L'Arc~en~Ciel Performs Manga-Based Wild 7 Film's Theme

Rock band L'Arc~en~Ciel will sing the theme song for this year's manga-based Wild 7 film adaptation directed by Eiichirō Hasumi. The group's lead singer hyde will perform the vocals in the song for which a title has not yet been announced. The live-action film, based on Mikiya Mochizuki's police action manga, will open in Japan on December 21.

The film's executive producer Hiroyoshi Koiwai (L change the WorLd, ICHI) said L'Arc~en~Ciel was picked for the role because their sound will blend well with the film's dark and serious yet youthful and sexy atmosphere. After reading the film's script, Hyde said he tried his best to fit the song for the film by creating the sensation of riding a motorcycle.

Mochizuki's original manga follows the story of seven motorcycle-riding outlaws who catch criminals that have protection from the regular police force. In the film, Wild 7 has to find the group plotting to release a deadly virus in the sky over Tokyo. Actor Eita (Nodame Cantabile, Azumi, Densha Otoko) will star in the film as Dairoku Hiba, the young leader of the Wild 7 secret police team.

The Wild 7 manga originally serialized from 1969 to 1979 in Shonengahosha's Weekly Shōnen King magazine. Mochizuki drew three manga sequels to the original series, and his story also provided the basis for live-action television drama, television anime, and original video anime (OVA) adaptations.

Hasumi's upcoming live-action film will also receive its own manga adaptation in Shonengahosha's Young King magazine.

(Mantan Web)

Kouji Wada Puts Career on Hold Due to Cancer

Kouji Wada, the 37-year-old singer of theme songs for almost every Digimon anime project, announced on Tuesday that he is putting his singing career on hold so he can focus on treatment for a sudden illness. Wada had gone on hiatus eight years ago due to an earlier bout with illness; that time, he revealed few details about his condition, but he resolved this time to tell everything about his current illness.

Eight years ago, a malignant tumor was discovered on his upper pharynx and a lymph node on his neck. He was able to treat the tumor with chemotherapy and surgery and was told that he had recovered completely.

However, he felt a change in his health recently, and an examination at a hospital confirmed that the cancer had metastasized or spread to another location. The diagnosis came as a sudden shock to Wada, but he is striving to focus on immediate medical treatment so he can return to normal again.

As a result, he has to put his singing career on hold, and he apologized for the sudden notice. He will take a break from his blog, Twitter account, and Facebook account, and he has cancelled all scheduled events related to his career for the rest of the year. He apologized to his fans who were anticipating his appearances in Chile and Peru, as well as his guest performance at an X'mas live concert in December. He had planned to resume his solo concerts in November, but they have been delayed.

Nevertheless, he promised that when he returns, it will be with a smile as he spends "the best of times with the best of friends in concert" again.

Wada sang songs for Digimon Adventure, Digimon Adventure 02, Digimon Tamers, Digimon Frontier, Digimon: Data Squad, and Digimon Xros Wars. He also performed the opening theme song for the original Japanese version of Transformers: Robots in Disguise (Transformers: Car Robots). (ANN)