Mainichi Daily News reported, “A Japanese fan of the 1990s TV series “Sex And The City” has paid $52,100 for two VIP tickets accompanying Kristin Davis to the New York premiere of the hit TV show’s upcoming movie spin-off. The woman, whose identity is unknown, outbid other wealthy “Sex And The City” fans to land the prize in the charity auction on website eBay. The $52,100 raised will go to charity Oxfam.”

“The winning bidder and a friend will have their hair and make-up professionally styled, receive a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes and accompany Davis down the red carpet at the May screening.”

More on this article

Mainichi Daily News reported:  Closet pop idols breathed a little easier Thursday after the announcement of a deal between video site YouTube and a large recording rights body, allowing punters to record and post their own versions of songs by major artists like Mr. Children and Spitz without fear of legal reprisal.

Japan Rights Clearance Inc. (JRC) announced that it had made a comprehensive contract with YouTube’s parent Google over the use of about 5,000 recordings that JRC manages.

It is the first time that Google has struck a contract with a rights management company in Japan over the use of music.

Under the contract, Google will pay an undisclosed royalty to JRC on behalf of YouTube users. In turn, JRC will no longer ask Google to delete videos of users’ cover versions of songs by JRC artists, except where they defame the artist.

However, users can still be accused of violating the Copyright Law if they post footage from music TV programs or music DVDs without permission, since those copyrights are also shared by broadcasters and record companies.

A similar deal between Japan’s largest rights management body, the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC) and video sites run by Yahoo! Japan Corp. and two other companies has been in place since July last year.

More on this article

Not sure how old this article is but it was featured on Time Magazine’s website.

According to the article, ” Ask most rock stars to pitch in for the environment, and they might pen you a pop tune. Kazutoshi Sakurai and Takeshi Kobayashi can do that — Sakurai is the lead singer of Mr. Children, the second highest-selling rock band in Japanese history, and Kobayashi is one of Japan’s top music producers. But the two know that We Are the World can only do so much to save the earth — environmental solutions also need cold, hard cash.”

“That’s where AP Bank — the name stands for Artists’ Power or Alternative Power — comes in. Together with the Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, Sakurai and Kobayashi in 2003 founded and funded the nonprofit lending group, which finances environmentally friendly projects. The three men personally provided nearly $1 million of seed money (Sakamoto has since stepped back from the venture as he now spends much of his time abroad), which is channeled to small-scale, sustainable schemes that mainstream banks would typically shun in favor of lending to bigger, stodgier companies. The bank has provided money for projects ranging from a recycling program in the far south of Kyushu to the construction of an eco-resort in the Marshall Islands. “When I thought about what I could do as an individual, the environment came up,” says Kobayashi, AP Bank’s president. “Money for the sake of money isn’t great, but money is a tool, and people can use it as a community.”

More on this article

Song Siren to Perform at Nation’s Largest Convention

Anaheim, California (March 26, 2008) — The new Japanese “It-Girl”,
television celebrity, blogger, voice actress and illustrator Shoko Nakagawa
(“Shokotan” as her fans call her) joins the hottest line up of Anime Expo®
2008 Guests of Honors for the highly anticipated 2008 convention July 3-6,
2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.  More information can be found on
the website www.anime-expo.org <http://www.anime-expo.org> .

Born in Tokyo in 1985, Ms. Nakagawa broke blog visit records in February
2008 when her blog, ‘Shokotan Blog’ received over one billion hits.  Filled
with photos and entries written in her own unique slang, this blog is
arguably the most popular of the many celebrity blogs. The site, which Ms.
Nakagawa updates as many as 15 times a day, garners over 1,800,000 hits a
day.

Among many fields of Ms. Nakagawa’s activities, music has been one of her
most successful ventures. Since her singing debut in 2006, she has quickly
expanded her fan base. Her single ‘Sorairo Days’, released in June of 2007,
was chosen as the theme song to the popular TV anime TENGEN TOPPA GURREN
LAGANN.  Her first ever rock song, it debuted at #3 on Japan’s Oricon weekly
single chart. Thanks to the ever-increasing popularity of fan events held
all over the country, Ms. Nakagawa had her first concert in Tokyo in
December of 2007. Tickets sold out in 25 seconds, and the show drew a crowd
of 2000 enthusiastic fans.

Ms. Nakagawa is also known for her extensive knowledge of anime and manga.
On her blog she posts her thoughts on works that catch her interest, along
with her own professional quality illustrations. In May of 2007, she chose 5
songs from over 1,500,000 requests, and released ‘Shokotan☆Cover’ a cover
album of anime theme songs. In August of the same year, she was selected as
Japan’s good will ambassador at the ‘World Cosplay Summit 2007′, an event
for aficionados of cosplay from all over the world. Her live performance at
the event received rave reviews from guests, setting the stage for her
worldwide popularity. The next month she followed up her hit anime song
cover album with the release of ‘Shokotan☆Cover 2’. The album became yet
another smash hit, ranking in at #11 on the Oricon album chart.

2007 was no doubt a huge year for Ms. Nakagawa. On December 31st, she
realized her dream of performing on the Kohaku Utagassen, Japan’s
traditional end of the year singing TV program. It was a fitting way to end
an impressive year. Ms. Nakagawa took her place on stage with other artists
representing the best and brightest of Japan’s music stars, and received
attention for her real time updates to her blog from backstage at the event.

On the first day of the New Year 2008, Ms. Nakagawa went straight from
Kohaku to perform at the prestigious Countdown Japan rock festival at 3 am.
Regardless of the time, more than 5,500 people turned out to see her perform
live. The same day a DVD of her 2007 concert, ‘Shokotan Donyoku Matsuri’ was
released, ranking at #5 on the Music DVD chart.

The ‘Shokotan’ fever shows no signs of stopping. The third book from her
blog sold over 10,0000 copies, and her 4th single, ’snow tears’, released on
January 30th, went to #2 on the charts. The ballad showing off her vocal
talents like never before, the song was selected as the ending song for the
TV anime HAKABA KITARO, for which Ms. Nakagawa also voices a character. She
was quite moved by this fateful collaboration as her late father, the singer
Katsuhiko Nakagawa had often said, ‘You can’t grow up without reading HAKABA
KITARO in her childhood.

On March 19th, her first full-length album “Big☆Bang!!!” was released with
roaring support of her fans, the album debuted at #5 on the Oricon album
chart.  In support of the album, Ms. Nakagawa will kick off her
much-anticipated Japan nation-wide tour in May.

Ms. Nakagawa joins legendary American voice actor David Hayter and famed
POKEMON director Masamitsu Hidaka in Anime Expo® 2008’s amazing line up of
Guests of Honor.

Attendees, Press and Industry Members are also encouraged to view the video
coverage site of the 2007 convention at www.AXBackstage.org.

About Anime Expo®
Located in Los Angeles, California - Anime Expo®, the nation’s largest
anime/manga convention, serves to foster trade, commerce and the interests
of the general public and animation/ comics industry.  This event serves as
a key meeting place for the general public to express their interest and
explore various aspects of anime/manga, as well as for members of the
industry to conduct business. AX 2008 will be held July 3 – July 6, 2008 at
the Los Angeles Convention Center in Southern California. More information
can be found at its website (www.anime-expo.org).

About Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation
The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit
organization with a mission to popularize and educate the American public
about anime and manga, as well as provide a forum to facilitate
communication between professionals and fans. This organization is more
popularly known by its entertainment property – Anime Expo®.  More
information can be found at its website (www.spja.org <http://www.spja.org>
).

The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are
“forward-looking statements.” These forward-looking statements are based on
current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and
uncertainties. The Company cautions readers of this press release that a
number of important factors could cause Anime Expo®/SPJA’s actual future
results to differ materially from those expressed in any such
forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation,
product delays, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and
industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of
relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers,
international economic and political conditions. The Company may change its
intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon
any changes in such factors, in the Company’s assumptions or otherwise. The
Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

###

APPENDIX A

Ms. Shoko Nakagawa

PHOTO EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:  Photos are available to the media.  Please call
Chase Wang at (310) 869-8030 or send an e-mail to chase@bam-mp.com to
request materials.

CALENDAR EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:

The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Anime presents Anime Expo® 2008.

WHO:             Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation
Industry giants
Guests from Japan and the U.S.
Exhibit Hall
Main Events
Concerts
Live Programming
Artist Alley
Screenings
Dances
Arcade
Red & Black Sponsors include: FUNimation and
Imaginasian TV
Gold Sponsors include: Digital Manga Publishing
Silver Sponsors include: Gaia Online
Patron Sponsors include: COPIC and Central Park
Media

WHAT:          Nation’s largest 24 Hour anime/manga convention serving over
44,000+ unique attendees in 2007.

WHEN:          Thursday, July 3, 2008 through Sunday, July 6, 2008

WHERE:       Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 South Figueroa Street; Los
Angeles, CA 90015

ADMISSION:

Registration Type   Dates   Price
Children ages 5 and under   Anytime   Free
4-Day Child (children ages 6-12)   Anytime   $30

Early   Jan 1st to March 17th
4-Day Attendee       $50
2-Day Attendee       $45
1-Day Attendee       $25

Regular   March 18th to June 1st
4-Day Attendee       $55
2-Day Attendee       $45
1-Day Attendee       $25

Late   June 2nd to July 6th
4-Day Attendee       $60
2-Day Attendee       $45
1-Day Attendee       $25

At the door*   July 3rd to July 6th
4-Day Attendee       $65
2-Day Attendee       $50
1-Day Attendee       $25
*At the door registration refers to badges purchased at the Los Angeles
Convention Center during the convention. Those who choose to register at the
Anime Expo® registration site will be subject to the fees listed in the “At
the door” category. However, online registrations made during the convention
are considered “Late” and will be charged according to the prices listed in
the “Late” category. Please note that you will save $5 by registering
online!

FOR MORE INFORMATION:      Visit the Anime Expo® 2008 website at:

http://www.anime-expo.org or call (310) 869-8030

Bandai Entertainment Leads with Most Nominations Followed by Viz Media,
Geneon Entertainment, Bandai Visual and FUNimation Entertainment

Anaheim, California (March 27, 2008) ‹ The Society for the Promotion of
Japanese Animation (SPJA), the overseeing body of the nation¹s largest
anime/manga convention (Anime Expo®), announced the SPJA Industry Award
finalists for 2008 at the SPJA Symposium held at Tokyo International Anime
Fair held within Tokyo Big Sight¹s Special Theatre 2(Thursday; March 27,
2008; 16:30-18:00-Tokyo time). More information can be found on the website
www.spja.org <http://www.spja.org> .

Leading the pack, of top five (5) companies receiving nominations, is Bandai
Entertainment with thirteen (13) nominations including two (2) for Best
Voice Actor (English) followed by Viz Media with twelve (12) nominations
including two (2) for Best Voice Actor (English) as well.  Geneon
Entertainment follows with 11 nominations including two (2) for Best Voice
Actor (Japanese),  Bandai Visual with 9 nominations including two (2) for
Best Background Design and FUNimation with seven (7) nominations.  Other
companies receiving nominations include:

·     Anime News Network
·     Aniplex
·     ADV Films
·     BONES
·     Broccoli Books
·     Columbia Music
·     Dark Horse Comics
·     defSTAR Records
·     Del Rey Manga
·     Digital Manga Publishing
·     Gonzo
·     Infinity Studios
·     Kodansha
·     Ki/oon Records
·     Kudokawa Shoten
·     Lantis
·     Media Works
·     Otaku USA
·     Oxybot
·     Right Stuf
·     Shaft
·     Shogakukan
·     Sony
·     Sony Music
·     Toei Animation
·     TokyoPop

The public is invited to vote for their choices for the 21 categories via
the SPJA (www.spja.org <http://www.spja.org> ) and Anime Expo®
(www.anime-expo.org <http://www.anime-expo.org> ) websites.

SPJA Industry Awards official criteria for eligibility, rules, procedures
and forms can be downloaded from the official SPJA website www.spja.org
<http://www.spja.org> .  Inquiries can be made to Awards@spja.org

SPJA Industry Awards Nominees

Category 01: BEST VOICE ACTOR (JAPANESE)
1. Jun Fukuyama ­ xxxholic ­ Kimihiro Watanuki
2. Mamoru Miyano ­ Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (Double O) ­ Setsuna F. Seiei
3. Joji Nakata ­ Hellsing Ultimate ­ Arucard
4. Daisuke Namikawa ­ Black Lagoon ­ Rock
5. Tomokazu Sugita ­ The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya ­ Kyon

Category 02: BEST VOICE ACTOR (ENGLISH)
1. Johnny Yong Bosch ­ The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya ­ Itsuki Koizumi
2. Crispin Freeman ­ The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya ­ Kyon
3. Alessandro Juliani ­ DEATHNOTE ­ L
4. Christopher R. Sabat ­ One Piece ­ Zoro
5. Jason Spisak ­ Zatch Bell! ­ Kiyo Takamine

Category 03: BEST VOICE ACTRESS (JAPANESE)
1. Aya Hirano ­ The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya ­ Haruhi Suzumiya
2. Ayako Kawasumi ­ Nodame Cantabile ­ Megumi ³Nodame² Noda
3. Rie Kugimiya ­ Hayate no Gotoku! ­ Nagi Sanzenin
4. Nana Mizuki ­ Darker Than BLACK ­ Misaki Kirihara
5. Mamiko Noto ­ sola ­ Matsuri Shihou

Category 04: BEST VOICE ACTRESS (ENGLISH)
1. Laura Bailey ­ Shin-chan ­ Shin-chan
2. Maryke Hendrikse ­ Black Lagoon ­ Revy
3. Shannon Chan-Kent ­ DEATHNOTE ­ Misa
4. Anna Morrow ­ The Third: The Girl with the Blue Eye ­ Honoka
5. Stephanie Sheh ­ The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya ­ Mikuru Asahina

Category 05: BEST CASTING DIRECTOR
1. Randi Riediger ­ Black Lagoon
2. Kaeko Sakamoto ­ The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
3. Hiroyuki Sakurada ­ Ge-Ge-Ge No Kitaro
4. Jamie Simone ­ Naruto
5. Kazuhiro Wakabayashi ­ Darker Than BLACK

Category 06: BEST CHARACTER DESIGN
1. Shoko Ikeda ­ The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
2. Makoto Koga ­ sola
3. Shino Masanori ­ Black Lagoon
4. Ken Ueno ­ Ge-Ge-Ge No Kitaro
5. Makoto Uno ­ Witchblade

Category 07: BEST MECHANICAL DESIGN
1. Black Lagoon ­ (Staff includes Masahiro Kimura)
2. Eureka 7 ­ (Staff includes Shoji Kawamori)
3. Full Metal Panic! TSR ­ (Staff includes Kanetake Ebikawa)
4. Mobile Suit Gundam 00 ­ (Staff includes Kanetake Ebikawa, Naohiro Washio,
Takayuki Yanase)
5. The Third: The Girl with the Blue Eye ­ (Staff includes Naohiro Washio)

Category 08: BEST MALE CHARACTER
1. Arucard ­ Hellsing Ultimate
2. Hei ­ Darker Than BLACK
3. Ichigo Kurosaki ­ Bleach
4. Lelouch Lamperouge ­ Code Geass
5. Luffy ­ One Piece

Category 09: BEST FEMALE CHARACTER
1. Haruhi Suzumiya ­ The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
2. Matsuri Shihou - sola
3. Megumi ³Nodame² Noda ­ Nodame Cantabile
4. Nami ­ One Piece
5. Revy ­ Black Lagoon

Category 10: BEST MASCOT CHARACTER
1. Kanaka ­ Shigofumi: Letters from the Departed
2. Mokona ­ Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles
3. Mokkun ­ Shonen Onmyouji
4. Na-san ­ Kirarin Revolution
5. Shamisen ­ The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

Category 11: BEST BACKGROUND DESIGN
1. Mobile Suit Gundam 00 ­ Sunrise
2. Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei ­ Shaft
3. Shigofumi: Letters from the Departed ­ J.C. Staff/Bandai Visual
4. sola ­ Nomad/Bandai Visual
5. The Third: The Girl with the Blue Eye ­ XEBEC/Right Stuf

Category 12: BEST ORIGINAL VIDEO
1. Detective Conan: Detective Conan vs. Kid the Phantom Thief ­ Shogakukan
2. Hellsing Ultimate ­ Geneon Entertainment
3. I Luv Halloween ­ TokyoPop
4. Naruto: The Lost Story: Protect the Waterfall Village ­ Viz Media
5. Super Robot Wars Original Generation: The Animation OVA ­ Bandai Visual
USA

Category 13: BEST FEATURE FILM
1. Paprika ­ Sony
2. SOS! Tokyo Metro Explorers: The Next ­ Bandai Visual USA
3. Stranger ­ Mukoh Haden ­ BONES
4. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time ­ Bandai Entertainment
5. Vexille ­ Oxybot

Category 14: BEST TELEVISION SERIES
1. Black Lagoon ­ Geneon Entertainment
2. Darker Than BLACK ­ BONES
3. DEATHNOTE ­ Viz Media
4. One Piece ­ FUNimation Entertainment
5. sola ­ Bandai Visual

Category 15: BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
1. Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad ­ Beat Crusaders ­ defSTAR Records
2. Darker Than BLACK ­ Yoko Kanno ­ Sony Music
3. Naruto ­ Toshio Masuda & Musashi Project ­ Aniplex
4. sola ­ Hitoshi Fujima ­ Lantis
5. The Third: The Girl with the Blue Eye ­ Megumi Ohashi ­ Columbia Music
Entertainment

Category 16: BEST ORIGINAL SONG
1. ³Hare Hare Yukai² (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) ­ Aya Hirano,
Minori Chihara, and Yuko Goto ­ Lantis
2. ³Hit in the USA² (BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad) ­ Hidaka Toru ­ The Beat
Crusaders / defSTAR Records
3.  ³Nagareboshi ~ Shooting Star ~² (Naruto Shippuden) ­ HOME MADE Kazoku -
Ki/oon Records
4. ³Red Fraction² (Black Lagoon) ­ MELL ­ Geneon Entertainment
5. ³Tsukiakari² (Darker Than BLACK) ­ Rie Fu ­ Sony Music

Category 17: BEST DIRECTOR
1. Sunao Katabuchi ­ Black Lagoon
2. Tomoki Kobayashi ­ sola
3. Mary Elizabeth McGlynn ­ Naruto
4. Hiroshi Nagahama ­ Mushi-Shi
5. Tensai Okamura ­ Darker Than BLACK

Category 18: BEST MANGA - ACTION
1. Black Lagoon ­ Rei Hiroe ­ Shogakukan
2. Gunsmith Cats Burst ­ Kenichi Sonoda ­ Dark Horse Comics
3. Murder Princess ­ Sekihiko Inui ­ Broccoli Books
4. Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles ­ CLAMP ­ Del Rey Manga
5. Vampire Hunter D ­ Hideyuki Kukuchi / Saiko Takaki ­ Digital Manga
Publishing

Category 19: BEST MANGA - COMEDY
1. Disgaea 2 ­ Hekaton ­ Broccoli Books
2. Dramacon ­ Svetlana Chmakova ­ TokyoPop
3. Hayate no Gotoku! ­ Kenjirou Hata ­ Shogakukan
4. Gintama ­ Hideaki Sorachi ­ Viz Media
5. Negima! ­ Ken Akamatsu ­ Del Rey Manga

Category 20: BEST MANGA - DRAMA
1. Blood Alone ­ Masayuki Takano ­ MediaWorks / Infinity Studios
2. Eden ­ Hiroki Endo ­ Dark Horse Comics
3. Eureka Seven ­ Jinsei Kataoka / Kazuma Kondou ­ Bandai Entertainment
4. Kitchen Princess ­ Miyuki Kobayashi / Natsumi Ando ­ Del Rey Manga
5. Lovely Complex ­ Aya Nakahara ­ Viz Media

Category 21: BEST PUBLICATION
1. Anime Insider ­ Wizard Entertainment
2. Newtype ­ Kudokawa Shoten
3. Otaku USA ­ Otaku USA
4. Protoculture Addicts ­ Anime News Network
5. Shojo Beat ­ Viz Media

About Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation
The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit
organization with a mission to popularize and educate the American public
about anime and manga, as well as provide a forum to facilitate
communication between professionals and fans. This organization is more
popularly known by its entertainment property ­ Anime Expo®.  More
information can be found at its website (www.spja.org <http://www.spja.org/>
).

The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are
“forward-looking statements.” These forward-looking statements are based on
current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and
uncertainties. The Company cautions readers of this press release that a
number of important factors could cause Anime Expo®/SPJA¹s actual future
results to differ materially from those expressed in any such
forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation,
product delays, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and
industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of
relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers,
international economic and political conditions. The Company may change its
intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon
any changes in such factors, in the Company’s assumptions or otherwise. The
Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

It has been confirmed that Nakagawa Shoko (aka Shokotan) is making her first US appearance at Anime Expo 2008’s Guest of Honor this summer. One of the nation’s largest and most anticipated anime conventions, 2008(www.anime-expo.org) will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center July 3-6.

About Shoko Nakagawa

Born in Tokyo in 1985, Shoko Nakagawa is Japan’s new It Girl. Singer, TV celebrity, blogger, voice actress, illustrator…’Shokotan‘, as fans call her, is a multi-talented performer with a resume. These days it’s hard to go a day without hearing her name.

In February 2008, she broke records when her blog, ‘Shokotan Blog‘ (http://blog.excite.co.jp/shokotan/) received over one billion hits. Filled with photos and entries written in her own unique slang, this blog is arguably the most popular of the many celebrity blogs. The site, which she updates as many as 15 times a day, garners over 1,800,000 hits a day.

Among many fields of Shoko’s activities, music has been one of her most successful ventures. Since her singing debut in 2006, she has quickly expanded her fan base. Her single ‘Sorairo Days’, released in June of 2007, was chosen as the theme song to the popular TV anime ‘Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann‘. Her first ever rock song, it debuted at #3 on Japan’s Oricon weekly single chart. Thanks to the ever-increasing popularity of fan events held all over the country, Shoko had her first concert in Tokyo in December of 2007. Tickets sold out in 25 seconds, and the show drew a crowd of 2000 enthusiastic fans.

Shoko is also known for her extensive knowledge of anime and manga. On her blog she posts her thoughts on works that catch her interest, along with her own professional quality illustrations. In May of 2007, she chose 5 songs from over 1,500,000 requests, and released ‘Shokotan ☆Cover’ a cover album of anime theme songs. In August of the same year, she was selected as Japan’s good will ambassador at the ‘World Cosplay Summit 2007′, an event for aficionados of cosplay from all over the world. Her live performance at the event received rave reviews from guests, setting the stage for her worldwide popularity. The next month she followed up her hit anime song cover album with the release of ‘Shokotan☆Cover 2’. The album became yet another smash hit, ranking in at #11 on the Oricon album chart.

2007 was no doubt a huge year for Shoko. On December 31st, she realized her dream of performing on the Kohaku Utagassen, Japan’s traditional end of the year singing TV program. It was a fitting way to end an impressive year. Shoko took her place on stage with other artists representing the best and brightest of Japan’s music stars, and received attention for her real time updates to her blog from backstage at the event.

On the first day of the New Year 2008, Shoko went straight from Kohaku to perform at the prestigious Countdown Japan rock festival at 3 am. Regardless of the time, more than 5,500 people turned out to see her perform live. The same day a DVD of her 2007 concert, ‘Shokotan Donyoku Matsuri‘ was released, ranking at #5 on the Music DVD chart.

The ‘Shokotan’ fever shows no signs of stopping. The third book from her blog sold over 10,0000 copies, and her 4th single, ’snow tears’, released on January 30th, went to #2 on the charts. The ballad showing off her vocal talents like never before, the song was selected as the ending song for the TV anime ‘Hakaba Kitaro‘, for which Shoko also voices a character. She was quite moved by this fateful collaboration as her late father, the singer Katsuhiko Nakagawa had often said, ‘You can’t grow up without reading ‘Hakaba Kitaro.’ in her childhood.

On March 19th, her first full-length album “Big☆Bang!!!” was released with roaring support of her fans, the album debuted at #5 on the Oricon album chart. In support of the album, Ms. Nakagawa will kick off her much-anticipated Japan nation-wide tour in May.

Japantoday.com reported, “The Tokyo International Anime Fair 2008, one of the world’s largest trade fairs for animated cartoons, kicked off Thursday at the Tokyo Big Sight convention center, featuring exhibitions from about 300 companies and organizations from around the world. Besides being an international trade fair, the four-day event includes business symposiums and live performances by actors in popular cartoon character costumes, as well as an award ceremony for the past year’s best animation work.”

More on this article 

Former Morning Musume member Goto Maki took a step away from her career and went on hiatus as her brother faced major charges for theft.

JapanToday.com reported, “Maki Goto, 22, who is an ex-member of the popular group Morning Musume, has updated her official blog for the first time since her brother was arrested for stealing last October. Goto withdrew from various music projects with other female groups and artists all produced by music producer Tsunku over the case.”

“Goto, who is currently staying in Los Angeles, said on the blog that she will soon resume her activities. “I’m very sorry for the trouble my brother caused and for pulling out of ‘Hello! Project.’ It’s been a struggle, but I have decided to move on to the next step.”More on this article

CRIEnglish.com reported, “Taiwan pop star Jolin Tsai has shot a series of printed and television ads for an anti-smoking campaign, Hong Kong-based publication Tungstar reported on Wednesday.”

“The singer, dressed in a white T-shirt with a slogan that reads “Quit & Win,” said she has successfully helped her father quit smoking.”

More on this article

Image courtesy of TUNGSTAR/linked from Crienglish.com

It’s Wednesday and that means new releases.  Which group or artist took the #1 spot on the Oricon CD Single Daily Charts:

NOTE:  V6’s older trio of the group aka 20th Century takes the #1 spot with “Ore Ja Nakya, Kimi Ja Nakya”.  Another Kamen Rider CD single makes it into the top 3 and with LUNA SEA Complete Best on the Album charts this week, Kawamura Ryuichi and friends with their band Tourbillon is in the top 3 as well.  Aoyama Thelma continues to stay strong in the top 10 with her CD single released back in January.

1. 20th Century - Ore Ja Nakya, Kimi Ja Nakya
2. Kamen Rider Den-O Double-Action Climax Form - Double-Action Wing form
3. Tourbillon - Break the Chain
4. Amuro Namie - 60s 70s 80s
5. alice nine. - MIRROR BALL
6. Yamashita Tatsuro - Zutto Isshou sa
7. FUNKY MONKEY BABYS - Tabidachi
8. Aoyama Thelma feat. SoulJa - Sobani Irune
9. Leah Dizon - Love Paradoz
10. Kubota Toshinoba feat. MISIA - FLYING EASY LOVING CRAZY