Hoga News

"SUNSHINE" starring Hiroyuki Sanada opens in Japan

Danny Boyle's new SFX-human drama "SUNSHINE", which already opened in UK and some other territories last week, is opening in Japan this weekend.  With the appearance of Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada, media is running a big campaign featuring him, who plays the captain of the mission to save the sun, which is on the verge of dying.

There are lots of media coverage, and I cannot show all of them.  Here is an example from Pia:

Cinema Pia Interview

Please see Misty's Hiroyuki Sanada News for more coverages.  The film is scheduled to open in the U.S. in fall 2007.

Joe Odagiri in new CMs

Joe Odagiri seems to be getting even more popular in TV commercials these days, in addition to highly anticipated releases of "Bugmaster" and "Tokyo Tower" that are coming up this month and next.  On March 15, his new CM for Cannon started to air, and you can see it live on Cannon's website.

See Cannon IXY Website (Click "Feel the IXY Digital" banner, then "ENJOY IXY" bullet point)

He also has become a spokesman for the premium beer for Kirin.  At the press conference, he says "I have always wanted to do beer commercial.  I love beer, so much as I start drinking it as soon as I get up on a day off."

See DUNK for the press conference clip (Click the thumbnail of Joe's photo)

Thank you AKI-san for all your info.

Ken Watanabe and Ichiro in Nissan CM

Nissan's new Skyline model will have Ken Watanabe and Ichiro as its spokesmen.  Watanabe appeared in the release event in Tokyo.  See photos here.  (Click small photos to see larger images.)

Shido Nakamura and Yuko Takeuchi file for divorce

So after months of gossips and speculations, Yuko Takeuchi files for diverce from Shido Nakamura ("Fearless"), as was expected.

Ryuganji has put up the detailed chronicle of the real-world couple out of 'pure-love' film "Be With You".  Shido has been largely criticized for his serial woman-related gossips and 'pure-beauty' Takeuchi considered as a victim, left home alone with a new-born baby.  You never know, though...  in a celeb gossip blog, I have read that Takeuchi herself is suspected to have some extra-marital relationships.  It is not confirmed and I don't really believe it totally, but I just guess that the long-term relationship in celeb world is a difficult one, in anywhere in the world.

Source:  Ryuganji, SANSPO

Shinjo is heading to become a movie star?

Do you remember Tsuyoshi Shinjo?  He played in Major League Baseball teams New York Mets and San Francisco Giants in 2001-03, and then went back to Japan to become a star performer in Nippon Ham Fighters in Hokkaido.

He is known for the good look, flashy talks and flamboyant attitude, and has a wide appeal to people in all ages and genders.  (Photo here is his ad for Sea Breeze) Back when he hit a single-base in San Francisco, he surprised the opponent team's first baseman, saying "next year, I will go back to Japan to become a movie star."  Maybe he is keeping his promise, again.

Yesterday, his team Fighters won the Japan Series Championship, for the first time in 44 years (!), and Shinjo is retiring from baseball.  And it is reported that his agent is flooded with offers from TV stations and movie companies, according to SANSPO.

Nothing is officially announced at this moment, but it looks almost certain that he will appear in many TV dramas and movies soon.  And by the way, his agent K-Dash, also manages Ken Watanabe.

And by the way, again, when he signed up with New York Mets, his contract money went down to less than 1/10 from his former Japanese team, Hanshi Tigers, and some speculate that he wanted to go to US Major League so badly because Ichiro (Seattle Mariners) just did so.  This time, Ichiro already debuted in TV drama last year, so I guess he does not want to get behind in this area, either.

Source:  SANSPO

Shido Nakamura pays $2000 fine

The local court decided that Shido Nakamura ("Fearless") is to pay 200,000 yen fine for his drunk driving on July 12 this year.  (See here and here for more details.)  He paid the fine, and is now back to work on his Kabuki stage act that is scheduled for next month.

In the meantime, "Fearless" starring Jet Li and Nakamura appears as Li's opponent, opened last weekend in the U.S. with $10 mil. gross and at #2 in the BO ranking.  He should have stuck to tea, instead of alcohol, I guess.

Nakamura is also schedule to be in Clint Eastwood's "Letters from Iwo Jima" starring Ken Watanabe.

Source:  SANSPO, Zakzak

Obituary: Tetsuro Tanba (1922-2006)

See Ryuganji and Twitch

Hiroyuki Sanada back to martial arts role (probably) in "Rush Hour 3"

It is reported that Hiroyuki Sanada will be in action/comedy detective film "Rush Hour 3" with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker.  He is supposed to play a villain.

It is great to see him show off his martial arts skills in the big budget ($100 mil., according to Wikipedia) Hollywood film, together with Jackie.  I wonder if he will be in samurai mode (=sword) or ninja mode (=karate)....

"Rush Hour 3" is scheduled to be released in August 2007.

Source:  USATODAY, Comingsoon, Wikipedia

Ken Watanabe is in "Battle of Red Cliff"

Kaiju Shakedown reports today that after the long rumors and delays, Jon Woo's "The Battle of Red Cliff" seems to be on track, at least in terms of cast line-up, which includes Ken Watanabe, along with Chow Yun-fat, Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Lin Chi-ling.

Joe Odagiri's "Life Card" CM and a music video

Speaking of TV commercial, I found a funny TV CM clip featuring Joe Odagiri and Sachiko Sakurai for a credit card company.  Click "CM" box to see the first half, and then choose one of the cards to see what happens according to different choices in Odagiri's life.  You can see another one if you click the crimson-color long rectangle box below.

Source:  Life Card website

Also found on the net is his music video in collaboration with a jazz-punk band Katte ni Shiyagare, for their single release "Cherry the Dustman".  The first part is on this Sony Music website.  If you want to see the whole thing, search YouTube.  You may be able to find it.

Source:  Sony Music Online