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Saiyūki (TV Series)
is a 2006 Japanese historical TV drama based on the 16th-century Chinese novel ''Journey to the West''. It is a successor to the popular 1970s TV show ''Saiyūki'', known outside Japan as ''Monkey''. There have been three dramas and one special based on ''Journey to the West'' that have aired previously, making this one the fifth adaptation in Japan. Fuji TV made an unusual decision to air this on 9pm every Monday, a primetime slot usually reserved for romantic dramas, hoping to capture both the young and the old by making this choice. While the series started off with viewership nearly reaching 30%, its rating gradually sank, barely making it at 20% at one point; the last episode finished off with 24.7%. Rather than producing a second season, Fuji TV and Toho produced a feature film version of ''Saiyūki'', that was released in Japan on July 14, 2007. The film was a box office success, becoming the 8th highest-grossing film of 2007 in Japan. The whole plot of the film is loose ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fantasy Genre
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or magical elements, often including imaginary places and creatures. The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, which later became fantasy literature and drama. From the twentieth century onward, it has expanded into various media, including film, television, graphic novels, manga, animation, and video games. The expression ''fantastic literature'' is often used for this genre by Anglophone literary critics. An archaic spelling for the term is ''phantasy''. Fantasy is generally distinguished from the genres of science fiction and horror by an absence of scientific or macabre themes, although these can occur in fantasy. In popular culture, the fantasy genre predominantly features settings that reflect the actual Earth, but with some sense of otherness. Characteristics Many works of fantasy use magic or other supernatural elements as a main plot element, theme, or setting. Magic, magic practitioners ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The UK includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, and most of List of islands of the United Kingdom, the smaller islands within the British Isles, covering . Northern Ireland shares Republic of Ireland–United Kingdom border, a land border with the Republic of Ireland; otherwise, the UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel, the Celtic Sea and the Irish Sea. It maintains sovereignty over the British Overseas Territories, which are located across various oceans and seas globally. The UK had an estimated population of over 68.2 million people in 2023. The capital and largest city of both England and the UK is London. The cities o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rhythm Zone
(RZN) is a record label in the Avex Group that releases urban contemporary Japanese music. History The label was founded in 1999 by Max Matsuura with a focus on urban music, signing M-Flo as its first artist, then followed by Exile. In 2000, Koda Kumi was signed by Rhythm Zone and debuted with the song " Take Back". Artists and sublabels Main : * Afra and the Incredible Beatbox Band * Aili * Aria * Asako Toki * Asia Engineer * Baby M * Boyz II Men (Japan only) * Bright * Caravan * The Chill * Deep (formerly Color) * Dorlis * Dream * DJ Emma * Exile ** Atsushi (Atsushi Sato) ** Nesmith (Ryuta Karim Nesmith) * FAKY * Fukumimi * Giant Swing * Happiness * Miyuki Hatakeyama * Yuko Ishida * Iconiq (Ito Ayumi) * J Soul Brothers * Jamosa * Jonte * Joey Boy * Ken the 390 * Kumi Koda * Seara Kojo * Lisa * M-Flo ** Ryu Yeong-gi (Verbal) ** Taku Takahashi * Mai * May J. * Micron' Stuff * Mini Box * mink * Miray * Shion Miyawaki * Nao * Ohashi Trio * Shinichi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Avex Trax
is a record label owned by Japanese entertainment conglomerate Avex Inc. The label was launched in September 1990, and was the first label by the Group. History Two years after Max Matsuura began a career distributing studio albums from other countries, he and his two Avex co-founders, Tom Yoda and Ken Suzuki, decided to found their own label. Aiming to compete with more established labels such as Nippon Columbia, Nippon Crown, BMG Victor, Victor Musical Industries, Toshiba-EMI, CBS/Sony, Teichiku Records, King Records, Nippon Phonogram and PolyGram K.K., they created the Avex Trax label. The first artist to sign to the label was the band TRF, which became a success. This led to Avex Trax becoming a "house of refuge" for artists who had left their former labels (e.g. Ayumi Hamasaki from Nippon Columbia, Namie Amuro from Toshiba-EMI, Ami Suzuki from Sony Music Japan). It also appealed to artists not content with their current labels (e.g. Gackt from Nippon Crown ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Masaaki Sakai
is a popular Japanese performer from Tokyo. He is best known to English-speaking audiences as the title star of the TV show ''Monkey''. Biography Masaaki Sakai is a Japanese actor, singer and martial artist. Born the son of , a famous comedian in Japan, Sakai initially came to fame by fronting the group sounds band The Spiders. This group, formed in 1962, was popular throughout the 1960s; they spawned several hit songs as well as thirteen situation comedy films featuring their music. He took the title role of ''Son Goku'' (literally meaning "Descendant Aware of Vacuity", but the Chinese character for "descendant" is a punning reference to a similar character meaning "Monkey") in the 1970s Japanese TV program '' Saiyūki'' (lit. "Journey to the West"). This gained him fame in many English-speaking countries in the early 1980s when it was dubbed by the BBC and retitled ''Monkey''. Due to his fame playing the mythical character ''Songoku,'' Sakai created a dance called "th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ayumi Ishida (actress)
was a Japanese actress and singer, whose real name was . She was the second among four daughters. She won the award for Best Actress at the 4th Yokohama Film Festival for '' Yajūdeka''. She also won the awards for best actress at the 29th Blue Ribbon Awards and the 11th Hochi Film Award for '' House on Fire'' and '' Tokei - Adieu l'hiver''. As for her musical career, she was best known for the singles "BLUE LIGHT Yokohama" (which topped the charts in 1968/1969 at #1), "Anata nara Dō Suru (#2), and "Sabaku no You na Tokyo de" (#3). On March 17, 2025, her agency announced that she had died from hypothyroidism on March 11. She was 76. Filmography Film *1973 – '' Submersion of Japan'' *1977 – ''Seishun no mon: Jiritsu hen'' *1979 – '' Hunter in the Dark'' *1981 – ''Station'' *1982 – '' Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san'' *1982 – '' Yajū-deka'' *1986 – '' Tokei - Adieu l'hiver'' *1986 – '' House on Fire'' *1988 – '' Umi e, See You'' *1996 – '' Gakko II'' *199 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shaku Yumiko
is a Japanese actress, model and former gravure idol. She is represented by Tommy's Artist Company. Filmography Television *'' Fermat's Cuisine'' (2023), Sakura Akamatsu Film *''Hello, My Friend'' (2025) Bibliography *'' Shaku Beauty'' (2009) (Publisher: Wani Books; ) *'' Shaku Beauty-Style'' (2010) (Publisher: Gakken Publishing; ) *'' am' (2012) (Publisher: Gakken Publishing; ) *'' haku Body' (2013) (Publisher: Gakken Publishing; ) References External links Official profile at Tommy's Artist Company Official blog * {{DEFAULTSORT:Shaku, Yumiko 1978 births Living people Voice actresses from Tokyo Metropolis Actresses from Tokyo Japanese female models Japanese film actresses Japanese television actresses Japanese women television personalities Japanese video game actresses People from Kiyose, Tokyo 20th-century Japanese actresses 21st-century Japanese actresses ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hitomi Takahashi (actress)
is a Japanese actress. Selected filmography Film * '' Fruits of Passion'' (1981) * ''Double Bed'' (1983) * '' Farewell to the Ark'' (1984) * '' It's a Summer Vacation Everyday'' (1994) * '' Rebirth of Mothra'' (1996) * '' Ultraman Cosmos: The First Contact'' (2001) * '' Honey and Clover'' (2008) * ''Aristocrats'' (2021) * ''The End of the Pale Hour'' (2022) *''Baian the Assassin, M.D. 2'' (2023) *''Love Will Tear Us Apart'' (2023) TV * ''Fuzoroi no ringotachi'' (ふぞろいの林檎たち Odd Apples) (1983, 1985, 1991, 1997) * '' Hanekonma'' (1986) References External links *JMDb profile (in Japanese) Actresses from Tokyo Japanese actresses 1961 births Living people {{Japan-screen-actor-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Keiji Mutoh
is a Japanese professional wrestling executive, actor and retired professional wrestler. He is known for his work under his real name and as his alter ego in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), as well as World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and during the 1980s and 1990s, and from his runs in other Japanese, contiguous United States, American, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican, and Mexico, Mexican Professional wrestling promotion, promotions. He was the President (corporate title), president of All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) from 2002 to 2013 and Representative director (Japan), representative director of Wrestle-1 (W-1) from 2013 until its closure in 2020. Considered one of the greatest and most influential wrestlers of all time, Muto is one of the first Japanese wrestlers (''puroresura'') to gain an international fanbase in the 1990s and beyond, thanks in large part to his Great Muta Gimmick (professional wrestling), gimmick. The gimmick is one of the most influential in ''puroresu'', emul ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rieko Miura
is a Japanese actress, voice actress, singer and former member of the band CoCo (band), CoCo. She was born in Nakano, Tokyo. Her solo debut was on 14 September 1991. Filmography Film *''Kyō no Kira-kun'' (2017), Kanon Okamura *''Love and Lies (Japanese film), Love and Lies'' (2017), Aoi's mother Television drama *''The Kindaichi Case Files'' (1995–96), Tomoyo Takashima *''Toshiie and Matsu'' (2002), Kyōgoku Tatsuko *''Tokumei Kakarichō Tadano Hitoshi'' (2003), Mayuko Shinmizu *''Shiroi Kyotō, The Great White Tower'' (2004), Hanako Noda *''Kekkon Dekinai Otoko, He Who Can't Marry'' (2006), Keiko Nakagawa Television animation *''Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo, Kochikame'' (1998–2004), Komachi Ono *''Read or Die (OVA)'' (2001), Yomiko Readman *''R.O.D the TV'' (2003–2004), Yomiko Readman Discography Singles * 14 February 1991: Namida no Tsubomi tachi * 3 July 1991: Suiheisen de Tsukamaete * 7 November 1991: Nichiyo wa Dameyo * 26 February ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Takuya Kimura
is a Japanese actor, singer, and radio personality. He is regarded as a Japanese icon after achieving success as an actor. He was also a popular member of SMAP, one of the best-selling boy bands in Asia. In the media, he is known as a huge heartthrob in Japan, and a sex symbol, having been voted Japan's sexiest man for 15 years in a row by readers of one magazine. A 1996 television drama series, ''Long Vacation'', in which he landed his first lead role, became a massive success, creating a phrase called the "Lon-bake phenomenon". He was given the title, "The King of Ratings", as his subsequent television series continued to generate high ratings and each show became a social phenomenon as it aired. Five of his most successful television series, ''Hero (2001 TV series), Hero'' (2001), ''Beautiful Life (Japanese TV series), Beautiful Life'' (2000), ''Love Generation (TV series), Love Generation'' (1997), ''Good Luck!!'' (2003), and ''Long Vacation'' (1996) are ranked in the top t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kadono Takuzo
Kadono (written: 角野 or 上遠野) is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include: *, Japanese writer * Kadono Takuzo, Japanese actor who appeared in '' Summer Snow'' *, Japanese writer *, Japanese snowboarder *, Japanese water polo player {{surname Japanese-language surnames ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
