Japan News

Sexy Zone led the charts this week with their second single, “Lady Diamond,” selling almost 116,000 copies. The group now has a streak of two consecutive #1 singles since their debut. The last teenage male group to achieve that was Hey! Say! JUMP in 2008. Meanwhile, Morning Musume took #3 with their 49th single, “Renai Hunter,” [...]

Image from: Natalie Baba Ikuzo, better known as the bassist IKUZONE of the band Dragon Ash, has suddenly passed away at the age of 46. An announcement on the group’s official website on Tuesday night revealed that IKUZONE died of acute heart failure on the night of April 21st. IKUZONE had collapsed in his home [...]

Higashigawa Tokuya’s bestselling mystery novel “Nazotoki wa Dinner no Ato de” is getting its first stage adaptation this summer. The main cast will feature singer/actor DAIGO (34), model Nishiyama Maki (26), and WaT member Wentz Eiji (26). “Nazotoki wa Dinner no Ato de” has so far had two books released, selling more than 2.75 million [...]

Image from: Official website DJ CHEMICAL (29), the DJ of hip-hop trio FUNKY MONKEY BABYS, revealed in the group’s blog that he is now married. On April 8th, he registered his marriage with a woman (30) whom he was dating for the past 5 years. His wife is not in show business, so no personal [...]

Image from: Eiga.com More cast members have been unveiled for Kanjani8’s movie “Eight Ranger,” which was first announced last month. The new additions include Higashiyama Noriyuki in his first villain role and Becky as the story’s heroine. “Eight Ranger,” also known as “Eito Ranger,” is based on a series of skits that Kanjani8 has performed [...]

Image from: Mantan Web The NTV drama series “Muse no Kagami,” starring AKB48 member Sashihara Rino (19), is being turned into a movie this summer. Other than the AKB48 documentary films, this will be Sashihara’s first appearance in a movie. “Muse no Kagami” has been airing in a late-night time slot since January of this [...]

Image from: Sponichi Annex Talento Hoshino Aki (35) and jockey Miura Kosei (22) have just become parents. Hoshino wrote in her blog that she gave birth to the couple’s first child, a girl, at 4:06pm on April 12th. Both Hoshino and her newborn daughter are said to be in good health. According to someone at [...]

Image from: Sankei Sports NHK has announced that popular screenwriter Kudo Kankuro (41) will be in charge of the network’s morning drama series during the spring and summer of 2013. This will be his first time ever writing an NHK drama. Details for the drama are currently being prepared. NHK plans to hold a press [...]