14 years old Tsuchiya Tao is the newest face among the young shining actresses. Her first bigger role was that of Sanpei's (Suga Kenta) childhood friend in the movie "Tsurikichi Sanpei" by the director of the award-winning movie "Okuribito" (Departures), Takita Yojiro. It's him who discovered her and he has a very high opinion of her.

That movie was her 2nd ever work as an actress. She's been born and raised in Tokyo, but it's incredible how well she performed the role of Yuri and her Akita-typical spontaneity. "I experienced the nature of the people in Akita at the set and was surrounded by people speaking in a dialect. That all raised my spirit and I was able to act as the really vigorous Yuri." She explained with her sparkling eyes that already blew away director Takita during the audition.

Tsuchiya entered the world of show business with the "Miss Phoenix - Super Heroine Auditions" in 2005. Over 37,000 people applied for that audition, but she was one of the few that came out successfully with her special jury award. Right now she's still a very young girl, "I still love to fight with my younger brother (who's in 2nd grade of junior high)" and it will be very interesting to see how she's going to change into a beautiful actress.

Written by: jyoyu.blogspot.com / Source: Sanspo
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Young actress Kawaguchi Haruna (14) has been appointed as the image character for Otsuka's "Pocari Sweat".

It's her next big commercial deal after becoming the new "Rehouse Girl" a couple of days ago and a role in a "Pocari Sweat" commercial is just as much considered a gateway to popularity and becoming a famous actress. Kawaguchi seems to be on just the right track, before her that commercial brought out actresses like Miyazawa Rie (35), Isshiki Sae (31) or Ayase Haruka (24).

It will go on-air today (Saturday) and feature her during soccer training and show her sprint abilities. The filming was done in Kagoshima and Okinawa last month and Kawaguchi was a bit nervous. "It was a lot of fun, but I also was very anxious about whether I really could do it." However, according to the staff she handled the ball really well and showed some very earnest expressions despite being just a newcomer."

The CM song will be provided by Hi-Fi Camp.





Written by: jyoyu.blogspot.com / Source: Oricon, Mainichi, MSN
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After popular actresses like Miyazawa Rie, Isshiki Sae, Aoi Yuu or Kaho, "Mitsui Rehouse" has now chosen its 13th "Rehouse Girl" for their commercial, the 14 years old model Kawaguchi Haruna.

Commercials for Rehouse have been proven to be a gateway to popularity and it's Kawaguchi's chance to rise to similar fame as the women mentioned above. So far she's only been active as a fashion model for magazines, but starting in April everyone in Japan will be able to see her in the commercials. "I'm full of anxiety and enjoyment." Kawaguchi said with a shy but ambitious smile.

In 2007 Kawaguchi won the "11th Nicola Model Auditions" organized by the teen fashion magazine "nicola". She's from the Nagasaki prefecture and is 164cm tall. For Rehouse she will now begin to appear as a "gentle and neat girl".

Now that she has taken the spot as the image girl for that company, she had to answer a couple of questions in front of dozens of camera. "In spring I'll get in the 3rd grade of junior high school. My first try at humming (in the commercial) didn't went really well, because I was way too nervous." She looked back the filming. "I hope that I will become a better actress, so that I won't ruin the image of the Rehouse Girl." At the PR event she also revealed that her hobby is actually to go fishing. "The most I fished once were 300 fishes." Even the people of Mitsui were surprised when they heard that.


They then also explained why they've chosen Kawaguchi for the role. "She herself is possessing the image of a very pure, simple and neat girl, especially her smile is what fascinated us." The judges at the audition for the commercial were also knocked off by Kawaguchi's enthusiasm, when she said "I will do everything not to ruin the image of the Rehouse Girl" during her turn.

There will be 2 different versions of the commercial. As mentioned already, the commercial is bound to go on-air with the start of April.

Shots from the commercial itself:



The event (small pics):





The event (bigger pics):



Written by: jyoyu.blogspot.com / Source: Oricon, Mainichi, MSN
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On Sunday it had been announced that popular actor Abe Hiroshi (44) will be in the upcoming April dorama on Fuji TV called "Shiroi Haru" (White Spring). It's a dorama all about the love between parent and child. The female role will be played by child actress Oohashi Nozomi (9) who had her breakthrough with the theme song for the animated movie "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea". It's the first time that she will appear in a dorama serial. Her collaboration with the unit Fujioka Fujimaki has ended and now it's time for the 'Abe Hiroshi & Oohashi Nozomi unit' as from spring.

Written by: jyoyu.blogspot.com / Source: Sanspo
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While still in 2nd year of junior high school, it's already been about 6 years since Koike Ayame's (13) debut in the world of show business. Now she has the tough job of playing the role of the eldest daughter of Shimazaki Wakako (35) in the TBS daytime dorama called "Over 30".

In 2007 she already showed her acting skills in "Always - Zoku 3chome no Yuhi" alongside fellow actresses like Horikita Maki. Unlike her prideful character in that movie, she's now playing a cool junior high school student. "In reality I have a really calm character, so the scene where I had to preach caution to my younger brother was quite difficult for me."

Koike's favorite food is natto. "Definitely natto! I even put curry in it." Her 14th birthday is on the 13th and she's going to release her first photobook called "Ayamelody". On the 15th will be a handshake event at the Shosen book mart in Tokyo to promote the release.

Credits to: jyoyu.blogspot.com
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On Wednesday, Young actress Oohashi Nozomi (9) who had her breakthrough with the theme song for "Ponyo on the Cliff" appeared at a Valentine's Day event to promote the American animated movie "Madagascar 2".

She personaly delivered her Valentine's Chocolate to the main character, Alex the lion. "I liked when Alex' family and friends helped each other out."

Credits to: jyoyu.blogspot.com
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