Japan Zone - Entertainment News from Japan http://www.japan-zone.com/news/ Keep up to date with all the news and developments in Japanese show business. 2015-11-22T20:16:07+09:00 Japanese Comedian Wins Top BBC Award http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2015/11/22/japanese_comedian_wins_top_bbc_award.shtml Yuriko Kotani
Congratulations to Japanese comedian (or should that be comedienne?) Kotani Yuriko, who has won this year's BBC Radio New Comedy Award. The final was held last Friday live on BBC Radio 2, and broadcast live from the Comedy Store in London on the show of veteran DJ Steve Wright. Kotani beat five other finalists, chosen from 750 audition tapes, eight...
]]> tokyoguy 2015-11-22T20:16:07+09:00 RIP Kawashima Naomi http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2015/09/25/rip_kawashima_naomi.shtml Kawashima Naomi

Actress Kawashima Naomi died Thursday of bile duct cancer at a Tokyo hospital. She was 54. Her death was announced on Facebook by her husband, pastry chef Yoroizuka Toshihiko. The pair had been married since 2009.

Kawashima made her debut as a singer with "Champagne No.5" in 1979 while still a student at the prestigious Aoyama Gakuin University. She gained popularity in the early 1980s as...
]]> tokyoguy 2015-09-25T18:56:45+09:00 The Games of Summer http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2015/06/24/the_games_of_summer.shtml Kingyo Sukui

Kingyo Sukui literally means "goldfish scooping" and if you've ever been to Japanese summer matsuri (festival) you will no doubt have seen this game in action. You have a plastic scoop with a thin paper center with which you have to try to catch as many small, live goldfish swimming in a small pool as you can before the paper dissolves in the water. These days it's more likely to be small plastic toys that you try to scoop up, which is more...
]]> tokyoguy 2015-06-24T01:36:09+09:00 Win a Copy of "Cool Japan Guide" http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2015/05/02/win_a_copy_of_cool_japan_guide.shtml Cool Japan Guide

Starting this month, we will be giving away 2 copies of a popular title every month from Tuttle Publishing. All you have to do to win is head over to our Facebook page and Like or Share the post about this title. We'll choose 2 winners and contact you for to arrange delivery.

]]> tokyoguy 2015-05-02T03:04:33+09:00 This is Not the Dreamliner You're Looking For http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2015/04/17/this_is_not_the_dreamliner_youre_looking_for.shtml Star Wars Dreamliner

Having just seen the tantalizing second trailer for the upcoming Star Wars movie, I'm excited. Like I was as a teenager back in 1977. And when you mix that excitement with my love of airplanes...well, I just had to share! ANA, one of Japan's major airlines, has released this artists's impression of their planned Star Wars tie-up. And it just may be the...
]]> tokyoguy 2015-04-17T19:11:47+09:00 Happy New Year! http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2015/01/01/happy_new_year.shtml Year of the Sheep

In the Chinese zodiac, also very popular in Japan, 2015 is the Year of the Sheep. The sheep and its flock are said to symbolize family and living in harmony with others. But if you reckon you're more in need of protection from those around you, then maybe what's required is a robot suit. If so, head along to...
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