Aya Takashima Crowned No.1 Announcer Again

For the 5th year in a row, “Princess of Fuji TV” Aya Takashima retains the title as the most popular Japanese female TV announcer!

Japanese music & entertainment ranking / data compiling authority Oricon (オリコン) released the latest finding last week on who commands the most viewership and the 29 year old still came out on top as the most want to be watched newscaster in Japan.  Nicknamed “Ayapan” (アヤパン), many people interviewed replied that they’re impressed with her wide range of specialties, stable reporting skills and quick thinking.

Emerging in second place was NTV’s Yukari Nishio who has been moving up in the top ten rank in the last 2 years.  Japanese viewers love the Chiba Prefecture native’s cheery smile in the morning, on spot comments and knowledge.  Not surprisingly, “Darling of Fuji TV” Minako Nakano who boasts legions of fans rounded out the top 3 spot with her warm smile and charming personality.

Without further adieu, here are the ten most desirable sexy lady announcers / reporters on the tube in Japan:

No.1  Aya Takashima (高島彩) - Fuji TV

No.2  Yukari Nishio (西尾由佳理) - NTV

No.3  Minako Nakano (中野美奈子) - Fuji TV

No.4  Maya Kobayashi (小林麻耶) - TBS

No.5  Christel Takigawa (滝川クリステル) - Fuji TV

No.6  Mariko Do (堂真理子) - TV Asahi

No.7  Emi Takeuchi (武内絵美) - TV Asahi

No.8  Kyoko Uchida (内田恭子) - freelance (formerly Fuji TV)

No.9  Yuki Maeda (前田有紀) - TV Asahi

No.10  Rio Hirai (平井理央) - Fuji TV

Namie Amuro Goes Platinum Again

Namie Amuro knows how to reinvent herself and is one of Japan’s best “million sellers”

Internationally known Japanese singer Namie Amuro (安室奈美恵) has achieved another career milestone! According to Japanese music & entertainment stats authority Oricon, the super popular diva’ s latest album “Best Fiction” has quickly sold over 1 million copies since it went on sale less than 3 weeks ago. By doing so Namie set a new Japanese music industry record for a solo female artist, reaching the Platinum status (selling over 1 million) while in 3 separate age groups…3 times when she was a teen, then when she was in her 20s and now after she turned 30!

Age 17~19

December, 1995 - Dance Tracks Vol.1 (1.87 million)

August, 1996 - Sweet 19 Blues (3.36 million)

August, 1997 - Concentration 20 (1.93 million)

Age 20~29

February, 1998 - 181920 (1.69 million)

Age 30~

August, 2008 - Best Fiction (1.09 million)*

* as of 8/08

Cover of Namie Amuro’s “Best Fiction”, CD+DVD edition

Namie Amuro still has plenty of pull with music fans both domestically in Japan and abroad. She has come a long way from a cute, trend setting j-pop teenage star singing to poppy tunes and Eurodance music to a sultry and mature single mother who has since switched her focus toward R&B and hip-hop. “Best Fiction” sold another 153,000 copies this past week since being released on July 30th and has so far tallied up 1,092,000 sales. This latest album for the songstress from Okinawa is a compilation of 17 of her best hits and the addition of new hit singles such as “Do Me More” and “Sexy Girl”.

“Best Fiction” is also the first female album to keep the top spot for 3 weeks in a row since Kumi Koda’s “Black Cherry” back in January of ‘07.

Cover of Namie Amuro’s album “Best Fiction”. It’s hard to believe the Japanese mega diva will be 31 next month!

Namie Amuro x Vidal Sassoon

Namie Amuro looking sexy as the new campaign girl for Vidal Sassoon

Mega J pop singer and fashion leader Namie Amuro ( 安室奈美恵) has signed on with Vidal Sassoon Japan to do a collaboration project. The campaign is titled “Fashion x Music x Vidal Sassoon” and the hot commercial featuring her will begin airing this Saturday.

The theme of Vidal Sassoon’s campaign is glamour and has the Japanese diva from Okinawa appearing as a sexy and sultry showgirl! The commercial uses Namie’s new single “Do Me More” which will be included in her latest album “Best Fiction” due to release at the end of this month.

Namie Amuro makes a sizzling hot showgirl!

MilkyWay Concert

MilkyWay @ Kawasaki Club Citta (クラブチッタ)

The newest Hello!Project unit Milky Way held their first ever public concert at Club Citta in Kawasaki over the weekend. The cute Japanese idol unit is composed of Koharu Kusumi (久住小春) of Morning Musume and Hello!Project Egg members Yu Kikkawa (吉川友) and Sayaka Kitahara (北原沙弥香).

MilkyWay leader and the always genki Koharu Kusumi aka Kirari Tsukishima (月島きらり)

Morning Musume 8th generation audition finalist Yu Kikkawa (吉川友)

Hello!Project Egg member Sayaka Kitahara (北原沙弥香)

The 3 girls danced away on stage in colorful costumes and performed their first single “Anataboshi” (アナタボシ), which made its Oricon Chart debut this week at number 3.

Oricon Girlfriend Ranking

Here’s a survey done by Japanese entertainment info and data authority Oricon at the end of last year on the top 10 female “talent” (a Japanese catch-all word for entertainer) that the Japanese men would love to have as their girlfriend. From the overall response it seems like the majority of men placed a big importance on the girl’s smile.

No.1 - Yui Aragaki (新垣結衣,)

Some of the reasons that shot the Okinawa native to the top included “I love her clean cut and cheery image” and “Her smile brings me peace”.

No.2 - Masami Nagasawa (長澤まさみ)

The 20 year old actress prompted comments such as “She looks like she can always give me energy” and “I can be happy with her because she is cheerful and honest”.

No.3 - Maki Horikita (堀北真希)

One of the most popular U-20 (under 20) Japanese actresses. She commanded a whopping 20% viewer rating on her latest Fuji TV drama “Hanazakari no Kimitachi e” and drew responses like “Her boyish charms got me”.

No.4 - Yukie Nakama (仲間 由紀恵)

The popular Okinawan actress of “Gokusen” and “Trick” fame is a former gravure idol and can carry a tune too.

No.5 - Haruka Ayase (綾瀬 はるか)

When asked about the big chested Horipro actress and gravure idol, one of the subjects surveyed answered, “Her smile is so cute”.

No.6 - Ai Otsuka (大塚 愛)

The mega popular AVEX recording artist elicited responses such as “I love her smile”.

No.7 - Aya Ueto (上戸 彩)

“I want to see her smile everyday” was one of the comments given about the “super idol” who excels at both acting and singing.

No.8 - Saki Aibu (相武紗季)

The 22 year old actress hails from Hyogo Prefecture in western Japan and is rumored to be dating Japanese heartthrob Tomoya Nagase.

No.9 - Aki Hoshino (ほしの あき)

The ageless busty pin-up girl needs no introduction. Next to Yinling of Joytoy, this babyfaced sexy doll is probably Japan’s eldest gravure idol!

No.10 - Yuri Ebihara (蛯原 友里)

No one in Japan doesn’t know “Ebi-chan”, as she is affectionately referred to. The Japanese fashion magazine CanCam model has taken cuteness and beauty to another level.

Shokotan Coming To America

U.S. otaku will be able to see Shokotan in person soon!

It has been announced that super popular Japanese talent, singer, former gravure idol, voice actress and queen of blogging Shoko Nakagawa aka Shokotan will appear at Anime Expo 2008 as a special guest. Anime Expo is the largest anime, manga, otaku and cosplay related event in North America and takes place at LA Convention Center over the July 4th weekend.  For more info about her, please refer to my blog on 2-19-08, 2-21-08 and 3-19-08.

Shokotan’s breakthrough began last year when she released the single “Sorairo Days” which she went on to perform at the prestigious Kohaku Utaggasen year end extravaganza, and held her first concert in October. Her success continues this year with her single “Snow Tears” making No.2 on Japan’s Oricon chart and the record breaking one billionth hit on her blog. on February 1st, not to mention her first album titled “Big Bang!!!” dropped just last month.

Big Bang!!! debuted at No.5 on the Oricon chart

Using her own lingo “ギザコール”, Shokotan said, “I’d like the U.S. fans to cheer me on loudly!”

The “kawayushi” (カワユシ - Shokotan’s lingo for cute) Shokotan is ready to take on her U.S. fans