Kawaii Joyuu

On Saturday the Japanese insurance company "Sompo Japan" will start two new commercials called "Informing Insurance Teacher – Faint Love" and "Informing Insurance Teacher – Hot Proposal" starring their image character Ueto Aya (24) as the aforementioned teacher.

In the comical commercial Ueto will change into the role of Fun, an "insurance teacher" who gives advices about insurances to all the men that come to her so-called "insurance room". Fun has a very pure and clean image with her glasses, the light pink robe and wearing her hair half up. It seems to be exactly that beautiful and kind image of a woman teacher that every young male student is yearning for.

In " – Hot Proposal" it shows several men trying to embrace and propose to teacher Fun. Timing is the key to such comical commercials and they had to rehearse the scenes several times before they have finally been able to start the actual filming. Both editions turned out great and will also become available for streaming at Sompo's website along with a making of and other clips on Saturday.

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Written by: KawaiiJoyuu
Sources: "web The Television" via MSN Japan
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The Keigo Higashino novel "Himitsu" ("The Secret") is being turned into a live-action drama series this fall, starring Mirai Shida (17) and Kuranosuke Sasaki (42). The show will air in TV Asahi's Friday 11:15pm time slot, starting in October.

Published in 1998, "Himitsu" was nominated for the Naoki Prize and the Yoshikawa Eiji Prize, while winning the Mystery Writers of Japan Prize. In 1999, director Yojiro Takita adapted it as a movie, starring Ryoko Hirosue (30) and Kaoru Kobayashi (58). The story involves a married couple, where the wife dies but her spirit ends up inside the couple's daughter.

Naturally, Shida is playing the role of the daughter and Sasaki is playing the father. Hikari Ishida (38) has been cast as the mother. Other cast members include Yuika Motokariya (22), Tantan Hayashi (21), Satoshi Hashimoto (44), Shoko Ikezu (40), Takeshi Masu (54), Ryo Ryusei (17), Keiko Horiuchi (39), and Mitsuru Fukikoshi (45).

cr: Tokyograph

The two amazing actresses Nakama Yukie (30) and Dan Rei (39) are going to work together for the first time for a new Fuji TV drama that is going to air in the upcoming winter season of 2011 that will start in January.

A title has yet to be announced for the drama, but it's supposed to be all about the complex and exciting world of women. A mysterious and wicked woman (Nakama) happens to encounter a normal housewife living a happy life (Dan). It's an encounter not without consequences as the housewife's ordinary and peaceful life slowly starts to crumble in front of her eyes. Jealousy, friendship and compassion are the 3 big themes for the suspense adult drama.

Filming already started not too long ago and the two actresses already hit it off with each other. Nakama talked a bit about her first impression of Dan. "After reading the script I wanted to meet up with Dan as soon as possible. She gives you such a kind and warm impression that it almost feels like being at home and she has no problems portraying that nice atmosphere of motherliness," she said. "I'm playing a suspicious woman with a lot of different faces. It's a role different to any other kind of role I've played in the past and I enjoy it a lot," she continued.

Dan was delighted to finally be able to work together with Nakama as well. "I never would have imagined to be able to work together with her someday. We are having a lot of conversations and it's just pure fun working for this drama. I'm enjoying work so much that I have to be careful not to suffer from a heatstroke," she said with a bitter smile. Temperatures are currently very high in Japan, so she definitely wasn't joking about the latter part.

Can there be any better way to start off a new year of dramas with two such big actresses starring together in one drama?

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Written by: KawaiiJoyuu
Sources: Sanspo
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Actress Kato Ai (27) got chosen as the first image character for the new shoes brand "Candish" by famous Japanese retailer "Uniqlo" and today she presented the new autumn collection of this brand at a PR-Event in Tokyo.

At the event she promoted the shoes saying, "It's hard to resist with such moderate prices. I can't tell you how many of those I'd like to buy myself."

Uniqlo offers more than 40 different kind of shoes, from the comfortable pumps with 3 different built-in types of sponges to boots with 3cm heels. The price ranges from 1,990 to 4,990 YEN ($25~$60). The retailer currently has 93 big stores across the country and in 90 of them you are able to buy the new "Candish" shoes.

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Written by: KawaiiJoyuu
Sources: Sanspo
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Highlight of the week: Not that many funny snapshots this week, so I'll go with the always amazing Naka Riisa in "Nihonjin no Shiranai Nihongo"

[Click here to check out the ratings of last week!]

Today actress Kitagawa Keiko (24) made a special appearance at the "17th Kobe Collection 2010 Autumn/Winter" fashion show. Her walk on the runway was filmed by 11 cameras and will become one of many highlights in her upcoming movie "Paradise Kiss".

The surprise appearance at the fashion show had to be done without a rehearsal. Kitagawa was really delighted when everything ended without problems and amazed by the reaction from the audience. She said, "I've never had such an experience before. You can't imagine how nervous I was. I wonder how this scene will turn out and can't wait to watch it at the screen."

"Paradise Kiss" is a movie based on a manga by Yazawa Ai who also created manga such as "Nana" and "Neighborhood Story". Hayasaka Yukari (Kitagawa) is a typical high-school student who listens to her parents and attends school everyday. As she starts to question her way of life, she encounters a group of fashion design students who has a clothing label known as "Paradise Kiss". The group needs to find a model to showcase their designs in an up-coming fashion show and decides to pick Yukari instead. Initially, Yukari was reluctant to be associated with this seemingly eccentric group, but eventually, she realizes that they are really nice people. Furthermore, their passion and enthusiasm to follow their ideals and dreams make Yukari realize that she has not been enjoying her life and this motivated her to pursue her own dreams.

The scene they filmed today will be part of the climax when Yukari already became a well-known model. The producers of the movie had been in negotiations with the organizers of Kobe Collection for 2 years just to be able to film that scene during the actual fashion show.

Around 10,000 people came to watch the newest fashion presented by over 100 models. It's always a huge show with music being one of the key elements. This time the audience was able to see live performance from Uemura Kana, Kobukuro and more. Kitagawa disguised as Yukari was the last model to walk along the runway. "We can't do a rehearsal and I'm a little anxious, but I can't wait to get out there and walk…," she said before her walk. She wore a dress made by the fictional brand "Filange by L'SET ROSE" and finished her performance without any mistakes. "It was over in a blink of a time!" She said right after coming down from the stage. "The audience was great and it was a lot of fun."

Mukai Osamu will play the male lead while the rest of the cast includes actors such as Yamamoto Yusuke, Igarashi Shunji, Omasa Aya, Kaku Kento and Kato Natsuki.

"Paradise Kiss" is planned to open in Japan in spring 2011.

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Written by: KawaiiJoyuu
Sources: Oricon
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A combination of NTT DoCoMo's mobile "Mina no Polling & Ranking", recent goo rankings and the spamtastic random web polls.

Some of this week's topics:

- Who should be your family doctor?

- Who would be your ideal daughter?

- What do you think of Sakurai Sho?

- Dramas that made you fall in love with Naka Riisa?

- Which Johnny should manage your BBQ?

- Female celebrities you'd like to have as your girlfriend?

- Male celebrities you'd like to have as your boyfriend?

[Click here to check out all the questions and rankings!]

The weekly pictorial tabloid "FRIDAY" reports that actress Kato Rosa (25) and actor Tamaki Hiroshi (30) might have revived their love again this year.

The tabloid spotted the two actors on what they call a "driving date". In 2004 it already was revealed that they are in a relationship, but in 2007 it looked like their love came to an end. Now there have been several sightings of them having rendezvous again in July and August. They have not only been spotted in a car, there even seems to be a snapshot with the two of them and Kato's mother. Could they really by serious again?

Sanspo tried to contact their agencies and got the following responses. Kato's agency, "They and their families are still very close, but they are nothing more than just friends." Tamaki's agency went the easy way, "No comment."

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Written by: KawaiiJoyuu
Sources: Sanspo
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