One of Japanese pop's more restless stars has found a home. Jin Akanishi, who for nine years had an on-and-off relationship with J-pop group Kat-tun, has signed a contract for global representation as a solo artist with Warner Music Group.
The 26-year-old Akanishi becomes only the third Japanese performer to sign with U.S.-based WMG, following in the footsteps of 61-year-old legend Eikichi Yazawa and heavy-metal band Loudness, both of whom have since parted ways with the company.
The signing was announced in Tokyo on Dec. 9 by Lachie Rutherford, the president of Warner Music Asia Pacific and chairman and CEO of local subsidiary Warner Music Japan.
"I was impressed with (Akanishi's) vision and the high aspirations he has for his career. He is a first-class entertainer," Rutherford said to explain the signing. He also praised Akanishi for writing and arranging most of his songs.
Akanishi, who was also present at the press conference, said that the move to a global label was a natural progression for him.
"I was concentrating on doing what I wanted to do and it ended up like this," he said.
Exactly what Akanishi "wanted to do" has been the subject of speculation for several years now. Having joined talent agency Johnny & Associates in 1998, he became a member of boy band Kat-tun in 2001. However, in October 2006, just seven months after the group released their first single, "Real Face" (which spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Oricon chart), Akanishi announced he was suspending his participation in the band indefinitely so he could go to study in the United States.
After returning to Japan in April 2007, Akanishi appeared in television dramas and took on the lead role of a rock star in the 2010 film "Bandage" — a role for which Japan Times critic Mark Schilling praised him as "the real rock star deal." He kicked off his career as a solo artist by singing the title track for that film and the song went to No. 1 in Japan in late 2009.
Since then, things have moved quickly for Akanishi. In June, he performed two shows in Los Angeles before later confirming his withdrawal from Kat-tun, and then going to the United States again in November to hold concerts in five cities. Those shows all sold out, attracting more than 2,000 fans each.
WMG's press release to announce the signing states that many artists of Asian origin are now finding success in the U.S. market, noting such acts as the electro-hop unit Far East Movement and Philippine starlet Charice. It seems that WMG hopes that Akanishi's rap- and R&B-inspired pop will emulate that success.
At the press conference, Akanishi was asked by a Japanese journalist to introduce himself in English. "Even though we're in Japan?" he asked good-naturedly, before switching to casual-sounding American: "This is Jin Akanishi. Nice meeting you. Now I am a singer (based in Japan), but I just started singing in America and (I will) try to reach out to a bigger audience."
Explaining that his mother often listened to Western music when he was growing up, Akanishi said he didn't find writing songs in English any more difficult than writing in Japanese.
Akanishi's signing with WMG does not affect his representation by Johnny & Associates. In fact, he becomes the first member of the legendary Japanese talent agency to debut in the U.S. as a solo performer.
Akanishi will perform six shows in Japan in January before releasing his first single with WMG in spring. That will be followed by an album and a U.S. tour.
Japanese pop singer Chihiro Onitsuka was assaulted by her boyfriend Komiya Yusuke. The incident took place in their shared apartment. The case finally made it to court and the trial began on December 16th.
Onitsuka was left with some broken ribs, a left orbital floor fracture, as well as other injuries which took about a month to heal. The defendant explained that he only slapped her once, and that her injuries could have been from when she fell down. Komiya has 5 criminal records.
You should check it out. Kimutaku is great as usual. Kuroki Meisa is his "pair" in this movie and they make a great couple on screen. In a recent variety show, Kimutaku said that he knows now where Meisa`s nipples are !!;-)) u gotta love that guy!
Miyazaki's 'Mr. Dough and the Egg Princess' at Tokyo's Ghibli Museum
2010/12/08;
A scene from "Mr. Dough and the Egg Princess" ((c)2010 Nibariki G)
What would happen if a blob of dough suddenly came to life and tried to run away from a crafty old witch? How would it run? Would its movements be all gooey and squishy?Such were the musings of acclaimed anime creator Hayao Miyazaki as he pondered how to make "Mr. Dough and the Egg Princess," the fully baked result of which can be seen at the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo's Mitaka city through March 14 at the museum's Saturn Theater.
In conjunction with the screening, an exhibition about the making of the film runs through May.
The short was the brainchild of Miyazaki, who happened across an old European folk tale about a runaway loaf of bread. It reminded him of the Japanese folk tale "Omusubi Kororin" (tumbling rice balls). A man drops his rice balls, which are eaten by hungry mice. They give the man treasures in return for his generosity.
Miyazaki stretched his imagination. "What if the runaway was a chunk of dough, how could it get away? Are its movements all gooey and squishy?"
In Miyazaki's story, an old witch named Baba Yaga lives at a water mill deep in a forest. There she keeps the Egg Princess as her servant. One day, a batch of kneaded bread dough lying in a trough suddenly comes to life from a careless spell cast by the witch. Mr. Dough is born. He and the Egg Princess run away, but Baba Yaga discovers they have deserted her and chases after them.
The creepy, but lovable Baba Yaga, along with the stretchy, bendy way that Mr. Dough moves, make the scenes hilarious. The music was produced by Ghibli regular Joe Hisaishi.
Panels illustrated by and with comments from Miyazaki explain how bread is made, from the milling of wheat through baking. A wheat field scene is recreated in a diorama. Another display explains the process of stone grinding flour. Visitors can learn the processes of both filmmaking and bread making from this entertaining exhibition.
Yamashita Tomohisa will be holding his solo live tour which will span across the continent of Asia starting on January 29th to May 10th. He will make have stops in 5 cities in Japan, and the tour also includes 5 cities outside of Japan in Asia including Hongkong, Taipei, Busan, Seoul, and Bangkok. For the entire tour, there will be 27 total stages. It was also announced that he will also be releasing his first solo album right before the tour.
Although he has performed in Taiwan in 2007 as a member of NEWS, this will be his first time holding a solo tour overseas. Yamashita commented, “It will give me a huge responsibility, but it’s also a great chance. I hope it will make people in other Asian countries get to know more about Japanese idols.” Yamashita also gave comment to fans, “I will participate in NEWS activities as well, so you don’t have to worry!”
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