news_jpop | NEWS news (week of Jul 8)

‘NEWS na Futari’ will resume broadcast on Jul 20, with both of Koyama and Shige. (Source)

The official site for “The Shonen Club Premium” was updated on Jul 17. Broadcast will resume this Friday, with KEN⭐︎Tackey guesting as well as a soccer anthem medley from NEWS. (Source)

Tegoshi, Koyama and Massu are going to be starring in spin offs of Shige's drama 'Zero Ikkakusenkin Game' called 'Zero Episode Zero’ which began after the broadcast of the first episode of the drama. Each of them will be playing the lead in an original story spin off in the role they play in the main drama.

Massu's ‘Yamaguchi Kazuya Vol’ will be the first spin off, with Kanjiya Shihori and Watanabe Day making guest appearances. It’ll be the first time a Johnny’s drama made by a TV station will be shown on a paid online service. Massu was also the first to make an appearance in the main drama, as he appeared in the first episode which aired on July 15th.

Official NTV Site ・Oricon Article

NEWS will be appearing on FNS Uta no Natsu Matsuri this year on Jul 25, with Massu also appearing on a Disney medley, singing “Chim Chim Cheree” from Mary Poppins with Hirahaya Ayaka. (Source)

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NEWSRING (Jul 11)
- It was Massu’s turn to update
- He wrote about the butai, saying how it’s starting the following day, for fans to go watch with the intention of watching a stage play and not a concert, and that he finally did his hair for the butai that day. He’ll be caring for his throat for the coming month and asked for everyone’s support. He also apologised for how cold the theatre would be.

Shigeaki no Cloud (Jul 13)
- Shige wrote about how he recently turned 31 and that he was able to celebrate with the cast of zero, and said that he thinks pictures of the cake have made it online and urged people to go look. He said he would like to spread his wings this year too. He also included a selfie (jidori in japanese) of himself eating cake in a chicken (jidori in japanese) mask. He said that he might stick with this style for awhile.

Shigeaki no Cloud (Jul 14)
- Shige posted another picture of himself from before Ongaku no Hi in the chicken mask looking in the mirror and touching the top of his head. He said that he couldn’t get his bangs (aka the top ridge on a chicken) right.

Otonoha (Jul 15)
- Sakurai Sho (Arashi) mentioned Massu in his entry, saying he invited Massu over to his place for drinks the other day. Massu asked if he should get Sakurai anything, Sakurai said it’s okay, just come. But Massu showed up at his place with a huge smile and a bag from the convenience store containing… 12 toilet rolls. He told Massu to cower in fear the next time he brings any gifts for him.

KEIICHIRO (Jul 16)
- Koyama wrote about going to see Massu’s butai and shared his thoughts. Massu also asked for dango when Koyama went to his dressing room after the play. He’ll head off to work, now that Massu has inspired him.
  
  At the end, he shared a photo of the Massu’s name at Massu’s dressing room.

Shigeaki no Cloud (Jul 17)
- He asked if everyone had watched “Zero Ikkakusenkin Game” and he’d be happy if everyone enjoyed it. He also talked a little about how Massu appeared in the episode, and on Massu’s spin-off. He also appears for a bit in the spin-off as Massu’s high school schoolmate.
  
  He moved on to say jweb has a special site for the drama, and shared the photo of himself that was used in the first quiz on the special site.

Iwashita Kazunori, the CEO of Iwashita Shokuhin, a food company specialising in pickles, based in Tochigi, tweeted about NEWS again recently (He tweeted about going to the Fukuoka show for EPCOTIA with his family some months back). He said he received his copy of the FC newsletter, and was hoping to see the ginger from their company appear as part of the noodles Shige made, but they weren’t there. He’s a little sad. (Source)

On July 10th, Heroism tweeted thanking everyone for the warm response to ‘Ikiro’ and apologizing for not being able to respond to everyone. He also talked about the first performance and that he believed in it from the moment they finished singing the demo, but that they surpassed his expectations with the passion he felt in their performance. He said that the message came through, and that while all he can do is to write songs, he hopes to lend [them/us] strength. (Source)

Shige’s birthday messages
- Tanaka Ichihiko, writer on Typewriters, tweeted “Kato-kun Happy Birthdayyy ” (Source)
- The official twitter of the literature news site ‘Kadobun’ from Kadokawa, Shige’s publisher, tweeted wishing Shige a happy birthday and also promoted the paperback release of ‘Kasa wo Motanai Aritachi wa’. (Source)
- The official twitter for the magazine The Television tweeted to wish him a happy birthday. They also mentioned how his and Massu’s birthdays are only a week away. (Source)
- The magazine TV Fan also tweeted to wish Shige a happy birthday and promoted the newest issue of their magazine where Shige appeared on the cover. (Source)
- The official twitter for NEWS ni Koishite tweeted to wish Shige a happy birthday and promoted the in game birthday event. (Source)
- Sugino Yosuke tweeted a picture of himself eating a slice of Shige’s birthday cake: “Shige-san’s birthday cake. I wonder what the hat part is made of. I want to try it, and so I had some. It was Komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach)” (Source)
- The official twitter for ‘Zero Ikkakusenkin Game’ drama tweeted wishing Shige a happy birthday and included a picture of Shige with the drama themed birthday cake the staff got him and a close up of the cake itself. They also said that during filming everyone sang him happy birthday, but since the people singing were the Dream Kingdom participants who are all men, it was sung in a really low tone. (Source)
- The official twitter for Oricon tweeted a picture of Shige’s birthday celebration with Zero and an article with comments from Shige. In the article he’s quoted as saying that he’s really happy to spend his birthday while filming and that though he’s turned 31, with the role of Zero, he hopes to go back to zero and restart with the feelings like that of a beginner. (Source)
- Aoki Announcer quote tweeted the ‘Zero Ikkakusenkin Game’ twitter account’s tweet about Shige’s birthday and added his own message. He wished him a happy birthday and thanked him for his response to his joke, and praised him calling him polite, accurate, wise, precise, simple, calm and beautiful man. He also said he was looking forward to Sunday (the day of the first episode of Zero). (Source)

The TV Tokyo twitter tweeted about Sore Dame and how they recorded on Massu’s birthday. They said that the whole staff and cast celebrated together and said to pay attention to 32 year old Massu. They included a picture of his birthday cake. (Source)

On Jul 12, Mori Keisuke, one of the announcers on Sukkiri, tweeted after the programme ended saying how Shige and Mamiya Shotaro got angry really nicely for the game, until the last theme “Kato Koji” (one of the main hosts for Sukkiri). Shige-san couldn’t get mad at him and ended up thanking him instead. If it were up to Mori to answer, he’d get mad and say “He asks too many questions that’re not on the script!!!” (Source)

Only You updates
- The play opened on Jul 12, and you can find photos of the Johnny’s bangle in the link. (Source)
- Kurosu Hirotsugu, one of the choreographers for the play, tweeted on Jul 12 with a photo of the giant poster at Shibuya Station and a group photo (of likely staff….?) to say the play has begun. (Source)
- Keimei tweeted to say he choreographed one of the songs. He went for the first day and hopes everyone can complete the run without any injuries (Source)
- Quite a few of the cast members have been tweeting about the play, here’re just a couple from the opening day:
- Marika Dandoy, a cast member from “Only You”, tweeted lyrics from “BLUE” and said the cast will look up towards hope, for the “Only You” run that begins the following day. (Source)
- Yushin tweeted after the first day to say the adrenaline wouldn’t subside and it’s a work they’ve rehearsed with all their might for. While he feels nervous still, he felt like crying when he saw everyone clapping from the stage. He felt the wideness of Masuda Takahisa’s back again at that point in time. (Source)
- Yanagihara Kanako, an actress/ comedian who guests on Netapare pretty often, went to watch the play on Jul 16 night. (Source)