Talented actor Fujiwara Tatsuya (23) gave a press conference on Wednesday at the Lincoln Center in New York for this summer’s stage production of Ninagawa Yukio’s “Kindai Nohgakushu” (Modern Noh Plays). The production, based on a work by the late Mishima Yukio, will be part of the Lincoln Center Festival 2005, and will be held at the Rose Theater on July 28-30. Fujiwara, perhaps best known abroad for his starring role in the two Battle Royale movies, spoke to the press in shaky English, adding with a smile “I practiced all night…but I don’t know if it worked.” Ninagawa is Japan’s most famous theater director, who has also worked extensively on the world stage, including many original Shakespeare productions.
• The Artist of the Year award at the 19th Nihon Gold Disc Awards went to Orange Range. The awards are based on annual CD sales, and the 6-man group took the top prize after a year where they sold over 4.5 million singles and albums. Their album “Musiq,” which went on sale in December, sold almost 2.4 million copies and they had four No.1 singles. The award for top foreign band went to the defunct Queen, whose greatest hits album “Jewels” sold almost 1.8 million copies. Guitarist Brian May accepted the award in a video message.