J-Dorama: Nobuta wo Produce

Nobuta wo Produce


Details
Title: 野ブタ。をプロデュース
Title (romaji): Nobuta wo Produce
English Title : Makeover
Format: Renzoku
Genre: School drama
Episodes: 10
Viewership rating: 16.89
Broadcast network: NTV
Broadcast period: 2005-Oct-15 to 2005-Dec-17
Air time: Saturday 21:00
Theme song: Seishun Amigo by Shuuji to Akira (Kamenashi Kazuya and Yamashita Tomohisa)

Plot Overview

Introducing Nobuta

Shuuji Kiritani (Kazuya Kamenashi) is a very popular high school boy whose girlfriend is Mariko Uehara (Erika Toda), the most popular girl in school. Akira Kusano (Tomohisa Yamashita), his classmate, does not really have any friends - something that is attributed to the fact that he cannot read the atmosphere well. One day, a very shy girl, Nobuko Kotani (Maki Horikita) transfers to their school and is instantly picked on by a group of girls for her shyness. As a testimony to their youth, Shuji and Akira team up and decide to "produce" her, to make her popular. They nickname her "Nobuta".

Production of Nobuta

The various episodes deal with the pair's attempts at making Nobuta popular by making her more appealing. Amidst this, a mysterious person insidiously attempts to waylay all of Shuji's and Akira's efforts. Fortunately, the trio always manages pulls through with ingenuity.

Finale

Shuuji has to cope with his loss of popularity after he is caught out lying about Mariko and does not assist when a classmate is beaten up. Despite this, with the knowledge that his two true friends, Akira and Nobuta, will always be there for him, Shuuji gets over it. There is also the revelation of Aoi, Nobuta's first friend besides Shuuji and Akira, as the mysterious antagonist of the story. In the final episode Shuji discovers that he and his family must move out of Tokyo because of his father's job. Akira follows Shuji to his new home town and surprises him by showing up at his new school. Nobuta is left alone in Tokyo, but she has overcome her shyness, and is finally able to smile. She also becomes popular among the other students, and is no longer bullied. The end of the drama sees all three characters being able to "live wherever [they] are", having learnt the meaning of friendship and love.

Main Characters

The drama centres around 3 main characters namely Shuuji, Akira and Nobuko.

Kamenashi Kazuya (亀梨和也) as Shuuji Kiritani

Shuuji (桐谷修二) treats everything in life as a game, and thus, lives his life as a little white lie. He believes that by keeping up a "cool" façade, he can get to his goal without getting hurt. Because he chooses to hide his true self, Shuuji is, on the inside, a truly lonely person. Although he does not like Mariko romantically, he has lunch with her everyday in a bid to boost his popularity. He is only truly open to Akira and Nobuko, and considers the two as his only true friends. Always putting the feelings of others before himself, Shuuji does not have the power to say "no". He always bottles up his own feelings, and never complains.


Yamashita Tomohisa (山下智久) as Akira Kusano

Unlike Shuuji, Akira (草野彰) is not popular. Constantly on a soy milk high, Akira always finds ways to get on Shuuji's nerves. Despite this, they become good friends by the end of the series. With much money to dispense of, Akira finances most of their escapades. With no intention of following the footsteps of his father, the president of a company, Akira is a free spirit who would rather live his a life as a "dime in the street" and enjoy his youth. At one point in the story, it is revealed that Akira has affections for Nobuta. However, he does not pursue his feelings knowing that he will not be able to make her happy. He demonstrates a high prowess in karate easily beating up a bully and smashing through a set of tiles. Naturally forgiving, he is ready to forgive and forget, as long as it preserves his friendship with Shuuji and Nobuta.


Horikita Maki (堀北真希) as Nobuko Kotani

Nobuko (小谷信子) is painfully shy after initially being rejected by her stepfather at a young age. Following this, due to the fact that she finds it difficult to mix around and relate to other students, she has been continuously bullied through her school life. Because of the painful experiences she has undergone, Nobuko is cynical to the world. She believes that no matter where she is, or no matter how hard she tries, the world will still reject her. With Shuuji and Akira's help and encouragement, she begins to open up more to others. Nobuko considers Shuji and Akira as the two people who are the most important to her. At the end of the series, she has finally gathered enough confidence to smile and continue socialising, even without Shuuji and Akira.


Cast 
Kamenashi Kazuya as Kiritani Shuuji
Yamashita Tomohisa as Kusano Akira
Horikita Maki as Kotani Nobuko
Toda Erika as Uehara Mariko
Nakajima Yuto as Kiritani Koji
Ukaji Takashi as Kiritani Satoru
Fukaura Kanako as Kiritani Nobuko
Okada Yoshinori as Yokoyama Takeshi
Kimura Yuichi as Sebastian
Fuwa Mansaku as Iehara Yasuo
Takuma Seiko as Kuroki Hiroko
Imawano Kiyoshiro as owner of the Gooyoku diner
Takahashi Katsumi as Hirayama Ippei
Natsuki Mari as Catherine
Yanagita Erika

Production Credits
Original writing: 『野ブタ。をプロデュース』 by Shiraiwa Gen ISBN 4-309-01683-9
Screenwriter: Kizara Izumi
Producer: Kono Hidehiro
Directors: Iwamoto Hitoshi, Sakuma Noriyoshi (佐久間紀佳)
Music: Ike Yoshihiro

Awards
- 47th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Drama
- 47th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Actor: Kamenashi Kazuya
- 47th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress: Horikita Maki
- 47th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Director
- 47th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Script
- 47th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Music
- 9th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (2005-06): Best Actor: Yamashita Tomohisa

Doraemon The Movie

Nobita and the Green Giant Legend 2008
 

Nobita and the Green Giant Legend 2008 (Eiga Doraemon Nobita to Midori no Kyojinden, 映画 ドラえもん のび太と緑の巨人伝), is an anime film that was released in Japan on March 8, 2008.

The story is based on the story in volume 26 "Forest is living" and in volume 33 "Goodbye Ki-bō". This movie is not a remake, however, Ki-bō has appeared already in the 1992 film, "Nobita and the Kingdom of Clouds". The name Ki-bō comes from the words "Ki" (木) meaning tree, and "Bō" (棒) meaning a wooden stick. The word Ki-bō also comes from the word "Kibō" (希望), which means hope. The catch phrase of this movie is "僕らの希望が未来を動かす" (our hope moves the future), which Ki-bō's name can be referred to. Voices of Roku-chan and Moya-kun were done by anonymous children who were chosen.

The film was illustrated as manga on the February and March edition of CoroCoro Comic. Then it was released as the 25th film tankōbon, which may be bought at the theater. As the 4th "Sega=Doraemon" project, an action-adventure game was also released on March 6, 2008 entitled, Doraemon Nobita to Midori no Kyojinden DS (ドラえもん のび太と緑の巨人伝).

Music
Opening song: "Yume o Kanaete Doraemon" (夢をかなえてドラえもん), sung by MAO.
Theme song: "Te o Tsunagō‎" (手をつなごう), sung by ayaka.


Cast
Wasabi Mizuta - Doraemon
Megumi Ohara - Nobita Nobi
Tomokazu Seki - Suneo Honekawa
Yumi Kakazu - Shizuka Minamoto
Subaru Kimura - Giant
Chiaki - Dorami
Maki Horikita - Princess Rire
Takuya Yoshikoshi - Ki-bō
Chikao Ōtsuka - Shiraa
Yuji Miyake - Jii
Teppei Arita - Paruna
Yoko Tsuchiya - Roku-chan
Jinbei Watanabe - Moya-kun

Hey! Say! JUMP

Hey! Say! JUMP

Hey! Say! JUMP is a J-pop group under Johnny & Associates, made up of ten members. Hey! Say! JUMP is considered an expansion of the original Hey! Say! 7. The name Hey! Say! refers to the fact that all the members were born in the Heisei period and JUMP is an acronym for Johnny's Ultra Music Power.

History

As Hey! Say! 7 (Temporary Group)
In a KAT-TUN spring concert on 3 April 2007, 5 members of Johnny's Jr's were named to be part of a new group called Hey! Say! 7. These members were Yuya Takaki, Daiki Arioka, Yuto Nakajima, Yuuri Chinen and Ryosuke Yamada. Initially, the temporary status of the group was unclear, worrying a lot of fans of Johnny Jr's groups J.J. Express as it could mean that the group was splitting up and that Yuya Takaki and Daiki Arioka would permanently be in this group instead.
On 16 June 2007, it was announced that Hey! Say! 7 would release a single, Hey! Say!, which was then used as the opening song for the popular anime Love★Com (Lovely Complex). The single also contains the ending song used for the same anime, titled BON BON. This is the first time a Johnny's Jrs group released a single since Ya-Ya-yah in 2002, and there was uncertainty in whether if the debut is permanent or just a CD release.
On 1 August 2007, the single Hey! Say! was released. The following week, on 8 August 2007, Oricon Style confirmed that Hey! Say! sold 120,520 copies in its first week and this made it top the Oricon Weekly Charts. At the same time, Hey! Say! 7 broke an all-time record by being the youngest group to ever reach the number 1 spot in the Oricon chart, with their average age being just 14.8 years.
In the month of August, the single Hey! Say! topped the Oricon Monthly Charts, outselling even their Johnny's Entertainment seniors, Tackey and Tsubasa and TOKIO. Since then, the Hey! Say! single had been certified gold by the RIAJ

Former Hey! Say! 7 (Temporary Group)


- Yuya Takaki / 高木雄也 - March 26, 1990 (age 18)
- Daiki Arioka / 有岡大貴 - April 15, 1991 (age 17)
- Yuto Nakajima / 中島裕翔 - August 10, 1993 (age 14)
- Ryosuke Yamada / 山田涼介 - May 9, 1993 (age 15)
- Yuuri Chinen / 知念侑李 - November 30, 1993 (age 14)


Transition to Hey! Say! JUMP
The formation of Hey! Say! JUMP was announced on September 24th, 2007 during the Johnny's Jr Hey Say 07 in Yokohama concert, which was broad casted live by Fuji TV. The boys were introduced with reference to other debuted group such as NEWS and V6. This new unit will function in the same sense as V6's Coming Century and 20th Century with the two subunits, Hey! Say! BEST and Hey! Say! 7, where BEST stands for Boys Excellent Selection Team.
The word JUMP not only stands for Johnny's Ultra Music Power, but also jumping high in the heisei era. Immediately after the junior concert, the boys appeared on the filming of popular program Hey! Hey! Hey!, where they announced the unit officially. The new group draws most of its members from popular junior units Ya-Ya-yah and J.J. Express. The future of this unit is yet unknown but their debut single was released on November 14th, 2007, titled Ultra Music Power, coming in #1 on the Oricon charts for that week. It was the theme song for the year's Volleyball World Cup Relay. Also the unit had already held their debut concert on the 22nd of December 2007 at Tokyo Dome, where very few debuted units have had the chance for a concert, KAT-TUN being one of them. The date for the debut is to match the record set by Tackey & Tsubasa, who had their debut concert on the 38th day of their debut.
It was stated that the idea for the unit came from the overwhelming sales of Hey! Say! 7's single Hey!Say!. The members of the unit only found out about their debut three days before the official announcement. The average age of the unit is 15 with the youngest member being 13 and the oldest 18. Also with the unit having Okamoto Keito as a member, who is the son of Otokogumi's Okamoto Kenichi, marks the first parent-child pair in Johnnys.

Members

Hey! Say! BEST

Hey! Say! BEST (Boys Excellent Select Team) is the older subgroup of Hey! Say! JUMP, consisting of 5 members:
- Kota Yabu / 薮宏太 - January 31, 1990 (age 18)

- Yuya Takaki / 高木雄也 - March 26, 1990 (age 18)

- Kei Inoo / 伊野尾慧 - June 22, 1990 (age 18)

- Hikaru Yaotome / 八乙女光 - December 2, 1990 (age 17)

- Daiki Arioka / 有岡大貴 - April 15, 1991 (age 17)



Hey! Say! 7

Hey! Say! 7 is the younger subgroup of Hey! Say! JUMP, consisting of 5 members. This Hey! Say! 7 should not be confused with former Hey! Say! 7 (Temporary Group), which produced the single Hey! Say!
- Keito Okamoto / 岡本圭人 - April 1, 1993 (age 15)

- Ryosuke Yamada / 山田涼介 - May 9, 1993 (age 15)

- Yuto Nakajima / 中島裕翔 - August 10, 1993 (age 14)

- Yuuri Chinen / 知念侑李 - November 30, 1993 (age 14)

- Ryutaro Morimoto / 森本龍太郎 - April 6, 1995 (age 13)


Original songs

As Hey! Say! 7 (Temporary Group) (3 April 2007 - 23 September 2007)
-Fatalism
-Hey! Say! (Love★Com Opening theme)
-BON BON (Love★Com Ending theme)
-Iをくれ (I wo kure)
-The ONE
-Hey Boys and Girls

As Hey! Say! JUMP
-Ultra Music Power
-Too Shy
-Star Time
-トビラの向こう (Tobira No Mukou)
-心・技・体 (Shin Gi Tai)
-Chance to Change
-Dreams Come True
-HIGHER

As Hey! Say! BEST (Sub-group of Hey! Say! JUMP)
-ス・リ・ル (Thrill)
-BUMP UP

As Hey! Say! 7 (Sub-group of Hey! Say! JUMP)
-ワンダーランド・トレイン (Wonderland Train)

Solos
-麗しのBad Girl (Uruwashi no Bad Girl) by Nakajima Yuto
-パフューム (Perfume) by Yamada Ryosuke
-アジアの夜 (Asia no Yoru) by Yamada Ryosuke
-炎-Flame of Love by Yaotome Hikaru
-Rain Dance by Yabu Kota
-My Everything by Yabu Kota
-俺たちの青春 (Oretachi No Seishun) by Takaki Yuya [Gokusen 3's insert song]
-On The Wind by Chinen Yuuri
-Stars in Heaven by Chinen Yuuri and Yamada Ryosuke
-Ame No Melody by Nakajima Yuto
-Eien Ni by Yamada Ryosuke and Nakajima Yuto

J-movie [L: Change the WorLd]

L: Change the WorLd



L: change the WorLd, directed by Hideo Nakata, is a spin-off film of the Death Note movie series. The series is based on the manga Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata, but follows an original storyline. The film was released in Japan on February 9, 2008, Hong Kong on February 7, 2008 and Singapore on February 21, 2008.

Genre: Fantasy/Thriller
Director: Hideo Nakata
Cast: Kenichi Matsuyama (Death Note; Death Note 2 the Last name); Yuki Kudo (SAYURI, Rush Hour); Mayuko Fukuda (Sinking of Japan); Shunji Fujimura 
Released By: Encore Films & Golden Village
Rating: PG
Official Website: http://www.encorefilms.com/L.html

Opening Day: 21 February 2008

Plot 
After solving the Kira case, another serious case confronts L and he has only 23 days left to solve it.

A person who obtained the most horrible weapon, "Death God" says the same thing as Kira ... "I am going to change the world". A boy and a girl hold the keys to solving the case and L faces a crisis of global magnitude to protect the kids. He is without his most trusted partner, Watari, and cannot rely on just his superb intellect to solve the case.

The final case is involving a bioterrorist group that aims to wipe out much of humanity with a virus with ten times the infectiousness of Ebola, taking a boy, the sole survivor of its use in a village in Thailand, and a junior high schooler named Maki Nikaido under his wing.

Shunji Fujimura also reprises his role as Watari, though he dies early in the film as per the events of The Last Name. The characters Misa Amane, death god Ryuk, and Light Yagami also all have brief cameos in the film.

Cast

L: Ken'ichi Matsuyama


Near (Boy): Narushi Fukuda (福田 響志 Fukuda Narushi)


Maki Nikaido (二階 堂真希 Nikaidō Maki): Mayuko Fukuda


Kimihiko Nikaido (二階 堂公彦 Nikaidō Kimihiko): Shingo Tsurumi
Kimiko Kujo (久條 希実子 Kujō Kimiko) a.k.a. K: Youki Kudoh
Koichi Matsudo (松戸 浩一 Matsudo Kōichi): Sei Hiraizumi
Asao Konishi (小西 朝夫 Konishi Asao): Bokuzō Masana
Tamotsu Yoshizawa (吉沢 保 Yoshizawa Tamotsu): Yuta Kanai
Hotsune Misawa (三沢 初音 Misawa Hotsune): Megumi Sato
Shin Kagami (加賀見シン Kagami Shin): Renji Ishibashi
Hideaki Suruga (駿河 秀明 Suruga Hideaki): Kiyotaka Nanbara
Daisuke Matoba (的場 大介 Matoba Daisuke): Masanobu Takashima
Watari: Shunji Fujimura
F (エフ Efu): Kazuki Namioka
Misa Amane: Erika Toda
Naomi Misora: Asaka Seto
Raye Iwamatsu: Shigeki Hosokawa
Touta Matsuda: Sota Aoyama
Sasaki (佐々木): Yōji Tanaka
Ryuk: Nakamura Shidō
Light Yagami: Tatsuya Fujiwara

Hello Project new Unit

High-King


High-King (ハイ・キング) is a Japanese idol group within Hello! Project. The group was created to promote Morning Musume's upcoming rendition of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, titled Cinderella the Musical (シンデレラ the ミュージカル). Their sound is said to have an R&B feel.

The group's debut single, C\C (Cinderella\Complex) (Ｃ＼Ｃ （シンデレラ＼コンプレックス), was on June 11, 2008, under the Zetima label in two versions. The regular version (catalog EPCE-5561) contains the CD-single only, while the limited version (EPCE-5559～60) contains a bonus DVD.A Single V (EPBE-5294) will also be released on June 25, 2008. This single is coupling with Kioku no Meiro

Although High-King has members of varying ages, and are from different groups, reports are that when they are on the same song, they sing and dance well together. It is unknown whether this group will be a temporary unit, or will continue to produce singles after the musical. High-King leader is Reina Tanaka.

High-King are:

Tanaka Reina (18) from Morning Musume


Takahashi Ai (21) from Morning Musume


Saki Shimizu (16) from Berryz Kobo


Maimi Yajima (16) from ℃-ute


Yuuka Maeda (13) from Hello Pro Egg

Single:
C\C (Cinderella\Complex)

Morning Musume Member

Takahashi Ai


Ai Takahashi joined Morning Musume in 2001 as part of the group's fifth generation, along with Makoto Ogawa, Asami Konno, and Risa Niigaki. Her debut appearance with the group was on their single "Mr. Moonlight ~Ai no Big Band~", and her first appearance on a Morning Musume full-length release was their fourth studio album, the appropriately named 4th Ikimasshoi!. Her first appearance within a Hello! Project shuffle unit release was on the 2002 single "Shiawase Beam! Suki Suki Beam!" under the group name Happy 7.

In 2003, Takahashi replaced Mari Yaguchi in the Morning Musume spinoff group Mini Moni, first appearing in the group's movie Mini Moni ja Movie: Okashi na Daibōken! and its accompanying soundtrack. Her best-known nickname amongst non-Japanese fans, "Takitty", was derived from the cat suit (complete with tail) which she wears in the movie.

Later in 2003, she was part of the Morning Musume splinter group Morning Musume Sakuragumi, which performed mainly slower numbers on the group's two EPs, "Hare Ame Nochi Suki" and "Sakura Mankai", and the shuffle group 7Air, an R&B-inspired septet.

Takahashi's vocals became more prominent on the second and final Mini Moni album, Mini Moni Songs 2 (2004), as well as on Morning Musume's singles from their Spring 2004 release "Roman ~My Dear Boy~" onward. She also had a duet with Tsunku on the cover version of Tsunku and Ayumi Hamasaki's duet "Love ~since 1999~" on his solo album Take1.

In 2005, Morning Musume's first single release of the year, "The Manpower!!!", featured Takahashi in a prominent co-lead-vocal role, a role she has retained on subsequent singles since. In the summer of that year, she became part of the 2005 shuffle Group Elegies.

In 2006, Takahashi played the lead role, Sapphire, in the musical "Ribbon no Kishi The Musical" which was a collaboration work of Takarazuka Revue (a famous Japanese all-female musical group) and Hello! Project. The musical was based on Tezuka Osamu's manga and also starred v-u-den, Nozomi Tsuji, Aya Matsuura, and Natsumi Abe, as well as Marcia and Kaoru Ebira of the Takarazuka Revue. Soon thereafter, Takahashi released her first and only solo single to date, "Yume Kara Samete".

Following then-leader Hitomi Yoshizawa's graduation from Morning Musume on May 6, 2007, the current sub-leader, Miki Fujimoto ascended to the leader position, with Takahashi becoming the new sub-leader of the group. However, on June 1, 2007, after Fujimoto's resignation, Takahashi took over as the new leader.

Takahashi is also captain of the Hello! Project kickball team, Metro Rabbits H.P..

In 2008 Takahashi became a member of Hello Project's new unit High-King, a group created to promote Morning Musume's upcoming Cinderella the Musical.




Name: Takahashi Ai (高橋愛)
Nickname: Ai-chan, Lovely, Takitty, Tettekete
Birth date: September 14, 1986
Birthplace: Sakai, Fukui Prefecture, Japan
Blood type: A
Height: 153.3 cm
Hobbies: Watching plays, ballet
Specialty: Flipping her eyelids, bridge
Favorite food: Sauce katsudon, omelette rice
Disliked food: Mont blanc, eggplant, pineapple, musubi, perilla leaves
Favorite color: Black, white, pink
Favorite word: "Tomodachi" (友達 - "Friend")
Favorite season: Autumn
Favorite flowers: Roses
Favorite song: Tsumetai Umi / Start in My Life by Kuraki Mai

Subgroups:
Morning Musume (2001–)
Happy 7 (2002)
7AIR (2003)
Minimoni (2003–2004)
Morning Musume Sakura Gumi (2003–2004)
H.P. All Stars (2004)
Hello! Project Akagumi (2005)
Elegies (2005)
Wonderful Hearts (2006–) 
High-King (2008)

Other:
POCKY GIRLS (2002)
Metro Rabbits H.P. (2006–)

Photobooks:
[2002.08.13] 5 モーニング娘。5期メンバー (5 Morning Musume. 5ki Members)
[2002.12.09] モーニング娘。―高橋愛 (Morning Musume - Takahashi Ai)
[2003.12.18] アロハロ!高橋愛 (AloHello! Takahashi Ai)
[2004.05.26] わたあめ (Wataame)
[2005.06.26] 愛ごころ (Aigokoro)
[2006.01.26] 19
[2006.10.28] 高橋愛 写真集全集 ai (Takahashi Ai Photograph Collection Complete Works ai)
[2007.03.14] ラブハロ!高橋愛inプーケット (Love Hello! Takahashi Ai in Phuket)
[2007.10.26] 水 (Mizu)
[2008.05.23] もうひとつの愛 (Mou Hitotsu no Ai)

Movies:
[2002] とっかえっ娘。 (Tokkaekko)
[2003] ミニモニ。じゃムービーお菓子な大冒険！ (Minimoni ja Movie Okashi na Daibouken!)
[2003] 子犬ダンの物語 (Koinu Dan no Monogatari)

DVDs:
[2007.04.11] ラブハロ! 高橋愛 DVD (Love Hello! Takahashi Ai DVD)

TV Dramas:
[2002] Angel Hearts
[2004] ミニモニ。でブレーメンの音楽隊 (Minimoni de Bremen no Ongakutai)
[2006] 天下騒乱〜徳川三代の陰謀 (Tenka Souran ~ Tokugawa Sandai no Inmou)
[2006] 道徳女子短大エコ研 (Doutoku Joshi Tandai Ecoken)

Radio:
[2003–] ヤングタウン土曜日 (Young Town Douyoubi)

Musicals:
[2006] リッボンの騎士ザ・ミュージカル (Ribbon no Kishi: The Musical)
[2008] シンデレラ the ミュージカル (Cinderella the Musical)

Morning Musume Member

Tanaka Reina
    

Reina Tanaka, member of the famous Jpop group "Morning Musume" was born the 11th November 1989, in Fukuoka. The kanji characters for her name (田中麗奈) are the same as the ones for the Japanese actress Tanaka Rena. To avoid confusion, Tanaka adopted hiragana symbols (れいな) for her first name when she joined Morning Musume.

She initially auditioned for Morning Musume during the Love Audition 21 auditions for the 5th generation members and was even featured on the MUSIX page. She is the only member to audition twice to get into Morning Musume.
In her first audition for Morning Musume, according to the rules she wasn't old enough to audition. She lied about her age, adding another year to it because she didn't believe she would make it very far. She made it to the boot camp but her true age was revealed and she was expelled from the audition, but then she participated in the 2002 Love Audition and was revealed among 12417 candidates along with Eri Kamei and Sayumi Michishige on the 19th January 2003. (She was the 1803rd candidate) Those three girls formed Morning Musume 6th Generation with the audition of Miki Fujimoto, and Hello! Project soloist. Before her second audition, she believed they wouldn't take her because of her lying mishap.
The audition song was Momusu's "Do it! Now". For the very first time, there was an Internet public pool in which fans could vote for their favorite girl. Reina ranked 8th and Sayumi 6th. Anyway, Tsunku, Momusu's producer, chose Reina, Sayumi and Eri as finalists even if Eri wasn't in the Top10.
The three of them had to practice singing and dancing during four days, so Tsunku could test their abilities. They had to sing on Melon Kinenbi's "Akai Freesia" and dance on their audition song, "Do it! Now. The original idea was to choose on girl out of the three but surprisingly, Tsunku chose them all to join Morning Musume. Reina had always wanted to be an idol and enter the entertainement industry since she is a big fan of Flame.

Reina has always had the reputation of a yankii (a rebel) since her first audition for Morning Musume, when she had blonde hair. The fact that she also wore shirts with skulls and dragons, and had a tendency to wear a lot of purple clothing, also furthered this yankii image with fans and is known as one of the most fashionable members of Morning Musume.

She is known for being the lead vocalist on her debut single. She sang a solo version of "Memory Seishun no Hikari" on the fanclub special Best Shot Vol.4. Since being the center position for "Ambitious! Yashinteki de Ii Jan", Reina has gotten several solo lines in songs, and she gradually worked her way up to being one of the lead vocalists in such songs like "Mikan" and "Resonant Blue".

In 2007 she has her own solo radio at a radio show called FIVESTARS and In early 2008, she was announced as the voice actor for Kirara, the main character in Sanrio's Onegai My Melody Kirara☆


First Name: Reina (れいな)
Last Name: Tanaka (田中)
Nicknames: Tanakacchi, Reina-chan, 07 (Rei-Na), Reinya

Hometown: Fukuoka (Japan)

Birth day: 11/11/1989
Zodiac sign: Scorpio
Blood group: O
Height: 1.51 m
Character: Impulsive, energic and always in a good mood. She is also very quiet when she feels                      nervous.
Habits: "I clap my hands when I laugh..., Often saying "Ukeru". Saying "Yabai!" to anything,               Setting up (Crossing?) my legs while sitting down."
Charm point: Eyes/Glance

Hobbies: Karaoke, volley-ball, e-mail, playing piano, watching concerts, writting letters with                  handmade frames

Specialty: Making friends laugh, making funny faces, can make friends easily
Groups: Morning Musume, Otome Gumi, Aa!
Objective: She wants to do her best and use all her energy to succeed her career
Favorite words: Luck, spirit
Favorite seasons: Autumn and Spring
Favorite flower: Sunflower
Favorite colors: Pink, red, orange, yellow, black and white
Favorite food: Yakiniku and fruits
Hated food: Natto and pepper
Favorite subject: Music and physical education
Least favourite subject: Maths and history
Afraid of: Ghosts
Country she would like to visit: Italy
Favorite movie: Harry Potter
Favorite singers: Maki Gotou, Aya Matsuura, Rika Ishikawa
Favorite Morning Musume' songs:
1 - "Say Yeah! Motto Miracle Night"
2 - "Shabondama"
3 - "I WISH"

Subgroups:
Morning Musume Otome Gumi (2003–2004)
Aa! (2003)
H.P. All Stars (2004)
Elegies (2005)
High-King (2008)

Movie:
Hoshizuna no Shima, Watashi no Shima - Island Dreamin'

J-Artist: Morning Musume

モーニング娘。 (Morning Musume)


Years Active: 1997 - Present

Morning Musume is at the forefront of Hello! Project as the lead group and indeed group with the longest and most colorful history. Formed in 1997 through the talent program ASAYAN, Morning Musume has became Best selling female group in Japan and has sold close to 20,000,000 copies in Japan.

Morning Musume were discovered through auditions to find a female vocalist for producer Tsunku’s group Sharan Q. Although the girls that would eventually form Morning Musume were not the winners of the audition they rose to popularity faster and to a far greater extent than the winner, Heike Michiyo.

The group is particularly well-known for its ever fluctuating line-up, with "graduations" and auditions occurring nearly each year. Each “generation” of members offered something to unique to the group and to this day Morning Musume remains fresh in it’s musical style and sound thanks to the ever changing face of the group.

The group is scheduled to hold a concert at Taipei Nankang Exhibition Hall, Taiwan on May 24, 2008. This will be their first time ever to have a concert outside Japan. Beside Taiwan they hold a concert at Shanghai and Korea too. Later during 2008, Morning Musume are teaming up with all-female theatre troupe Takarazuka to perform a musical rendition of Cinderella. Compared to Ribbon no Kishi, a greater number of Takarazuka actors will participate in the play. There will be 33 performances from August 6, 2008 through August 25, 2008..


Current Members:

5th Generation (2001-08-26)

高橋愛 (Takahashi Ai)


新垣里沙 (Niigaki Risa)

6th Generation (2003-01-19)

亀井絵里 (Kamei Eri)


道重さゆみ (Michishige Sayumi)


田中れいな (Tanaka Reina)

7th Generation (2005-05-01)

久住小春 (Kusumi Koharu)

8th Generation (2006-12-10 / 2007-03-15)

光井愛佳 (Mitsui Aika)


ジュンジュン ((Junjun)


リンリン (Linlin)

Former Members:
1st Generation (1997-09-07)
福田明日香 (Fukuda Asuka) (1999-04-18)
石黒彩 (Ishiguro Aya) (2000-01-07)
中澤裕子 (Nakazawa Yuko) (2001-04-15)
安倍なつみ (Abe Natsumi) (2004-01-25)
飯田圭織 (Iida Kaori) (2005-01-30)

2nd Generation (1998-05-03)
市井紗耶香 (Ichii Sayaka) (2000-05-21)
保田圭 (Yasuda Kei) (2003-05-05)
矢口真里 (Yaguchi Mari) (2005-04-14)

3rd Generation (1999-08-22)
後藤真希 (Goto Maki) (2002-09-23)

4th Generation (2000-04-16)
辻希美 (Tsuji Nozomi) (2004-08-01)
加護亜依 (Kago Ai) (2004-08-01)
石川梨華 (Ishikawa Rika) (2005-05-07)
吉澤ひとみ (Yoshizawa Hitomi) (2007-05-06)

5th Generation (2001-08-26)
紺野あさ美 (Konno Asami) (2006-07-23)
小川麻琴 (Ogawa Makoto) (2006-08-27)

6th Generation (2003-01-19)
藤本美貴 (Fujimoto Miki) (2007-06-01)


Singles

"Ai no Tane"
1. "Morning Coffee"
2. "Summer Night Town"
3. "Daite Hold on Me!"
4. "Memory Seishun no Hikari"
5. "Manatsu no Kōsen"
6. "Furusato"
7. "Love Machine"
8. "Koi no Dance Site"
9. "Happy Summer Wedding"
10. "I Wish"
11. "Renai Revolution 21"
12. "The Peace!" 13. "Mr. Moonlight ~Ai no Big Band~"
14. "Souda! We're Alive"
15. "Do it! Now"
16. "Koko ni Iruzee!"
17. "Morning Musume no Hyokkori Hyōtanjima"
18. "As for One Day"
19. "Shabondama"
20. "Go Girl ~Koi no Victory~"
21. "Ai Araba It's All Right"
22. "Roman ~My Dear Boy~"
23. "Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari"
24. "Namida ga Tomaranai Hōkago" 25. "The Manpower!!!"
26. "Osaka Koi no Uta"
27. "Iroppoi Jirettai"
28. "Chokkan 2 ~Nogashita Sakana wa Ōkiizo!~"
29. "Sexy Boy ~Soyokaze ni Yorisotte~"
30. "Ambitious! Yashinteki de Ii Jan"
31. "Aruiteru"
32. "Egao Yes Nude"
33. "Kanashimi Twilight"
34. "Onna ni Sachi Are"
35. "Mikan"
36. "Resonant Blue"


Albums

1. First Time
2. Second Morning
3. 3rd -Love Paradise-
4. 4th Ikimasshoi!
5. No.5
6. Ai no Dai 6 Kan
7. Rainbow 7
8. Sexy 8 Beat
7.5 Fuyu Fuyu Morning Musume Mini! (mini-album)

J-Dorama: Zettai Kareshi

Zettai Kareshi



Title: 絶対彼氏。 
Title (romaji): Zettai Kareshi
Also known as: Absolute Boyfriend
Tagline: Kanzen Muketsu no Koibito Robot / The Completely Perfect Boyfriend Robot
Format: Renzoku
Genre: Romance, comedy
Episodes: 11
Viewership ratings: 13.2 (Kanto)
Broadcast network: Fuji TV
Broadcast period: 2008-Apr-15 to 2008-Jun-24
Air time: Tuesday 21:00
Theme song: Okaeri by ayaka

- Story

Riiko Izawa has never had a boyfriend and she has been rejected by every boy she has ever had a crush on. When she returns a lost cell phone to an oddly dressed salesman, she mentions wanting a boyfriend so to thank her, he directs her to his company's website. When she visits the site, Riiko finds it's a site to create your own lover. Thinking its a game, she customizes and accidentally orders one. The next day, her new lover arrives. Following the instruction manual, she kisses him to wake him up and configure him to be in love with only her. She names him "Night." Three days later, she is shocked to learn that she only had him for a free trial. The salesman, Gaku Namikiri, tells her that she must now pay 100,000,000 yen for Night, or they will waive the fee if she helps them to collect data about how women think and feel to help perfect future models.

Riiko must keep Night's true nature of not being human a secret from everyone around her. She also finds herself in a love triangle between Night and her childhood friend Soshi, who declares his love for her out of fear he will lose her. As the series progresses, Night begins to develop real human emotions, enabling him to truly love Riiko but also resulting in system malfunctions. When Riiko almost loses Night due to the malfunctions, she realizes that he is the one she really loves. She apologizes to Soshi, who moves to Spain with his brother. As the series ends, Night begins to grow sleepier and sleepier. The problems developed by his exceeding his abilities eventually causes his machinery to stop working, resulting in his "death". Before he died, he wrote a letter to Soshi to tell him what was happening and asking him to take care of Riiko. Soshi gives Riiko time to grieve, then returns to Japan to be at her side again.

- Characters
Riiko Izawa (井沢 リイコ Izawa Riiko)
Riiko doesn't seem to have any luck with boys until she meets a strange salesman and ends up accidentally ordering a boyfriend: Night Tenjo. Riiko is rather naïve, clumsy, and simple-minded, but kindhearted and hardworking. She seems to have feelings for Soshi and Night, which becomes the primary conflict of the story.

Night Tenjo (天城ナイト Tenjou Naito)
Night is the perfect boyfriend: charming, dependable, intelligent, athletic, good-looking, sensitive, devoted, and completely loyal. Because he is unaware of certain social conventions, he often seems over-the-top and attracts a lot of attention. Although he is a doll, albeit of a high-caliber design, he seems to have genuine emotions and to want to become more human and be a better boyfriend to Riiko. He wears a mood ring that indicates Riiko's emotions. He later crushes this ring, claiming real boyfriends didn't need it, so he didn't either. His developing genuine emotions eventually causes his system to shut down, essentially resulting in his death. Before he died, he asked Soshi to take care of Riiko in a letter which he entrusted to Gaku to deliver.

Soshi Asamoto (浅元ソウシ Asamoto Soushi)
Soshi has had a crush on Riiko since they were both children, though he has never found the nerve to confess his real feelings and instead teases her. His father is a photographer who travels around the world, so Soshi lives alone with his younger brother, Masaki. Since Riiko lives alone at the beginning of the series as well, Soshi has promised her mother to protect her. He is a very good cook and usually gives Riiko food when he suspects she needs it. Near the end of the series, he moves to Spain with his brother, but six months after he left, he returns to take care of Riiko after Night's death.

Gaku Namikiri (ガク・ナミキリ Gaku Namikiri)
Gaku is a salesman for a company known as Kronos Heaven which specializes in making highly realistic robots, or "figures," for various purposes. Though usually businesslike and down-to-earth, Gaku is sometimes mistaken for a cosplayer because of his odd manner of dress. When Riiko cannot return Night nor pay the bill for him, Gaku allows her to keep him so Night can collect data on how to become a better lover for use in future models. Whenever there is a problem with Night, Gaku is the one to fix him. After Kronos Heaven attempts to take back Night and wants to dismantle him, Gaku decides to quit the company and opens his own business. Before his death, Night entrusts Gaku to deliver a letter to Soshi.

- Cast
Hayami Mokomichi as Tenjo Night


Mizushima Hiro as Asamoto Soshi


Aibu Saki as Izawa Riiko


Sasaki Kuranosuke as Namikiri Gaku


Sasai Eisuke as Shirasagi Yuki
Ueno Natsuhi as Ito Mika
Satoi Kenta as Hirata Hajime
Nekoze Tsubaki as Adachi Kyoko
Komoto Maki as Sato Nozomi
Kaji Masaki as Tanaka Yoichiro
Yamada Meikyou as Asamoto Shiro
Minemura Rie (峯村リエ) as Yoshioka Tetsuko
Erena as Ono Chiho
Sakuragi Ryosuke (桜木涼介) as Morikawa Yasushi
Watanuki Shoichi (綿貫正市) as Dei Takeru
Irie Jingi as Hayashi Kota
Yamamoto Kei as Asamoto Kazushi
Nakamura Shunsuke as Asamoto Masashi
Maya Miki as Wakabayashi Fujiko

Hayami Mocomichi

Hayami Mocomichi


- Profile
Name: 速水もこみち
Name (romaji): Hayami Mokomichi
Real name (romaji): Omote Mokomichi
Profession: Actor and model
Hobbies: Basketball, listening to music, strolling, walking, fishing, and cooking
Birthdate: 1984-Aug-10
Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
Height: 186cm
Star sign: Leo
Blood type: B
Talent agency: Ken-On
Website: MOCOSTYLE: Hayami Mocomichi Official Site (Japanese)

His father is Japanese and his mother is Filipino. In magazines, on television, etc, his name is also spelled "Mocomichi" when written in romanized letters. Mocomishi is a good actor, he starred at many dorama.

- Dorama
Zettai Kareshi as Night Tenjo (Fuji TV, 2008)
Hataraki Man as Tanaka Kunio (NTV, 2007)
Jotei as Shiratori Takuya (TV Asahi, 2007, ep8)
Doubutsu 119 as Nakadai Mituya (NTV, 2007)
Tokyo Tower as Nakagawa Masaya / Boku (Fuji TV, 2007)
Regatta as Ozawa Makoto (TV Asahi, 2006)
Teru Teru Ashita (TV Asahi, 2006, ep10)
Rondo as Kazama Ryugo (TBS, 2006)
Brother Beat as Sakurai Riku (TBS, 2005)
Densha Otoko as Aoyama Keisuke (Fuji TV, 2005)
Gokusen 2 as Tsuchiya Hikaru (NTV, 2005)
Ame to Yume no Ato ni as Hayakawa Hokuto (TV Asahi, 2005)
Tokyo Wankei (Fuji TV, 2004)
Yankee Bokou ni Kaeru as Hideo (TBS, 2003)
Boku no Mahou Tsukai (NTV, 2003)
Taiho Shichauzo as Mokomichi (TV Asahi, 2002)

- Movies
Rough (2006) 
Kamen Rider Faiz (555): Paradise Lost (2003)

NARUTO's Jutsu Part IV

Technique (Jutsu)

- Bloodline Limit Jutsu
1. Byakugan 

Byakugan, one of the Bloodline Limits the Hyuuga clan possesses. It’s a jutsu activated in the eyes, much like the Sharingan. But if we look at its ability of insight alone, it exceeds the sharingan. This jutsu allows the user's vision to see a full 360 degrees. Byakugan also has the ability to view the inner coil system of a person's body, and in advanced cases, the chakra holes. Because of this, Byakugan is used in combination with Hyuuga’s Style Taijutsu. Attacking the inner organs, disabling or even killing their opponent, without even hitting them. Used by: Hyuuga Neji, Hyuuga Hinata, Hyuuga Hizashi, Hyuuga Hiashi, and other members of the Hyuuga clan.


2. Meat Tank (Nikudan Sensha)

Used after Multi Size no Jutsu. This sends the enlarged body into a powerful ball capable of tearing the opponent apart, but it uses up a lot of calories and chakra. Used by: Akimichi Chouji

3. Sharingan

A pupil born technique, which allows the user to do to a large number of things. The Sharingan's first and most well known ability is to memorize any technique that it is a witness to, as well as register the movements of opponents. Second, it is able to hypnotize the opponent, giving an advantage to the user. It can also suggest movements to the hypnotized brain, and 'see through' any illusionary technique. Although it is a powerfull jutsu, it consumes a lot of chakra. The power of the Sharingan is judged through the amount of dots in the person's eye. Used by: Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Sasuke, Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Obito

4. Bug clone skill (Kikai bunshin no jutsu)

Basically the kikai (or destruction bugs) turn into a complete and exact replica of the Aburame user. Used by: Aburame Shino

5. Double Wolf Fang (Garouga)

A high speed tornado attack in which Kiba and Akamaru attack the opponent by scratching and clawing at high speeds in which they cut their enemies into pieces. The speed is so fast that ithe users cannot see, but that is no problem, Kiba and Akamaru's sense of smell leads them to their opponent. Even if they barely miss the target the extreme spin still slices the target, leaving them weak for one more shot. The technique uses a lot of chakra and energy, usually leaving the users very wiped out and tired after with a very low amount of chakra. Used by: Inuzuka Kiba, Akamaru

6. Double Headed Wolf (Sou-Tou-Rou)

The attack in which Kiba and Akamaru are both in the forum of a wolf which increases their power 10 fold. Their attacks are faster and harder and they are also impossible to stop when in this form though because this form is so strong it also requires a lot of chakra and after this renders the user useless and almost completely immobilized. This attack is usally a combo with the Garouga for maximum damage. Used by: Inuzuka Kiba, Akamaru

7. Illusionary Underworld Moon (Tsukuyomi)

A special technique that can only be used by the Uchiha clan who posses the Mange Sharingan. The technique creates an illusion which can reflect on the past or just create an illusion where Itachi does to the target whatever he wants (ex. stick swords into the enemy's body over and over again). This technique is used to attack the opponents mind and destroy his/her spirit. The events which go on in the Tsukuyomi are translated into 3 days (72 hours), while in reality only 3 seconds pass. 72 hours seems to be Itachi's limit with the illusion. This attack is another strain causer on the Itachi and if used more then once, it can tire him out. Used by: Uchiha Itachi

8. Mangekyou Sharingan (Mangekyou Sharingan)

The Mangekyou Sharingan is the advanced form of the Uchiha clan's bloodline limit: "The Sharingan". It's the Uchiha clan's most powerfull eye-technique, if not the deadliest technique shown in Naruto so far. It's a very rare technique, and it's said only a true member of the Uchiha clan is able to obtain it. The only way to obtain it is by murdering your closest friend. In Kakashi's case it's slightly different, since Uchiha Obito sacrificed himself to save him. Kakashi's Mangekyou Sharingan also differs from appearance with Itachi's. It's obvious that the Mangekyou Sharingan surpasses the ordinary Sharingan, but there are some side effects. It puts a strain on the user's eyes, and if used too much the user can go blind. It also requires an enourmous amount of chakra, in Kakashi's case even more since he's not a natural Sharingan user. Once the Mangekyou Sharingan is activated the user can temporaraly render his opponent unconscious, and is able to use 3 new techniques. Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu and another yet to be revealed technique. The Tsukoyomi traps the target in a nightmare-like state, where the target is tortured for what feels like 72 hours (3 days) to him or her, but in reality is just 1 second. The second skill, the Amatarasu, creates black flames that can burn through any surface or object. Uchiha Itachi and Hatake Kakashi are the only ones we've seen it use so far, but there's also an unknown Uchiha Mangekyou Sharingan user that Itachi mentioned to Sasuke when he left the Hidden Leaf Village. Sasuke is the only other potential Mangekyou Sharingan user, but him possessing the Mangekyou Sharingan would involve killing his best friend, Uzumaki Naruto. Used by: Uchiha Itachi, Hatake Kakashi