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“ATARU” is TV company TBS’ new kind of mystery drama, which will begin in Japan this April.  Nakai will play lead character Ataru, a savant with a mysterious past, whose unique abilities allow him to solve seemingly impossible cases.  Savant syndrome is a rare condition in people with disorders such as autism who also show incredible talent something else.  Hollywood actor Dustin Hoffman made savant syndrome famous in the 1988 film “Rain Man” when he played an autistic savant with exceptional skills in memory and mathematics.

It has been reported Nakai admitted it would not be easy playing his character, but he had already started preparing and is now looking through real-life accounts of savants.

“[The script] looks really good.  It’s like a documentary drama.  I hope I can show a new side of Masahiro Nakai.  I watched Rain Man when it came out, but I want to watch it again to study Dustin Hoffman’s acting.”

Nakai’s last drama was 2009′s “婚カツ！（Kon-katsu!）”, but that was with TV company Fuji TV.  In fact, Nakai’s last drama with TBS was in 2004, when he starred in”砂の器 (Suna no Utsuwa)”.

“I’d always wondered what TBS had been doing these last 8 years,” he said.

Filming for “ATARU” starts in March.

Talent agency’s charity to provide billions for pandas | The Japan Times Online.

It has been reported Johnny’s & Associates and Sweet Power have both released similar statements, saying Akanishi and Kuroki were at Tokyo Disneysea on January 22, but were with a group of friends.  The two are friends, but not dating.

However, News Live reports weekly magazine 週刊新潮 (Shukan Shincho) have published a photo of the two holding hands while on the theme park ride Tower of Terror.  Although the photo was taken during the ride by a theme park camera and the two are wearing glasses, it was not enough to hide their distinct facial features.

Koichi Domoto screenshot from commercial

Tsuyoshi Domoto screenshot from commercial

KinKi Kids have joined actress Yukie Nakama and actor Masakazu Tamura in endorsing Sapporo beer, reports Oricon.

The duo took part in Sapporo Beer’s “麦とホップ (Mugi to Hoppu)” commercial event in Tokyo on January 25.  The ad features the “responsible Tsuyoshi Domoto” and the “fresh Koichi Domoto”.

“I don’t think I look ‘fresh’ anymore, but I’m happy to hear that some people think so.  Mind you, there are probably a lot of people who don’t think so,” Koichi said.

“The number one reason why I got into Johnny’s was because I was responsible,” Tsuyoshi said, making the press laugh.

It has been reported the two said they were fans of Tamura and Nakama, and the Sapporo beer commercials these two had already starred in until now.

“I’d watched them a number of times so it was like, ‘me? really!?’  I was really happy,” Koichi said.

“For a moment I thought I was dreaming,” Tsuyoshi said.

The two had said they hoped to add some excitement to the company, and help boost sales.

During the event, Koichi talked about how he usually drinks at home.

“The great thing is that I’ve been given a lot of ‘Mugi to Hoppu’ beer to drink at night.  Snacks?  I have some Baby Star snacks with my beer, and also a hot steam boat meal.”

Tsuyoshi said he was enjoying his beer present too.

“When I drink beer after work, it tastes so good it’s like the beer’s telling me it’s a reward for a hard day’s work.  I guess I’ll be supported by ‘Mugi to Hoppu’ a lot this year.”

To see the commercial, click here.

KinKi Kids in their new commercial

“ブラックボード〜時代と戦った教師たち〜 (Blackboard ~Jidai to Tatakatta Kyoshi-tachi~)” is a three-part drama to be broadcast in Japan in April for three consecutive nights.  The story’s setting is post-war Japan, and the country’s teachers are adopting the new democratic education system, but one junior high school teacher (Sakurai) is torn between the old militarist way and the new.

“I want to deliver a post-war Japan story that’s never been told,” Sakurai said.

Sakurai’s character begins as a Japanese history teacher during the war, and is a firm believer in the militarist education.  But after losing his right arm in battle and making a return to education as a social studies teacher, he struggles with the fact that he has to eradicate his militarist teaching.

“There are many ways to talk about war, but I had always thought I’d like to communicate it through a drama,” he said.

Producers at TV company TBS have said in February, Sakurai will be coached by a military official in order to learn how to act like a war veteran, and will have his hair cut short to look the part.

Sakurai’s co-star Oshima will play an English teacher who embraces the new education system.  Although she fights a lot with Sakurai’s character, she eventually falls in love with him.

The Arashi star also said the drama’s meaning can be related to life today, almost 70 years after WWII.

“Facing the future with your children, but feeling conflicted inside.  I think there’s a story about post-war Japan that hasn’t been told that’s behind it.”

Jin Akanishi and actress Meisa Kuroki have started dating, reports Sponichi Annex and Hiroshima News.

It has been reported the two had known each other for the past few years, but had grown close since autumn last year after having dinner together with friends, and had finally started dating after New Year’s.

In the past, there have been reports of Akanishi dating other celebrities such as singer Takako Uehara, Rosa Kato, model RINA, and Maki Nishiyama.

Hiroshima News has reported a rise in the number of tweets from fans seeing the two on a date at Tokyo Disneysea or out shopping together.

UPDATE

Sponichi Annex reports the two had been spotted at a large shopping mall in Tokyo’s bay area on January 21, and at Tokyo Disneysea on January 22.

Maybe I’m slow, because I didn’t know the existence of the Pink and Gray website, or that it had a lovely photo of Shige, or that there were messages from him uploaded to the website, or that there were downloadable wallpapers.

Shige's message on the website

“I just love <people>.  My decision to write a book stemmed from my curiosity of wanting to learn about people, and learn more about myself through people.  I am extremely happy that my work has taken shape in this way.  Another thing, as the newborn NEWS, we will have a new beginning.   Changing my name was my way of starting fresh again, and at the same time I hope it’ll be a plus for NEWS.  I have confronted this project with everything I have and I hope that as many people as possible will read this book.” (translation)

I’m slow again, but it wasn’t until this morning that I noticed that Shige had changed the Japanese spelling of his name.  His name ‘Shigeaki’ has been changed from the kanji ‘成亮’ to the katakana ‘シゲアキ’.

Shige’s message to fans, dated January 20, is as below:

「本を書いたことで、作家でなくては出られないような取材を受ける機会が度々ありました。
文芸誌の取材では、目次に載っている連載陣の方々のお名前を眺めているだけで、緊張するというかぴりっとした気分になるんですよ。
パッと出たひと言から思わぬ話に繋がっていったり、他の作家さんの話が聞けたりして、非常に楽しい時間を過ごすことができました。脳はフル回転だし、集中力がものすごく必要なので、帰ったら一回寝て充電するほど。でもそんな一つ一つの取材が本当に楽しい。

あと、写真を撮るときに「笑って」ってあんまり言われないんですよね。ナチュラルな自分を撮っていただいてる気がして、とても新鮮な気分。そういう意味ではアイドルの加藤シゲアキとも違った感じが見ていただけると思います。
小説も別物です。僕の中のアイドル的な部分を排除して書いているつもりなので、作品内容も普段お見せしている僕とは違うと思います。」

“Having written a book, it has given me the chance to go to interviews that only a writer would experience.

“I get nervous during interviews, like a jolt of electricity runs down my back, just by reading the names of all the writers in the contents of literature magazines.  I’ve enjoyed it a lot, like when one word that pops out of my mouth leads to a surprising story, and I’ve been able to hear stories about other writers.  My brain’s been working as hard as it can, and it’s required a lot of concentration so I make sure I get a good sleep to charge up my batteries when I get home.  But each and every interview is really fun.

“Another thing is that when I get my photo taken, the cameraman doesn’t ask me to smile.  It’s like they want to capture my natural self, it’s a new experience.  I think it’ll show people a side of me that isn’t so ‘boys band Shigeaki Kato’.

“The novel is something different too.  I wrote it with the intention of excluding things inside me that shout ‘boy band’, so I think the book shows a different side of me people usually don’t see.” (translation)

Bear brothers (thanks to movie website)

Animal talk was at the centre of Arashi’s Masaki Aiba and his co-narrators’ press conference in Tokyo on January 23 for their upcoming documentary movie, reports News 24.

It has been reported Aiba, comedian Gori, actress Masami Nagasawa, and Hitomi Kuroki turned up to promote “日本列島　いきものたちの物語 (Nihon-retto Ikimonotachi no Monogatari)“, a documentary movie about Japanese wildlife through the four seasons in a year.

“I had also been interested in Japan’s nature and wildlife even before I got to work on this film so I felt very lucky to have been invited (as a narrator),” Aiba said.

Aiba’s story follows two bear brothers.  It has been reported at the press conference, Aiba said one bear was just like him.

“Like humans, they have their own personalities.  You have the responsible older brother and the clumsy little brother.  Well, he’s actually just a bear cub who can’t do anything…which is like me, I guess.”

“日本列島　いきものたちの物語 (Nihon-retto Ikimonotachi no Monogatari)” opens in Japan cinemas on February 4.

Trailer

Sometimes there are stories about a Johnny’s talent getting into university or graduating, but I thought it would be cool to give some info about some universities.

Because, some of these universities are very hard to get into, and some of them are nice to visit.

Sorry if I’ve missed anyone, and let me know if any facts are wrong (history is not my forte, I love stories but I’m terrible with dates)

Waseda University 早稲田大学

• Johnny’s talents attending through correspondance: Yuichi Nakamaru (KAT-TUN), Yuya Tegoshi (NEWS, Tegomass), Kota Yabu (Hey! Say! JUMP, well…he will be soon)
• Waseda University is a private university in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
• It was founded in 1882 by samurai scholar and former prime minister Shigenobu Okuma, and was named Waseda University in 1902.
• The university belongs to the Tokyo Big Six League – a baseball league made up of six prominent Tokyo universities (Hosei University, Keio University, Waseda University, Tokyo University, Rikkyo University, and Meiji University).  It also has a strong rugby and baseball team (Keio and Meiji are considered their biggest rivals)
• Seven of Japan’s prime ministers following WWII are Waseda graduates.  Many of Japan’s corporate leaders are also Waseda graduates.
• It has the highest number of international students in Japan.
• Last year, more than 110,000 students applied for the university.  About 5600 were accepted.
• To go to the university website, click here.  To go to the university’s wikipedia page, click here.

Meiji University 明治大学

• Johnny’s talent graduates: Tomohisa Yamashita, Keiichiro Koyama (NEWS)
• Johnny’s talents attending: Kei Inoo (Hey! Say! JUMP)
• Meiji University is a private university in Tokyo and Kawasaki.
• It was founded by three lawyers in 1881, and established as a university in 1920.
• The university belongs to the Tokyo Big Six League – a baseball league made up of six prominent Tokyo universities (Hosei University, Keio University, Waseda University, Tokyo University, Rikkyo University, and Meiji University)
• Last year, more than 110,000 students applied for the university.  About 4500 were accepted.
• To go to the university website, click here.  To go the university’s wikipedia page, click here.

Keio University 慶應義塾大学

• Johnny’s talent graduates: Sho Sakurai (Arashi)
• Keio University is a private university in Minato, Tokyo.  It is the oldest-known higher education institution in Japan.
• It was founded in 1858 by author and political theorist Yukichi Fukuzawa (he’s the guy on the 10,000 yen bill).
• The university belongs to the Tokyo Big Six League – a baseball league made up of six prominent Tokyo universities (Hosei University, Keio University, Waseda University, Tokyo University, Rikkyo University, and Meiji University).  The university’s sports games against Waseda are famously called the “Sou-Kei-sen (Waseda-Keio match)”, or “Kei-Sou-sen (Keio-Waseda match)” depending on which side you’re supporting.
• Two post-WWII prime ministers are Keio graduates, as well as many corporate leaders.
• Last year, more than 48,000 students applied for the university.  About 4000 were accepted.
• To go to the university website, click here.  To go to the university’s wikipedia page, click here.

Aoyama Gakuin University 青山学院大学

• Johnny’s talent graduates: Shigeaki Kato (NEWS)
• Aoyama Gakuin University is a Japanese Christian university in Shibuya, Tokyo.
• It was founded in 1874 by American missionaries, and later on, John Franklin Goucher helped establish it as a university.  Canadian Methodist missionary Davidson MacDonald helped establish Aoyama Gakuin, and by 1949, the institution was established as a comprehensive university.
• Literature is the oldest department at the university.
• Last year, more than 50,000 students applied for the university.  About 2500 were accepted.
• To go to the university website, click here.  To go to the university’s wikipedia page, click here.