HOUSTON, December 6, 2006 —ADV Films, the number one producer-distributor of anime outside of Japan, is pleased to bring you a title that will redefine your perceptions.  Can you hear smells?  Can you taste the things you touch? You will when Synesthesia warps your senses on February 27!

Synesthesia (sin’is-the’zhea) • n – a rare sensory disorder that scrambles the senses so that shapes have taste, colors induce sound and textures evoke visions.  Only those afflicted – called synesthetes – can truly understand their significance.  This acid trip of the senses affects 1 in 100,000 people.  And sometimes, two.

Synopsis: Shin is a professional voyeur who provides live camera feeds of everything from the street corner to the public toilet.  He is also afflicted with a freakish condition known as synethesia – a glitch in his wiring that puts his five senses in a blender and spits out something close to insanity.  A high-profile murder propels him into a psychological odyssey in pursuit of Picasso – a serial killer, snuff peddler and fellow synesthete – who leaves deadly hidden messages in his victims’ blood that only Shin can decipher.  Lulling his victims into a trance with a spellbinding video game, Picasso leads Shin down a mysterious, hypnotic trail of death. Murder, sex, betrayal – Shin’s once hidden world is the one reality someone else is willing to kill for.

Synesthesia (SRP $19.98 DVD) is an anamorphic DVD-only release, presented in both English 4.0 and Japanese 4.0 with English subtitles. Synesthesia contains a second disk full of extras, including “The Making of Synesthesia”, a “Synesthesia Sneak Preview Party”, the opening night of Synesthesia, an interview with director Toru Matsuura and Shinji Takeda, the Japanese theatrical trailers, and the Japanese TV spots.

The famous disco club Velfarre is closing its doors on January 1, 2007 at noon.

Velfarre is a famous disco club in Roppongi that was created in 1994 after the closure of famous Shibaura Disco, Julianna’s Tokyo (1991-1994). The club is tightly knit with major Japanese record label Avex Entertainment Inc.

Similar to what Avex has done with Julianna’s Tokyo, the label would showcase their International and Japanese talent at the club with live performances and multiple compilation albums featuring Hyper Techno, Eurobeat, Cyber Trance and Dance House.

The disco would bring many DJ’s internationally, including top acts from around the world and in Japan such as Hamasaki Ayumi, Koda Kumi, TRF and MAX.

In 1998, Velfarre went through major renovations and featured their disco from Thursday to Sunday. On Mondays through Wednesday, the space was rented to companies for events and pro wrestling promotional activities.

On December 31, 2006, Velfarre will host its final countdown event “Count down to the Future” and on January 1st, 2007 will feature “the LAST DANCE” which will be the last event for Velfarre and the first dance of 2007 and closing its doors and ending its 12-year history at noon.

On Christmas day, Japanese stars such as the group TRF, m.o.v.e., MAX, m.c.A-T, DJ Boss and John Robinson known for spearheading the 90’s Velfarre campaign, performed for one night for “Legends of Rave X-Mas“.

Click here for more information on “the LAST DANCE” (1/1/2007)
Click here for more information on “Count down to the future” (12/31/06)

In today’s article of the Daily Yomiuri, the imports of Nintendo’s popular Wii console has been increasing the import sales figures in the Kansai region.

According to the article, “According to the report, the prefectures’ total toy imports in November, including video game consoles, reached 25.3 billion yen, 2-1/2-times more than the same month last year, becoming the largest single contributor to the increase in total imports. Most of the imported toys were made in China, and Wii consoles accounted for about 40 percent of total imports from the country.”

Click here for full article

The Johnny’s Jimusho duo known as Tegomass is back at #1 on the Oricon Single Charts for “Miso Soup”. The song which is in English (for Swedish version) and in Japanese (for Japanese version) and the duo which consists of NEWS members Tegoshi Yuya and Masuda Takahisa.

The duo has received international recognition when the duo were in Sweden in November (14-17) in which the duo performed at the Spybar in Stockholm. Their CD single originally was released in Sweden in November before its release in Japan in December.

Johnny’s Jimusho has been active in 2006 with releases and each of their groups have been dominating the Oricon charts (the top 5). Today’s Oricon Singles Charts features KAT-TUN (at #3) with “Bokura no Machi de” and Kan Johnny Eight with “Kan Fu Fighting” at #5. (#2 goes to Mr. Children’s “Shirushi” and #4 to Kuraki Mai for “Shiroi Yuki”. As for the album charts, Koda Kumi still dominates the #1 position.
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Hamasaki Ayumi fans should prepare for the February release of Hamasaki Ayumi’s upcoming best album on February 28th.

『A BEST 2 -BLACK-』 CD+DVD+DVD￥4,700(tax in)/CD￥3,059(tax in)
『A BEST 2 -WHITE-』 CD+DVD+DVD￥4,700(tax in)/CD￥3,059(tax in)

The DVD’s for Black will feature a documentary. For White, it will be the ” Best of Countdown Live 2006-2007″.

More details forthcoming in 2007.

Yesterday, media reported that Fujiwara Norika’s Rubida engagement ring was $100,000 but in the latest news, the figure has been announced at approximately $200,000.  The ring is 5 carats with 3.5 carat stone with 1.5 carat (50) miniature diamonds surrounding.  It was also mentioned that Fujiwara’s wedding dress will be made in Italy by Valentino.

Fujiwara Norika, a popular actress/model will be marrying actor Jinnai Tomonori in Kobe on February 17th.

Click here for original Japanese article
Photo courtesy of Sankei Sports

In today’s article on Daily Mainichi, the article explains how Fujiwara and Jinnai met.

According to Mainichi, “The pair met while acting together in a drama that was broadcast in July this year. Fujiwara said she didn’t know Jinnai before then but a relationship developed between them after Jinnai handed her a letter after the filming saying she had done a good job.”

“Speaking in a Kansai dialect at the news conference, Fujiwara said, “Whatever the story is, I’m going to be the wife of a celebrity, so I want to follow him faithfully.”

Click here for full article

ADV Films announced today it has acquired exclusive home video and broadcast rights in North America for the second season of Ah! My Goddess.

It is based on one of the best selling international manga in the U.S.  It is one of the longest running and successful manga series of its time.  Now, from production studio AIC (Godannar, Tenchi Muyo!), with character designs by Hidenori Matsubara (Gankutsuou: The Count of Monty Cristo, Bubblegum Crisis 2040) comes the long awaited second season of the popular anime series!  Everyone agrees, this is the way the creator intended it to be!

Synopsis: College freshman Keiichi Morisato is chosen by the great heavenly computer Yggdrasil to receive one with.  This is a most extraordinary gift…too bad Keiichi thinks it’s a joke played by his roommates!  Playing into the joke, Keiichi wished for Belldandy, the angelic goddess, to stay with him forever, and she gladly does.  Belldandy and Keeichi have had many adventures together, but many more loom on the horizon.  The second season of Ah! My Goddess is here!  Heavens be praised!

In a recent article on CRIEnglish.com, “Album sales in Hong Kong have dropped from 900 million in 1995 to only 200 million in 2004, a 70 percent decrease in 10 years.”

The article does not explain why the drop but similar situation is happening all around Asia which have been pointed towards piracy and online downloads.

Click here for full article

According to CRIEnglish.com, nine entertainers in Taiwan are being targeted for substance abuse by newspaper publication United News Daily. One actress has come out publicly.

According to the article on CRIEnglish.com, “Taiwan entertainer Hsiao Shushen has finally admitted she did take drugs, but not voluntarily. According to a report in the United Daily News earlier this month, she tested positive for cocaine and Ketamine. She was reportedly involved in the two illegal substances for at least eight months.”

Click here for full article

Photo courtesy of CRIEnglish.com/ent.sina.com.cn