In a recent article on Chosun, the article looks at the banking power of celebrities in which starlet Jeon Ji-hyun was once the most bankable star but things may have changed.

According to the article, “Consumers no longer feel that Jeon Ji-hyun is the most bankable advertising model and instead name Jang Dong-gun. The finding is the result of a survey of 1,465 people in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province by brand consultancy Brand38 from March 5 until 15. The interviewees were asked to choose three stars they think are most appealing as commercial models. Jeon, who had always ranked top or second from the top in the biannual survey that started in 2003, fell to fifth place.”

More on this article

Photo courtesy of Chosun

With this week surrounding former Morning Musume Kago Ai’s firing from her agency, many wonder what about her friend Tsuji Nozomi (19, also a graduating Morning Musume member) which both Kago Ai (19) were part of the unit “W” and also came together the same time for Morning Musume and Mini Moni activities.

Tsuji was currently promoting “Anime Lobby”, a variety show that will air on TV TOKYO and Tsuji sings the opening theme for “Robby & Kerroby” and does the voice for the character Athena. A lot of press covered the press conference and when a reporter asked her about Kago Ai Tsuji smiled and did not say a word to the press in regards to her friend.

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TRF member and popular choreographer SAM (45) recently collaborated with singer Ryu Siwon for his choreography on his music video “Babylon” (TKCA-73174).

Siwon’s CD single will be released on April 18th.

Original article

In a recent article of Wai Wai, the article is about how Monta Mina (the most visible man on Japanese TV and Guiness Book of World Records holder for most hours on TV) may be in some trouble.

According to the article, “Ratings king Monta Mino, the world record holding godfather of Japanese TV, is in real trouble for allegedly having put his paws on the wrong kind of idiot box, according to Flash (4/10).”

“Japan’s weeklies are currently have a field day amid suggestions that the 62-year-old talking head sexually harassed Airi Yamada, one of his pretty young co-presenters, who’s now been banished from the screen.”

More on Wai Wai

According to sanspo.com, it was announced on the 29th at Tokyo, Shinjuku Studio Alta that Fuji TV’s “Waratte Iitomo!” (which airs Monday-Friday) will gain two new regular members: actress Minamino Yoko (39) and talent Hoshino Aki (30).

Minamino will be on Tuesdays, and Hoshino on Mondays starting the beginning of April. This is the first time that Minamino will be a regular on any variety show and she commented, “I will turn 40 in June so I want to enjoy the games along with the women my age watching the show.”

On the other hand, continuing after the Kouhaku last year being a regular on various shows “for the people”, Hoshino commented, “I’m very excited and happy to be on a show that I’ve been watching since I was a child.”

For the original article, click here.

According to Sanspo.com, it was announced on the 29th of this month that TOKIO’s Yamaguchi Tatsuya (35) has been picked as the 15th CM character for the vitamin drink Ripovitan D (Taisho Drugs).

Yamaguchi states that it was his wish to one day be in the commercials ever since he saw them when they first came out and he shook hands with his partner for the commercial, Kane Kosugi (32). This year marks the 30th anniversary of the commercial’s catch phrase, “Fight~ Ippatsu!” and Yamaguchi commented, “I’m genuinely happy to be able to be in a commercial that has such a history,” and smiled. This is the first time that a Johnnys Jimusho talent is appearing in the commercial.

The commercials are famous for not using CG despite the various strenuous tasks and scenarios the characters are put in. The filming for this particular commercial was done earlier in March in Oahu and took 8 days. Yamaguchi had to do kiteboarding for the first time in his life for the commercial and said, “I rode waves 20-30 times and my arms still hurt. It was quite hard. In the scene where I’m supposed to fall off my bike, I fell quite hard and broke the lens of the camera.”

When asked who he’d like to be partnered up with in this commercial if it were another TOKIO member, Yamaguchi said, “Leader (Joushima Shigeru). He doesn’t have much energy (so he’d like him to drink the vitamin drink),” and sent him a possible costarring request. The commercial will start airing on April 1st.

For the original article, click here.

In a recent article from Mainichi Shimbun, Shinohara Ryoko was voted as ideal boss.

According to the article, “Actress Ryoko Shinohara has been selected by new company recruits as the ideal female boss in an annual survey conducted by Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co., while Yakult Swallows baseball manager and player Atsuya Furuta secured top spot in the male category.”

“Shinohara took the crown after placing 20th in last year’s survey. The actress, who played the part of a top-level temp worker in the TV drama “Haken no Hinkaku,” brought across an image of being a dependable female boss and was popular among women.”

More on Shinohara

Super Battle Live [Delicious Gakuin] ~Delicious 5 Shijou Saidai no Teki(Biggest Rival/Enemy of All Time)

Tickets are now on sale

The drama “Delicious Gakuin” which airs on TV Tokyo every Monday at 5:30pm starting April 2nd, will also hit the stage.

This will be a side story to “Delicious Gakuin” and the ultimate enemy attacks the Delicious 5.

Starring

AAA - Nishijima Takahiro, Uno Misako, Hidaka Mitsuhiro, Atae Shinjirou, Goto Yukari, Sueyoshi Shuuta,  Ito Chiaki, Urata Naoya

Dream - Abe Erie, Takamoto Aya, Nakashima Ami, Nishida Shizuka, Tachibana Kana, Yamamoto Sayaka

Misono

Etc

*There is a possibility that the cast may change

Playing at: Aoyama Gekijou(Theater)

Dates: 5/15/07-5/20/07

Dates and Times (Doors Open/Time Starting)

5/15 (Tues): 18ÅF30 / 19ÅF00

5/16 (Wed): 13:30 / 14:00
5/16 (Wed): 18ÅF30 / 19ÅF00

5/17 (Thurs): 18ÅF30 / 19ÅF00

5/18 (Fri): 18ÅF30 / 19ÅF00

5/19 (Sat): 13:30 / 14:00
5/19 (Sat): 18ÅF30 / 19ÅF00

5/20 (Sun): 16:30 / 17:00

Price: 6800 yen

The rest are little warnings about the doors opening 30 minutes before showtime and the box office opening an hour before showtime and the playtime should be around 2 to 2 and a half hours, etc.

Le Chevalier D’Eon in April Newtype USA
Exclusive cover art, plus tons of inside info!

HOUSTON, March 27, 2007—April is here, and so is a boatload of new anime sure to make Newtype USA’s April issue a must-have! Featuring a cover story on the swashbuckling Le Chevalier D’Eon, Newtype USA’s insider info will give you all the ammo you need to watch D’Eon dish out justice on his 17th-century campaign for carnage. Gain some firsthand knowledge of the anime from creator Tow Ubukata as well as English dub director Steven  Foster, and see more art from the show than you can shake a stick at. A quest for vengeance never looked this good!

The leading anime magazine in North America, Newtype USA keeps the exclusives coming in April, with previews of Japan’s latest, greatest anime—get the buzz on such highly anticipated shows as Code Geass, El Cazador, Kiddy Grade 2 and The Wings of Rean. And still not sure which anime is worthy of purchase? Well, make an informed otaku decision after reading our extensive review section!
The anime goodness doesn’t end there, either! Newtype USA’s April issue is more than a magazine, it’s a grab bag of extras! Read the next manga installment of Once Upon a Glashma—see what kind of magical mayhem awaits Nippori and Gotanda as they investigate a world without women. Add to that the free April DVD, featuring episodes of Kurau Phantom Memory, .hack//Roots and Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars. Plus, you can feast your eyes upon the luscious ladies of Maburaho with this month’s double-sided poster insert! Let the drooling begin!

Also inside the April issue:

Hot features — Fate/stay night, .hack//Roots and Coyote Ragtime Show
The Official Art of Gunbuster 2
Special Sweets Paradise section, featuring the girls of Japan’s hottest anime shows
Pics and info on Hello Kitty’s latest goth-punk  gear
Reviews of all the latest anime, manga, video games, music and toys
Columns and commentary from anime actors, writers and industry insiders!

Availability
Newtype USA Vol. 6, Issue 4 is available April 1, 2007.

Las Vegas, NV – March 28, 2007 – LiN CLOVER has added a show in Santa Clara, CA on Friday, April 13, as part of their limited-engagement debut tour of the USA.

Show Dates
April 7 - Sakura-Con 2007 - Seattle, WA – all ages (performing with M.O.V.E.)
April 11 – Slim’s - San Francisco, CA – all ages (opening bands Vomica and Thee Out Mods)
April 13 – Claron Lounge – Santa Clara, CA (opening band Foreign Telegram)

Advance tickets and information at Shibuya Airwaves – http://www.myspace.com/shibuyaairwaves  <http://www.myspace.com/shibuyaairwaves>

Fans of LiN CLOVER and their founding members Ren & Nao (both formerly of GacktJOB) will have their first chance to see this amazing, high-energy performance in America.

Sharing the stage with LiN CLOVER are two popular Bay Area bands – Vomica and Foreign Telegram – and the explosive punk band from Los Angeles, Thee Out Mods.

Band websites:
LiN CLOVER - http://www.myspace.com/linclover
Vomica - http://www.myspace.com/vomica  <http://www.myspace.com/vomica>
Foreign Telegram - http://www.myspace.com/foreigntelegram  <http://www.myspace.com/foreigntelegram>
Thee Out Mods  - http://www.myspace.com/theeoutmods2006