Panda Kun

The mystery novel "Ryusei no Kizuna," written by popular author Keigo Higashino, is being turned into a television drama series this fall. The show will star Kazunari Ninomiya, Ryo Nishikido, and Erika Toda, with Kankuro Kudo penning the script.

Ninomiya, Nishikido, and Toda play three siblings whose parents were murdered when they were children. After being deceived later on in life, they bonded together as a team of swindlers, stealing money from the rich. One day, they find a man whom they believe is their parents' killer, and they start planning to take their revenge.

Ninomiya is taking the lead as the oldest sibling, Koichi. Nishikido plays the younger brother Taisuke, while Toda plays the sister Shizuna. Tomokazu Miura has also been announced as a cast member.

TBS will air the drama on Friday nights at 10:00pm, starting in October.

Wonder Girls' member Ye Eun is continuing her honor student streak even in college. In Ye Eun's most recent interview in Sports Korea, "My first semester grades have come out. I've received 3 A's, few C's but they were mostly B's"

Because of Ye Eun's lifestyle as a singer, it was hard for her to receive good grades. During the time of her finals that counts as a big portion of the grades she struggled greatly going back and forth between performing, school, and broadcasting station.

Luckily, Ye Eun was able to receive an average grade of B+. Continuing from her high school years she's continuing to be a honor student even in college.

A person working in Wonder Girls' company have said, "Because Ye Eun wasn't lazy about her tests, reports, and attendance in school even when she was exhausted she was able to receive the grades she's satisfied with. In subjects she received bad grades in she's passionate to study extra hard for them in between semesters.

Actress Hwang Bora (Rainbow Romance, My Girl) is making her television comeback after she was caught last December for drunk driving. She was found driving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.135% (U.S. legal limits are 0.08%; South Korea penalizes BAC of 0.05-0.09 with a 100 days’ license cancellation, and over 0.10 with cancellation of a license). Public opinion was (rightly, for once) censorious, and needless to say, she’s laid low since the incident.

Now she’s been cast in the upcoming KBS drama Love Marriage, a romantic comedy set to take Strongest Chil Woo’s place on Monday and Tuesday nights after that drama wraps next month. The series will be penned by Goong scribe Lee Eun-ah and stars Kim Min-hee (Some Like it Hot) as a “couple manager” at a dating service, while Kim Ji-hoon (Why Did You Come to Our House?, Flowers For My Life) is cast as a divorce attorney. Hwang Bora plays a part-time employee at Kim Min-hee’s office.

Love Marriage premieres August 25.

Rain will be paying more attention to his local (meaning Korean) and Asian fans now that he has completed filming his first lead role in a Hollywood movie.

First on his itinerary will be a fan meeting at the Olympic Hall, Olympic Park in Seoul on the 27 July 2008. The fan meeting will start at 3pm and around 3,000 fans are expected to be present. Besides Korean fans, those from Japan, China and other Southeast Asian countries will be there. Hmmm...will YOU be there?

The event is called "Summer Vacation with Rain" and will be hosted by Rain's friend and host, Kim Jae-dong.

Rain is also currently busy recording songs for a new Korean album in a studio in Gangnam, Seoul. Rain will produce his own album this time around. But before the fan meet, we've got word from our reader ~A that Bi will be in San Diego for a comic convention there on July 24th.

Key Closet, an American clothing company, recently released a new collection of diamond-studded jeans. On June 26th, SE7EN attended the Summer Splash Runway Show at Boulevard 3 in Los Angeles, and was the only attendee who showed up wearing the $10 000 jeans. The jeans are made with over 1000 Tiffany-set Swarovski crystals and the graphics are hand drawn with water-based paint. There is also a one carat diamond on each back pocket. But don’t worry, 30% of the profit made from the jeans will be donated to help build schools in Uganda.

Also, there has been reports of SE7EN being spotted with holding hands with a girl at Knott’s Berry Farm in California. Whether it’s a girlfriend, a friend or an acquaintance, we’ll never know. But holding hands does say something, right? Se7en once said on Yashimanman that if he has a girlfriend, he wouldn’t tell it to the public because he wants to protect her…so let’s just keep his private life private. As to when his album is dropping.

Actress Lee Ji Ah has recently transformed herself into a violinist for Beethoven Virus drama and photos of her playing the violin was released today.

MBC drama Beethoven Virus which will begin it’s broadcast on 3rd September sees Lee Ji Ah starting filming for the drama for the first time. According to production staff, “Lee Ji Ah is a 27 year old violin player and the first drama setting happens in the subway. This particular scene sees her playing the violin to earn money, with her looks and tears added to the mix.”

This person added, “The past few weeks, she has been practising with the violin until the wee hours. Her violin playing ability was finally displayed for the first time in the subway scene. Although she was a little nervous but with the support from staff and the other cast members, the shoot was a success.”

Lee Ji Ah had started learning the violin earlier this year to prepare for her role. Even when she went to Japan in June for TWSSG promotions, she also bought her violin along and would practise whenever she has time.

According to Lee Ji Ah spokesperson, “To play it well, Lee Ji Ah has been practising hard everyday. She will try her very best to reprise her character because this is an interesting and moving drama.”

Besides Lee Ji Ah, other confirmed cast members for this music drama include Kim Myung Min (male lead), Jang Geun Suk, Lee Soon Jae, Song Ok Sook.

Famous Korean MC Kang Ho Dong will become a father in March 2009. According to his management company today, Kang Ho Dong’s wife Lee Hyo Jin is now 6 weeks pregnant, leaving the whole family in joy. This is considered to be double bliss for him especially as he had just signed on with WorkWonders recently on 22nd July, becoming colleagues with Yoo Jae Suk and Shin Dong Yup.

Joey Yung, Charlene Choi (Ah Sa) and Yumiko Cheng are highly favoured by Albert Yeung and were given Rolex 50th Anniversary special edition watches priced at more than $10,000 HK dollars. Charlene used her persuasive skills and was further awarded a pair of 10 Karat diamond earrings from Albert Yeung.

Yesterday Emperor Watch & Jewellery Limited celebrated their success on the market, they held a dinner banquet at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong hotel. Political and business professionals attended the event. Jackie Chan also appeared to congratulate them. EEG Stars turned up wearing expensive diamond jewellery. The scene was glamorous. Due to the success of the banquet, EEG's Chairman Albert Yeung was in a very good mood. He gave Rolex 50th Anniversary special edition "Milgauss 116400GV" watches to Joey Yung, Charlene Choi and Yumiko Cheng. Although the price was $ 48,600 HKD but others speculated the price was more than $10,000 HK dollars.

Ah Sa who loves brand name watches, to yesterday's sponsors of a pair of 10.18 karats diamond earrings, was worth $120,000HKD. Ah Sa also would want it for herself, asked if she would ask the Boss, who was in a good mood, to give her one as a gift? Or maybe ask someone to buy one for her? Results, because of Ah Sa's good persuasive skills she was able to successfully have the diamond earring presented to her.

Yumiko Cheng wants to be Kenny Kwan's Girlfriend

As for Yumiko's personality, sitting equally alongside "big sister" Joey Yung and Ah Sa as well as receiving a brand name watch, last night the Happy Yumiko accepted an interview with Kenny Kwan. She laughed at Kenny saying that he was a Stock God and that she wants to be added in to be in the list of Kenny's rumored girlfriends. As for Deep Ng, last night he was the only EEG Artist who wasn't heavily sponsored, he explained: "My company said that they'll lend me one, but I'm did not dare to wear it, afraid that when I'm having my meal, I'll be careless. (Have you ever gave a diamond ring to your girlfriend?) Either not give it, or when I give it, it has to be sharp. I want the first ring I give to be the wedding ring, has a big meaning to it."

TOKYO —Pop duo Kinki Kids started their nationwide summer tour in Tokyo Dome this week. The duo will hold 27 concerts at 13 venues nationwide until Nov 23. Monday night’s concert was their first summer gig in eight years, a spokesman for the organizer said.

Koichi Domoto, 29, said, “Because it was our first outing in a while, I got too excited at the beginning of the concert. But I settled down after awhile.” Tsuyoshi Domoto, 29, added, “When we hold a concert, it is always a joint event with our fans. We love each other and create something unique together.”

According to the organizer, about 390,000 fans are expected to attend the concerts.

Life Style Magazine "Singles" calls this young hot actress Han Ji-hye to London!

KBS 1TV "Likable or Not" has ended and she will be in the new drama "East of Eden" costarring with Song Seung-heon(Dong-cheol), Yeon Jeong-hoon(Dong-hoon), and Park Hae-jin(Myeong-hoon) as Ji-hyeon. The new drama is about Ji-hyeon being the three men's first love. Ji-hyeon carried a family burden and wound but continues to live with a warm and courageous heart.

This drama is filmed in Hong Kong which means... a lot of money! Currently, child actors are being filmed for the beginning of the story.

"East of Eden" is aired this August!