Ex-Rocker Teams Up With Harumi in New Blockbuster

Jul 30 (News On Japan) - Former rock star Koichi Nakamura of JAYWALK fame stars alongside Harumi in the upcoming movie 'Hajimari no Hi,' dazzling audiences with her incredible voice.

Nakamura plays a man who once captivated the world as a rock star. After a certain incident, he abandoned music and now lives a modest life working for a building cleaning company. His days are a monotonous routine between work and his apartment, devoid of any purpose or meaning. His only confidant is his colleague Terada, played by Tomomitsu Yamaguchi, who was once a fan of his.

Living next door is a woman, played by Harumi, who works at the same company. Her nightly quarrels with her mother (Saki Takaoka) echo through Nakamura's apartment. One day, Nakamura is deeply moved by the woman's singing in the park. This moment stirs something within him, prompting a change in his monotonous life.

Convinced of her talent, Nakamura begs his former colleague, music producer Yabuki (Naoto Takenaka), to listen to her song. Despite being rejected multiple times, Nakamura persists. With the support of Yabuki's assistant, Mochizuki (Sae Okazaki), the woman gradually begins to seize opportunities. Nakamura also finds an event that makes him realize the power his own singing has to touch the hearts of others.

Source: シネマトゥデイ

Japan Names 40C-Plus Days

Japan already classifies days with highs of 30C or above as manatsubi (midsummer days) and those reaching 35C or above as moshobi (extremely hot days). It has now introduced a new term for days when temperatures climb to 40C or higher.

Father Admits Killing and Body Abandonment in Kyoto

Police investigating the death of an 11-year-old boy whose body was found in a forest in Kyoto Prefecture believe his father moved the remains between several locations over a number of days in an apparent attempt to conceal the crime.

Strong Typhoon Raises High Surf Risk for Pacific Areas of Japan This Weekend

A large and powerful Typhoon No. 4, internationally named Sinlaku, was located near the Mariana Islands and moving north-northeast as of the latest update. The storm is expected to gradually shift its course eastward and pass southeast of the Ogasawara Islands around April 18, before making its closest approach around April 19.

Japan to Release 50 Million Stockpiled Medical Gloves

Japan will release around 50 million stockpiled medical gloves from next month as concerns grow over shortages of medical supplies linked to tensions in the Middle East, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said.

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route Fully Reopens

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route connecting Toyama and Nagano fully reopened on April 15th, marking the start of the spring tourism season along one of Japan’s most celebrated mountain routes.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Entertainment NEWS

Tokyo Court Rules Movie Spoiler Articles Infringe Copyright

A man accused of violating copyright law by publishing so-called spoiler articles summarizing films on the internet was handed a suspended prison sentence after the Tokyo District Court ruled that the posts infringed copyright.

Theater Directly Connected to Tokyo Station to Open in May

A theater directly connected to Tokyo Station is set to open in May inside a large-scale redevelopment complex scheduled to fully launch in autumn, marking a new step in efforts to strengthen the area’s cultural and artistic presence.

Cosplayers Parade Through Himeji

A cosplay event featuring participants dressed as characters from anime and games was held in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, on April 12th, drawing large crowds as around 200 participants paraded through the city’s shopping district.

Osaka Shochikuza Theater Stages Final Kabuki Performances

A farewell performance titled "Farewell April Grand Kabuki" is being staged at Osaka Shochikuza in Chuo Ward, Osaka, which is set to close in May due to the aging of the building, marking the beginning of a two-month run of kabuki performances that have drawn audiences with comedies and dances featuring a colorful cast of characters, continuing through April 26th.

Farewell Kabuki Performances in Osaka!

Today we have a look at the kabuki performances taking this April at the Shochiku-za theatre in Osaka! (Kabuki In-Depth)

Japanese Novelist Celebrates English Debut

A talk event was held at a bookstore in New York on March 9th to commemorate the publication of the English translation "SAKURA" of the bestselling novel "Sakura" by Naoki Prize-winning author Kanae Nishi, who appeared alongside American translator Allison Powell to discuss the book’s central theme of family love.

Ryo Asai Wins Japan Booksellers Award for In the Megachurch

The winner of the 2026 Japan Booksellers Award, in which bookstore staff across the country vote for the book they most want to sell, was announced on April 9th, with Ryo Asai, 36, receiving the top prize for the novel "In the Megachurch," published by Nikkei Publishing.

Enthusiasm Builds for Okinawa’s First Body Make Contest

Athletes from across Japan boasting finely trained physiques are set to gather in Okinawa for a major fitness competition, as more than 300 participants prepare to compete in the "Muscle Gate" body make contest, marking the event’s first-ever staging in the prefecture.

< 2 3 4 5 >