Archive for 'Celebrities' Category

Mirei Kiritani to sing theme songs for her movies Ranhansha and Snowflake

Mirei Kiritani (桐谷 美玲),21, will be in charge of the theme songs for the double feature film “Ranhansha / Snowflake,”Kiritani, born Dec.16 1989, is a Japanese fashion model and actress. . This will be her singing debut, and she will perform the songs live for the first time on February 27 at the Girls Festival 2011 event at Shibuya C.C. Lemon Hall.

Directed by Taniguchi Masaaki, the two films star Kiritani in separate roles. In “Ranhansha,” she plays a talented young poet in high school who has never known true love. In “Snowflake,” she plays a junior college student who encounters a young man resembling her dead childhood friend.

“Ranhansha / Snowflake” is scheduled to open in theaters this summer.

Arisa Sato, Mirei Kiritani, Emi Takei – Seventeen magazine

Leah Dizon secretly divorced stylist husband

Leah Dizon secretly divorced her husband at the end of last year, tabloid media reported on February 21.

The 24-year-old model of French, American, Chinese and Filipino descent was born and raised in Las Vegas, got her start in the U.S. as a car model, before slowly making her way into the J-pop scene as a gravure model, and then as an idol singer.
In August 2008, one year after her debut, she announced her pregnancy and marriage to her stylist, Bun, 31.

She confirmed news reports that she and Bun had separated and filed for divorce earlier that month, and she is currently seeking full custody of their daughter. According to Dizon, the split was due to “busy schedules and inability to meet regularly differing opinions toward raising children” alongside “irreconcilable differences”.

Dizon is believed to be living with the couple’s daughter in New York where she is studying acting. Sources close to Dizon say she is planning to base her career in New York but travel back to Japan for work.

Chiaki Kuriyama×Ringo Shiina on “Oishii Kisetsu/ Ketteiteki Sanpunkan”

Chiaki Kuriyama (栗山 千明)is going to release her new double A side single “Oishii Kisetsu/ Ketteiteki Sanpunkan” on March 2nd.

Kuriyama,born October 10, 1984,is a Japanese actress and model. She is best known in the West for her roles in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill, Volume I, and the Japanese film Battle Royale.

The two songs are written and produced by Ringo Shiina, and played by Tokyo Jihen, which has Shiina as the lead vocalist. This single is the final part of Kuriyama’s “Produce Single Trilogy”; she has worked with Tomoyasu Hotei for “Kanousei Girl” (released in November, 2010) and Kenichi Asai for “Cold Finger Girl” (released on January 26th, 2011).

There will be two versions of the single with different album cover and different track list.

Tak Matsumoto and Larry Carlton won Best Pop Instrumental Album at the 53rd Grammy Awards

At the 53rd Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles, B’z guitarist Tak Matsumoto earned the prize for Best Pop Instrumental Album, together with American guitarist Larry Carlton. The pair were chosen from the five nominees for their collaborative album “Take Your Pick,” which was released worldwide in June 2010.

Takahiro “Tak” Matsumoto (松本 孝弘),born on March 27, 1961 in Osaka, is a Japanese guitarist, producer, arranger, composer, singer and songwriter.

Tak’s formal education in jazz was minimal, but when he started working as a session musician, and supporting many tours like TM Network, his musicianship was cemented. His exposure to a myriad of styles helped him to meld his own unique blend, incorporating elements of his jazz training, blues, classical, metal, rock, and ska.

Take your pick – Larry Carlton & Tak Matsumoto

Masami Nagasawa, Emi Takei attend a Valentine chocolate campaign event

Actresses Masami Nagasawa(長澤まさみ）, 23, right, and Emi Takei（武井咲）, 17, attend a Valentine chocolate campaign event for Lotte in Harajuku. Lotte has opened a chocolate support house for its Ghana brand at Cafe Studio in Jingumae until February 13.

Nagasawa and Takei also appear on Valentine commercial for Lotte’s “Ghana Milk Chocolate“. As with every year, the 2011 edition of the commercial features Nagasawa and her co-star making their very own chocolate hearts. This time, Takei has the honor and it seems like she really wants to find love this year.
Korean girl group KARA’s song, “SOS“, is used as the theme song.

Chocolate is the primary gift given in Japan on Valentine’s Day.

Japan Airlines unveils Samantha Thavasa jet with Yuri Ebihara

Japan Airlines held an event to introduce a new themed jet for popular fashion brand Samantha Thavasa.The jet, a Boeing 777-200 designated JA8983, is decorated with the Samantha Thavasa logo, as well as an image of model Yuri Ebihara (蛯原友里）,31,.

Samantha Thavasa is a Japanese fashion company, known primarily for their popular handbags. It was founded in 1994 by Kazumasa Terada, the current CEO and president.The company’s marketing strategy is typified by its extensive utilization of celebrities and socialites in its advertising. The company’s target customer base are college and working women in their twenties. Their prices are designed to appeal to this age group.In Japan, the company has over 130 retail stores. In late 2006, Samantha Thavasa opened its first U.S. store in New York City.

Yuri Ebihara, a Japanese model and actress, is widely known as “Ebi-chan”, she has been especially popular with young men and women. In May 2010, Ebihara has gotten married to RIP SLYME’s ILMARY.

Ebihara’s face will grace the jet during its three months of service, between February 8 and May 7. Like the Arashi jet, the Samantha Thavasa jet will be used for domestic flights.

Haruka Ayase, Tsubasa Masuwaka to promote the exchange of chocolates between female friends on Valentine’s Day

Unique Valentine’s Day tradition of Japanese women giving chocolate to men is melting away as more women show a preference for pampering each other instead of their boyfriends and spouses.

On Feb 14, girls usually give “giri-choco (obligation chocolate) to their male colleagues who are supposed to return the favor with chocolates on White Day (March 14).

However, this year, some chocolate companies are launching “tomo-choco,” an economy-boosting plan to promote the exchange of chocolates between female friends on Valentine’s Day.

Actress Haruka Ayase (綾瀬はるか）, 25, and fashion model Tsubasa Masuwaka (益若つばさ）, 25, are promoting the campaign. “When I was at school, we used to make our own confectionery for Valentine’s Day,” said Ayase. “Once I tried it, I got hooked and started baking cakes.”

When asked who she would like to give chocolates to this year, she responded, “I’d like to give them to all the people who’ve looked after me and helped me over the years, regardless of whether they’re a man or a woman.”

Masuwaka, said: “I’m trying to think of something that will really please my husband and son. Asked to whom she would give “tomo-choco,” she responded with the name of fellow model and TV personality, Jun Komori. “I have a feeling she’ll say she doesn’t want them, though” she joked.

The tomo choco trend may also say something about Japan’s poor economic situation. According to Glico, women spend an average of ¥438 on a chocolate gift for a friend, ¥952 to confess a crush on someone, and around ¥1,781 on a gift for a boyfriend.

The survey also indicated that as they get older, women are less likely to buy chocolate to confess their love to someone, and that 23 percent of college-age women chose to buy chocolates for themselves.

The 5th Bridal Jewelry Princess awards for Yuko Oshima and Saki Fukuda

AKB48 member, Ohshima Yuko（大島優子）, 22, (right) and actress Fukuda Saki(福田沙紀）, 20, (left) have received The 5th Bridal Jewelry Princess awards, and appeared at the awarding ceremony held on January 28th at Tokyo Big Sight.

This award is to recognize celebrities who fit as the image leaders for bridal jewelries. Both Ohshima and Fukuda showed up in wedding dresses designed by Katsura Yumi, and received a ring for their ring fingers.

< 1st Bridal Jewellery Princess Awards Recipients >

Yuka
(Actress)
Megumi Yasu
(TV Personality)

< 2nd Bridal Jewellery Princess Awards Recipients >

Mao Kobayashi
(Newscaster)
Misako Yasuda
(TV Personality)

< 3rd Bridal Jewellery Princess Awards Recipients >

Aya HIrayama
(TV Personality)
Aiko Kaito
(Newscaster)

< 4th Bridal Jewellery Princess Awards Recipients >

Suzanne
(TV Personality)
Akina Minami
(TV Personality)

43rd Miss Nippon grand prize for 20-year-old Keio University student

keio-fashion-collection.net

The 43rd Miss Nippon Contest was held on January 26 Tokyo. A total of 3,169 entrants were narrowed down to 12 women for the final round, and the grand prize was awarded to 20-year-old Marie Yanaka, a student at Keio University who is said to have scored a perfect 990 points on the TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) certification test.

The Miss Nippon Contest is a beauty contest that has been held by a beauty company and The Sports Nippon newspaper every year between winners of the Japanese block pageants.

This year’s two Miss Nippon runner-ups were 15-year-olds Chika Ehara and Hiroka Akiya. The other winners were:

* Miss Kimono: Hisae Arai (24), the daughter of former baseball player Hiromasa Arai
* Miss Marine Day: Ayano Higuchi (21)
* Miss Sky Day: Rina Kuribayashi (22)
* Miss Nature: Kaori Harada (22)
* Sponichi Special Prize (publicly voted): Rina Kuribayashi

Erika Sawajiri announces looming divorce

Actress Erika Sawajiri (沢尻エリカ),24, tearfully announced that she and her husband, media creator Tsuyoshi Takashiro (46) have mutually agreed to get a divorce.

According to Sawajiri, the divorce procedures are already in the final stages. There have been rumors since last year that the two would likely split up, though a couple months ago it appeared that they might be getting back together. However, it seems that her meetings with Takashiro were primarily to settle the divorce.

Last March, Sawajiri became the president of the management agency that she and Takashiro had established in Spain, but she revealed that she resigned from that position in December and became the president of a brand new agency that she founded on her own. It is still unknown whether she will be able to continue negotiations with Avex for a management contract in Japan.

In September 2007, at the movie premiere for Closed Note, Sawajiri responded in a terse manner to reporters’ questions. After much criticism in the Japanese press, she posted an apology on her website. A few days later she appeared on a TV show, and gave them an exclusive 120-minute interview. She also denied the rumors that she was being suspended by her management.

However in September 2010, Sawajiri said that her apology after the 2007 movie premiere incident was a mistake in an interview on CNNGo.com. She didn’t want to apologize but her management at that time forced her to apologize; “I told them ‘this is my way’… but in the end I surrendered. That was my mistake.” Sawajiri believes that the agencies that are forcing too much from their idols are too old fashioned and that “The managers themselves are old but we have to change this situation.”

Sawajiri stated that she currently has no work scheduled, though she affirmed that she strongly wants to return to acting. However, a commercial contract is in the works, with more details expected to be announced at another press conference on February 28.

Ringo Shiina to model in Shiseido’s Maquillage

Singer-songwriter Ringo Shiina (椎名林檎）,32, will model in a cosmetics commercial for the first time. She will appear in a new advertisement for Shiseido’s Maquillage brand, scheduled to begin airing on February 20.

Shiina will also provide the theme song, titled “Onna no Ko wa Daredemo.” She wrote the song specifically for the commercial, and it was arranged by well-known musician Takayuki Hattori.

Shiina (born on November 25) works as a solo musician and singer and is a member of the band Tokyo Jihen.She describes herself as “Shinjuku-kei Jisaku-Jien-ya (新宿系自作自演屋).

Shiina announced at the end of last year that she would release a new single on February 23. It is now known that it will be a double A-side, featuring “Onna no Ko wa Daredemo” and another song written by Shiina and composed by Seiji Kameda, the bassist of Shiina’s band Tokyo Jihen.

ICONIQ X Shiseido’s Maquillage

Erika Sawajiri returns to Japan

Actress Erika Sawajiri (沢尻エリカ）,24, is back in Japan, having quietly returned from Spain on January 12 night. She was hounded by reporters outside her home, though she remained silent to all questions.

On January 20, 2009, Sawajiri married media creator Tsuyoshi Takashiro (高城剛）at Meiji Shrine in Yoyogi. The pair registered their marriage on January 7, which fell on the most auspicious of the days according to the six-day rokuyo calendar, and they held a small reception for close friends and family in Hawaii later that month.

Sawajiri’s last appearance before the press was on September 5 in 2010. She was scheduled to appear at an event on September 21, but she suddenly canceled the day before and went missing, triggering various rumors. It was learned that she later went back to Spain, where her current management office is based. It is also believed that she is again living there with her husband Takashiro, even though it previously appeared that they would likely divorce.

According to Sports Hochi, Sawajiri met yesterday with a representative for the Takano Yuri Beauty Clinic, which Sawajiri had been doing commercials for. The company is holding a big event on January 23, and it is expected that the actress will be in attendance. If she does indeed hold a press conference there, she will likely comment on the status of her marriage with Takashiro.

Sawajiri was originally scheduled to star in the live action film version of Space Battleship Yamato but was replaced by Meisa Kuroki.

Erika Sawajiri x GLAMOROUS magazine

Meisa Kuroki, Erika Sawajiri performed at Girls Award 2010

Michiko Kichise announced her marriage

Popular actress Michiko Kichise (吉瀬美智子) has announced her marriage to a business man 10 years her junior, on her blog on December 25. Kichise didn’t mention more details on her blog, but a gossip paper reported he is a rich who earns more than 2 billon yen a year.
Kichise (born 17 February 1975) is a actress who best known for role as Orihara Maya in Bloody Monday (2007).

Yukike Nakama, Juri Ueno for the 61th NHK Kouhaku guest judges

NHK announced the names of the guest judges for the contest.

* Yusuke Iseya (actor)
* Natsumi Iwasaki (author of “Moshidora”)
* Juri Ueno (actress)
* Kinya Kitaoji (actor)
* Daisuke Takahashi (figure skater)
* Shinobu Terajima (actress)
* Yukie Nakama (actress)
* Soichi Noguchi (astronaut)
* Kanae Minato (author of “Kokuhaku”)
* Nunoe Mura (Mrs. Shigeru Mizuki, auther of “Gegege no Nyoubou” )

Tomomi Itano, Akina Minami, Marie recaived 1st Wedding Best Dresser Awards

The first Wedding Best Dresser awards in Japan were presented on Sunday at Tokyo Big Sight, as part of the 2010 Tokyo Bridal Festa. The inaugural winners were model Marie(マリエ),23, Akina Minami（南明奈）,21, , and AKB48 member Tomomi Itano (板野友美),19,.

At the awards ceremony, Minami appeared in a wedding dress and told attendees, “All girls long for a white wedding, so I’m pleased to have been chosen for this award.” When asked about her own wedding prospects, Minami replied, “I’d like to get married at around 24 or 25, but I don’t have a boyfriend right now and my friends tell me it’s not going to happen anytime soon. But when the day comes, my ideal ceremony would be at Disneyland with all my friends.”

Itano, who received the award in the “idol” category, accepted her prize wearing a wedding dress and jewelry that Itano is said to be worth a total of 700 million yen.