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The latest news on Asians abroad

Watch out, Justin Bieber! 
Japanese pop idol sensation Jin Akanishi 
has his eyes set on taking over the American 
entertainment industry next year. 
Akanishi is best known in Asia for his song writing skills, 
hip hop dancing, and being a former member 
of the popular Japanese pop band, KAT-TUN.

In a series of web videos known as “The Takeover,” 
Akanishi has been routinely documenting his efforts 
to break into the American industry. Examples include footage 
of him hard at work in the studio, meeting American celebrities 
such as hip hop artist Sean Kingston, 
and giving interviews about his work in English.

His debut American single “Test Drive,” featuring R&B musician 
Jason Derulo, dropped in November. 
Akanishi will also co-star with actor Keanu Reeves 
(who has Hawaiian and Chinese ancestry) in “47 Ronin,” 
a fictionalized American fantasy-adventure film about the 47 Ronin — 
a real-life group of samurai in 18th century Japan 
who avenged the murder of their master. 
The movie will be released in 2012.

It’s always interesting to watch immensely popular Asian musicians 
attempt to break into the American industry. 
The jump is rarely an easy one, and I have yet to see anyone 
who’s been able to do it successfully. 
Several Asian celebrities have already preceded Akanishi, 
such as popular Korean pop stars Rain and BoA, 
as well as Japanese songstress Utada Hikaru (“Utada”) — 
with only nominal success. Only time will tell if Akanishi will be 
the first Asian musician to legitimately 
break into the U.S. showbiz scene once and for all.

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