Starting in January of next year, KAT-TUN’s Nakamaru Yuuichi (25) will have his first starring role in the TBS Saturday night drama called “Rescue ~ Special Advanced Rescue Team.” (ＲＥＳＣＵＥ～特別高度救助隊 (RESCUE ~ Tokubetsu Koudo Kyuujotai))

Set in Yokohama, the story is an original work about young men receiving intense training while experiencing youth, frustration, and the preciousness of life. Nakamaru will play the role of Kitashima Daichi *[北島大地], a special advanced rescue team cadet. Masuda Takahisa (22) of NEWS will also be appearing in the drama as Kitashima’s close cadet friend, Tezuka Shigeru. *[手塚豊]

Complete cooperation of the Yokohama City Safety Administration Bureau has been obtained and the two actors have visited the Yokohama City Safety Administration Bureau’s Residential Disaster Prevention Center. They have practiced things like descending a rope from 7 meters up and have learned the same practical skills as a real rescue team.

“First, I must build muscle. Because the group members do 500 sit-ups every day, I’m aiming for that goal and I’ll do my best,” Nakamaru said with a fighting spirit. Masuda, who will be working with Nakamaru for the first time, said in high spirits, “(With Nakamaru,) I want to help each other out and make it a ‘plus’.”

Also set to appear in the drama are Yamamoto Yuusuke, Kaname Jun, Ishibashi Ryo, and Ishiguro Ken.

*Note: Character names may be incorrect. Name kanji are not my forte.

(Source 1, Source 2)

It was suddenly announced on October 28th, that KAT-TUN’s Akanishi Jin (24) will be making his silver screen debut. The movie, titled “BANDAGE” will hit theaters in 2010. The story is about the ‘band boom’ that swept over Japan in the beginning of the Heisei era (early 1990s). Playing Natsu, the leader and vocalist of a young band, called LANDS, trying to make it big, Akanishi is sure to play the part well. Along with his good looks, his weapons also include his comfortable singing voice and sexy dance moves. He’ll be able to demonstrate these to his hearts content on the screen.

Supervising the musical production is the films director and producer, Kobayashi Takeshi (49), and Iwai Shunji (45) will serve as script supervisor.

Kobayashi has previously directed “es,” the Mr. Children documentary, but this is his first time directing actors. He kept his enthusiasm and subtlety hidden inside, saying “I think it’s a good decision to have Akanishi Jin playing the part.”

Kobayashi is planning to write at least five songs for the band to perform in the movie and it’s likely the songs will be released as a CD in the future.

Akanishi said, full of self-confidence, “Being in KAT-TUN, I’m unable to show my shape as an artist, so I’m looking forward to playing this role. Until now, I don’t think there has been a Japanese film similar to this.”

Filming is expected to start on November 3rd.

There also appears to be a call for extras. If you’re living in Japan and have some free time between the beginning of November and early December, go check out this page and send in your application!

(Source 1, Source 2)

So, while Akanishi Jin is escorting the ladies around in his Minivan O’ Love, Taguchi Junnosuke does it taxi-style. According to this week’s issue of Japanese tabloid magazine FRIDAY, Taguchi was recently photographed leaving a yakitori restaurant with 28 year old actress Komine Rena. The two were holding hands (aww!) and went grocery shopping (aww!) and then they made out in the back of a taxi (aww… eh?!).

Johnny’s denies the relationship. Somehow. I mean, that certainly looks like Junno and he certainly looks pretty cozy with that woman. Eh, good for him, then.

I have to wonder if these recent “reports” of the guys dating are intentionally being published around the announcement of the next KAT-TUN single. It is a love ballad, after all.

(Source 1, Source 2)
(Image source: auragazou)

Christmas present from KAT-TUN! This new single features their first actual love ballad “White X’mas.”

White X’mas [w/ DVD, Limited Edition] / KAT-TUN
Catalog No.: JACA-5125
Release Date: 2008/12/03
Price: 1600yen

Limited edition includes one bonus track plus bonus DVD with music video of the track “White X’mas” and making-of footage. Also features original photo booklet (subject to change) and alternate jacket artwork.

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White X’mas [Limited Pressing] / KAT-TUN
Catalog No.: JACA-5127
Release Date: 2008/12/03
Price: 500yen

This limited-time edition includes karaoke version of the track “White X’mas” and alternate jacket artwork.

This week’s issue of Japanese tabloid magazine, FRIDAY, apparently reports that Akanishi Jin and model Nishiyama Maki were caught leaving for a “driving date” in Akanishi’s minivan. (Soccer Mom? Or Ladies’ Man? You decide.)

Nishiyama is the same “model-like beauty” that was photographed having dinner with Akanishi at a steakhouse about a month ago. She appeared on Cartoon KAT-TUN last year, so it seems that’s where the two hit it off.

Of course, Johnny’s is saying the two are just friends. No comment from Nishiyama’s agency.

Nishiyama later posted in her blog that she had been seen with him, but the two are just good friends. (She also seems to be proud of the fact that she’d been Friday’d. Like it’s a sign that’s she’s made it. But she’s perturbed by being refered to as “model-like” since she is actually a model. LOL! She’s cute, though.)

So, to sum up…

Famous People Have Social Lives! *gasp* The horror!!!

-______-

(Source)

Post has been edited. Sorry for my earlier mistake.

Guh. Finally, one of the boys is actually doing something.

So, apparently (and I say ‘apparently’ because the only source I actually have is a fuzzy flv file containing 2.3 seconds of someone who looks like Kame and a bunch of Chinese bloggers making that connection), everyone’s favorite little turtlepear was in Yokohama this Sunday, October 12, for the YOKOHAMA International Triennale of Contemporary Art. He participated in a fashion show, featuring the Hermès Autumn/Winter 2008 collection, wearing this outfit and strutting his stuff with the world’s fashion elite.

(Source of outfit image)
(Video downloads at Yorokobi no Uta)

English translations for all but six of Akanishi’s KAT-TUN Manuals (excluding any special promotional entries) have been posted here. The rest will be done sometime this weekend. Or not. *fails*

Also, between 10:00pm and midnight (EST) tonight, the 26th, I’ll be upgrading Wordpress and playing with the layout a bit, so if you come here and find nothing but jarbled php code and a woman curled up in a corner whimpering… that’s why. Hopefully, I won’t break too much.

And done. The upgrade only broke one thing (my beloved breadcrumbs plugin… *sobs*). I’ll be tampering with the layout off and on all weekend, but nothing major enough to make the entire site implode.

It’s that time of year again: when thousands of Japan’s citizens cast their vote for the country’s best jeanists (i.e. the two people who look the best in jeans).

Yeah, I don’t get it either, but whatever.

For the third year in a row, Kamenashi Kazuya won this revered title by a landslide, beating his competition by over 4,000 votes. He was joined, again, by Koda Kumi, who was voted Best Female Jeanist for the third time. If the two continue winning this prestigious award for a couple more years, they’ll become “Eternal Best Jeanists” and be ineligible for the award.

(Source)
(Video downloads at Yorokobi no Uta)