

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Angelica Michibata to bare all in magazine

TOKYO —Argentinian-Japanese model Angelica Michibata, 26, appears nude in the January issue of girls’ magazine S Cawaii!

Michibata is the subject of a 10-page special feature in the magazine, which includes a double page spread of nude photos.

“I’d done underwear shoots before, so I wasn’t embarrassed, but I was a little nervous before the shoot,” she told reporters.

The magazine goes on sale on Dec 7.

Japan Today

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Masuwaka, at Nail Queen Awards, says she isn't getting a divorce

This year's Nail Queens (and king) from left: Ai Haruna, Tsubasa Masuwaka, Pink Lady's Mii and Kei, Kana Nishino, Yusuke Yamamoto and LiLiCo.Japan Nailist Association

TOKYO —Model Tsubasa Masuwaka apologized for divorce rumors and emphasized that she is still happy during an appearance at the Nail Queen Awards this week.

The awards are an annual event at the Japan Nail Expo which attracted more than 50,000 people to Makuhari Messe on Sunday and Monday.

Reporters were more interested in the state of Masuwaka’s marriage to actor Naoki Umeda, 28, than in the state of her nails. Masuwaka admitted that she and Umeda were living separately but said there were no plans for a divorce. She said that he even helped prepare her nails.

Joining Masuwaka on the award podium this year were singing duo Pink Lady, “talent” Ai Haruna, actor Yusuke Yamamoto (as the Nail King), singer Kana Nishino and TV personality LiLiCo.

Japan Today

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KARA appear in fried chicken ad campaign for FamilyMart

KARA appear in a FamilyMart commercial.

TOKYO —Popular South Korean all-girl group KARA is appearing in a TV and poster ad campaign for convenience store chain FamilyMart’s fried chicken for the Christmas season.

In the “KARA Christmas version” ad, the five girls, known for their sexy dance style, perform an original “chicken dance.” The girls said the dance can only be seen in the ad.

Japan Today

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AKB48 singer Atsuko Maeda demonstrates 'snow karate' in g.u. commercial

TOKYO —AKB48 singer Atsuko Maeda, 20, shows a few karate moves in the new TV commercial for fashion brand “g.u.” In the commercial, which airs from Monday, Maeda—wearing the brand’s winter line—karate chops snowflakes and says “I, Atsuko Maeda, am going to warm the Japanese winter.”

Speaking to reporters at an event to launch the ad campaign, Maeda said: “When I become 20 years old, I would like to be g.u. (a pun on the Japanese word ‘jiyu’ which means free in English). I’ll be an adult and be able to do things at my pace without bothering other people and being thought of as naive.”

Japan Today

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Lady Gaga's photo book to be released on Nov 22

Copyright © 2011 by Ate My Heart, Inc. and American International Productions LLC.

TOKYO —Lady Gaga’s photo book, titled “LADY GAGA × TERRY RICHARDSON,” will go on sale in Japan on Nov 22. The photos were shot by American fashion photographer Terry Richard over a 10-month period.

Photos include Lady Gaga’s attendance at the American rock festival Lollapalooza, the Grammy awards and scenes from her “Monster Ball” world tour, including her private life, backstage, bedroom, bathroom and so on.

The book is 360 pages, and sells for 3,990 yen.

Japan Today

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Chiaki Kuriyama shows her pole-dancer form

TOKYO —Actress-singer Chiaki Kuriyama, 27, is showing a new side to herself for her new song. Kuriyama can be seen as a pole dancer on the CD jacket and also adorns the side of a big van that has been driving around Tokyo, promoting her song, “Portrait of moonlight night.”

Appearing at Laqua Garden Stage in Tokyo Dome City, Kuriyama declined to give a pole dancing exhibition for the media. “I might end up showing something which I shouldn’t,” she said.

But she did sing three songs for the 300 fans and media in attendance.

Japan Today

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Video of the week: Tokyo Metro

If you’ve been riding in Tokyo’s subways recently, you have probably seen this video playing in the trains and on displays at stations.

Tokyo Metro is showing it to provide convenient information about the subway system to smartphone users.

Click here to see video.

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Aya Ueto wins Fur of the Year award

Aya Ueto holds her award.Japan Fur Association

TOKYO —Actress Aya Ueto, 26, is the 2011 winner of Fur of the Year, an award given by the Japan Fur Association to the celebrity whose image best matches fur. The award has been given seven times before.

A beaming Ueto appeared wearing a Chinchilla fur coat worth 5 million yen. “I hope my image is good for fur,” she said. “I like wearing fur casually.”

Ueto, who is dating EXILE lead singer HIRO, 42, was asked if she would wear her fur and dress ensemble out on a date, but she continued her policy of not talking about her relationship.

Japan Today

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Giant poster of Korean group AFTERSCHOOL to appear on Shibuya 109 building

TOKYO —A giant poster of 8-girl Korean pop group AFTERSCHOOL will adorn the Shibuya 109 fashion center from Dec 5-25.

In the poster, which is 21 meters high and 9 meters wide, the girls are wearing golden costumes. Some 200 posters will also be put up inside Shibuya 109. A spokesperson for the group said they were honored by the posters.

Japan Today

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Yuko Ogura's wedding ceremony to be held Oct 10 in Hawaii

Yuko OguraJapan Today

TOKYO —“Talent” Yuko Ogura, 27, will get married in Hawaii on Oct 10, tabloid media reported Wednesday, quoting sources close to her. Ogura will make an official announcement at a TBS press conference on Oct 7.

According to an acquaintance, Ogura and her fiance—hair stylist and make-up artist Isao Kikuchi, 40—will register their marriage prior to the press conference. The wedding ceremony will be held in Oahu, with only family and close friends invited.

Japan Today

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Aki Hoshino, jockey boyfriend announce wedding

Aki HoshinoJapan Today

TOKYO —“Talent” Aki Hoshino, 34, and her boyfriend, jockey Kosei Miura, 21, shocked the press with a sudden wedding announcement on Sunday. Media outlets first learned of the marriage when Miura announced it on his blog on Sunday night. The entry was titled “A message to my supporters” and explained that the couple registered their official marriage documents that same day.

The entry also detailed other aspects of the couple’s relationship, explaining that they met through a work acquaintance of Hoshino’s and have been dating seriously for about two and a half years.

“Even though Aki is busy with work, she supports me in what I do. She’s very important to me,” Miura wrote. He assured fans he will continue to race, and also pledged to care for Hoshino as best he could.

Japan Today

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Seiko Matsuda, Kyoko Koizumi to costar in ad for first time

Seiko Matsuda, right, and Kyoko Koizumi appear in the Astalift TV commercial.FUJIFILM

TOKYO —Singer Seiko Matsuda, 49, and actress Kyoko Koizumi, 45, are set to make their first onscreen appearance together in a commercial for FujiFilm cosmetics series Astalift.

In attempt to sell a foundation that is designed to be flattering in any light, the pair were filmed under various lighting conditions in several locations. The commercial airs from Sept 1.

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Leah Dizon to make 'comeback' in TV commercials

TOKYO —
Former model and singer Leah Dizon, 24, who left Japan with her 2-year-old daughter Mira after divorcing her husband last December, is set to return to the Japanese entertainment world with a series of TV commercials for Shonan Cosmetic Surgery Clinic.

The commercials were filmed in New York’s Manhattan at the end of June. Dizon, who has been taking acting lessons, says she hopes she can become a successful actress. The ads will be seen in Japan from the end of August.

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Ebi-chan, 2 other models star in Samantha Thavasa ad

TOKYO — Popular models Yuri Ebihara, 31, Mizuki Yamamoto, 20, and Hazuki Tsuchiya, 17, will star in a forthcoming TV commercial campaign for luxury handbag maker Samantha Tavasa named, “Samantha Muse All Stars Commercial.”

Ebihara, popularly known as Ebi-chan, said, “We packed the commercial with the kinds of things that girls love.”

Five-member all-girl group Dream were also recruited to perform the song “Dreaming Girls” used in the commercial. Yamamoto said, “The song is a sparkling, girly tune. It suits the commercial perfectly.”

“Samantha Muse All Stars Commercial” started airing on TV on Tuesday.

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Meisa Kuroki enjoys physical scenes in new detective drama

Meisa KurokiPhoto by Kohji Shiiki

TOKYO —Meisa Kuroki, 23, and Mikako Tabe, 22, will star in a new Asahi TV police drama, “Jiu Special Investigation Team,” which will air Fridays, starting tonight, on TV Asahi at 11:15 p.m. The drama is based on the “Jiu” suspense novel series written by Tetsuya Honda.

According to a press release from TV Asahi, Motoko Isaki, played by Kuroki, is a fierce, physically capable investigator with a strong battle instinct, while Tabe’s character, Misaki Kadokura, is more intellectual, kind-hearted and naive. The two of them join forces to track down Jiu, the ringleader responsible for a series of brutal crimes.

Kuroki said in a statement: “I’m an active person and I like physical scenes. I didn’t find it stressful at all.” Tabe, whose character often wears white to accentuate her kind-heartedness, said she is nothing like her character.

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Aki Hoshino promotes next-generation KFC store

Aki HoshinoJapan Today

TOKYO — Bikini model turned TV personality Aki Hoshino, 34, attended a publicity event for KFC in Shinjuku this week. The event, titled “Facebook Chicken Check-in Project Launch,” was held to introduce the next generation of KFC stores. The new stores, which are currently under development in the capital, now have a “vegetable menu” as well as a new look.

Hoshino dutifully reproduced KFC slogans before telling the press, “I got my first ever part-time job here. When I was young, we only had KFC on birthdays and at Christmas. I wanted to have it every day.”

When she was asked the obligatory question about her love life, Hoshino confessed that she had been taking cooking classes with “talent” and friend Yuko Ogura, 27, in preparation for married life. Asked which of the pair was likely to marry first, Hoshino replied, “I’d imagine Yuko would be first, right?”

Compiled from news reports

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Mona Yamamoto announces retirement from showbiz

Mona YamamotoJapan Today

TOKYO — Hiroshima-born TV presenter Mona Yamamoto, 35, has announced that she is to retire from the public eye. In a fax distributed to media
agencies this week, she wrote, “I apologize for the suddenness of this news, but as of June 30, I plan to retire from public life and return to my married name.”

Yamamoto, who is daughter to a Norwegian father and a Japanese mother, said, “I have been thinking deeply about what I want from my life and where my choices will lead me. I have decided to accept the challenge of becoming a working mother and housewife and to lead a more regular life. I truly appreciate all of the support my colleagues and the public have kindly given me up until now. To all of those people, I wish to say a heartfelt thank you.”

Yamamoto, an employee of Asahi Broadcasting Corp, has taken breaks from news broadcasting before. In September 2006, she was accused of having an affair with married DPJ politician Goshi Hosono and was forced to step down from her position on TBS’s “NEWS23” program, a job which she had only held for five days.

She was fired again in 2008 from her position as an anchor for Fuji TV after news broke of her affair with Yomiuri Giants player Tomohiro Nioka, who was married at the time. The alleged tryst took place on the eve of her comeback from the first scandal.

Yamamoto married her husband, the president of a real estate investment company, in 2010.

Compiled from news reports

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