Cream Stew no Tarirari de Ikimasu (2006)

Shugo appears in this comedy/drama by CREAM STEW (a pair of Japanese comedians), making fun of the banal patterns of TV dramas.

http://www.ntv.co.jp/tarirari/

what's Shugo doin?

Shugo played a small part in the recent dorama, Busu no Hitomi ni Koishiteru (roughly, "Falling in Love in the Eyes of the Unpretty"). More info

umm, no idea what else...

Breath Less (2006)

Shugo plays a cop in the film Breath Less, which premiered last week in Japan. He's a supporting role, which is all I know...!

Official Site, with trailers.
Some magazine scans

Another Shugo blog!

Check out Aishiteru Shugo, a blog from the Netherlands (in English, though), about Shugo. Info on Yaoh, music videos, and more.

Shugo Livejournal community

There's a thriving Livejournal community that recently got started: Drama Boi, which is best described as Shugo Blog's quirky younger sister. Shugo icons, images, discussion and all around girly fandom fun-- recommended.

Notable post:

108 Screencaps from Animus Anima - still no subs available for this controversial Shugo film (which I discussed here), but looks great from the images.

Koda Kumi: Someday (2006)

Someday is the final of four music videos by Koda Kumi which comprise a short film (see earlier entry) about three men and their love for various women (all played by Koda).

The earlier three videos all ended in breakups, but Someday draws the story to a close with three happy endings: everyone gets their Koda back, including Shugo, whose main tactic, apparently, is to simply hang out at Koda's nightclub until she loves him again. If only life worked that way ^_^

Video, more screenshots, and lyrics here.

Yaoh Subtitles

Yaoh subtitles for at least the first five episodes are available here. Which host will battle the others out to claim the title of Romeo Number One???!

new Shugo Fansite

Check out Oshinari Shugo Fansite, a new fan page by a Shugo-obsessed girl from Thailand. This site's just getting started but it has excellent design [always one of my weaker points-- someone once said of my massive site Gainax Pages, "Great info, ugly site."], a super-extensive filmography, some linked videos, contact info for Shugo, and some other goodies.

Shugo fandom will soon take over the world...!

Yaoh, episode 1

Shugo plays Hikaru, Romeo #4 at the Romeo host bar (the Romeos are ranked, and naturally the protagonist Ryosuke strives to become Romeo #1).

The most interesting thing about Yaoh is how it shows the variety of male ideals in Japanese pop culture. American films and shows have a much narrower spectrum of acceptable male leads, it seems. Ryosuke is a good-looking tough guy who's on the gruff side, while the current Romeo #1 is a suave gentleman who sweeps women off their feet with roses, few words, an outrageous wardrobe and impeccable makeup!

Shugo, as usual, plays an interesting sorta guy. Around rich older women who lavish him with presents, he's an affectionate pet of a boy, thanking them effusively and resting his head on their shoulders. But his true side is cold and slightly psychotic (yes!)-- he pawns the presents with a sneer on his face, plays with a knife, and pisses off some of the other Romeos.

Yaoh is not high art. It's a soap opera fantasy for Japanese housewives, but Shugo has a regular supporting role and his acting is up to his usual snuff. Not sure if I'll be blogging the rest of the series, but perhaps.

Get it.

Space Police (2004)

スペースポリス, 62 minutes. A wacky low-budget mock news documentary by young writer/director Kazushi Watanabe (b. 1976). Space Police is about a young man (Shugo) who meets a crazy old man, "the Sergeant," who claims to be a policeman from outer space, on the trail of intergalactic criminals like local fast-food chain Andromeda Burger. Seems to strive for an intentional b-movie feel.

Official site, Trailer.
Twitch info