CRIEnglish.com reported, “To the disappointment of Chinese fans, the highly-anticipated Linkin Park concerts will not be played in China in the next couple of weeks.”

“The Chinese organizer of the shows announced that the upcoming “Music for Relief” charity shows, slated for October 12, 15 and 19 in Shanghai, Wuhan and Beijing, will be cancelled, as “lead vocalist Chester Bennington has sustained a back injury.”

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Japantoday.com reported, “As adults become increasingly stressed out from jobs, studies, relationships and other reasons, toymakers are trying to cash in on the phenomenon amid the nation’s low birthrate. Takara Tomy Co will market an ultra-small karaoke machine, called ‘‘Hi-kara,’’ priced at 10,500 yen, later this month, mainly targeted at elementary and junior high school girls.”

“Many people like singing alone and are increasingly visiting karaoke parlors to do that, but parents are reluctant for their children to go alone. Children also feel it is difficult to go to karaoke parlors by themselves.”

“Takara Tomy has decided to seize the opportunity and produce a karaoke box for individual use, said a company official.”

“The karaoke box is cubic-shaped, weighing about 150 grams, and can be easily carried. It is linked to a headphone with a microphone, making the background music inaudible to others except the singer.”

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Mainichi Daily News reported, “Ken Ogata, a versatile actor who starred in a number of films, TV dramas and theater plays, died of liver cancer at the age of 71 on Sunday, his family said on Tuesday.”

“Ogata, whose real first name was Akinobu, was best known for his distinctive acting in the films “Kichiku” (”The Damon”, 1978) and “Narayama Bushiko” (”The Ballad of Narayama”, 1983) that won the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival. Ogata received the Mainichi Film Award for best actor for his roles in both films.”

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Japantoday.com reported, “Ex-Morning Musume member Natsumi Abe, 27, this week performed at an event to mark the 30th anniversary of the Sunshine City building in Ikebukuro. She was joined by other artists who were popular in the 1980s, such as Hiroko Moriguchi and Ayumi Nakamura.”

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Japantoday.com reported, “Celebrity Mika Mifune, 26, who is the daughter of the late actor Toshiro Mifune, is launching a rock band together with her musician husband and young daughter. Mifune said the band, which will be called The TraBryu, will consist of herself, husband George Takahashi, 50, who is a vocalist for the rock band Toraburyu, and their daughter Rennon, 3. The band will sing the theme song “Birthday Party” for the kids animation film “Yes! Precure 5GoGo!” The CD single will be released on Nov 5.”

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Japantoday.com reported, “TBS on Monday said it had pulled the drama “Kippari!” after star Taishu Kase, 38, whose real name is Nobuhiro Kawamoto, was arrested on Saturday for illegal use and possession of amphetamines and cannabis at his apartment in Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward.”

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CRIEnglish.com reported, “The funeral of top South Korean actress Choi Jin-Sil was held on Saturday morning in Seoul, October 4th, the web Site QQ.com reports.”

“More than 100 of her friends and family, including her ex-husband Jo Seung-min were in attendance.”

“A series of her acting performances and her favorite music were shown and played during the funeral service.”

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Japantoday.com reported, “Model Yuri Ebihara, 29, popularly known as “Ebi-chan,” on Friday unveiled her new line of stockings, “f*ing BIZWALK,” which she jointly designed with All Nippon Airways, TBS and Fukusuke.”

“Ebihara, who appeared in an ANA cabin attendant uniform because she is the image character for the company, said, “I’m very excited to wear this uniform because I don’t have a chance to do so.”

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New York - Tokyo
presents the
International Premiere of

77BOADRUM
at
NYTFGP (New York - Tokyo Film Grand Prix) 2008 Festival
with special appearance by

Director Jun Kawaguchi

Japan | 2008 | 77 min. 777 seconds | Japanese with English Subtitles

Mon. Oct. 13 -  Double Screening Event
One: Doors open 6:00 -  Film starts 7:00pm
Two: Doors open 8:15 - Film starts 9:15pm
Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Ave, NYC

Buy your tickets here (7:00pm)
Buy your tickets here (9:15pm)

77 BOADRUM, directed by Jun Kawaguchi, documents the now-legendary 7/7/07 performance by the mega-iconic Japanese band The Boredoms with 77 guest drummers.  Expect big, loud, explosive energy!

There will be appearances by the Director Kawaguchi for both screenings. The 7:00 screening will feature a Q&A session afterward, and he will introduce the 9:15 airing.

New York - Tokyo thanks Boredoms, Chris Habib, Hisham Bharoocha, VICE, and all others to make this premiere happen.

Jun Kawaguchi, a passionate independent director has worked on promotional music videos and documentaries since 2000. He co-founded KATHOMANDU TRIO PRODUCTION, and currently manages the company. 77BOADRUM is his first theatrical release feature film.

NYT: What attracted you to this project in particular?
JK: 77 drums, New York, and Boredoms made me be sure that something amazing would happen! I wanted to show this “once in a lifetime” event to everyone who could not be there. And I wanted to show everyone how the Boredoms is the most special group in the world!

See the rest of the interview with Director Kawaguchi here.

corazon de melon

Todays’ trivia might win you and a guest one of five free movie passes to see 77BOADRUM. Respond to film@newyork-tokyo.com with your name, age, and affiliation. Contest ends noon tomorrow, EST. Official rules here.

1. One year following the 77BOADRUM event, another concert was staged on both coasts of the US. What was its name?
2. Boredoms had released an obscure selection of songs to casette of lives. What is the title name usually used in its production?
3. Name 7 of the 77 drummers playing at the live!

Image courtesy of Boretronix

In a recent televiews column for the Daily Yomiuri, Wm. Penn wrote, “Saturday night TV will be teeming with teachers this autumn, but we have come a long way from the days of dedicated educators such as San-nen B-gumi Kimpachi-sensei.”

“This autumn, one teacher will be an international terrorist and the other four are candidates for rehab at the hands of Hey!Say! Jump. The four lads from this Johnny’s Jimusho group star in the indelicately titled Scrap Teacher (Saturdays, 9 p.m., NTV, starting Oct. 11). They play middle school transfer students looking for teachers they can respect. They don’t find any in Ni-nen B-gumi, so they decide to reeducate and rehabilitate the hapless teachers who have been assigned to educate them. It’s hard to know whether to laugh or cry at a scenario like that.”

“Much more promising is the dramanga Bloody Monday, (Saturdays, TBS, starting Oct. 11). The opening special airs from 7-8:54 p.m. From Week 2, the series begins at 7:56 p.m. Yes, it’s another in the long and growing list of made-for-TV manga, but it is supposedly a suspenseful, action-packed addition to the list. The producers have tried to get around the usual small-screen limitations by teaming up with movie company Toho, for the first time in 23 years, for the filming.”

“The network is touting it as Japan’s answer to 24. Talk about setting the bar precariously high.”

“Haruma Miura, who attracted major notice in 2006 when he costarred with Mirai Shida in 14-sai no Haha, plays Fujimaru Takagi, a highly skilled hacker who is still in high school. Called the Falcon, he’s considered the secret weapon of a special Japanese police unit known as The Third Eye.”

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