Hey everyone. As the title says, KenichiOnline.org is going on an open hiatus. This is not done by choice, i’ve been having a few problems with my computer and it needs to be repaired, so during this time they’ll be no updates. I will return in 4-8 weeks time and post all the updates i’ve missed. You’re more than welome to join the forum and share all the latest news with other Kenichi fans.

See you all soon, keep enjoying Kenichi, his projects and of course: KenichiOnline.org.

I’ve uploaded two short news segment about the movie Gantz. Enjoy!

Gantz News Segments 01-24-2010 [video 1 - 2]

Last October, it was revealed that Hiroya Oku’s sci-fi manga “GANTZ” is being adapted as two live-action films, starring Kazunari Ninomiya (26) and Kenichi Matsuyama (24). It has now been announced that actress Yuriko Yoshitaka (21) is taking on the heroine role.

The story revolves around two young men named Kei Kurono (Ninomiya) and Masaru Kato (Matsuyama) who should have died in a train accident, but a mysterious entity known as GANTZ brings them back to life and sends them on missions to hunt down alien beings.

Yoshitaka will play the role of Tae Kojima, Kurono’s classmate at university. A pure romance develops between the two characters, contrasting with the brutal violence that Kurono and Kato engage in for their missions under GANTZ. Yoshitaka will also participate in some action scenes (including wire-action).

Both of the “GANTZ” movies are scheduled for 2011.

News segments about the Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac press conference have been uploaded and we get to see the first clips from the movie!

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac Press Conference 01-20-2010 [video 1 - 2 - 3 - 4]

EDITED: I’ve uploaded a new news segment and a longer version of the first news segment in better quality.

EDITED: One more news segment has been added and clips from the first segment with English subtitles.

Kenichi Matsuyama, Maki Horikita, Anton Yelchin, Hans Canosa and Yuya Tegoshi attended the Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac Press Conference at hotel New Otani in Tokyo, i’ve added pictures to the gallery.

[004x] Public Appearances > 2010 > January 2010: Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac Press Conference

I’ve added to the gallery the very first Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac poster that is being displayed in Japan.

[002x] Miscellaneous > Others > Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac Marketing

So, what do you guys think? You getting excited or what!?

The presentation ceremony for the 64th Mainichi Film Awards has been scheduled for February 8. The winners were already announced on Tuesday, revealing that the Grand Prize is being given to Setsuro Wakamatsu’s “Shizumanu Taiyo.” The movie, starring Ken Watanabe (50), is based on the struggles of a real-life JAL employee in the aftermath of the Flight 123 disaster. The best actor award went to Kenichi Matsuyama (24) for his role in “Ultra Miracle Love Story.” He performed as a unique young man who acts on his emotions. “I’m glad to receive the award because I enjoyed acting in the film,” Matsuyama remarked.

[001x] Public Appearances > 2010 > January 2010: Mainichi Film Awards

The complete list of awards is as follows:
Grand Prize: Shizumanu Taiyo (directed by Setsuro Wakamatsu)
Best Film: Tsurugidake: Ten no Ki (directed by Daisaku Kimura)
Best Foreign Film: Gran Torino (directed by Clint Eastwood)
Best Actor: Kenichi Matsuyama (Ultra Miracle Love Story)
Read full article.

I can now confirm that the Kaiji DVD release date has been set for April 9th. You can pre-order your copy at the Japanese Amazon. As always there will be a long wait for the movie to be released with English subtitles but should be available to order without subtitles from international websites such as YesAsia.com very soon.

[002x] Movies > 2009 > Kaiji > Merchandise > DVD

Flyers for Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac have been released and i’ve added them in the gallery.

[002x] Movies > 2010 > Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac > Promotional Photos > Flyers & Pamphlets

15-year-old Japanese-American singer Kylee will provide her first movie theme song for the Hans Canosa film “Dareka ga Watashi ni Kiss wo Shita,” which stars Maki Horikita (21) and Kenichi Matsuyama (24). In addition to singing, Kylee is also making her acting debut in the film.

Kylee, who hails from Arizona, first gained fame in 2005 when she sang the national anthem at an NBA game. In 2008, she debuted in Japan with the single “VACANCY,” and in 2009 she became the youngest artist ever to perform at the Summer Sonic music festival.

Canosa saw Kylee perform last year when he visited Japan for the movie, and he is said to have noticed Kylee’s ability for acting as well. He immediately gave the singer a role as an underclassman at the international high school where the story takes place. Kylee’s song “Kimi ga Iru Kara” will be used as the film’s theme song, and another song by her will be used during the film. “Kimi ga Iru Kara” will go on sale as a single on March 24.

The movie, also known by the earlier working title “Nakushita Kioku,” is an adaptation of Gabrielle Zevin’s novel “Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac.” Horikita plays a high school student who loses part of her memory in an accident. In addition to Matsuyama, NEWS member Yuya Tegoshi (22) and American actor Anton Yelchin (20) have been cast. The film opens in theaters on March 27.

I’ve added in the media site clips from the John Lennon concert that took place on December 8 to help raise money for building new schools in developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America..

Dream Power John Lennon Super Live Concert 12-08-2009 [video 1 - 2 - 3 - 4]

Horipro have posted a new year message from Kenichi ! Most of you probably already noticed this as i’m late in posting it but for those who haven’t, you can read it by clicking the link below.

Kaylee will be translating this message, so keep checking back for that.

NEW YEAR MESSAGE