Smap katori Shingo cancel perfomed on Smap X Smap

SMAP member Katori Shingo was originally set to appear for the live broadcast of Fuji TV's program SMAP X SMAP. However, he could not attend after catching the flu. Katori has had the flu since last Saturday. While he has spent the last few days resting, it's hard to say when he'll be back to work again.

Towards the end of last year, SMAP had been extremely busy with work, especially preparing for their Michael Jackson tribute at NHK's 60th Kohaku Uta Gassen. Not wanting to disappoint, they trained very hard for their performance. Perhaps Katori was over exhausted, which made him more susceptible to catching the flu. Yesterday's SMAP X SMAP was the first time they had a live four hour broadcast. The special guests were none other than their kouhai, KAT-TUN. In the Bistro SMAP program, they invited Hatoyama Miyuki to appear. Hatoyama is the wife of Japan's current Prime Minister.

Katori Shingo Catches the Flu; Not Fated to Meet with Japan's First Lady
Source: Mingpao
Translated by: sparkles_n15 @ asianfanatics.net

SMAP Takuya Kimura film "Space Battleship Yamato"

The first TV spot has been released for Takashi Yamazaki‘s live-action adaptation of Space Battleship Yamato, nearly a year before it’s scheduled to be released in Japan. The project cost an estimated 2 billion yen (about $20 million USD) and will be the first of the franchise to use the English title domestically in an effort to appeal to international audiences as early as possible.

The film stars Takuya Kimura of the boy band SMAP as Susumu Kodai and Meisa Kuroki as Yuki Mori. According to Tokyograph, formerly male crew members Aihara and Dr. Sado are played by actresses Maiko and Reiko Takashima in this version.

“Space Battleship Yamato” will be released by Toho in December 2010.

Smap sings Michael Jackson Thriller and Beat It

SMAP is going to perform several pieces of music of Michael Jackson, the king of POP died suddenly in June 2009, on The 60th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen. SMAP members met and performed with Michael Jackson on the program 'SMAP X SMAP' of June 5th, 2006. Nakai Masahiro, the leader of the group, was invited as the only Japanese to attend the world premiere ceremony of the posthumous film 'Michael Jackson THIS IS IT' held in Los Angeles, USA in October. SMAP is said to perform the hit songs of Michael such as 'Thriller' and 'BEAT IT'.

NHK Loves Using SMAP - Set on Having Nakai Masahiro in Taiga Drama

NHK announced earlier this week that their 60th Red and White Singing Contest will be hosted once again by Nakai Masahiro and Nakama Yukie. While there's nothing out of the ordinary with this pair, what's interesting is that NHK has continued using SMAP even with Kusangai Tsuyoshi's arrest for public indecency earlier this year. Rumours began circulating yesterday that NHK and Nakai in fact have a secret arrangement in place.

This will be the fourth year in a row that Nakai has hosted the Red and White Singing Contest. Before there were rumours that the job would be passed onto Shimada Shinsuke and Fujiwara Noriko. However NHK still settled on Nakai and Nakama at the end. According to Nikkan Sports, NHK is staying on good terms with Nakai because they have an agreement in place for him to film the next Taiga drama airing in 2011. According to an insider: "The rumours of him starring in a Taiga drama has been around for a while. His image is very fresh and would be very appealing in a period role.

The lead role for next year's Taiga drama 'Ryoma den' was originally offered to Kimura Takuya. After he refused, the role of Sakamoto Ryoma went to Fukuyama Masaharu. It's rumoured that NHK is insistent on using SMAP. However, they seem to have changed their strategy and decided to use leader Nakai instead to take on the Taiga drama.

Source: udn
Translated by: sparkles_n15 @ asianfanatics.net

SMAP: one day you're in and the next day...you're out?

Here's something that came out in Shunkan Bunshun last month.

SMAP's popularity is on the decline. For many years they were called national idols and anything they appeared in would get massive ratings, but all that is beginning to collapse. Their drama ratings have fallen and their show SMAPxSMAP, which at one point was pulling in over 30%, is now closer to 10%. TV stations are now focusing more on Arashi. Furthermore, all of this will have an impact on who will be succeeding the throne to Johnny's Jimusho.

Having realized SMAP just aren't what they used to be, TV stations have started putting their feelers out to find another talent to replace them. However, their reliance on Johnny's hasn't changed. A showbiz insider said,"Their interest has shifted from SMAP to Arashi. Back in August after Arashi's Kokuritsu concert, they had a big party at a hotel where Fuji and NTV executives greeted them - something unthinkable back in SMAP's heyday."

Apparently the whole SMAP situation is having an effect on who will be successor to Johnny's Jimusho, something TV stations are keeping their eyes on. "Right now it's beetween Iijima Michi, who has been managing SMAP, and Fujishima Julie Keiko, daughter of Vice President Mary Kitagawa.

Due to her association with SMAP people are turning their backs on Iijima as well. "Recently Johnny drunkenly said to a TV show staffer, 'Are you with Iijima? Or Julie? All the stations should drop Iijima and go with Julie.'"

source