Handsome Threesome

I have three stories for you since I wasn’t allowed near the intertubez for 2 days and the last entry was something I just had to post out of duty driven by my obsession dedication to the 5 lovely boys celebrating their 10 years this year.  But enough about that.  I really want to deviate from them once in a while.  Although, come to think of it, I’m not entirely deviating as one of today’s stories is once again about one of them (ahhh — it’s ichiban agen).  

TEPPEI
(Let’s start with something that put a smile on my face.  It is also something to look forward to. )

Koike Teppei (husband #3) will be starring on another heart-wrenching movie. I’ve always thought Teppei chose his projects well.   Whether it was his management’s choice or his own, his characters were always substantial (i.e. Iryu, Homeless Chigakusei, KIDS, Searching for My Polestar)   Imagine, his first movie, he played the bad guy opposite Tadanobu Asano.  And I haven’t seen any critical flops from Tadanobu Asano. (Speaking of which, I have to find a copy of that movie TAGA TAMENI)

BLACK GAISHA NI TSUTOMETERUNDAGA, MOU ORE WA GENKAI KAMOSHIRENAI (whoo! that was long) is about a high school drop out NEET (Not currently engaged in Employment, Education or Training) who upon losing his mother entered the life of independence and met up with employers who severly overworks their employees.  I’m not sure if it’s a human-drama or a suspense.  I’m not even sure if the picture I attached is from the same movie (I took it from Asiafanatics [dot] net — my only source of news other than Tokyograph).  We’ll find out more as the production progresses.  

Omedeto, Teppei-kun!  As always looking forward to it.

SHIGE
(So hot!)

Shige will be appearing in a butai (stage play/theatre) entitled SEMINAR by American writer Lee Kalcheim.  This will be Shige’s first lead role on stage and the script’s first production in the world (that means they plan to make other language versions).  Shige’s character is a sex addicted American student attending a seminar about the Medici family from the Reneissance era. 

Honestly, I do not know what to say to this news.  I just wanted to feature somebody other than an Arashi member.  I think it’s totally hot that Shige is going to perform on stage.  And since it was said that his character will sleep with a handful of women during the course of the story, there maybe some topless Shige — if not bedscenes — on stage.

And right now, I’m becoming more depressed because I won’t be able to see this play.  Sucks to be poor and not have the luxury to go to and fro Japan.  (I still want to live in the Philippines, am not really good in cold places).

To Shige, my NEWS niban — omedeto!

  NINO
(I’m having a hard time writing this one)

Ninomiya Kazunari has finally admited to his long standing relationship with Nagasawa Masami. The rumors about them two have been floating since 2005 when, allegedly, after their onscreen romance in Yasashii Jikan continued on in real life.  Shunkan Josei magazine reports that Nino-kun says their relationship is stable and still ongoin.  

But of course, this is more or less just a report and not exactly a press release.  But then again, who said press releases are trustworthy?

Gome ne~   I’m so confused with how I feel right now.  I’m usually detached when it comes to my faves’ lovelives.  But I guess because I’ve been living on Arashi land since the year started — I’m having difficulty separating myself from fantasy. Don’t get me wrong, though, I like Nagasawa Masami — I also collect her dramas.  It’s just that Masami looks better with YamaPi.  I should see that drama with Nino, maybe I’ll change my mind later.  Or maybe not, since I like Nino to be with Ohno (LOL).

Whatever.  As I said, my feelings are currently confused.  So I’ll wallow for now.

What a boring entry … ne?  Gome ne, minna!  I’ll do better next time, enjoy the pictures for now.

Arashi’s AAA Con DVD Top Seller

I still haven’t gotten my copy.  Part-time hasn’t paid off yet.  

Congratulations are in order.

ARASHI! OMEDETO!!!

Congratulations to all members of Arashi, as well as the staff and crew of Arashi Around Asia 2008 and the J-Storm team.  Setting a new record for top sales for 3 consecutive weeks is something hard to pull off.  I know a lot of people outside Japan who has their own copy of this DVD.  But the considered sales is just around Japan.  So imagine, how many people have really bought this one.

Arashi is nearing their 10 years.  In fact it’ll be later this year.  People are gearing up on celebrating this.  Heck, I’m excited about it.  I hope 2009 is they’re year as much as 2008 was.  Somebody should give Aiba a lead role in a drama just to complete the set.

For now, though,  I send my kisses to the five boys.  I love you all and again, congratulations.  Hope you visit us here in the islands and indulge us with a performance.  Arigatou Gozaimasu!

Ciao ciao! Bye-bee!

A Tale of Two Comebacks

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times …

– A Tale of Two Cities
by Charles Dickens

Hey! I read, too!  Well, it’s an assignment for school.  Again, I digress.

2007, was one of the best of the drama seasons.  We had a lot of good ones back then.  I was a little off that year having been too preoccupied by ( — nevermind that).  But I did catch quite a few interesting — if not, wonderful dramas from way up north (no, not Ilocos).

That was the year brought us: Hotelier (J), Proposal Daisakusen (J), Hana Kimi (J), The Devil (K - which spawned Maou), Goong S, The Legend (K — Oh! Bae Yong Jun!), Snow Queen (K), Bull Fighting (T), Romantic Princess (T — only watched it for Calvin), Why Why Love (T — ah, Mike/Rainie <3)  — all of which I watched and makes me wonder how did I ever find time to watch all of these?

  Of course, that doesn’t end there.  Who remembers Matsumoto Jun’s Hana Yori Dango Returns and Bambino!?  And who could ever forget Yoon Eun-Hye’s The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince?

For 2 years, the main movers of these dramas exited the frames of our tubes and almost never returned.  MatsuJun went on hiatus from dramas (my friend said probably to nurse his skin’s health back) and made a couple of movies.  Yoon Eun-Hye just took a rest and could only be seen in magazines.  I know they had their very important reasons.  But they did — somewhat — robbed us of the opportunity to shriek and scream and laugh and cry and (no other word can describe) kiligin.  And so fangirls (and fanboys as well) longed these long two years for this.

First off, MatsuJun’s SMILE.  (Do you see his lovely hair?  Thats for the drama)

I read about this way back in February (or was it early March) and I remember plurking it when I still had a plurk account (sorry, it wasn’t all that fun for me so I abandoned it).  I was all excited and giddy — not just because MatsuJun is making a TV comeback (the 24-hr TV Tanpatsu doesn’t count) — but because he’s also playing a half Filipino character.  This excited.  I’m shallow that way.  I may not be into Pinoy pop culture much but I do enjoy representations of Pinoys in other countries (good or bad, I wanna see how they see us in general — lest it’s stereotypical — which I can’t explain right now).

MatsuJun’s character, Bito Hayakawa, a worker in a food store by day and dream chaser by night (sorta like me) and faces his days with a smile (yes, ode to Eraserheads — J/K).  He meets a mute girl [Yui Aragaki] and falls for her (I think).  But he gets wrongly accused for a crime and together with the mute girl and his lawyer, they overcome the challenges brought to them.  From what  I heard, it includes something about racial discrimination — since he’s a hapu and Filipino at that (ah! I hate stereotypes!).  Also, this drama will reunite MatsuJun with his bestie Oguri Shun.  When the news first came out, no Oguri Shun was mentioned.  However, when the TBS officially released the promotions … surprise! I’m an Oguri Shun girl.  So many reasons to watch this drama.

Smile starts on April 17 (3 days left!!!) on TBS at 10pm.  But of course, I have to wait for the subbed version which I’m pretty sure will be taken care of by one of my favorite fan-subbing group.

I wonder why they didn’t get Hayami Mokomichi for this drama — is it too close to home for comfort?  But then again, why complain?  MatsuJun’s smile is one of the cutest there is, hence, the appropriateness of the title.  Though he’s like ranked 4th in my Arashi list, he’s smile is still the most refreshing (next to Oh-chan).

Then the news came out just yesterday that Yoon Eun Hye will be starring in LADY CASTLE — now that the production company’s TV station ban was lifted.  Yay for Yoon Eun Hye!

Lady Castle is about 3 rich orphan sisters and a man who pretends to be a housekeeper to get to their stash of wealth.  The man falls in love with the bratty-self-centered-goddess-of-beauty-but-really-lonely-in-the-inside-middle child.  That princess is Yoon Eun Hye.  For now, that’s all the details we have except that three TV stations are bidding for it.  The bidding war is all for the love of Yoon Eun Hye.  As of this writing, no other cast members have been signed yet.  But as the bidding war intensifies, the process shall be expedited (is my spelling right?  I couldn’t tell — dictionary please!!!).

I’ll be looking out for this.  I hope they show it this year. I really really need my Yoon Eun Hye fix.  I’m already having a fit over the uncertainty of Full House 2 come August.  Yoon Eun Hye drama will bring back my love of K-Drama (I thought this will be solved by Boys Over Flowers — sadly, I got bored and stopped somewhere — I’ll get back to it eventually).  

Oh, but that’s not the only one I’m looking forward to.  Please check my side bar for the list.

I’m not pimping.  Really! Maji de! Maji de!

Ciao Ciao! Bye-bee!

(~~,)v

Ninomiya Kazunari & Inoue Mao

Ninomiya Kazunari & Inoue Mao married?!!

Nooooooooo!

Ok, so it’s just for an upcoming drama.   I read from Asiafanatics [dot] net that it has been announced that a new drama special — a Tanpatsu (one-shot-drama) — for TBS will be starring Ninomiya-kun (my Arashi no ichiban) and Inoue Mao.  We all remember Inoue Mao from Hana Yori Dango fame (honestly, even though she has made several other dramas, it’s still the Tsukushi character that comes to mind for most people).  No air-date has been announced yet — probably because the cast has just been decided. But it’s certainly something to look out for.  Not just because we all love both stars’ puppy dog faces — but also because the story itself is interesting.

So what’s it about?  

It’s an adaptation of sorts of two novels (no really it said in the news, “2″) penned by the late windsurfer Natsuki Iijima with the titles TENGOKU DE KIMI NI AETARA and KAMISAMA GA KURETA NAMIDA.  The SP will be named after the first book, same title as the biographical movie about the writer released in 2007.  I couldn’t find anything about the writer except the common details, so I can’t impart with you who exactly this person is.

But, then again, fangirls like me doesn’t dwell on those kind of details.  Shallow as we are, most of us only care for our dearly beloved <insert idol’s name here>.

Ninomiya-kun will lead the drama as a psychiatrist for cancer-patients.  Mao will be playing his wife.  They have two daughters, twins. 

If you read my Twitter, you’d know that I’m very fond of the rivalry between Ohmiya and Juntoshi.  In my head, Nino and MatsuJun are fighting for the love of Ohno — with Nino as the wife and MatsJuun as the mistress.  Imagine how tickled I was when I saw the Suzuki Anne episode of Arashi no Shukudai-kun — Nino and MatsuJun’s fake fight in the intro.  Many share my opinion that Mao should guest on Arashi no Shukudai-kun just to see another one of those fake fights (of course in my head I replace the girl with Ohno).  But I digress.

I haven’t seen Door to Door as I’m still waiting for the subbed version by STORMY.  I’m still studying Japanese and I need my crutches subs to understand.  But I’m still as giddy as ever and fill up my patience for this drama. I really believe that Nino is a great actor and am glad that he’s getting more and more interesting roles lately.  Not just interesting, but challenging as well. 

As for Mao — well, not really a fan.  She’s pretty and all, but I like Koo Hye Sun’s Tsukushi better and I like Aya Ueto or Anna Tsuchiya spunk more.  I think she still needs to ante up her acting as well.  I’d admit, though, I haven’t seen anything of hers after HYD except for Hotaru no Haka, where another MAO stole the whole show.  Sasaki Mao — the little girl who portrayed Setsuko — she was just six then (now 10) and she carried the entire Tanpatsu.

I know. I’m just rambling and mostly it’s all blah blah blah … I know, I’ll write something about my ichibans next time that has nothing to do with news.

Oh well.  Ciao ciao! Bye-bee!

(~~,)v

Sandara Park’s Best Career Move

I’m not really a fan of Sandara Park, even when she was here. Granted, I had huge crush on Hero Angeles back in their Star Circle Quest days and I honestly thought they had chemistry (I still do, mainly due to the fact that they had that East Asian thing going on — and hey I’m a sucker for that kind).  However, I didn’t care much about the Star Circle Quest and was already more into cosplaying at that time. But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t aware of her rise to stardom and then the fast decline from it.  I remember seeing her in a local sitcom show in RPN9 (now C/S 9) and then flipped to another channel.  Again wasn’t interested.  That show meant the bottom of the pit.

So, imagine my surprise to see her in Asiafanatics.net in the list of today’s (assuming it’s still April  8, 2009) news.

Apparently, Sandara Park is now part of the fast rising girl group from YG Entertainment (same agency that brought us Se7en) 2NE1 (or 21) — as an extension of another quickly rising boyband Big Bang.  In fact, the girl band now tagged as the female Big Bang have a hit song, Lollipop, which you can watch in the youtube link I’ve posted right down below.  And because I’m not much of Korean period piece follower — even though I’ve been seeing THE RETURN OF ILJIMAE news since it started filiming late last year and would be showing its finale tonight (assuming it’s already April 9, 2009) — I did not know she was part of the cast.  She has her own DRAMA-WIKI page now! 

Iljimae is a big hit in Korea and had rave reviews since its first season.  I think it’s a great opportunity for her to bag the role.  Go girl!

Now why was she in the news?  It’s not all positive — click on more to see

(more…)

ARASHI: 26th Single in May

What’s the best way to start a blog site of my own but by delivering great news about my favorite boy Johnny’s boyband: ARASHI!!

Yay! Ikimashou!

*clap*  *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap*

News found from Asiafanatics [dot] net.  I’m so glad of that site.  I may not know what’s happening in my own little country, but this is definitely news-worthy in my own little Planet.  

Can’t wait for Haru / Spring Season to start.  So many to look forward to.  Check out Moeru Me to see what I’m into come Spring Season.

Arashi announced the release of their twenty-sixth single for May 27th. Ashita no kioku/Crazy Moon ~kimi wa muteki~ will be available in three different versions: two of them limited, each coming with the PV for one of the main tracks, and a regular version, which will come with both songs’ instrumental versions. In addition to this, Ashita no kioku will be used as the theme song for the drama “The Quiz Show”, while Crazy Moon ~kimi wa muteki will be the commercial song for “ESPRIQUE PRECIOUS”.