Five concerts in Tokyo in December

According to her official site, Maaya will hold five concerts over a week in December to celebrate the release of her new concept album.

The concerts will be held on December 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th. Interestingly they note that the concerts will not be held in large venues but in venues where it feels 'real' from every seat. I wonder if it will be a small, intimate concert like the Tomita Lab lives?...

Another point is that the concerts will be featuring the songs from the new album AND 30 Minutes Night Flight and easy listening. Wow! Inori and Doreddo 39 live? Yes please!

Well, unless major news comes out tomorrow this will be my last post for a couple of weeks as Saturday's the big day: off to Japan day. I'll be able to post once I've settled in and got an internet connection etc. While I'm away you can check out the latest official news on deltafour's website or discuss it over on Maayas.net.

Wish me luck!

Shibakusa Rei taking part in new album's line up

According to the Japanese Maaya fansite 100331, Maaya announced on the most recent episode of her radio show Vitamin M that the artist Shibakusa Rei has composed a track for the new concept album.

If you search on Youtube you can get an idea of the type of music she creates - she seems to be a very talented pianist.

Maaya narrating 'Ouran Host Club' drama

Now, I had read this but I wanted to watch and see if it was true...and it is! Our original Haruhi, Maaya Sakamoto, is narrating the drama version of the popular anime and manga Ouran Host Club!

You can check out the first episode on all the usual online J-drama websites around the internet ^^V



Visit the drama's official website here

Maaya on location in Ireland for an original movie

Maaya's official site has been updated again with this week's big news: Maaya is currently on location in Ireland filming an original short movie:

ただ今、オリジナル・ショートムービーをアイルランドにて撮影中！

（コンセプトアルバム初回限定盤DVDに収録予定）

スウェーデン在住のＤＪ兼ジャズ・ピアニスト、Rasmus Faberと、
彼のプロデュースでデビューしたシンガーソングライター、Frida Sundemoによる共作を含む全9曲収録。

The film will be included on DVD with the first press edition of Maaya's new concept album. The album itself will feature nine songs, including collaborations with the Swedish Jazz pianist/DJ Rasmus Faber and his protege, the singer-songwriter Frida Sundemo.

Source: Maaya's official site

News roundup for a Wednesday afternoon

Maaya in Pirahna 3D dub
Yes, you heard correctly, Maaya has been cast in the Japanese dub of the horror-comedy film Pirahna (in 3D!)...well, if you enjoy shoals of fish eating people with Maaya voicing over the action then it's good news. Source: Hollywood Channel.

Season two of Glee DVD's announced
Maaya will be continuing her role as Rachel in the Japanese dub of Glee for the new season, as announced by HMV Japan. The DVD's will be coming out in December, just in time for Christmas!

'Sangetsuki' - 3rd 'Full Moon Recital Hall' cover unveiled
The editor's blog on Sai-zen-sen has revealed the cover design for the next volume of the Full Moon Recital Hall series. 'Tis very nice. I prefer the first volume and 'Bedtime Story' illustrations but the the story itself was interesting.

Larger cover and pre-order link for 'I.D' re-issue!

The Sai-zen-sen editor's blog has been updated again with a high-def photo of I.D's new cover and blurb. The entry also has another photo of the proofs on someone's desk, I guess they're working on it as we speak.

I shouldn't be this excited about a re-issue...

EDIT:

Pre-order link for Amazon JP. Doth mine eyes decieve me? That's a bargain at 620yen!

Album sound producer and release date announced - 11th November

From Twitter's @miyaishiho, an announcement about Maaya's new concept album:

坂本真綾コンセプトアルバム11月9日発売決定！サウンドプロデューサーは河野伸。そして朗読活劇レチタ・カルダ「ジャンヌ・ダルク」主演決定！10/14(金)15(土)上野水上野外音楽堂にて。ファンクラブ「IDS!アイドリングストップ！」会員の方は明日からFC先行がスタートします！

Maaya's new album will be released on November 9th and will have Kono Shin as its sound producer.

The tweet also announces that Maaya will be on stage again in October for two performances of Recita Calda 'Jeanne de Arc', a recital theatre production (like The Eraser inside my Head production) combining recital, music and acting together. Maaya will be reciting and there will be music done by Spanish Connection.

This is also all announced on her official homepage here.

'I.D.' essay book re-issue cover revealed

That's it, I'm sold on buying 'I.D.' again. The new cover has been unveiled by the online bookstore JBook this morning and it's really pretty. It's actually one of the photos from the original book formatted for the cover. Pretty though. The book will be re-released on August 10th 2011.

Originally the book was only available through her fanclub website or at her fanclub concerts, then the second edition came out and was available through HMV. This is going to be the first widely available edition. So you might even see it in bookshops if you visit Japan from August! I hope so.

Awesome. As I said in my previous post on this re-issue, my old copy is getting damaged by holding it open to translate for long periods, the spine is cracking. I think I'll leave it here and then pick up the new version in Japan to use in future.

On sale 10/08/2011

I've come a long way but,
Just like how I felt when I saw the horizon that time,
Everything is connected.

From a children's theatre troupe, through first love, music, acting on stage - this is the record of a solitary journey leading to 'from everywhere'. In this gem of a book each and every word sparkles with life.

This is the paperback edition of Maaya Sakamoto's first essay book published in 2005. There is also an afterword about what happened 'afterwards' in this paperback edition.

EDIT: Sai-zen-sen's editor's blog also posted up a little entry with a picture of the proofs on someone's desk here.

You can also see inside of the first volume of 'Full Moon Recital Hall' on this entry. I think 'lush' is the word I'd use to describe it. Really, really nicely done.

Thinking of buying the first volume of 'Full Moon Recital Hall'?

Here is why you should. Look how pretty it is (*_*)

'Kimi to Boku' DVD on sale 5th October 2011

According to Tower Records the DVD will be released on the 5th of October, pre-orders have started. The DVD will feature the trailers and one of the audio commentary tracks included will by Maaya and the director of the movie.

It doesn't look like there will be English subitles, unfortunately. Another interesting point is that the details list the running time as 45 minutes. That's a lot shorter than I thought, no wonder the price is relatively cheap at ￥2,940.

New album is concept album and a concert announced

Well, they said they were going to be rolling out the big news and so they did on Friday morning, Japan time.

First up, the new album to be released later in the year will be a concept album based around the key word winter. Following in the footsteps of easy listening and 30 Minutes Night Flight it will be all based around a single theme. Considering how great those two albums are I'm really looking forward to more news about this release being unveiled.

The second piece of news they announced this morning was a special concert being held in September in Gunma Prefecture's world heritage site, the Tomioka Silk Mill (homepage in English.) It will be the 17th Sekai Isan Gekijou (World Heritage Theatre) which is an event which, according to it's official website, brings together Japan's history and heritage with popular artists for one-off concerts.

The concert will be held on Respect the Aged Day, September 19th 2011. As long as the weather holds out, apparently.

Tickets for the concert will go on sale August 7th. Interestingly there will be tickets available on the day according to Maaya's official homepage announcement about it all.

Exciting!

Full Moon Recital Hall website updates with book release info and re-streaming of 3/4 stories

The first volume of Maaya's Full Moon Recital Hall goes on sale next week for four months, and Sai-zen-sen have updated the official website where they will be unveiling the covers as they go along. There's also a nice graphic at the top giving a good idea of how the story and the CD will look with the packaging.

They've also listed the on sale dates for the other books too (I really, really want Bedtime Story.)

They will also be restreaming three out of four of last autumn's full moon recitals this month, starting on the same day as the book's release (14t July). So you can all enjoy the final chapter of the 'Galatic Railroad' with Maaya once again for free at 10pm Japanese time!

Enjoy!

Maaya at the PR conference for the new Full Metal Alchemist film

Maaya was cast as Julie in the new Full Metal Alchemist film, and there was a PR conference over the past week to promote the movie. Maaya appeared with some of the cast and the director, and photos have appeared online along with the reports.

Take a look over at Moca News. You can click the photos to make them bigger ^^V

Maaya reprises Natalie Portman in Thor movie dub

© 2011 Marvel Characters, Inc.

This totally isn't just an excuse to post the most beautiful man I've seen in a movie since forever, but Maaya has been cast as Jane in the new super-hero flick Thor for the Japanese dub. Some of you might remember that Maaya was Natalie Portman/Amidala in the Star Wars franchise in Japan as well. It's quite nice to see her 'grow up' as Natalie Portman herself does.

If you haven't seen Thor yet, perhaps this might persuade you? Also, it's being called 'Mighty Thor' in Japan - even more awesome! Hot men and Maaya all in one movie ^^

Source: Maaya's official homepage and Thor Japanese release site

Thank you for all your support

The first entry on this blog was made in January 2008, it's now July 2011. Starting off well then slowing down half-way, I think this blog is now quite healthy. After three and a half years one might hope so!

Thank you to everyone who has visited and to all those who have commented, especially recently. I really appreciate you supporting this site.

Image shamelessly stolen from Megumi's wonderful Melodie.

I also have an announcement of sorts, at the end of the month I will be starting a new job in Japan for at least twelve months. While that should be great for the ol' Japanese ability and thus great for translations of Maaya goodies, I'm not quite sure what effect it will have on this blog.

Once I've moved out and settled down, I'm sure things will return to normal but over July and August updates will probably be erratic. Certainly the beginning of August to the beginning of September look like they will be crazy busy.

So! Just a warning in advance that if I dissapear for a while, that's what is going on. Busy, busy. busy.

Great things are happening in Maaya-world this year though:

- re-issue of I.D essay book (means I don't need to take my copy with me - lighter luggage!)
- Full Moon Recital Hall illustration + CD collection
- photobook
- new album

And possibly other wonderful things to come.