|
Andromedia
is a 1998 Japanese film directed by Takashi Miike. The film features the Japanese musical groups Speed and Da Pump. Plot High school students Mainosuke "Mai" Hitomi and Yuu kiss for the first time. Later that same day Mai is hit by a truck and killed. Her scientist father, Toshihiko Hitomi, uses a scan of her memories created before her death to construct an AI copy of her, named "Ai". Soccer, the CEO of the American tech company Digital Ware, wishes to awaken his own AI and sends an agent to shoot Toshihiko and steal his software, but Toshihiko sends Ai through the modem to safety before dying. Ai finds Yuu through a school computer terminal nicknamed "Icon" that has been enhanced by Satoshi Takanaka, Mai's genius half-brother with a terminal brain disease. Yuu transfers Ai to his laptop, through which she interacts with him and Mai's old friends, including Rika, who is jealous of Yuu's love for Ai. Soccer sends Satoshi and others to chase down Yuu and capture Ai. Cast *Hiroko ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Speed (Japanese Band)
Speed (stylized as SPEED) were a Japanese female vocal/dance group comprising Hiroko Shimabukuro, Eriko Imai, Takako Uehara and Hitoe Arakaki. All four members are former students of the Okinawa Actors School which also trained popular artists Namie Amuro and MAX. Speed made their major label debut on August 5, 1996, and became an immediate success. They would eventually become the most successful girl group anywhere in Asia with sales of over 20 million singles and albums in just three years and eight months. They disbanded on March 31, 2000, to pursue solo careers and to study. Following their disbandment, the group reunited several times for charity, but on August 20, 2008, they officially announced plans to reunite permanently. They made their comeback on November 12, 2008, with the single "Ashita no Sora." History 1995–1997: Early success The girls that would become Speed met at the Okinawa Actors School and originally formed a group containing seven to nine rotating ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Takashi Miike
is a Japanese film director, film producer and screenwriter. He has directed over one hundred theatrical, video, and television productions since his debut in 1991. His films run through a variety of different genres, and range from violent and bizarre to dramatic and family-friendly movies. He is a controversial figure in the contemporary Japanese cinema industry, with several of his films being criticised for their extreme graphic violence. Some of his best known films are ''Audition'', ''Ichi the Killer'', ''Gozu'', ''One Missed Call'', the '' Dead or Alive'' trilogy, and various remakes: ''Graveyard of Honor'', '' Hara-kiri'' and ''13 Assassins''. Early life Miike was born in Yao, Osaka Prefecture, to a '' Nikkei'' family originally from the Kumamoto Prefecture, on the island of Kyushu. During World War II, his grandfather was stationed in China and Korea, and his father was born in Seoul in today's South Korea. His father worked as a welder and his mother as a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eriko Imai
is a Japanese pop singer, actress and politician. She made her debut in the early 1990s as part of the group Speed, which disbanded in March 2000. Eriko began her work away from Speed during 1998, performing "Tsumetaku Shinai de", under the stage name "Eriko with Crunch", on the Speed single "All My True Love". After the group disbanded, Imai continued her career as a solo artist until Speed's reformation in 2008. Biography Early career (1996–2000) Imai was born in Okinawa. She was the second-youngest member and one of the main vocalists in the female J-pop group Speed. After Speed's popularity spread widely in Japan, they were asked to act in the movie ''Andromedia'' in 1998, Eriko's first acting experience. Eriko also appeared in the drama " LxIxVxE" in 1999 with fellow Speed member Hitoe. When Eriko began her solo career in early 2000, she teamed up with the dance group Crunch and the unit was named "Eriko with Crunch". Their first two maxi singles, "Red Beat of My Life ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kazuki Kitamura
is a Japanese film and television actor who won the award for best supporting actor at the 21st Yokohama Film Festival for '' Minazuki'', ''Kyohansha'' and ''Kanzen-naru shiiku'' as well as the CUT ABOVE Award for Excellence in Film at JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film in New York in 2014. Selected filmography Film *''Yuki no Concerto'' (1991) * (1996) as Kubo *''Tenzen Shoujo Man'' (天然少女 萬) (1996) * (1997) as Sada * (1997) as Hideyuki Sakata *''Mukokuseki no otoko: Chi no shûkaku'' (1997) *''Romantikku mania'' (1997) as Ujiie * (1997) *''Joker'' (1998) as Hisao * (1998) as Sada * (1999) as Tsuda * (1999) as Yasuharu Nishikawa * (1999) as Yoji * (1999) as Ryuichi * (1999) as Akira * (1999) * (2000) as Noboru Hirokawa *''Himawari'' (2000) as Shinji Sasahara *''Swing Man'' (2000) as Kazuki Kitaoka *''Kishiwada Shōnen Gurentai: Yakyudan'' (2000) *''Rendan'' (2001) as Ohsawa *''Man-hole'' (2001) as Shin'ichi Yoshioka *'' Turn'' (2001) as Kakizaki Kiyotaka *''Chi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tsunehiko Watase
(July 28, 1944 – March 14, 2017) was a Japanese actor known for portraying Rintaro Kano in ''Keishicho Sosa Ikka 9 Gakari'' ("Homicide Team 9"). He won the award for best supporting actor at the 2nd Japan Academy Prize for '' The Incident'' and at the 3rd Hochi Film Award for '' The Incident'', '' Kōtei no inai hachigatsu'' and ''The Fall of Ako Castle''. His older brother is the actor Tetsuya Watari. Death Tsunehiko Watase died at a hospital in Tokyo on Tuesday, his office said Thursday. He was 72. Watase had been undergoing treatment after a tumor was found in his gallbladder in 2015. He died of multiple organ failure, his office said. Filmography Film * ''Sympathy for the Underdog'' (1971) * ''Wandering Ginza Butterfly'' (1972) * ''Battles Without Honor and Humanity'' (1973) * '' Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War'' (1973) * '' Bodigaado Kiba: Hissatsu sankaku tobi'' (1973) *'' Aesthetics of a Bullet'' (1973) * '' New Battles Without Honor and Humanity'' (1974 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hiroko Shimabukuro
, best known mononymously as Hiro, is a Japanese singer. She debuted as a member of the popular girl group Speed in 1996. In 1998, Hiro released her first solo song, "Mitsumete Itai", as a B-side to Speed's single "All My True Love". She made her official solo debut in 1999 with the single "As Time Goes By", which sold 800,000 copies in Japan. Charting and sales Her first album, ''Brilliant'' charted in Japan at number 4 for five weeks, selling 400,000 copies. Her second album, ''Naked and True'', reached number 1, and she released a best singles album that charted in the top 10. In August 2004, Hiro released an all-English jazz album under the name of ''Coco d'Or''. Her single "Hikari no naka de" was featured on the soundtrack to the movie ''Devilman''. A year later, she released another song, "Clover", tied to anime ''Black Jack'', selling 20,000 copies. Her two CDs released in 2006 sold considerably less, "Hero" selling 7,000 copies and "Itsuka Futari de" 9,000. Performan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tomorowo Taguchi
is a Japanese actor, film director and musician. After leaving Dokkyo University without graduating, he started to earn his living as an illustrator, writer and pornographic cartoonist. He joined a theatre called Hakken no Kai in 1978 and he made a screen debut in ''Zokubutsu Zukan'' (based on the book by Yasutaka Tsutsui) in 1982. He was also a prominent cult musician in the Tokyo underground scene with his band Bachikaburi in the 1980s and early 1990s. He is probably most well known to the West as the lead actor in '' Tetsuo'' and '' Tetsuo II'' directed by Shinya Tsukamoto. He also makes regular appearances in Takashi Miike's films. He became known to the Japanese public as a narrator for the TV documentary series ''Project X - Challengers'' which aired between 2000 and 2005 on NHK , also known as NHK, is a Japanese public broadcaster. NHK, which has always been known by this romanized initialism in Japanese, is a statutory corporation funded by viewers' payments of a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Takako Uehara
is a Japanese pop singer, actress, and former radio host. She was a member of the group Speed. Uehara was born in Okinawa, Japan. Personal life Uehara married TENN, one of the singers of J-pop group ET-KING in 2012, but the marriage only lasted two years because her husband committed suicide in 2014. (She was allegedly having an affair with Tsuyoshi Abe.) Three years after his death, TENN's younger brother leaked a concam recording detailing the transcript of the affair. Uehara is currently married to stage director Kazuya Koh. History Her first solo single "My First Love" was released in January 1999, and was produced by Ryuichi Kawamura (of Luna Sea). "My First Love" was the beginning of a prosperous collaboration between Uehara and Kawamura. The single sold over 500,000 copies. The promotional video along with the cover and leaflet photos for 'My First Love' were all shot on location in Hawaii. Uehara followed up with her second and third singles, 'Come Close to Me' and ' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Akihiro Yoshikawa
Akihiro (written: , , , , , , , , 明広, , , , , , , , , , , or ) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese footballer *, Japanese volleyball player *, Japanese mixed martial artist *Akihiro Higuchi, Ukrainian-born film director known by his alias Higuchinsky *, Japanese video game designer and businessman *, Japanese footballer *, Japanese footballer *, Japanese-born American mathematician *, Japanese artistic gymnast *, Japanese actor and director *, Japanese artist *, Japanese ''daimyō'' *, Japanese singer, drag queen, director, composer and writer *, Japanese shogi player *, Japanese mixed martial artist *, Japanese footballer *, Japanese politician *, Japanese footballer and manager *, Japanese footballer *, Japanese sport shooter *, Japanese footballer *, Japanese footballer * Akihiro Sato (model), Brazilian model *, Japanese biathlete *Akihiro Tsukiyama, birth name of Lee Myung-Bak, President of South Korea *, Japanese illustrat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anna Ide
Anna may refer to: People Surname and given name * Anna (name) Mononym * Anna the Prophetess, in the Gospel of Luke * Anna (wife of Artabasdos) (fl. 715–773) * Anna (daughter of Boris I) (9th–10th century) * Anna (Anisia) (fl. 1218 to 1221) * Anna of Poland, Countess of Celje (1366–1425) * Anna of Cilli (1386–1416) * Anna, Grand Duchess of Lithuania (died 1418) * Anne of Austria, Landgravine of Thuringia (1432–1462) * Anna of Nassau-Dillenburg (died 1514) * Anna, Duchess of Prussia (1576–1625) * Anna of Russia (1693–1740) * Anna, Lady Miller (1741–1781) * Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford (1783–1857) * Anna, Lady Barlow (1873–1965) * Anna (feral child) (1932–1942) * Anna (singer) (born 1987) Places Australia * Hundred of Anna, a cadastral district in South Australia Iran * Anna, Fars, a village in Fars Province * Anna, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, a village in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province Russia * Anna, Voronezh Oblast, an urban locality in Vor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ken Okumoto
Ken or KEN may refer to: Entertainment * ''Ken'' (album), a 2017 album by Canadian indie rock band Destroyer. * ''Ken'' (film), 1964 Japanese film. * ''Ken'' (magazine), a large-format political magazine. * Ken Masters, a main character in the ''Street Fighter'' franchise. People * Ken (given name), a list of people named Ken * Ken (musician) (born 1968), guitarist of the Japanese rock band L'Arc-en-Ciel * Ken (SB19 musician) (born 1997), stage name of Felip Jhon Suson of the Filipino boy group, SB19 * Ken (VIXX singer) (born 1992), stage name of Lee Jae-hwan of the South Korean boy group, VIXX * Naoko Ken (born 1953), Japanese singer and actress (Ken as surname) * Thomas Ken (1637–1711), English cleric and composer * Tjungkara Ken (born 1969), Aboriginal Australian artist * Ken Zheng (born April 5, 1995) is an Indonesian actor, screenwriter and martial artist Other * Kèn, a musical instrument from Vietnam. * Ken (doll), a product by Mattel. * ''Ken'' (unit) (間), a Ja ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shinobu Miyara
is a Japanese verb meaning or . It is a Japanese given name used by either sex. Shinobu is also the dictionary form of ''shinobi'' which can be combined with ''mono'' (者) to make ''shinobi no mono'' (忍びの者), an alternative name of ninja. Possible writings Shinobu can be written using different kanji characters and can mean: ;as a given name *忍, "endurance/perseverance/patience" *清信, "purify, belief" *志信, "intention, belief" ;as a male given name *信夫, "belief, man" The name can also be written in hiragana or katakana, though hiragana is typically reserved for females and katakana for foreign-born Japanese. People *Shinobu Adachi (忍, born 1958), Japanese voice actress and actress *Shinobu Asagoe (しのぶ, born 1976), Japanese professional tennis player *Shinobu Fukuhara (忍, born 1976), Japanese baseball pitcher *Shinobu Hashimoto (忍, born 1918), Japanese screenwriter, director, and producer * Shinobu "Inoran" Inoue (清信, born 1970), Japanese ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |