12 October 2009 - Nino stars in live-action "Gantz" movies

Hiroya Oku's sci-fi action manga "GANTZ" is being adapted into two live-action films planned to be released in 2011. The movies will star Arashi's Kazunari Ninomiya (26) and actor Kenichi Matsuyama (24).

Shinsuke Sato is directing the films, which have reportedly been given a budget of 4 billion yen, with lots of CG involved. It is said that producers are aiming to make the film suitable for general audiences, which means that it may likely lack the violence of the original manga.

"GANTZ" has been serialized in Young Jump since 2000. Kei Kurono (Ninomiya) and Masaru Kato (Matsuyama) are two young man who should be dead after a train accident, but they are summoned back to life by an entity known as GANTZ. Under GANTZ's orders, the two are repeatedly sent on missions to fight against alien beings. So far, 26 volumes of the manga have been released in Japan, selling more than 10 million copies combined.

Although Kei and Masaru are high school students in the manga, their characters will be older in the movie. Kei has been turned into a college student looking for work, while Masaru is already working and taking care of his younger brother. The two childhood friends happen to meet again on a subway platform.

Oku's manga is still being serialized, but the two movies will tell a complete story with an original ending.

Filming is scheduled to start next month. The first movie is expected to hit theaters in winter 2011, while the second is slated for spring 2011.

Source: tokyograph.com

11 October 2009 - NEW SINGLE

My Girl - New single release from Arashi including the theme song of the TV drama "My Girl," starring Masaki Aiba. Also includes the theme song of the TV drama "0 Go Shitsu no Kyaku," "Tokei Jikake no Umbrella." Limited edition includes bonus DVD with a music video of "My Girl."

Release date :11 November 20009
 

Track listing :

     Limited Edition

        1. My Girl

        2. Tokei Jikake no Umbrella

        3. My Girl (Music Video)

     Preorder now on CDJapan II YesAsia

     Regular Edition

        1. My Girl

        2. Tokei Jikake no Umbrella

        3. To be announced

        4. My Girl (Original Karaoke)

        5. Tokei Jikake no Umbrella (Original Karaoke)

        6. To be announced (Original Karaoke)

     Preorder now on CDJapan II YesAsia

22 September 2009 - Arashi tops '09 album sales

Arashi's "All the BEST! 1999-2009" has just captured the crown for the highest sales of any album in 2009. The collection has now sold 1.240 million copies, barely passing Mr.Children's "SUPERMARKET FANTASY."

"All the BEST!" sold 753,000 copies in the first week after its release on August 19, setting this year's record for first-week sales. Now, in its fifth week, it sold 40,000 more copies to push it past the 1.239 million total of Mr.Children's album. That one, however, has been on sale for 41 weeks, starting in December 2008.

Arashi already holds this year's current highest selling single ("Believe / Kumori Nochi, Kaisei" with 655,000 copies) and music DVD ("ARASHI AROUND ASIA 2008 in Tokyo" with 401,000 copies).

Source: tokyograph.com

21 September 2009 - NTV plans "Arashi Challenge Week"

This November, the five-member boy band Arashi celebrates their 10th anniversary. In connection with that, NTV has announced an "Arashi Challenge Week" for this fall, which will have the group's members appear on the network's major shows for a full seven days, culminating in a live broadcast special.

At least one Arashi member is scheduled to appear on each of the programs, which range from "Zoom In!! SUPER" in the morning to "NEWS ZERO" at night. The other shows include "Jinsei ga Kawaru Ippunkan no Fukaii Hanashi," "Majotachi no 22 Ji," "Guruguru Ninety-Nine," "Kinyo Roadshow," "Tensai! Shimura Doubutsuen," and "Gyouretsu no Dekiru Houritsu Soudanjo." The total running time of all of the shows is expected to be more than 50 hours.

On the last day, all five members will appear on a live special. The special is planned to include a new segment of the "Can we get to Tokyo Bay by boat?" series, which experiments with boats made from different materials, such as toy building blocks, but has always ended with the boats sinking. The special will also feature musical performances by the group and some past video footage.

Source: tokyograph.com

02 September 2009 - Arashi reaches 1 million

SMAP managed to come out on top of the weekly charts with their newest single, "Sotto Kyutto / Superstar." The song ended its first week with close to 105,000 in sales, overcoming the early lead taken by girl group AKB48's "Iiwake Maybe." The girls were not far behind at #2 for the week, with 91,000 copies sold.

For SMAP, "Sotto Kyutto" is their 11th consecutive (22nd overall) #1 single. It is also their 44th consecutive top ten single, which puts them one ahead of B'z. Ayumi Hamasaki has also released 44 top ten singles, though hers are not all consecutive.

Three "K-On!" character singles ranked highly, occupying the #3, #5, and #6 spots. Spitz came in at #7, while abingdon boys school took #8 and Buono! took #10.

On the album charts, Arashi kept the #1 seat with their "All the BEST! 1999-2009," which sold an additional 233,000 copies for the week. On the daily charts of August 31, in the album's 13th day on sale, the album reached 1 million in total sales, making it Arashi's first million-seller. It is also the first album of 2009 to break 1 million.

Acid Black Cherry's new album charted at #2 with 78,000 copies sold. A pair of best albums by Vocaloid virtual idol Miku Hatsune ranked #4 and #5. Other new releases in the top ten were a drama CD for "Hetalia: Axis Powers" (#6), a best album by capsule (#7), a soundtrack for "PLAYZONE 2009" (#8), and a mini-album by Hiroshi Kamiya (#9).

Source: tokyograph.com

26 August 2009 - Arashi's "All the Best" sets records

As expected, the boy band Arashi dominated the charts this past week with their collection "All the BEST! 1999-2009." The album sold 753,000 copies, setting their own personal record for first-week sales.

The album also sets the record for opening week sales during the 2009 period. The previous highest was Mr.Children's "SUPERMARKET FANTASY," which sold 708,000 copies when it was released this past December. That album has already become a million seller, suggesting that Arashi's album will likely achieve that milestone as well. If it does, it will be their first million seller.

Aside from Arashi, the week's top ten included new releases from Big Bang (#3), MINMI (#5), Denki Groove (#6), and Hi-Fi CAMP (#8).

On the singles chart, Kiyoshi Hikawa also set a record. His "Tokimeki no Rumba" sold 68,000 copies to become his third chart-topper, which is the most for a solo enka artist.

TOKIO (#3), Yuko Hara (#5), The Gospellers (#7), Tatsuro Yamashita (#8), and Ayabie (#10) also entered the top ten.

Source: tokyograph.com

22 August 2009 - NEW PHOTOBOOK

Sekai wa Arashi wo Matteiru! (The World awaits the Storm!) - Photobook release from ARASHI commemorating 10th anniversary since their debut. A5, All-color, 112-page.

Pre-order now at CDJapan

Yet another photobook... I wonder how many photobooks commemorating Arashi's 10th anniversary would be released.

03 August 2009 - Aiba Stars in Television Drama

Arashi member Masaki Aiba (26) is set to take on his first lead role in a drama series this fall. He will star in TV Asahi's "My Girl," his first series since "Yankee Bokou ni Kaeru" in 2003.

Aiba, who is more known for appearing in variety shows than in dramas, said that he wants to show his fans a "completely different Masaki Aiba" from his usual self.

"My Girl" is based on a manga by Mizu Sahara (an alternate pen name of mangaka Sumomo Yumeka), currently being serialized in Shinchosha's Weekly Comic Bunch. The comic is described as an "ultimate love story" about a young man named Masamune Kazama (Aiba). During high school, he had a girlfriend four years older than him, but she suddenly left one day. Six years later, he receives news that she has passed away. In addition, she secretly gave birth to Masamune's child, whom he finally meets and decides to raise.

TV Asahi will broadcast "My Girl" in its Friday 11:15pm time slot, starting in October.

Source: tokyograph.com

01 August 2009 - NEW PHOTOBOOK

Arashi 10th Anniversary Commemoration Limitation Preservation Edition Arashi no 10 Nen

Release date : 25 August 2009

Pre-order now at CDJapan

27 July 2009 - "VS Arashi" Goes Golden

Fans of popular boy band Arashi will now be able to watch the group every week during golden time. Their show "VS Arashi" on Fuji TV is moving from its Saturday afternoon time slot (12:59pm-1:30pm) to an hour-long time slot on Thursday nights at 7:00pm. This will be Arashi's first show during golden time hours.

"VS Arashi" has been on the air since April 2008. Each episode features Arashi competing against different guest celebrities in a variety of games, such as "Falling Pipe" and "Cliff Climb."

The show will air in its new time slot starting this October.

Source: tokyograph.com