The story depicts the life of a gourmet who marries into a family in Osaka and how she lives through the turbulent Taisho and Showa eras.

The script is written by Yoshiko Morishita who has written many popular TV dramas such as TBS’s “JIN.”

“I am very honored to be given this role,” said Watanabe, whose father is accliamed actor Ken Watanabe. “It will be a long shoot, but together, with the great crew and my fellow cast members, I will be able to get through it.”

Japan Today

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TOKYO — Model and singer Anna Tsuchiya, 28, is the winner of “The 8th FUR OF THE YEAR” award, which is given by the Japan Fur Association to the celebrity whose image best matches fur.

The association said Tsuchiya was chosen because of her “open-minded personality and frank fashion sense.” Tsuchiya was also given an opportunity to design an original fur coat.

At the award ceremony this week, Tsuchiya showed her mink coat designed by both herself and her husband, stylist Yamato Kikuchi. “I focused on quality. My husband knows what I like, so we completed the designing pretty quickly,” she said. “It was his idea to put a wire in the collar so that it’s easy to change the shape according to different hairstyles.”

Past winners of the Fur of the Year award include Aya Ueto, Meisa Kuroki, Maki Tamaru and Miki Mizuno.

Japan Today

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TOKYO — Model-singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, 19, announced this week that her world concert tour will start in February. She made the announcement during her first concert before 9,000 fans at the Budokan in Tokyo.

The colorful Kyary will kick off her global tour in Belgium (Feb 8), then France (Feb 10), before playing in 20 different venues in over 10 countries in Europe, North America and Asia.

Since she made her singing debut last August, Kyary has been on top of hit charts abroad as well as receiving great exposure on YouTube. Promoters said her latest single, “Fashion Monster,” has been distributed to 63 countries, selling well on iTunes in Finland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the U.S. and Canada.

Japan Today

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TOKYO — Popular all-girl South Korean group Girls’ Generation will release their second album in Japan on Nov 28. Posters showing the girls dressed as flight attendants have been released in Japan for their fans.

Titled “Girls’ Generation: Girls & Peace,” the album features 12 tracks, including the single “Flower Power,” which will be released in advance on Nov 14.

Japan Today

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TOKYO — Kumi Koda’s first single since she returned to show business after giving birth in the summer has reached the No. 1 spot on the Oricon chart, having sold more than 55,00 copies since its release on Oct 24.

The single is titled “Go to the Top” and is her 8th song to hit the No. 1 spot on Oricon. The year is ending well for Koda whose last album “JAPON ESQUE”—released in January—also reached the top spot.

“I languished, not knowing what direction I was going to take after life-changing events such as marriage and having a baby,” she said in a statement. “But I decided to come back to the stage and I am thrilled beyond words to be back in the No. 1 spot.”

Japan Today

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TOKYO — Actress Ryoko Yonekura had her first public bathhouse experience while filming TV Asahi’s new drama “Doctor X ~Gekai Daimon Michiko~,” which starts airing Thursday night from 9 p.m.

The drama revolves around the unusual lifestyle of a charismatic freelance surgeon, Michiko Daimon, played by Yonekura, who works at multiple hospitals. Michiko is not your average doctor, oozing sex appeal and wearing miniskirts under her white coat. Under a special contract, which allows Michiko to leave her work at 5 p.m., she enjoys her “after 5” life by dancing at clubs, playing Mahjong, and going to hot springs and public bathhouses.

During filming, Yonekura, 37, visited a public bathhouse in Tokyo for the first time in her life. She said she enjoyed soaking in the bath against a huge wall painting of Mount Fuji, TV Asahi reported.

When it comes to Yonekura’s own “after 5” life, she said she is not unlike her character. “I do love going out and drinking sake, but I go to the gym to keep in shape. I also do exercises while listening to the radio.”

Japan Today

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TOKYO — Public broadcaster NHK on Tuesday announced that actress Maki Horikita and all-male pop band Arashi will host the 63rd “Kohaku Uta Gassen” (Red and White Song Contest) on New Year’s Eve.

The announcement of the hosts was made a bit earlier than usual this year. The line-up of guests for the popular program will be unveiled in early December.

Arashi will be hosting the gala show for the third consecutive year, while Horikita, 24, will be making her debut, taking over from Mao Inoue. She has been starring this year in NHK’s popular drama, “Ume-chan sensei.”

Japan Today

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TOKYO — Singer Kumi Koda makes her return to show business this week three months after giving birth to a baby boy in July. Koda, 29, will appear in a sexy pose on the cover of ViVi magazine which goes on sale Tuesday.

In the magazine interview, Koda talks about married life, her pregnancy and how she is enjoying being a mother.

Koda, who is married to 28-year-old Back-On guitarist Kenji03, earlier announced her intention to return to the stage in November in a tour that will include seven performances in four cities and is expected to attract around 62,000 spectators.

The Nov 13 concert will be both Koda’s first ever show at Budokan in Tokyo and the first time she has performed on her birthday, at which she will celebrate turning 30 in the company of her fans.

Koda is scheduled to play at Osaka Castle Hall on Nov 7 and 8, followed by Tokyo’s Budokan on Nov 13 and 14, Nagoya’s Nippon Gaishi Hall on Nov 20 and 21 and then the Shimin Bunka Center in Koriyama, Fukushima on Nov 27.

Koda will also release a new single, “Go to the Top,” on Wednesday and will perform it on TV Asahi’s “Music Station” program on Friday.

Japan Today

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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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TOKYO — Popular all-girl AKB48 can even hawk men’s suits—they are appearing as the image characters for Haruyama Shoji’s commercials for “Otokomae Suits.”

In the commercial, six members of AKB48—Yuko Oshima, Yuki Kashiwagi, Haruna Kojima, Mariko Shinoda, Minami Takahashi and Mayu Watanabe—perform a stylish dance with mannequin-looking professional dancers.

To promote the brand’s message of “Always Looking Smart,” AKB’s 28th single, “UZA,” which is known for its complex choreography, was used as background music.

Unlike the AKB members, the professional dancers had to endure some hardships, such as covering up their faces so they would look like mannequins. They have all collaborated with famous artists before.

The commercial will be aired in November.

Japan Today

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ayumi Hamasaki (浜崎 あゆみ Hamasaki Ayumi?, also 濱崎 歩; born October 2, 1978) is a Japanese recording artist, lyricist, model, and actress. Also called "Ayu" by her fans, Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of Pop" because of her popularity and widespread influence in Japan and throughout Asia.[2][3] Born and raised in Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo at fourteen to pursue a career in entertainment. In 1998, under the tutelage of Avex CEO Max Matsuura, she released a string of modestly selling singles that concluded with her 1999 debut album A Song for ××.

The album debuted atop the Oricon charts and stayed there for four weeks, establishing her popularity in Japan.[fn 1] Hamasaki's constantly changing image and tight control over her artistry has helped her popularity extend across Asia; music and fashion trends she has started have spread to countries such as China, Singapore, and Southeast Asia. She has appeared in or lent her songs to many advertisements and television commercials.

Though she originally supported the exploitation of her popularity for commercial purposes, she later reconsidered and eventually opposed her status as an Avex "product".[4] Since her 1998 debut with the single "Poker Face",[fn 1] Hamasaki has sold over 50 million records in Japan, making her the best selling solo singer in Japanese history as well as one of the country's most successful songwriters, ranking her among the best-selling singers in the country.[5]

As a female singer, Hamasaki holds several domestic records for her singles, such as the most number-one hits overall by a female artist, the most consecutive number-one hits by a solo artist,[6] the highest sales, and the most million-sellers.[7][fn 2] Since 1999, Hamasaki has had at least one single each year topping the charts (except 2011, which she released a mini-album, Five, without any singles).[8]

Hamasaki is the first female singer to have eight studio albums since her debut to top the Oricon and the first artist to have a number-one album for 13 consecutive years since her debut.[9][10] On August 2012, Hamasaki became both the highest selling solo artist of all time in Japan and the best selling Japanese female artist in history, with sales of more than 50 million records to her name in the country alone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayumi_Hamasaki

TOKYO — Sometimes, after a long, stressful day, there’s nothing more comforting than crawling into bed with your significant other and falling asleep in their arms.

 But what if you don’t have anyone to cuddle with in the first place? If you’re in Japan, you might think to go to a soapland or some other kind of brothel, but then you’d have to deal with all that sex when you really just want to close your eyes and rest in the warmth of another’s body.

 But wait! Before you resign yourself to another lonely night of shedding tears on your Rei Ayanami dakimakura, why not stop by Soineya, Japan’s first “co-sleeping specialty shop,” where customers can pay to sleep in the arms of a beautiful girl—with no strings attached.

 Soineya (literally, “sleep together shop”) opened its doors on Sept 25 in none other than Akihabara, Tokyo’s electronics district, hub of otaku culture and birthplace of other eccentric establishments like maid cafés. Soineya defines itself as a “co-sleeping specialty shop,” which we’re going to denominate “cuddle cafe” because it has a better ring to it.

 According to the homepage, Soineya hopes to offer patrons “the simple and ultimate comfort of sleeping together with someone.”

 Of course, ultimate comfort comes at a price. Let’s take a look at the Soineya “service menu”:

 Admission fee: 3,000 yen

 Standard Course
 20 min – 3,000 yen
 40 min – 5,000 yen (only 3,000 yen for first time visitors)
60 min – 6,000 yen
 2 hrs – 11,000 yen
 3 hrs – 16,000 yen
 4 hrs – 20,000 yen
 5 hrs – 25,000 yen
 6 hrs – 30,000 yen
 10 hrs – 50,000 yen

 “Shimei-ryo“ (fee to pick the girl you want to sleep with) – 1,000 yen + 500 yen per hour 

Optional Course
 Customer sleeps in girl’s arm (3 min) – 1,000 yen 
Girl pats customer on the back (3 min) – 1,000 yen 
Customer pets girl on the head (3 min) – 1,000 yen
 Customer and girl stare at each other (1 min) – 1,000 yen
 Girl changes clothes (1 time) – 1,000 yen
 Girl gives customer foot massage (3 min) – 1,000 yen
 Customer gives girl foot massage (3 min) – 2,000 yen
 Customer sleeps with head on girl’s lap (3 min) – 1,000 yen
 Girl sleeps with head on customer’s lap (3 min) – 2,000 yen

 So basically, you’re paying about 6,000 yen an hour to lie in bed with a complete stranger. The website doesn’t specify what customers are and are not permitted to do during the standard course, but it’s probably safe to assume your options are limited to “close your eyes and be quiet.”

 Furthermore, Soineya is currently recruiting girls for part-time in-store and “delivery” work. Here’s the job description.
 ■ Job: Sleeping
 ■ Location: Akihabara (3 min walk from station)
 ■ Qualifications: High school age to 30s
 ■ Compensation: 3,500 yen/hour
 ■ Hours: Weekdays 15:00-22:00, Weekend/holidays 12:00-22:00

 Source: Soineya via Jinsoku

 RocketNews24 

External Link: http://en.rocketnews24.com/2012/09/28/japans-first-cuddle-cafe-lets-you-sleep-with-a-stranger-for-80hr/

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TOKYO — The 15th Tokyo Girls Collection 2011/12 Autumn/Winter will be held at Saitama Super Arena on Saturday Oct 13. The wildly popular biannual collection, which lasts about six hours, draws well over 20,000 young women as well as many foreign media, looking to see the latest “kawaii” (cute) fashions worn by Japanese models and celebrities.

 The theme for the October show is “Tokyo Classic,” mixing trendy styles with nostalgic and modern themes.

Models scheduled to participate include Anna Tsuchiya, Yu Yamada, Karina, Elena, Karina, Reina Triendl, Maki Nishiyama, Rina Fujii, Angelica Michibata, Maomi Yuki, Anna Nose, Emiri, Suzanne, Ellie Toyota, Nozomi Sasaki, as well as new mothers Yukina Kinoshita and Aki Hoshino. Kyarypamyupamyu and Sonar Pocket will perform as well.

 Popular comedian duo “Hiromi・Fukami,” who have been chosen as official supporters, will liven the event for the younger female attendees, who are of their same generation. The day’s program also includes live performances by artists, charity auctions and collaborative shows.

 Platinum tickets and gold reserved seats are already sold out but there are still a few reserved and non-reserved seats left.

 External Link: http://girlswalker.com/tgc/12aw/whats_en/

www.japantoday.com

TOKYO — Pop diva Ayumi Hamasaki, 33, is declaring the 8th of each month “Ayu Day.” Starting from November, she will release new songs on the 8th day of each month until next April, which marks the 15th anniversary of her showbiz debut.

 For Nov 8, Hamasaki is planning to release a deluxe mini album, “LOVE,” which includes 12 new songs, such as “Song 4 u,” “Melody” and “Missing.”

 “I am planning to release many new songs, as well as to launch more projects. This is how I thank my fans and their unflagging support,” Hamasaki said on her blog. “Please look forward to it.”

 On Aug 28, Hamasaki finished a nationwide tour titled “HOTEL Love songs.” She gave 28 performances in 12 cities.

 Japan Today

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REUTERS/Toru Hanai

Swimsuit maker San-ai’s spokesmodel for 2010 Nanao, left, receives a tiara from 2009 spokesmodel Satoko Miyata during her unveiling event in Tokyo on Tuesday.

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TOKYO — Actress Aya Ueto, 27, and HIRO, the 43-year-old leader of the band Exile, registered their marriage on Friday, Ueto’s birthday, their management agencies announced Saturday.

Ueto and HIRO, whose real name is Hiroyuki Igarashi, have been dating since last year. Tabloids first reported back in January that wedding plans were in the air but their management agencies denied it.

A spokesman for Ueto’s agency said a date for a wedding ceremony and reception have not yet been finalized, Sankei Shimbun reported.

Speaking about his new wife who has been in show business for 15 years, HIRO said in a statement to media: “She dedicated her youth to her career and continues to work hard. I learn a lot from her. I respect her way of thinking and her way of life. I wanted, from the bottom of my heart, to make her happy.”

Japan Today

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TOKYO —
The entertainment world is coming into the awards season when various celebrities receive all sorts of “Best” awards.

This week, The Best Beauty 2012 award winners were honored. These go to celebrities who remain talented and beautiful.

TV personality and model Yuka, 32, celebrating her 15th year in showbiz, picked up the award in the 30s age category. Yuka said she was please to receive the award that has the word “beauty” in it, Sankei Shimbun reported.

“In any case, you should love yourself. Your body will naturally respond to your affection. And laugh a lot,” she said. As for her trim figure, she said, “When it comes to maintaining my shape, I have to put a lot of effort into it,” she said.

Kenta Kiritani, 32, who won the men’s category, said, “I am a beauty? I appreciate the courage of whoever nominated me. From now on, I am going to excel as the ‘Beauty Man!’”

Other winners were Mayu Kusakari, 19, and Nana Eikura, 24.

Japan Today

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TOKYO —
Love Hatsune Miku and wish you could create your own Vocaloid music and music videos?

Digital Hollywood, a Tokyo-based school offering degree and certification programs in IT and digital media, announced they will be holding a 6-month course on CG animation and music video production using Vocaloid software and characters.

The course is called “HATSUNE MIKU, Loves Creator” and promises to give participants the skills and hands-on-expertise needed to become world-class Vocaloid media producers.

Students will study basic 3D CG animation using Autodesk Maya and practice composition using the Hatsune Miku Vocaloid software. All students must complete a “graduation piece” that will be shown at a special presentation in early March.

The course begins Sept 25, with explanatory sessions being held at the Digital Hollywood Tokyo campus on Sept 18.

Vocaloid beginners and amateurs alike are encouraged to apply, though the course is capped at 30 students and a screening test will be held if there an excess of applicants.

Those who are lucky enough to get in will officially be registered under the school’s new “Hatsune Miku film major” and attend two 3-hour hands-on training sessions on Tuesday and Friday of every week, as well as an occasional 3-hour lecture on Wednesday.

While Digital Hollywood does seem to offer an exchange program for its degree courses, the Hatsune Miku course looks like it will be conducted in Japanese only.

If you do have the language skill and want to participate what could be a fantastic opportunity to participate in a burgeoning Japanese pop-culture phenomenon, be sure to sign up for one of the information sessions here.

Source: Digital Hollywood

RocketNews24

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TOKYO —
A racy new Japanese ad campaign launched for the 2012 Toyota Auris, or Corolla as it’s known in some markets, has been causing a commotion for boldly challenging convention — and probably not in the way you would think.

Have a look at the commercial here.

The star of the commercial is 19-year-old Ukrainian transgender model Stav Strashko.

The commercial ends with the campaign’s tagline “Turn Your Rear to Common Sense” (常識にお尻を向けろ).

Check out a short interview with Stav about the commercial here.

RocketNews24

www.japantoday.com

YOKOHAMA —
Popular model and actress Emi Takei, 18, has “graduated” from modeling for teen fashion magazine Seventeen.

Takei was given a send-off Friday at an event dubbed a “graduation ceremony” by the
magazine’s publishers. Takei has been modeling for the magazine for 5 years and 9 months.

A tearful Takei told reporters, “I wanted to stay a little longer.” Takei said she plans to continue both acting and modelling. “I’d like to keep trying to do the things I enjoy,” she said.

Japan Today

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TOKYO —
The upcoming “graduation” of AKB48 member Atsuko Maeda, 21, is being commemorated by a “photograph exhibition” at JR Akihabara Station.

The “graduation,” a word used by the idol group’s management as a euphemism for quitting or leaving the group, is being marked by a series of 150 posters of Maeda displayed in and around the station in an exhibition that has been named “Shuku! AKB48 Sotsugyo Kinen: Maeda Atsuko Poster-ten.”

The photos include those used in magazines and other publications during the seven years since she joined the group in 2005.

The exhibition is scheduled to open on Aug 24, to coincide with the first day of AKB48’s three-day Tokyo Dome concert. The posters will be displayed until Maeda’s “graduation” on Aug 27.

Japan Today

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TAIPEI - A Taiwanese court on Thursday handed down a three-year suspended sentence to a Japanese-Taiwanese star for attacking a Taipei taxi driver in a case that has captivated celebrity watchers for months.

Singer-actress Makiyo received a lighter sentence than the four-year jail term prosecutors had sought as the Taipei district court found her guilty of common assault rather than aggravated assault, a court official said.

Her friend Takateru Tomoyori, a Japanese citizen, got a four-year suspended sentence for injuring the driver in the assault in Taipei on February 2.

The case had stirred a rare bout of anti-Japanese sentiment in Taiwan, which was a Japanese colony until 1945. Tokyo formally recognises Beijing over Taipei. Makiyo's lawyer told reporters outside the court that the entertainer respected the ruling and had yet to decide whether to appeal.

Makiyo, 27, who is known just by her first name, initially denied assaulting the driver and claimed that Tomoyori was defending her after the driver touched her chest during an argument.

However, public anger mounted after surveillance camera footage showed that Makiyo joined in the assault and seemed to have encouraged her friend to beat up the driver, who was hospitalised for several weeks for head trauma.

She later apologised and said she did not remember the details because she was drunk.

Makiyo, who was born to a Japanese father and a Taiwanese mother and holds Japanese citizenship, has not been able to work on the island since the authorities revoked her working permit in the wake of the case.

http://www.asiaone.com

TOKYO —
Taiwan’s adorable dancing meteorologist girl group Weather Girls have been a lot of things: Japanese school girls, ninjas, super sentai heroes…wait, notice anything similar?

Since it launched in summer 2010, their video series has taken off in Japan more than any other country, likely because most of the monthly video themes are taken from Japanese culture. Many of the themes even have the girls speaking endearingly broken Japanese, which just scores them more kawaii points.

Now, as if to capitalize on that popularity, the Weather Girls have sent seven of their best to Japan to form a brand new idol group called…Weather Girls!

According to their Facebook page, the girls arrived in Japan last month and will be releasing their first single, “Koi no Tenkiyoho” (Weather Forecast of Love) on Oct 17.

While the regular Weather Girls program rotates most of its cast each monthーwe counted a total 34 girls over the past 2 yearsーthe idol group will keep the same 7 members: Yumi, Dara, Hijon, Esse, Mia, Mini and Nue.

So can the Weather Girls stay afloat in a country already flooded with cute young girls dancing around in skirts? Some fans seemed concerned that their still-imperfect Japanese will hold them back, but like we said before, that’s one of their most charming points!

RocketNews24

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TOKYO —
A while back we reported on Hatsune Miku’s hijacking of four FamilyMart convenience stores. This time, however, FamilyMart has turned the tables by hijacking Hatsune Miku herself and hiring her as a store clerk.

The news comes during a display at Wonder Festival (Wonfes) Summer 2012 by figurine makers Good Smile Company. In the display, figures of Miku sporting a FamilyMart Uniform (with a few cute alterations) could be seen. These will be part of an upcoming promotional event between the popular Vocaloid and convenience store chain.

This FamilyMart promotion is called Happy Kuji and is a type of lottery in which 800 yen will give you a chance to pull a ticket out of a box. With a little luck you could walk away with some Hatsune Miku swag including these limited edition figures.

The first one is a 1:6 scale Hatsune Miku statue with her wearing the short sleeved shirt with mint green stripes that make up the current FamilyMart uniform. Interestingly, you might have not even noticed she was wearing a uniform since the colors almost exactly match the ones she typically uses in her regular outfit.

There are also two kinds of Nendoroid figures of super deformed “Hachune Miku” who instead of holding her usual green onion is holding a piece of FamilyMart chicken. The detail in the chicken is exquisite in that you can even see the QR code on the tiny wrapper.

There was also a Jumbo Nendoroid Miku made by master figure maker Yukio Ageta, but it looks like this was only for the display and not part of the promotion.

The promotion starts in the middle of August and beyond the lottery, FamilyMart is also offering various Miku related products like fried noodles, vegetable juice, and the highly anticipated Mikuman Hatsune Miku themed steamed meat dumplings (nikuman). Family Mart is keeping details of the Mikuman highly under wraps for longer than expected.

So with these figures being only available through the contest and no info on Mikuman, the masses are getting restless. In return we demand that all FamilyMart staff adopt Hatsune Miku’s style of uniform with pleated white miniskirt, thigh-high boots, and blue hair.

RocketNews24

www.japantoday.com

TOKYO —
Japanese pop singer Salia wowed crowds at three U.S. Asian pop culture events as she showcased new music, style and an exciting music video launch for her new single, “Trust in Me.”

Audiences at three U.S. Japanese pop culture events got the privilege of sampling brand new music from Japanese singer/ songwriter, Salia’s upcoming debut pop album through a series of live pre-album promotional concerts that took place between June 16 – July 1.

Salia launched the pre-album promotional tour that included stops at Anime Mid-Atlantic in Virginia Beach, JAFAX in Grand Rapids Michigan, and Anime Festival Wichita, in Kansas, to give back to her original loyal fan base that welcomed her when she first started making appearances outside Japan in 2006. Thousands of fans got to witness exclusive concerts featuring a newly styled Salia accompanied by DJ Asu Rock, Hip Hop dancers, and brand new unreleased pop music from Salia’s upcoming album as well as her world renowned classic theme songs.

Marking the Launch of the tour was a VIP party held by Anime Mid-Atlantic featuring the release of “Trust in Me,” the first single from Salia’s forthcoming album of the same title and world premiere of the new music video http://youtu.be/3a3w6MiCP_I?hd=1

Salia’s “Trust in Me” music video is directed and edited by cinematographer Tim “Black Magic Tim” Wilson who executes a fairy tale driven storyline accompanied by amazing fantasy scenery, and enticing visual effects.

Salia will be touring the U.S. again in September with a headline appearance at the Asian American talent competition show KOLLABORATION DC to mark the release of her new album.

“Trust in Me” is released through Toramaru Entertainment and is now on sale on all major digital download outlets including itunes at http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/trust-in-me-radio/id527044155?i=527044160&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Trust-in-Me-the-Single/dp/B0082XQGPU/ref=sr_shvl_album_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342640354&sr=301-1

For more information about Salia and her upcoming solo debut, visit her official artist website at www.saliarocks.com.

www.japantoday.com

TOKYO —
There are many ways for an entertainer to show love to their fans: musicians might invite someone from the crowd onstage during a performance, actors might show up unannounced during events and be totally awesome.

When Japanese gravure idol Mao Harada reached 1,000 followers on Twitter, she decided to pay tribute to her growing fan base by “tweeting” to them using her half-naked body.

Now that’s meta.

Harada announced the “Haratter” (Harada + Twitter) project on her blog last Thursday, promising fans that she’ll wear a bikini and tweet to them using her body if she gains over 1,000 followers.

Her goal was soon reached and she wasted no time in carrying out her promise, uploading photos of herself in a cute blue polka dot bikini with tweets decorating her body and “Haratter” written in Twitter-like font vertically along her chest.

It’s common for gravure idols to interact with their fans through blogs and Twitter, but Harada is surely the first to use her body to communicate with them.

Harada is still trying to make a name for herself, so be sure to follow her at @Harada_Mao and send a tweet of support if you’d like to see more of her. Who knows, maybe you can get her to write a bit of English on her body as well?

RocketNews24

www.japantoday.com

TOKYO —
Japanese pop singer Salia wowed crowds at three U.S. Asian pop culture events as she showcased new music, style and an exciting music video launch for her new single, “Trust in Me.”

Audiences at three U.S. Japanese pop culture events got the privilege of sampling brand new music from Japanese singer/ songwriter, Salia’s upcoming debut pop album through a series of live pre-album promotional concerts that took place between June 16 – July 1.

Salia launched the pre-album promotional tour that included stops at Anime Mid-Atlantic in Virginia Beach, JAFAX in Grand Rapids Michigan, and Anime Festival Wichita, in Kansas, to give back to her original loyal fan base that welcomed her when she first started making appearances outside Japan in 2006. Thousands of fans got to witness exclusive concerts featuring a newly styled Salia accompanied by DJ Asu Rock, Hip Hop dancers, and brand new unreleased pop music from Salia’s upcoming album as well as her world renowned classic theme songs.

Marking the Launch of the tour was a VIP party held by Anime Mid-Atlantic featuring the release of “Trust in Me,” the first single from Salia’s forthcoming album of the same title and world premiere of the new music video http://youtu.be/3a3w6MiCP_I?hd=1

Salia’s “Trust in Me” music video is directed and edited by cinematographer Tim “Black Magic Tim” Wilson who executes a fairy tale driven storyline accompanied by amazing fantasy scenery, and enticing visual effects.

Salia will be touring the U.S. again in September with a headline appearance at the Asian American talent competition show KOLLABORATION DC to mark the release of her new album.

“Trust in Me” is released through Toramaru Entertainment and is now on sale on all major digital download outlets including itunes at http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/trust-in-me-radio/id527044155?i=527044160&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Trust-in-Me-the-Single/dp/B0082XQGPU/ref=sr_shvl_album_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342640354&sr=301-1

For more information about Salia and her upcoming solo debut, visit her official artist website at www.saliarocks.com.

www.japantoday.com

TOKYO —
Yasushi Akimoto, producer of the mega-popular idol group AKB48 and its offshoots, has announced a “study abroad” program for his girls.

Akimoto, who often uses expressions from the worlds of education and politics as euphemisms for business activities carried out by his performers, has announced the “study abroad” program via the AKB48 Google+ page.

It is thought that the project is to become a TV show in which young Japanese girls from AKB48 are sent abroad to spend between six months and a year with their counterparts in Indonesia (JKT48), Shanghai (SNH48) and and Taiwan (TPE48), Nikkan Sports reports.

It has not yet been confirmed who will be appearing in the show, although the group’s Google+ page says that the management are now
“accepting applications.”

Japan Today

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TOKYO —
TV personality Yoko Kumada has announced on her blog that she secretly got married in April. The announcement was made as reports began to emerge that Kumada is now five months pregnant.

On her blog, Kumada told fans, “We are incredibly happy together and we are in a loving relationship. I plan to use my mom and dad’s relationship as a model for my own and I hope to raise a healthy, happy baby.”

The blog post was uploaded on the same day that Kumada announced her marriage on TV Asahi’s “London Hearts” show and via her talent management agency.

Japan Today

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TOKYO —
Singer Kumi Koda, 29, has given birth to a baby boy, her agency Avex announced Thursday. The statement said the 2,952-gram boy was born last weekend. In the statement, Koda said she was overjoyed to be a mother.

Koda, who is married to 27-year-old Back-On guitarist Kenji03, has announced her intention to return to the stage in November.

The tour will include seven performances in four cities and is expected to attract around 62,000 spectators. The Nov 13 show will be both Koda’s first ever show at Budokan and the first time she has performed on her birthday, at which she will celebrate turning 30 in the company of her fans.

Koda is scheduled to play at Osaka Castle Hall on Nov 7 and 8, followed by Tokyo’s Budokan on Nov 13 and 14, Nagoya’s Nippon Gaishi Hall on Nov 20 and 21 and then the Shimin Bunka Center in Koriyama, Fukushima on Nov 27.

Japan Today

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TOKYO —
Casio Computer Co has signed Girls’ Generation, the South Korean girl pop group that has taken Asia by storm, as the face of a Baby-G advertising campaign. Girls’ Generation embodies the “tough, cute, cool” concept of Baby-G, Casio’s shock resistant watches for women.

Launched in 1994, Baby-G is Casio’s watch brand for women which inherits the toughness of its shock-resistant G-SHOCK watches. Since then, the basic shock resistance and superior waterproof performance of Baby-G has evolved with additional features and higher performance, including solar-powered systems and neon illuminators. The Baby-G brand is extremely popular with young women, who appreciate how its design not only taps the latest trends but also allows individual expression, as well as the rich spectrum of colors that make Baby-G watches the perfect fashion accessory.

Girls’ Generation is a highly versatile girl pop group whose members not only sing, but also appear as models and actresses on TV, in commercials, and in films. Girls’ Generation is the ideal match for the Baby-G brand, with the group’s adaptable yet tough, active image and sporty, healthy beauty, topped by the individuality of each of the nine members’ fashionable lifestyles.

Girls’ Generation will represent the face of the brand in South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia.

By appearing in product catalogs and advertisements, Girls’ Generation will promote the Baby-G worldview to young women, the brand’s target demographic.

Taeyeon, Jessica, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun are the nine members who make up Girls’ Generation. Since their debut as pop singers in 2007, the girls have expanded into modeling and acting, as well.

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PHOTO BY KAMASAMI KONG

Girls prepare for the famous Tenjin Matsuri (festival) in Minami-Mirimachi, Osaka. The two-day festival, which begins Tuesday, is one of the three biggest summer festivals in Japan, along with the Gion festival in Kyoto and the Kanda festival in Tokyo. The 1,000-year-old festival culminates in a huge fireworks display.

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TOKYO — Your daily life changes when the environment around you changes. Many people who go abroad find their daily routine changing to adapt to the environment, sometimes without being aware of the change.

The website MADAME RiRi, which covers offbeat and interesting topics in Japan and around the world, gives some examples of how foreign people’s daily life has changed after they moved to Japan.

—I have become addicted to tissues. (American living in Hokkaido)

“When I first came to Japan, I avoided people who were distributing pocket tissues. However, now I collect them whenever it starts to get cold outside. In fact, I am uncomfortable if I don’t have tissues in my pocket when I leave the house.”

—I started to sleep on the floor. (Canadian)

—I got used to the unavoidable humidity on July, and say “I’m sorry” when I hit bump into people accidentally, and keep pushing the Open button in elevators when I get to my floor. (American living in Korea)

—I take my shoes off inside the house obviously. (American living in Tokyo)

—I cannot live without five finger socks. (American man)

—I still take my shoes off at the door when I return to my home country and I go to the convenience store 8 times a day. (Danish man)

—I spend more money than before. I feel like everything is an adventure here. (Englishman, 36)

—I serve green tea when a guest comes, eat soba noodles at the station every morning. I have changed my life to adapt to the train schedule. I have started sorting the trash out into burnable and non-burnable. (Frenchman)

—I take a hot bath every night. (American man)

—I got used to eating rice with most meals. Now I love it! (French woman)

—I got used to being treated as a foreigner. (American man)

“Japanese women became interested in me and people touch my long blond hair.”

—I got used to living in a small apartment. (American woman)

—I no longer drive a car and eat less meat and fewer snacks. (American man from U.S. Midwest)

—I think before talking, have become humble and am satisfied easily even at the small things in my life. (Austrian man)

—I carry a dictionary everywhere and am more tolerant. (American living in Japan for 15 years)

—I lost my sense of humor, became perverted, I sleep in trains, became addicted to vending machines, stopped going for a walk to smoke. I have become serious about everything. (Dutchman)

—I pay more attention to my appearance than before, and I walk and read more than before. (American man living in Tokyo)

—I got used to speaking simple English slowly, I spend a long time taking a hot bath and I bow slightly when I apologize or out of appreciation. (American woman)

—I can sleep easily. (Belgian man)

—I eat breakfast properly. (Mexican man)

“I used to drink only orange juice or coffee for breakfast before.”

—I cannot live without green tea. (Finnish woman)

—My height is 194cm, so I am careful not to hit my head anywhere. I use the air conditioner in summer. I don’t go to friends’ houses or invite them to mine. (French man)

—“It is usual to invite people over in France, but in Japan, I found it is more usual to hang out outside. Eating out is cheap in Japan.”

—I walk on the left side of the road. (American man)

—I eat less than before. (Canadian man)

“Now, I cannot eat a whole meal when I go out for dinner back in Canada.”

—I lost 15 kg in an year. (American man)

—I have fewer dislikes when it comes to food. I have even started eating raw fish. (Mexican woman)

Source: MADAME RiRi

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TOKYO — There are many customs and behaviors that are natural for Japanese people, either because they are historically accepted, imposed by society or because they are part of the Japanese psyche. To foreign visitors, some of these customs can be a bit confusing.

MADAME RiRi offers a few examples.

1. Making the peace sign (vee)

Many young Japanese people instinctively form a vee with their fingers when they pose for photos. In many other countries, this is the sign of peace. But there is no such meaning in Japan. Fortunately, Japanese make the vee sign with the palm of their hand facing the photographer and not the back of the hand, which might get them in trouble overseas. In any case, it’s a good way to spot who the Japanese tourists are in a crowd.

2. Sitting on the floor

Many foreign people wonder why Japanese people sit on the floor. It is very rare to see people sit on the floor in Western countries where tatami mats are not common. Many foreign visitors to Japan find it hard (and painful) to sit on the floor, opting instead for the familiarity of the couch or chair.

3. Drinking barley tea

If you open the fridge in most Japanese homes or look at any vending machine, you’ll likely see barley tea. It’s a refreshing drink that goes well with meals and is particularly good in hot weather. And it doesn’t have a lot of caffeine.

4. Slurping ramen, sniffling

Japanese people usually slurp when they eat noodles such as ramen, soba and udon. Although slurping noodles is considered rude in Western countries, in Japan, it is an expression of one’s appreciation for the meal. So slurp away as loud as you like. Sniffling, clearing one’s throat and swallowing phlegm are also habits that visitors may find unsettling.

5. Nodding response (Aizuchi)

When you communicate with Japanese people, you often see them nodding their response with words like “He,” “Un,” “Soso,” “So nanda” and so on. This type of nodding response is called “Aizuchi” in Japanese and dates back to the Edo period. “Aizuchi” is also a good way of looking like you are taking part in a conversation, but foreign people seldom use these words, perhaps because they feel it will look like they are not listening seriously.

6. Double-eyelid surgery

Perhaps this one applies to many women in Asia, not just Japan. Double eyelid surgery is common because young women want to have bigger eyes. Have a look at the girls who adorn the covers of fashion magazines, or pop diva Ayumi Hamasaki. Foreigners may wonder why Japanese women get cosmetic surgery for their eyes but don’t do anything about their teeth. In the West, a woman is more likely to get a nip and tuck, but rarely have her eyes altered.

7. Walking pigeon-toed in high heels

Some Japanese girls cannot walk gracefully in high heels and end up walking pigeon-toed.

8. Bowing

Bowing is an integral part of Japanese society, whether you are saying hello, goodbye, apologizing, expressing condolences or just responding instinctively. Some Japanese people even bow while talking on the phone. In Western countries, the handshake and hug are more common.

Source: MADAME RiRi

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TOKYO — Casio Computer Co has signed Girls’ Generation, the South Korean girl pop group that has taken Asia by storm, as the face of a Baby-G advertising campaign. Girls’ Generation embodies the “tough, cute, cool” concept of Baby-G, Casio’s shock resistant watches for women.

Launched in 1994, Baby-G is Casio’s watch brand for women which inherits the toughness of its shock-resistant G-SHOCK watches. Since then, the basic shock resistance and superior waterproof performance of Baby-G has evolved with additional features and higher performance, including solar-powered systems and neon illuminators. The Baby-G brand is extremely popular with young women, who appreciate how its design not only taps the latest trends but also allows individual expression, as well as the rich spectrum of colors that make Baby-G watches the perfect fashion accessory.

Girls’ Generation is a highly versatile girl pop group whose members not only sing, but also appear as models and actresses on TV, in commercials, and in films. Girls’ Generation is the ideal match for the Baby-G brand, with the group’s adaptable yet tough, active image and sporty, healthy beauty, topped by the individuality of each of the nine members’ fashionable lifestyles.

Girls’ Generation will represent the face of the brand in South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia.

By appearing in product catalogs and advertisements, Girls’ Generation will promote the Baby-G worldview to young women, the brand’s target demographic.

Taeyeon, Jessica, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun are the nine members who make up Girls’ Generation. Since their debut as pop singers in 2007, the girls have expanded into modeling and acting, as well.

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TOKYO — Chiyoda Ward officials on Friday appointed “talent” Megumi Yasu their “Commanding Officer of Fraud Prevention” for a day.

Yasu, 30, was appointed to draw shoppers’ attention to the fact that bank transfer scams are still rife in Japan. According to police, despite notices on ATMs, high-profile news stories and repeated warning, there has been an explosion in the number of cases of elderly people transfering or posting money to people posing as their relatives, Sankei Shimbun reported.

Yasu urged shoppers to agree on passwords with their relatives and to keep in regular contact in an attempt to prevent such scams in the future.

Japan Today

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TOKYO —
Actress Satomi Ishihara, 25, has been chosen as the 2012 Zespri kiwifruit image character.

Ishihara takes over from past image characters Norika Fujiwara, Moe Oshikiri, Suzanne and Papaya Suzuki. She will appear in TV commercials, on posters and attend events, extolling the health benefits of kiwifruit.

Ishihara, who is currently appearing in a stage version of “Romeo and Juliet,” said kiwifruit is a great source of vitamin C and gives her the energy she needs for her busy work schedule.

Japan Today

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TOKYO —
With the rainy season around the corner, Seven & i this week launches its “Rain style collection” of fashionable and functionable rainwear. AKB48 singer Tomomi Itano, 20, and AKB48 sub-act French Kiss are image characters for the TV commercial campaign.

Itano said, “I don’t like rainy days, but I wouldn’t mind going out in the rain in this gear.”

French Kiss singer Yuki Kashiwagi, 20, said she is always referred to as “ame onna” (a woman whose presence seems to cause rain), while her colleague Asuka Kuramochi, 22, said the weather is always bad when the group has outdoor shoots, so the rainwear will come in handy.

Japan Today

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TOKYO —
A new Vocaloid character named Mayu was announced by Exit Tunes, a Japanese record label that produces Vocaloid albums, during their live event at Saitama Super Arena on May 6.

Mayu dresses in goth-loli style, wearing a black dress with red ribbons and a beret that with a speaker attached. She holds a plush rabbit with a microphone at the top its head and pictures on the official site suggest she uses the doll when performing.

While red ribbons and plush bunnies sound adorable enough, Japanese netizens have noticed one slightly discomforting detail: Mayu is gripping an axe with her right hand.

Why a Vocaloid would need a weapon is beyond us and we’re pretty sure the image of a sweet young girl nonchalantly holding an axe is the stuff of nightmares for some people.

While it remains to be seen if Mayu will take the axe on stage with her, Exit Tunes has made it clear that they’ll be providing fans a staggering amount of freedom regarding derivative works. According to Mayu’s official website, individuals and dojin circles are free to use Mayu’s character design, voice and name for items sold or distributed in a limited scale without the permission of Exit Tunes.

The site currently offers no information about the actual Vocaloid software, though there are a few wallpapers and icons up for download and two demo videos featuring Mayu’s voice have been uploaded to the unofficial YouTube channel MayuVocaloid.

RocketNews24

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TOKYO —
Pornographic actress and model Sora Aoi is said to be the most famous Japanese person in China. She commands over 11,180,000 followers on China’s Twitter-like microblogging platform Sina Weibo — enough to start a potent revolution if she were so inclined.

If numbers aren’t enough to convince you of Aoi’s influence, a set of photos taken during her recent visit to the capital city of Fujian Province, Fuzhou, should certainly prove that she can draw a crowd of frenzied Chinese men like very few revolutionaries could.

The images were uploaded to Chinese bulletin board site tt.mop and show a throng of male fans with cameras and smartphones rushing to catch “Aoi Sora-Sensei” on camera.

Even the organizer of the event who greeted her on stage couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off Aoi.

Aoi’s big international break came in 2010 when she began connecting with Chinese fans through Twitter and Sina Weibo with the help of translation software. Despite porn being illegal in Mainland China, she quickly found that she had millions of fans in the country who knew of her though the internet or under-the-table DVD sales.

Aoi is now trying to make a career change from porn star to performing artist, having released a music single in 2010 and a short, fully-clothed film earlier this year.

RocketNews24

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TOKYO —
Actress Erika Sawajiri, 26, who makes her return to the big screen on July 14 after a five-year hiatus with the movie “Helter Skelter,” is now on leave while recovering from “health problems,” which some sources have attributed to depression associated with the role.

However, the movie’s creators have revealed that a commercial that was broadcast in the fictional world of the movie is to make the transition to Japan’s television screens as part of an ad campaign for department store Parco.

Directed by Mika Ninagawa, “Helter Skelter” is based on an award-winning sexually graphic manga by Kyoko Okazaki. Sawajiri plays the role of Ririko who becomes a new breed of entertainment industry star after undergoing cosmetic surgery on her entire body. When the clinic is investigated for its shady business practices, Ririko’s beauty to starts fade. Her mental condition also starts to deteriorate.

Sawajiri co-stars with Kiko Mizuhara, 21, who plays a younger model. The pair dress as Parco mascot “Parkoala” for the commercial.

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