Gingham Check
is the 27th major single by the Japanese idol girl group AKB48. The members were chosen from their placements in the AKB48's 2012 general election. The single was released in Japan on August 29, 2012. It includes the graduation song for long-time headlining member Atsuko Maeda. 2012 general election On March 26, 2012, AKB48 announced it would be holding an election to determine the lineup for its 27th major single. The field of candidates consisted of 243 members from AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, and HKT48, and the ballots were available in the group's 26th single, "Manatsu no Sounds Good!" The election results were announced on June 6 at Nippon Budokan and results were broadcast live on TV for the first time. Yuko Oshima came first, followed by Mayu Watanabe and Yuki Kashiwagi. This is the first single without Atsuko Maeda in the main lineup (excluding rock-paper-scissors singles) as she did not participate as a candidate in the election, and graduated from the group two days be ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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AKB48
AKB48 (pronounced ''A.K.B. Forty-Eight'') is a Japanese idol girl group named after the Akihabara (''Akiba'' for short) area in Tokyo, where the group's theater is located. AKB48's producer, Yasushi Akimoto, wanted to form a girl group with its own theater and performing daily so fans could always see them live (which is not the case with usual pop groups giving occasional concerts and seen on television). This "idols you can meet" concept includes teams which can rotate performances and perform simultaneously at several events and "handshake" events, where fans can meet group members. Akimoto has expanded the AKB48 concept to several girl groups in Mainland China, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan and the Philippines. AKB48 have been characterized as a social phenomenon. They are among the highest-earning musical acts in Japan, and are the fifth-best-selling girl group worldwide. For example, their 2012 sales from record and DVD/Blu-ray releases reached $226 million, earni ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Yuko Oshima
is a Japanese actress and former member of Japanese idol girl group AKB48, of which she was the captain of Team K. She was also a member of the AKB48 subunit Not Yet. In addition to the singles that involved the rock-paper-scissors tournaments, she sang on the title tracks for all of AKB48's singles since "Aitakatta" in October 2006. She placed among the top two of the annual AKB48 general elections from 2009 to 2013. Oshima is currently represented with Ohta Production. Biography Oshima was born in Yokohama, and was raised in Mibu, Tochigi Prefecture. Her mother is from Hokkaido. Oshima is 3/4 Japanese and 1/4 American. Her parents divorced 6 months after her family moved to Mibu. Oshima lived with her father while she only saw her mother once after the divorce. In 1996, she signed as a child actor with Central Kodomo Gekidan. In 2005, she began working as a junior idol in a short-lived idol project Doll's Vox, which was produced by The Alfee vocalist Toshihiko Takamizawa. ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Yūko Ōshima
is a Japanese actress and former member of Japanese idol girl group AKB48, of which she was the captain of Team K. She was also a member of the AKB48 subunit Not Yet. In addition to the singles that involved the rock-paper-scissors tournaments, she sang on the title tracks for all of AKB48's singles since "Aitakatta" in October 2006. She placed among the top two of the annual AKB48 general elections from 2009 to 2013. Oshima is currently represented with Ohta Production. Biography Oshima was born in Yokohama, and was raised in Mibu, Tochigi Prefecture. Her mother is from Hokkaido. Oshima is 3/4 Japanese and 1/4 American. Her parents divorced 6 months after her family moved to Mibu. Oshima lived with her father while she only saw her mother once after the divorce. In 1996, she signed as a child actor with Central Kodomo Gekidan. In 2005, she began working as a junior idol in a short-lived idol project Doll's Vox, which was produced by The Alfee vocalist Toshihiko Takamizawa. ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Akira Nakao
is a Japanese actor, TV personality, and artist from Kisarazu, Chiba. Nakao is represented by the Furutachi Project agency. Biography Nakao attended Chiba Prefectural Kisarazu High School from 1958, and entered Musashino Art University from 1961. Also in 1961, he was selected in the "5th Nikkatsu New Face" talent competition. In 1963, he left Musashino Art University to study in Paris, France. On returning to Japan in 1964, he enrolled in the theatre company, where he studied under Jūkichi Uno. In 1971, he left the Mingei theatre group to work as a freelance actor. In 1978, he married actress Shino Ikenami, the daughter of ''rakugo'' comedian Kingentei Basho. They received the "Nice Couple Award" in 2008. In 1988, he started studying ceramics under Masaaki Kosugi in Karatsu, Saga. Acting career Nakao has appeared in ''jidaigeki'' (period dramas) and contemporary dramas on television and film, as well as variety shows. Fans of ''Abarenbō Shōgun'' immediately recognize him ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Kamen Rider New Den-O
is the seventeenth installment in the popular Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu programs. It is a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei. It premiered January 28, 2007 on TV Asahi, and concluded airing on January 20, 2008. Its lead actor Takeru Satoh is the first Kamen Rider Series lead born in the Heisei period of Japanese history. It aired on the Super Hero Time slot alongside ''Gogo Sentai Boukenger'' and later ''Juken Sentai Gekiranger''. Along with the usual film adaptation that Heisei Kamen Rider series have released during the late summer of their broadcast run, ''Den-O'' had a second film released in the spring following its broadcast run which grossed 730 million yen (approximately US$6.8 million) and a series of ten OVA shorts, both of which are firsts for any ''Kamen Rider''. Continuing the trend, ''Kamen Rider Den-O'' also had a third film released in October 2008, the first for any Kamen Rider series and a second series of 12 OVA shorts was released ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Dori Sakurada
, born in December 7, 1991, is a Japanese actor and singer. He is best known for his role as Ryoma Echizen as part of the third generation Seigaku cast in ''The Prince of Tennis'' musicals, Tenimyu. Biography Career Dori Sakurada was born in December 7, 1991 in Tokyo, Japan. At age 11, while walking home with his Mother, he was scouted and soon joined his current company, Amuse. He took singing, dancing and acting lessons while attending middle and high school. In 2005, he was chosen to play the lead protagonist ''Ryoma Echizen'' in a musical adapted from the popular anime ''The Prince of Tennis'', ''Tenimyu''. The desicion generated a buzz, as at the age of 14, he was the youngest member to be cast. In the same year, he made his acting debut when he appeared in one episode of the TV drama, '' Ruri's Island.'' After his two year run as Ryoma Echizen, he got his big break in 2008 when he starred as Kotaro Nogami in '' Saraba Kamen Rider Den-O: Final Countdown,'' the third fi ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Kamen Rider Kiva
is the 2008 ''Kamen Rider'' Japanese ''tokusatsu'' television series produced by Toei Company and Ishimori Productions. It is the series' ninth series in its Heisei era, and 18th series overall since the debut of ''Kamen Rider'' in 1971. It premiered on January 27, 2008, following the finale of '' Kamen Rider Den-O'', and aired as a part of TV Asahi's 2008 Super Hero Time block with ''Engine Sentai Go-onger''. The series was advertised to have horror film themes, such as Kamen Rider Kiva being a vampire. The first episode began with a commemoration of the series in honor of the seventieth anniversary of Shotaro Ishinomori's birthday. Synopsis 22 years after the disappearance of his father, Wataru Kurenai lives in an infamous "haunted house" where he is destined as Kamen Rider Kiva to fight Fangires, a species of life force-draining vampires who can assume stained glass-like monster body that his father fought years ago before his disappearance. Wataru also deals with Kamen Rider ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Hana Kimi
, is a shōjo manga series written by Hisaya Nakajo. The manga was serialized in Japan in Hakusensha's semi-monthly shōjo manga magazine, '' Hana to Yume''. The series was concluded with the Japanese release of volume 23 in August 2004. ''Hana-Kimi'' was published in English by Viz Media with the final volume released in the United States in April 2008. The series centers on Mizuki Ashiya, a Japanese girl who lives in the United States. One day, she sees a track and field competition on TV, and becomes attracted to one of the high jump competitors, Izumi Sano. She begins to idolize the young athlete and eventually transfers to Japan to attend the same school that Sano attends. There is a catch, however: Sano attends an all-boys high school named Osaka Gakuen and Mizuki must disguise herself as a boy to enter. Plot Mizuki Ashiya, a Japanese girl living in the United States, watches a program on TV featuring a high jumper named Izumi Sano. She was amazed by his performan ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Kouhei Takeda
is a Japanese actor, entertainer and model. He is best known for his roles as Kohei Kitahanada in Fuji TV's ''Hanazakari no Kimitachi e/Ikemen Paradise'' drama, Otoya Kurenai and Kazumi Sawatari in TV Asahi's tokusatsu series ''Kamen Rider Kiva'' and ''Kamen Rider Build'', and the voice of Vaan in ''Final Fantasy XII''. In 2001, he received the 14th "Super Boy JUNON contest" special jury award. He is a former member of the PureBOYS. Filmography TV * ''Chouseishin Gransazer'' (Tv Series 2003) As Ken Shindo Sazer Lion *''Otouto'' (TV Asahi, 2004) *''Shichinin no Onna Bengoshi'' (TV Asahi, 2006) as Masato Todo *''My Boss My Hero'' (NTV, 2006) as Ryusuke Hiratsuka *''Oniyome Nikki 2'' (Fuji TV, 2007) *'' Hanazakari no Kimitachi e / Ikemen♂Paradise'' (Fuji TV, 2007) as Kohei Kitahanada *'' Tadashii Ouji no Tsukuri Kata'' (TV Tokyo, 2008) as Hayato Noda *''Kamen Rider Kiva'' (TV Asahi, 2008) as Otoya Kurenai, Masao Kurenai *''Kamen Rider Decade'' (TV Asahi, 2009) as Otoya Ku ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Kamen Rider Den-O
is the seventeenth installment in the popular Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu programs. It is a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei. It premiered January 28, 2007 on TV Asahi, and concluded airing on January 20, 2008. Its lead actor Takeru Satoh is the first Kamen Rider Series lead born in the Heisei period of Japanese history. It aired on the Super Hero Time slot alongside ''Gogo Sentai Boukenger'' and later ''Juken Sentai Gekiranger''. Along with the usual film adaptation that Heisei Kamen Rider series have released during the late summer of their broadcast run, ''Den-O'' had a second film released in the spring following its broadcast run which grossed 730 million yen (approximately US$6.8 million) and a series of ten OVA shorts, both of which are firsts for any ''Kamen Rider''. Continuing the trend, ''Kamen Rider Den-O'' also had a third film released in October 2008, the first for any Kamen Rider series and a second series of 12 OVA shorts was released ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Joseph Kahn (director)
Joseph Jun-hee Kahn (born Ahn Jun-hee, ko, 안준희; October 12, 1972) is a South Korean-American film and music video director. Kahn has worked with various artists such as Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Eminem, Backstreet Boys, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue, Sun Ho, Samantha Mumba, Shakira, Aaliyah, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Chris Brown, Kelly Clarkson, Ava Max, Mariah Carey, Imagine Dragons, Christina Aguilera, 50 Cent, Destiny's Child, George Michael and Jonas Brothers. Early life Kahn was born Ahn Jun-hee () in Busan, South Korea. His family spent part of his childhood there and in Livorno, Italy until moving to Jersey Village, Texas, a suburb of Houston, when Joseph was seven. After graduating from Jersey Village High School in 1990, Kahn went to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts but dropped out after a year due to inability to pay tuition. Returning to Houston, Kahn worked at a movie theater before beginning to direct hip-hop music videos. Music ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Tomomi Kasai
is a Japanese singer, actress and a former member of the idol group AKB48, belonging to Team A. She had a recurring role on ''Kamen Rider W'' as Elizabeth, alongside group member Tomomi Itano. Together, they make up the sub-unit Queen & Elizabeth. On November 10, 2012, it was announced she would be making her solo debut. On November 25, Kasai performed her solo song for the first time, the title announced as . It was released on December 26. On December 17, Kasai announced that she would leave the group. Her farewell ceremony was on May 3, 2013. Personal life She is the younger sister of former singer Rion Kasai. On May 15, 2021, Kasai announced her marriage to acrobat gymnast and actor Keita Koyama. She gave birth to their first child, a daughter in 2022. Discography Solo singles * (2012) - Sales: 44,982 * "Mine" (2013) - Sales: 22,417 * (2014) - Sales: 13,697 * (2014) - Sales: 7,152 Albums * "STAR-T!" (2017) - Sales: 3,000 With AKB48 With SKE48 as Queen ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |