Archive for 'Drama' Category

“Yae-no Sakura” Drama museum in Aizu-wakamatsu

“Yae-no Sakura”(/Cherryblossoms of Yae ), is a  popular period drama currently  aired, describing biography of  Yae Niijima, a  “handsome woman”  who  made a lot of  remarkable activities  at the turinig point of Japan from the Edo Period to the Meiji era of modern society about 150 years ago in Aizu Fukushima.  For this one year,  related  cultural campaign activies are being done in Aizu area. And one of the is the the service of the “Taiga Drama Museum” (http://yae-sakura.jp/dramakan)

The drama deals the information on the background of  the processes of making the drama and historical and actual aspects of  the life of  Yae and related people and events in thsoe days, So, we can learn plenty of things about both the drama and  history.  I visited this facility on 23rd and found it so interesting, and feel the need to introduce it to those who are interested in the Japanese modernization processes and the  popular drama, “Yae-no Sakura”

Tokyo Drama Award 2013, “Amachan” won Grand Prix

Award ceremony of “Tokyo Drama Award 2013” was held in Tokyo on Oct.22nd. The condiditon of  candidacy is  a drama  aired between last September and this June.(http://www.j-ba.or.jp/drafes/english/index.html)

“Amachan”(a naive one) which was a quite a popular TV drama aired by NHK this April-September received Grand Prix and  totally seven awards.  The drama is about stories describing a young girl from the northeast region which damaged by the earthquake and tsunami becoming a fisher-girl, and an idol in showbiz being supported by many good people including her family, friends, showbiz guys, and others.  Some parts of the the plot were parody anecdotes of current situations of real young female idol groups such as AKB48.  The actor who played the main part was Rena Nohnen, who has suddenly become remarkably popular nation wide due to the drama, won the best actress award.   Some of songs sung in the drama by her or other characters have now been really released in styles of CDs and stuff as if those characters really existed and singing in the entertainment world.

“TRICK Last Stage” will come in Jan.2014

“TRICK Last Stage”, the final work of the popular TV drama series will come out on Jan.11th 2014 as a movie. http://yamada-ueda.com/movie/

This is a TV drama series with some movies versions of  stories  of  a magician  who solves mystery cases using magicians’ knowledge and skills. this started in 2012 and the “Last Stage” will be the work to conclude the 14-year- long drama series.

“The 8th Youkai-kentei”(Monster tests) of Ge-ge-ge

“Youkai-kentei”(Monster tests) were held in Sakaiminato city in Tottori pref. and Chofu city in Tokyo on Oct,27th.

These were the 8th tests which started in 2006 by The chamber of commerce and industry of Sakaiminato. The test is for prevailing knowledge of Japanese traditional monsters created by Shigeru Mizuki, a popular cartoonist who is known for the comic series of  “Ge-ge-ge no Kitarou” and other monster -related works . He is from Sakaiminato and lives now in Chofu, so the cities were chosen as the venues of the tests.

Mizuki’s biography written by his wife was dramatized by NHK TV station and that “Ge-ge-ge No Noubo”(Gegege’s wife) also made his works very popular as well.    This time the three levels of the tests,namely, the biginner level, the intermediate level, and the advanced level were taken totaly by about 400 test takers. The successful takers will be given a title of “Youkai hakase”(Doctor of Youkai or  monster master) by the host.  2220 people have received the title since 2006 so far.

Musical “SEMPO”, a story of Japanese Schindler

“SEMPO”, a musical play describing a stroy of an actual Japanese diplomat who saved a lot of lives of Jews during WW2 was performed at New National Theater in Hatsudai Tokyo Sep.10-29. (http://www.sempo2013.com/)

 

 

 

The word SEMPO is a nickname of a Japanese diplomat who issued visas to Jews who were persecuted by Nazi during WW2 in Kaunus Lithuania.  His real name is Chiune Sugihara who was a vice-consul of that country in 1940.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiune_Sugihara)

Sugihara is called “Japanese Schindler”, as he saved about 6000 Jews by issuing Japanese visas to them ,which  enabled them to  escape from European countries where they were suffering despite  the-then Japanese government had prohibited him to do so. After WW2, he was dismissed for violation of the order, yet he received honor of Righteos Among Nations from Israel and Japanese government gave an official apology to his bereaved family of the unfair dismissal.

The musical play was a touching work with good actors and singers. His strong belief of justice and agony of dilemma between his loyal duty to the government and his own chivalry or conscience were all described in detail. Sugihara’s part was played by Kouji Kikkawa, a popular rock-n-roll singer as well as an actor. AKB48’s members Haruka Katayama and Amina Sato played the part of his sister-in-law in turn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sadako in the middle of Tokyo

I wrote about Sadako , the popular ghost character, joining the opening event of pro baseball game on Aug.24th in my last post here.  And now, on the next day, 25th, Sadako appeared in a sprinkling water event  on PARCO aquare along Koendori in Shibuya with an ad truck , one of the busiest commercial and shopping area in Tokyo.

A lot of fans talked to Sadako in the event though she couldn’t talk directly.

 

Sadako threw the first ball

“Sadako”, the evil ghost  character of a popular horror series of “Ring” threw the first ball at the opening ceremony of the baseball game of Seibu Lions vs Fukuoka Softbank Hawks at Seibu Dome on Aug. 24th.  This was a part of  promotion of  “Sadako 3D 2”,the newest movie of the “Ring” series which was to be released on Aug. 30.    Sadako appeared and threw a ball with some “petty Sadako”.  Her ball speed was 103 km/h and Sadako was taken away on a strecher as planned.

 

Shima Spain Village is to re-open on March 1st with new attractions

Shima Spain Village, a theme amusement park in Shima Mie pref. ,which had temporarily been closed for remodelling, is going to re-open on this march 1st with new attractions. http://www.parque-net.com/foreign/english/index.html

Felliz Cruise, a ship cruise attraction of fantasy is going to start its operation from this March on.http://www.parque-net.com/pr/  Chapu Chapu Lagoon, a swimming facility in fountains for children is to start operation,too.  In addition,  a flamenco show program will start as well.

In addition,  this park is located in near  Ise Shrine which is to undergo a special renovation which takes place every 20 years as a solemn Shinto ceremony. From March on,  shuttle bus services between Ise Shrine and Shima Spain Village will start and the traveling time of such a bus is planned to be about 39 minuates at minimum

“N-dimensional original tourism anime pilgrimage/Contents-tourism/possibilities of the sociology of tourism”

A book “N-dimensional original tourism anime pilgrimage/Contents-tourism/possibilities of the sociology of tourism” (/「ｎ次創作観光　アニメ聖地巡礼/コンテンツツーリズム/観光社会学の可能性」), an academic work written by Takeshi Okamoto, a researcher of  the sociology of tourism at Kyoto Bunkyo University  was issued by bouken book store(http://bouken.thebase.in/).

“N-dimensional tourism” is a new concept produced by the author who is a professional of sociology of tourism that fans of anime works create flows of tourism like the way  they create their own “applied works” of the original works in “two-dimensional work” to “three-dimensional work” or others as “original developments”.  fans’ visiting “the holy place” of manga or anime works’ settings(“the pilgrimage of  the anime sanctuaries”) is a typical development of this kind, he explains.  He states about his theory of  possibilities of  developments of tourism industry making much of the huge influences of  such fans’ psychology , mentality,and acts tendencies.

No.1 song of the best 30 songs of JASRAC-“The One and Only Flower in the World”

JASRAC (Japanese Society for Rights Authors,Composers and publishers ) announced the best selling 30 songs 1982-2011  on Nov.6th, in token of commemorating the 30th anniversary of  JASRAC Award. http://www.jasrac.or.jp/ejhp/index.htm

The No.1 song is “The One and Only Flower of the World”(/世界に１つだけの花）, made by  Noriyuki Makihara and  sung by SMAP.

The song has won some awards as well . And in its lyrics, it sings “You don’t have to become No.1, you are inherently  one and only..”, but the song is quite popular nationwide or even internationally, and actually has “become No.1” song.

Some of other 30 songs are Enka, some are Anime songs, such as “Evngelion” BGM, “Gundam BGM” and others.

 

“TOKUSATSU-Special Effects Museum” of Hideaki Anno

Hideaki Anno(http://www.khara.co.jp/hideakianno/), a popular film director as well as an animator was  in charge of management of  a temporary art museum of “TOKUSATSU- Special Effects Museum”  wihich is a special exhibition at  Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo in Koto-ward Tokyo Jul.10-Oct.8.   (http://www.ntv.co.jp/tokusatsu/english.html)

The venue has displays of a lot of and various items, data, and movies. Diorama of houses ,towns and other scenes used in Sci-fi movies, models of spaceships, robots, masks and figure dolls and other items of monsters, super heroes etc… were all around there which attracted  visitors some of whom were adults , some of  whom were children. As you walk by you could learn a lot of details about famour or popular  sci-fi , fantasy, or action types of TV shows  ,movies animation as well as a long history and general flows of that industry’s  developments for decades.  In addition, audio recording  guilding service was available. i myself visted there and it was so intresting that it took more than three hours to finish it.

Anno has joined prohects such as “Nausica of Vally of winds”, “Gundam”,”Evangelion” and other worldwide popular anime and works.His great career directly reflected to the exhibited items. In addition, His newest work which Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki joined was released and shown for the first time to the visitors. It is a 10-minute long special effects movie called “Kyoshinnhei Tokyo ni arawaru”(/ Giant soldiers of artificial creatures showed up in Tokyo )  and the colossal robot soldiers destroy Tokyo which was a description of The seven Days of Fire depicted a bit in Nausica, an anime of Miyazaki 28 years ago.   I visited there and saw the movie and found them qute good and interesting.

Though the temporary museum was already closed, as the event was so popular that now Anno and his staf are considering  of  hosting the same event in many venues nationwide as a moving art museum, which may attract even more people from now on.

“SHINOBIDO” being run at theaters

“SHINOBIDO”(/忍道), the special movie to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Edo Wonderland  Nikko (http://www.edowonderland.net/) is being shown at theaters. http://www.shinobido-movie.com/

The story is about a tragic love between a shinobi(or Ninjya) girl and a samurai warrior of her enemy, depicting energetic and lively actions and battles of shiboi and warriors.The mainpart is played by a young and popular actor named Aimi Satsukawa(/佐津川愛美), and a young shinobi girl who longs for her is played by Ayaka Kikuchi(/菊地あやか), a member of AKB48.

 

The work is produced by Edo Wonderland which usually provides live  action shows of ninjya performances of the ninjya actors there.  Some important parts in the movie are played by famous actors, such as Toshio Kurosawa(/黒沢年雄), Naoko Ken(/研ナオコ), Ryouichi Eki(/エキリョウイチ), Mayuko Iwasa(/岩佐真悠子), Hatsunori Hasegawa(/長谷川初範),and others.

Sho Sakurai , Yuko Oshima to co-star in TV drama “Blackboard”

Arashi’s Sho Sakurai(櫻井翔）,30, and AKB48’s Yuko Oshima(大島優子）,23, will appear together in a television drama for the first time. In April, TBS plans to air a 3-episode miniseries, and Sakurai and Oshima have been cast in the first episode.

The miniseries, titled “Blackboard ~ Jidai to Tatakatta Kyoushitachi~,” revolves around teachers in different time periods having to deal with the problems of that era. For example, the first episode stars Sakurai as Shirahama, a junior high school teacher who taught his students about “dying for your country” during wartime. After later losing his right arm in the war, he returns to teaching but is burdened and conflicted by what he taught his students in the past. Read the rest of this entry »

The 24th TIFF TOKYO held

The 24th TIFF TOKYO  (Tokyo International Film Festival)was held Oct.23-30  at TOHO CINEMAS and Cinemart Roppongi in Roppongi Tokyo.http://2011.tiff-jp.net/en/

Both foreign and Japanese movies and related staras and staffers were invited.”Untouchable” from France won the Sakura Grand Prix and Award for  Best Actor.

Ranma 1/2 Manga Gets Live-Action Special with Yui Aragaki

A live-action television adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi’s Ranma ½ martial arts comedy manga will air this December as a two-hour special on Japan’s NTV network.

Ranma ½

Yui Aragaki (新垣結衣）will play Akane Tendo, and Kento Kaku (賀来賢人） and Natsuna (夏菜) will play the dual male/female sides of the title character Ranma Saotome .

Yui Aragaki

Kento Kaku

Natsuna

Ranma ½ is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi（高橋留美子） . The story revolves around a 16-year old boy named Ranma Saotome who was trained from early childhood in martial arts. As a result of an accident during a training journey, he is cursed to become a girl when splashed with cold water, but hot water will change him back into a boy.