My reviews on Japanese dramas, movies & music as well as anything to do with J-ent. From the ML to the forum and now to the blog version, here's hoping that this space will be a trusted source of information for all J-ent fanatics and a platform where we can come together and share our thoughts. © 2006-2024 Chiaki. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Preview of "Cold Case 3 ~ Shinjitsu no Tobira ~" - Autumn 2020
Preview of "Seiten wo tsuke" (NHK 2021 Taiga)
Monday, December 28, 2020
Preview of "Ore no ie no hanashi" - Winter 2021
Sunday, December 27, 2020
Preview of "Tengoku to Jigoku ~ Saiko na Futari ~" - Winter 2021
Official website: here
Preview of "Oh! My Boss! Koi wa bessatsu de" - Winter 2021
Friday, December 25, 2020
Top 10 bestselling artists in 2020 (Oricon)
Figures tabulated from 9 Dec 2019 to 13 Dec 2020 and numbers in brackets indicate the total amount of sales from the artist's releases in JPY:
1) ARASHI (JPY 14,520,000,000) - 9th time that they had won the bestselling artist title, second consecutive year since 2019
2) BTS (JPY 10,740,000,000)
3) Yonezu Kenshi (JPY 9,712,000,000)
4) King & Prince (JPY 6,336,000,000)
5) Nogizaka46 (JPY 5,967,000,000)
6) Official Hige Dandism (JPY 4,851,000,000)
7) King Gnu (JPY 4,051,000,000)
8) TWICE (JPY 3,841,000,000)
9) SixTONES (JPY 3,751,000,000)
10) SEVENTEEN (JPY 3,588,000,000)
Source: Oricon
Top 10 most-streamed songs in 2020 (Oricon)
Figures tabulated from 9 Dec 2019 to 13 Dec 2020 and numbers in brackets indicate the number of times which it was streamed:
1) Yoru ni kakeru - YOASOBI (210,623,551)
2) Pretender - Official Hige Dandism (170,845,721)
3) I LOVE... - Official Hige Dandism (161,936,575)
4) Hakujitsu - King Gnu (157,472,278)
5) Gurenge - LiSA (151,489,880)
6) Kosui - Eito (148,343,225)
7) Dynamite - BTS (138,211,363)
8) Make you happy - NiziU (130,231,243)
9) Homura - LiSA (122,353,954)
10) Hadaka no kokoro - Aimyon (104,548,078)
Source: Oricon
Top 10 digital albums in 2020 (Oricon)
Figures tabulated from 9 Dec 2019 to 13 Dec 2020 and numbers in brackets indicate the number of downloads:
1) STRAY SHEEP - Yonezu Kenshi (197,583)
2) Make you happy - NiziU (118,190)
3) CEREMONY - King Gnu (91,313)
4) Traveler - Official Hige Dandism (65,240)
5) Oishii pasta ga aru to kiite - Aimyon (27,643)
6) A COMPLETE ~ ALL SINGLES ~ - Hamasaki Ayumi (26,657)
7) BE - BTS (21,162)
8) WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? - Billie Eilish (20,070)
9) Sympa - King Gnu (19,462)
10) Tenki no Ko complete version - RADWIMPS (18,265)
Source: Oricon
Top 10 digital singles in 2020 (Oricon)
Figures tabulated from 9 Dec 2019 to 13 Dec 2020 and numbers in brackets indicate the number of downloads:
1) Gurenge - LiSA (942,691)
2) Homura - LiSA (709,966)
3) I LOVE... - Official Hige Dandism (638,058)
4) Yoru ni kakeru - YOASOBI (539,090)
5) Pretender - Official Hige Dandism (538,314)
6) Hakujitsu - King Gnu (513,603)
7) Kanden - Yonezu Kenshi (499,084)
8) Hadaka no kokoro - Aimyon (403,820)
9) Kosui - Eito (346,653)
10) Uma to Shika - Yonezu Kenshi (317,060)
Source: Oricon
Top 10 bestselling albums in 2020 (Oricon)
Figures tabulated from 9 Dec 2019 to 13 Dec 2020 and numbers in brackets indicate the number of copies sold. For the ranking from No.11 onwards, please refer to the source:
1) STRAY SHEEP - Yonezu Kenshi (1,563,030)
2) This is ARASHI - ARASHI (822,459)
3) MAP OF THE SOUL:7 ~ THE JOURNEY ~ - BTS (658,882)
4) L& - King & Prince (612,574)
5) MAP OF THE SOUL:7 - BTS (455,446)
6) CEREMONY - King Gnu (435,908)
7) SOUNDTRACKS - Mr.Children (315,876)
8) 24H - SEVENTEEN (293,825)
9) Strawberry Prince - Sutopuri (266,132)
10) Traveler - Official Hige Dandism (255,028)
Source: Oricon
Top 10 bestselling singles in 2020 (Oricon)
Figures tabulated from 9 Dec 2019 to 13 Dec 2020 and numbers in brackets indicate the number of copies sold. For the ranking from No.11 onwards, please refer to the source:
1) Imitation Rain / D.D. - SixTONES vs Snow Man (1,760,904)
2) Shitsuren, Arigatou - AKB48 (1,181,701)
3) Kite - ARASHI (1,147,865)
4) Shiawase no hougoshoku - Nogizaka46 (1,115,150)
5) KISSIN' MY LIPS / Stories - Snow Man (1,001,570)
6) NAVIGATOR - SixTONES (707,699)
7) Sonna koto naiyo - Hinatazaka46 (644,135)
8) Mazy Night - King & Prince (591,673)
9) smile - Twenty * Twenty (502,143)
10) NEW ERA - SixTONES (480,379)
Source: Oricon
Preview of "Ao no SP - Gakkounai Keisatsu Shimada Ryuuhei -" - Winter 2021
Preview of "Shitteru Wife" - Winter 2021
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Preview of "Uchi no musume wa, kareshi ga dekinai!!" - Winter 2021
Title: Uchi no musume wa, kareshi ga dekinai!! ウチの娘は、彼氏が出来ない!! (My daughter can't get a boyfriend!!)
Preview of "Red Eyes Kanshi Sousahan" - Winter 2021
Wednesday, December 02, 2020
2020's ranking of celebrities with the most CM deals (Nihon Monitor)
This ranking released by Nihon Monitor list the top celebrities with the most CM deals between 1 January 2020 and 30 November 2020. The number of CM deals held by each celebrity is presented within the brackets:
Saturday, November 28, 2020
Preview of "Ochoyan" (NHK morning drama)
Preview of "Toubousha" (Drama SP)
Preview of "38-sai batsuichi dokushin onna ga matching apuri wo yattemita kekka nikki" - Autumn 2020
Thursday, November 12, 2020
The 105th Drama Academy Awards (Spring & Summer 2020) - Best Drama
2) Hanzawa Naoki 2
3) Miman Keisatsu Midnight Runner
Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Miman Keisatsu Midnight Runner
2) Eizouken niwa te wo dasuna!
3) MIU404
4) Toshishita Kareshi
5) Watashitachi wa douka shiteiru
TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) MIU404
2) Hanzawa Naoki 2
3) Watashi no kaseifu Nagisa-san
4) Iine! Hikaru Genji-kun
5) M Aisubeki hito ga ite
Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Hanzawa Naoki 2
2) MIU404
3) Watashi no kaseifu Nagisa-san
4) Unsung Cinderella Byouin Yakuzaishi no Shohosen
5) Iine! Hikaru Genji-kun
Source: The Television
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
The 105th Drama Academy Awards (Spring & Summer 2020) - Best Leading Actor
2) Ayano Go - MIU404
3) Hoshino Gen - MIU404
Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Nakajima Kento - Miman Keisatsu Midnight Runner
2) Hirano Sho - Miman Keisatsu Midnight Runner
3) Ayano Go - MIU404
4) Hoshino Gen - MIU404
5) Yokohama Ryuusei - Watashitachi wa douka shiteiru
TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Sakai Masato - Hanzawa Naoki 2
2) Ayano Go - MIU404
3) Hoshino Gen - MIU404
4) Muro Tsuyoshi - Oyabaka Seishun Hakusho / Yokohama Ryuusei - Watashitachi wa douka shiteiru
Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Sakai Masato - Hanzawa Naoki 2
2) Ayano Go - MIU404
3) Hoshino Gen - MIU404
4) Kimura Takuya - BG 2 ~ Shinpen Keigonin ~
5) Muro Tsuyoshi - Oyabaka Seishun Hakusho
Source: The Televison
Sunday, November 08, 2020
The 105th Drama Academy Awards (Spring & Summer 2020) - Best Leading Actress
2) Ishihara Satomi - Unsung Cinderella Byouin Yakuzaishi no Shohosen
3) Hamabe Minami - Watashitachi wa douka shiteiru
Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Tabe Mikako - Watashi no kaseifu Nagisa-san
2) Hamabe Minami - Watashitachi wa douka shiteiru
3) Shinohara Ryoko - Haken no Hinkaku 2
4) Ishihara Satomi - Unsung Cinderella Byouin Yakuzaishi no Shohosen
5) Kanjiya Shihori - Dear Patient ~ Kizuna no Karte ~
TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Tabe Mikako - Watashi no kaseifu Nagisa-san
2) Shinohara Ryoko - Haken no Hinkaku 2
3) Ishihara Satomi - Unsung Cinderella Byouin Yakuzaishi no Shohosen
4) Anzai Karen - M Aisubeki hito ga ite
5) Hamabe Minami - Watashitachi wa douka shiteiru
Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Tabe Mikako - Watashi no kaseifu Nagisa-san
2) Ishihara Satomi - Unsung Cinderella Byouin Yakuzaishi no Shohosen
3) Koshiba Fuuka - Youkai Sharehouse
4) Suzuki Kyoka - Gyouretsu no Megami ~ Ramen saiyuuki ~
5) Hamabe Minami - Watashitachi wa douka shiteiru
Source: The Television
Saturday, November 07, 2020
The 105th Drama Academy Awards (Spring & Summer 2020) - Best Supporting Actor
2) Oomori Nao - Watashi no kaseifu Nagisa-san
3) Suda Masaki - MIU404
Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Harada Taizo - Miman Keisatsu Midnight Runner
2) Tanaka Kei - Unsung Cinderella Byouin Yakuzaishi no Shohosen
3) Okada Kenshi - MIU404
4) Hashimoto Jun - MIU404
5) Nakamura Kaito - Haken no Hinkaku 2
TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Suda Masaki - MIU404
2) Kagawa Teruyuki - Hanzawa Naoki 2
3) Oomori Nao - Watashi no kaseifu Nagisa-san
4) Hashimoto Jun - MIU404
5) Oikawa Mitsuhiro - Hanzawa Naoki 2
Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Oomori Nao - Watashi no kaseifu Nagisa-san
2) Kagawa Teruyuki - Hanzawa Naoki 2
3) Suda Masaki - MIU404
4) Hashimoto Jun - MIU404 / Emoto Akira - Hanzawa Naoki 2 / Ichikawa Ennosuke - Hanzawa Naoki 2
Source: The Televison
Friday, November 06, 2020
The 105th Drama Academy Awards (Spring & Summer 2020) - Best Supporting Actress
2) Tanaka Minami - M Aisubeki hito ga ite
3) Ito Sairi - Iine! Hikaru Genji-kun
Voters Ranking Top 5
1) Kichise Michiko - Miman Keisatsu Midnight Runner
2) Asou Kumiko - MIU404
3) Nakamura Yuri - Watashitachi wa douka shiteiru
4) Nagano Mei - Oyabaka Seishun Hakusho
5) Ito Sairi - Iine! Hikaru Genji-kun
TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Tanaka Minami - M Aisubeki hito ga ite
2) Asou Kumiko - MIU404
3) Ito Sairi - Iine! Hikaru Genji-kun
4) Ueto Aya - Hanzawa Naoki 2
5) Koshiba Fuuka - Bishoku Tantei Akechi Goro
Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Tanaka Minami - M Aisubeki hito ga ite
2) Ito Sairi - Iine! Hikaru Genji-kun
3) Kuroshima Yuina - Gyouretsu no Megami ~ Ramen Saiyuuki ~
Source: The Television
The 105th Drama Academy Awards (Spring & Summer 2020) - Best Theme Song
2) RUN by Sexy Zone (Miman Keisatsu Midnight Runner)
3) Hadaka no kokoro by Aimyon (Watashi no kaseifu Nagisa-san)
Voters Ranking Top 5
1) RUN by Sexy Zone (Miman Keisatsu Midnight Runner)
2) Kanden by Yonezu Kenshi (MIU404)
3) Mazy Night by King & Prince (Miman Keisatsu Midnight Runner)
4) Shouko by Johnny's WEST (Tadashii rock band no tsukurikata)
5) Hadaka no kokoro by Aimyon (Watashi no kaseifu Nagisa-san)
TV Reporters Ranking Top 5
1) Kanden by Yonezu Kenshi (MIU404)
2) Hadaka no kokoro by Aimyon (Watashi no kaseifu Nagisa-san)
3) M by Hamasaki Ayumi (M Aisubeki hito ga ite)
4) Aka no Doumei by Tokyo Jihen (Watashitachi wa douka shiteiru)
5) Koushikondou by Yuzu (Oyabaka Seishun Hakusho)
Judges Ranking Top 5
1) Kanden by Yonezu Kenshi (MIU404)
2) Hadaka no kokoro by Aimyon (Watashi no kaseifu Nagisa-san)
3) M by Hamasaki Ayumi (M Aisubeki hito ga ite)
5) Ashita mo asatte mo by Special Thanks (Suteteyo, Adachi-san)
Source: The Televison
Monday, November 02, 2020
Preview of "Kyouen NG" - Autumn 2020
Thursday, October 29, 2020
Winners of the Tokyo Drama Award 2020
Friday, October 23, 2020
Preview of "Sensei wo kesu houteishiki" - Autumn 2020
Preview of "Neechan no Koibito" - Autumn 2020
Thursday, October 15, 2020
Preview of "Kansatsui Asagao 2" - Autumn 2020
Sunday, October 11, 2020
Preview of "Shichinin no Hisho" - Autumn 2020
Preview of "Aibou Season 19" - Autumn 2020
Thursday, October 08, 2020
Preview of "24 JAPAN" - Autumn 2020
Preview of "Gokushufudou" - Autumn 2020
Preview of "35-sai no Shoujo" - Autumn 2020
Preview of "Baberu Kyuusaku" - Autumn 2020
Wednesday, October 07, 2020
Preview of "#RemoLove ~ Futsuu no koi wa jadou ~" - Autumn 2020
Preview of "Koisuru Hahatachi" - Autumn 2020
Tuesday, October 06, 2020
Preview of "Kiken na Venus" - Autumn 2020
Preview of "Kono koi atatamemasuka" - Autumn 2020
Monday, October 05, 2020
Preview of "Lupin no Musume 2" - Autumn 2020
Sunday, September 20, 2020
Preview of "Siren no Zange" - Autumn 2020
Title: Siren no Zange セイレーンの懺悔 (The Confession of the Sirens)
Preview of "Tenshi ni request wo ~ Jinsei saigo no negai ~" - Summer 2020
Saturday, September 19, 2020
Preview of "Tokyo Tarareba Musume 2020" (Drama SP)
Preview of "DIVER - Tokushu Sennyuuhan -" - Summer 2020
Saturday, September 05, 2020
AMUSE releases a statement about the facts surrounding Miura Haruma's passing & announces plans for other related matters
AMUSE released a statement on 4 Sep 2020 which was also the 49th day since Miura Haruma's passing on 18 July. The statement contained an explanation of the circumstances on that day so as to counter the untrue reports and rumours that had surfaced subsequently. In addition, there was also mention of some other related matters including the farewell ceremony for Miura.
- As to why they released the statement, AMUSE said that groundless rumours and accusations after Miura's passing had been swirling around which in turn brought caused everyone to suffer even more. That was the reason why they decided to clarify what happened that day so as to set the record straight. And since it had been 49 days since he passed away, AMUSE decided that this was the right time since they had to get hold of the key facts first and make plans for some of the matters mentioned in this statement.
- Miura was supposed to be filming his drama in the afternoon of 18 July but he had not appeared at the carpark of his apartment block even though his manager-in-charge was already waiting for him there at the agreed time. The manager then sent messages and called Miura but did not get any response. The manager made his way to Miura's apartment and rang the intercom but to no avail. He then contacted the apartment's management company where they sent a representative to bring the keys to the apartment so that the manager could go in to look for Miura. However, when the manager finally found Miura, the latter was already unsconscious. They called for the police and emergency services and administered first aid in the meantime. Despite their best efforts, Miura was confirmed to have passed away in the hospital at 2.10pm.
- During the police's investigations of the apartment, there was a notebook belonging to Miura which contained his thoughts about various things such as how he prepared for his roles. However, there was no suicide note as claimed in the media. Even in this notebook, there was nothing mentioned that could shed a light on why he decided to commit suicide. There was also nothing in writing that he left for his fans, staff members, fellow artiste friends etc.
- With regard to how his work was arranged, there were discussions between Miura and his manager whenever offers were received. They would discuss issues at length such as whether they could fit the offer into his schedule, what kind of significance it would have on his career as well as how he felt about it.
Some media reports alleged that he was forced to cancel his overseas studies at the order of his manager but this never happened.
- As for the projects which Miura had appeared but haven't been released, after discussing with various parties, the general consensus was that everything would be released as planned.
- Going forward, all sales and earnings related to Miura Haruma will be channeled to The Miura Haruma Foundation (temporary name) which will be established within 2020. This foundation will continue to support "ACT AGAINST ANYTHING" (previously known as Act Against AIDS) and the Lao Friends Hospital for Children which Miura had supported all along.
- AMUSE also called upon the media to refrain from publishing articles of a speculative or malicious nature about Miura's family and friends and excessive interviewing of those around him. These groundless rumours and speculations have caused further hurt to these people who are still in grief over his passing.
Source: Oricon