KAT-TUN Goes Nine Straight

KAT-TUN‘s 9th single, “ONE DROP,” led the charts this week with 281,000 in sales. This gave them their ninth consecutive #1, extending back to their debut single. This is currently the third longest such streak, behind NEWS (10) and KinKi Kids (28).

At #2 was girl band Stereopony, with 31,000 copies of their second single, “Namida no Mukou,” which is being used as the theme song of “Mobile Suit Gundam 00.” This is their first time in the top ten. Also in the top ten this week were The Gospellers at #5 and Salyu at #10.

Meanwhile, Thelma Aoyama came out on top of the album charts, selling 45,000 copies of “LOVE! ~THELMA LOVESONG COLLECTION~.” Although she has had a #1 single before, this is her first #1 album.

Lil’B was not far behind at #2 with their first album, “Ima, Kimi e.” AAA, Straightener, and Buono! also made the top ten with their latest albums.

Masahiro Nakai, Aya Ueto To Costar In Fuji’s New Drama

SMAP member Masahiro Nakai, 36, and actress Aya Ueto, 23, will costar in Fuji TV’s new drama from April, the Tokyo-based TV station said Sunday.

The drama, which has not yet been titled, is about so-called “marriage hunting” (konkatsu) activities through which Nakai and Ueto try to find their future partner.

KAT-TUN: An Achievement And Two Singles

Even if Arashi beat them in 2008, KAT-TUN are still resourceful and they prove it: they have just achieved the longest streak of concerts held at the Tôkyô Dome, and they are going to release two singles in two months..

KAT-TUN made a big impression by performing at the Tôkyô Dome from May 15th to 21st, thus doing 7 concerts in a row. Indeed, nobody has never monopolized the Dome for such a long time! The six men already made the Dome history last August, when they became the first Japanese artists to do 4 concerts in a row there.

As regards their next releases, KAT-TUN are also about to put their backs into it: 2 months after White X’mas, ONE DROP will be out on February 11th and is used as the theme song of Kami no Shizuku, a drama with Kazuya Kamenashi playing the main character. The same goes for the following month: RESCUE, theme song of the eponymous drama where a KAT-TUN member (Yuiichi Nakamaru this time) again has got the main role, will be out on March 11th.

MatsuJun, Gakky Pair Up For “Smile”

Jun Matsumoto and Yui Aragaki will co-star in a new TBS drama series titled “Smile.” Takayuki Takuma (“Hana Yori Dango” ) is handling the script, though he is using his real name rather than his usual pen name of Mikio Satake.

Matsumoto plays a half-Filipino whose father has died and mother has disappeared. Despite his misfortune and the issues he deals with, such as race, he lives his life positively with a constant smile.

Similarly, Aragaki plays a young woman living cheerfully despite losing her ability to speak due to an accident. Her character is said to be modeled after a real actress in the theatrical troupe that Takuma runs.

The supporting cast includes Kiichi Nakai as a lawyer who watches over Matsumoto and Aragaki.

“Smile” will air on Friday nights at 10:00pm, starting in April.

Oricon Top 10 CD Singles Daily Charts

KAT-TUN takes the #1 spot! Junko Akimoto continues to stay strong in the Oricon top 10. Last week’s #1 Kiyoshi Hikawa drops to #5.

1. KAT-TUN – ONE DROP
2. Stereopony – Namida no Mukou
3. THE GOSPELLERS – 1,2,3 for 5
4. Junko Akimoto – Ai no Mama de
5. Kiyoshi Hikawa – Rokyoku Ichidai / Bokyo no Tsuki
6. The SHIGOTONIN – Kyoka Suigetsu
7. Aya Matsuura – Chocolate Damashi
8. Salyu – Cortyo ~Gyoretsu / HALFWAY
9. Rina Aiuchi – Ai no Kotoba
10. UNICORN – WAO!

Johnny’s Record Breakers

KAT-TUN: Three Versions Of Next Single

KAT-TUN fans, here are the details on their 10th single at long last!

“RESCUE” is going to be released in three different editions, and each one will include a little something that neither of the others has. Is your wallet crying yet?

The first limited edition includes the songs “RESCUE” and “7 DAYS BATTLE”, plus a DVD with the music video and making-of for “RESCUE”. A second limited edition includes only one CD with three songs: “RESCUE”, “7 DAYS BATTLE” and “On Your Mind- please come back to me-”. Finally, the regular edition includes “RESCUE” and “7 DAYS BATTLE”, as well as the voiceless instrumental tracks of each song.

Arashi Transforms Into Tatsunoko Heroes

The animated PV for Arashi‘s next single, “Believe,” is a collaboration with animation studio Tatsunoko. The collaboration is linked to the upcoming live-action movie based on Tatsunoko’s “Yatterman” franchise, which stars Arashi member Sho Sakurai and uses “Believe” as its theme song.

In the music video, each of the five Arashi members will “transform” into a character from a different Tatsunoko series. Sakurai will obviously take on the role of Yatterman No. 1. The other shows being used are “Yattodetaman” (Kazunari Ninomiya), “Time Bokan” (Satoshi Ohno), “Otasukeman” (Masaki Aiba), and “Zenderman” (Jun Matsumoto).

The “Yatterman” movie opens on March 7. “Believe” goes on sale as a CD single on March 4, the same day the PV becomes available through media site Dwango. A live-action music video for “Believe” is also being made.

Mainichi Film Awards: “Okuribito” Takes Top Prize

The winners of the 63rd Mainichi Film Awards were announced on Wednesday. This year’s Grand Prize was taken by Yojiro Takita’s “Okuribito,” continuing its trophy-winning streak.

The awards will be presented on February 4. The winners are as follows:

* Grand Prize: Okuribito (directed by Yojiro Takita)
* Best Film: Gururi no Koto (directed by Ryosuke Hashiguchi)
* Best Foreign Film: The Dark Knight
* Best Actor: Hiroshi Abe (Aoi Tori, Aruitemo Aruitemo)
* Best Actress: Eiko Koike (Seppun)
* Best Supporting Actor: Masato Sakai (After School, Climber’s High, Jersey no Futari)
* Best Supporting Actress: Keiko Matsuzaka (Hotaru no Haka)
* Sponichi Grand Prix Newcomer Award: Haruma Miura (Naoko), Riisa Naka (Junkissa Isobe)
* Kinuyo Tanaka Award: Kimiko Yo
* Best Director: Koji Wakamatsu (United Red Army)
* Best Screenplay: Ryosuke Hashiguchi (Gururi no Koto)
* Best Cinematography: Tomohiko Tsuji (United Red Army)
* Best Art Direction: Kyoko Yauchi (Nishi no Majo ga Shinda)
* Best Music: Taro Iwashiro (Yami no Kodomotachi)
* Best Sound: Satoshi Ozaki (Okuribito)
* Technical Award: Towako Kuwajima, Takayuki Masuo, Shinji Tsuchiya, Masahide Yanagawase (visual effects in Pako to Mahou no Ehon)
* Best Animated Film: The Sky Crawlers (directed by Mamoru Oshii)
* Noburo Ofuji Award: Gake no Ue no Ponyo, for Hayao Miyazaki’s creative expression
* Best Documentary: Hana wa Doko e Itta (directed by Masako Sakata)
* Fan Award (Domestic Film): Watashi wa Kai ni Naritai
* Fan Award (Foreign Film): Red Cliff: Part I
* Special awards: director Kon Ichikawa, actor Ken Ogata, cinematographer Hiroshi Kusuda

Ueda Tatsuya accepts the role Rome

A press conference was held on Tuesday for the upcoming theatrical production of “Romeo and Juliet,” which will be the first starring stage role for KAT-TUN’s Tatsuya Ueda. As far as Johnny’s artists go, Ueda will be the second to take on the role of Romeo, after Noriyuki Higashiyama did it in 2004.

His Juliet will be played by Ryoko Kobayashi, who recently gained attention for her role in the drama series “Maou.” Other cast members include actor Jun Hasegawa and Shoon Yamashita.

Performances will be held at The Globe Tokyo from March 3 to March 29, followed by a run at Osaka’s Sankei Hall Breeze from April 2 to April 5.