Japan Entertainment News - May 2004
It's a Wrap, Beat | May 31, 2004 |
 Kitano "Beat" Takeshi has completed his role in the movie "Chi to Hone" (Blood and Bones). It's the first time in 14 years for the renowned actor, director and comedian to star in a movie that he is not directing himself. The man at the helm for this project is Sai Yoichi (54). Takeshi plays an unpleasant lead character, a heavy drinker who abuses his wife and children. He says he worked harder ton this than any other role he's ever done.
• Yomiuri TV announcer Nakamoto Ayako (photo, 32) is engaged to be married. She is planning to marry a 38-year old New York-based systems engineer in November. Nakamoto is a familiar face on early weekday morning shows, and is particularly popular among fans of the Hanshin Tigers baseball team, as she appears on the Tora Tora Tigers show at 12:55am on Sundays. Busy girl.
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Seiko's Working Hard | May 28, 2004 |
 Matsuda Seiko (42) is working hard to promote her new single and upcoming album. One of Japan's biggest ever "idol" singers, Seiko has a 24-year career behind her but is pulling out all the stops to give it yet another boost. In the past, she has often relied on controversy and publicity stunts to keep herself in the public eye. But this time she is working the TV shows and live events, appearing on early morning TV, seemingly, for the first time in her career. She even showed up for the daily morning assembly of staff at her Sony Music label. The new single "Aitai" is her first ballad in several years and she wrote the lyrics to music composed by the man said to be her latest flame, musician Harada Shinji (45). "Sunshine", her first original album in three years, goes on sale June 13.
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Cutie in Tears | May 27, 2004 |
 Actress Tanaka Reina (24) is to star in a Chinese TV drama. "Aigami Seikihatsu", set to air next spring, will be Tanaka's debut as a leading actress. It will also star Chinese actors Chen Jen Bin (34) and Dan Hao (26) and be directed by award-winning moviemaker Jin Chen (35). Filming will take place between June and August in Dalian and Tokyo.
• Aspiring actress Sato Eriko (22) broke down in tears while addressing the 2,000-strong audience at a PR event for her new movie "Cutie Honey". She said she was overcome with happiness by the huge turnout of fans. The movie adaptation of the famous TV anime has been widely hyped and is a big career step for the pin-up girl. The tall and slim Sato is one of the high-profile members of the Yellow Cab talent agency that specializes in girls with large to enormous bustlines.
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Godzilla's Last Stand | May 26, 2004 |
 Toei held a pre-production press conference yesterday for the upcoming and final Godzilla movie. "Godzilla: Final Wars" is scheduled to open on December 4, and stars Matsuoka Masahiro (27) of the Johnny's pop group Tokio and Kikukawa Rei (26). It will also feature Takarada Akira (70), who starred in the very first Godzilla movie. Production starts in Sydney this Friday and is scheduled to finish November 15. It will be the biggest "Gojira" flick ever, with a budget of ¥2 billion, about twice that of recent Toei versions. It will also be the most international, taking the big lizard to New York, Sydney, Paris and Shanghai before he wreaks havoc in Japan. Celebrating his 50th birthday this year, Godzilla is enjoying something of a boom. The original 1954 movie is currently showing in New York and San Fransisco. He made his first appearance in the U.S. in 1956 and got a Hollywood makeover courtesy of Roland Emmerich in 1998. The following year, the Japanese production "Godzilla 2000" opened in 2,000 theaters across the U.S. The 27 previous movies in the series have drawn over 98 million people to the cinema and the target for this project is to smash the 100 million barrier. Just the job for the world's most famous monster.
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Momus Members Moving On | May 25, 2004 |
 Morning Musume leader Iida Kaori (22) and "ace" Ishikawa Rika (photo, 19) are to 'graduate' from the group next year. Iida is the only remaining original member. Guru Tsunku (35) says he wants Iida to develop as a multi-talented artist, while Ishikawa will be at the center of a new unit within the Hello! Project. It was announced earlier this year that young members Kago Ai (18) and Tsuji Nozomi (16) will leave the group in August. Auditions for new members are currently being organized.
• Da Pump vocalist Issa (25) turned up for the MYV Video Music Awards Japan with a freshly shaven head, a sign of repentance over his recently publicized womanizing. Hamasaki Ayumi (26) took three awards, including Best Female Artist. Amuro Namie (26) presented the Inspiration Award to a visiting Janet Jackson (38), who managed to keep her cleavage indoors.
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Big Night for Little Yuya | May 24, 2004 |
 14-year old Yagira Yuya was the surprise winner of the Best Actor award at the 57th Cannes Film Festival on Saturday night. Yagira was recognized for his performance in "Daremo Shiranai" (Nobody Knows), loosely based on a true story from the 1980s of four siblings abandoned by their mother. Visually striking, it was criticized as overlong by some reviewers. It was directed by Koreeda Hirokazu, who accepted the award on his star's behalf. Yagira left Cannes on May 13 after the movie was screened, to go back to mid-term exams at school. He is the first Japanese to win the best actor award at Cannes, and stole the limelight from some more established Japanese stars trying to make an impression at the festival.
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Yoshiki's Kid Brother Wed | May 23, 2004 |
 It was announced yesterday that actor Hayashi Kouki (33) married former NHK actress Matsuno Chika (33) last August. Hayashi is the younger brother of former X Japan member Yoshiki and is curently involved in his management. He is considered to be an "ikemen", or "good looking", actor. The word comes from the current Japanese expression "ikete iru", meaning "cool", and "men" (face). He has appeared regularly in such dramas as Fuji TVs "Yamato Nadeshiko" and "Out". Matsuno is a former gymnast at the national level and was a regular on the popular pre-school show "Okaasan to Issho" in the late 1990s.
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Issa Gets Around | May 22, 2004 |
 The gossip magazine Friday revealed this week that Issa (25), vocalist with the dance group Da Pump, split up with actress Shibasaki Kou (22) in January shortly after they went to Tokyo Disneyland (a popular tactic for break ups). He has since been spotted with several other women, including an ongoing relationship with TV personality Abiru Yu (photo, 17) and a romantic encounter with personality Kifune Kaori (25), caught by the magazine's paparazzi.
• Police have issued a summons to actress Shimada Yoko (51) for driving without a license. The summons follows an accident that occured in Koto ward, Tokyo in March. Shimada had a Canadian license at the time, and "wasn't aware" that she needed a Japanese one.
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Lily of the Valley | May 21, 2004 |
 It's silly award season again. This year's Miss Lily - for the woman who looks best with lilies - goes to...actress Tokiwa Takako (32). The popular actress, who has been busy both on TV and the big screen over the last few years, was presented the award and a bunch of yellow lilies at the Dutch embassy in Tokyo on Wednesday. You have to wonder if stars are embarrassed sometimes by these obvious PR events.
• Folk legend Yamashita Tatsuro (51) has penned his first song for an anime production. He has written the opening tune for NHK's upcoming show about the famous Agatha Christie characters Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. The ending theme was written by his wife Takeuchi Mariya (49).
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2046 Will be Ready...at 20:46 | May 20, 2004 |
 SMAP member and perennial most popular man in Japan Kimura Takuya (31) arrived at the Cannes Film Festival safe and sound but it looks like the movie he's there to promote might not be so lucky. "2046", the new flick by Wong Kar Wai (45), was scheduled to have its press screening this morning, but one reel was still on its way from Bangkok last night and scheduled to arrive in Paris at 5am. With French subtitles yet to be added and a trip across the country to the south coast, it was decided to cancel the morning showing and delay the 7pm gala screening by half an hour. This is a first for the prestigious film fest, according to organizers, as well as a major embarrassment all round. The screening schedule for other films, including Oshii Mamoru's "anime "Innocence", has also been disrupted. The project, which has no script whatsoever, has been plagued by problems from the start. Production started in 1999 but soon ground to a halt due to scheduling difficulties. It was restarted last November after a 4-year hiatus, but even then no end to the project could be seen. But the - almost - finished film has received good reviews and a Best Actor award for Tony Leung (41).
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The Big Earners | May 19, 2004 |
 All media attention on Tuesday was focused on the tax declarations of the rich and famous. Making the top 10 rankings is a real status symbol and you can usually predict most of the names on the list. The biggest entertainment earners were in music: rock duo B'z dominated, with vocalist Inaba Koshi (39) at No.1 and guitarist Matsumoto Tak in 3rd (photo). Sandwiched between them was last year's No.1 Hamasaki Ayumi (25). King of the TV mc's Mino Monta (59) was fourth and the top 5 was rounded out by Utada Hikaru (21). Last year's No.1, Nakai Masahiro (31) of SMAP didn't get his declaration in on time and was not included in the rankings. Also highly ranked as usual were the top comedians, Downtown's Hamada Masatoshi (41) and Matsumoto Hitoshi (41) and the Tunnels duo of Ishibashi Takaaki (42) and Kinashi Noritake (42).
• The other big news story of the moment is politicians who have failed to pay national pension premiums. Meanwhile actress Esumi Makiko (37), a poster girl for the pension scheme who turned out not to have paid premiums herself, made her first public appearance since that scandal broke. She attended a PR event for the upcoming 15th movie in the "Tsuri Baka" (Fishing Fool) movie series, but made no comment on the ongoing scandal. • Veteran actor of the postwar period Mitsuhashi Tatsuya died on Monday of heart failure in a Tokyo hospital. He was 80. He worked until very recently, appearing in "Casshern", the currently-showing debut film by Kiriya Kazuaki, husband of Utada Hikaru.
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Norika Struts Her Stuff | May 18, 2004 |
 Actress Fujiwara Norika (32) grabbed a bit of the Cannes limelight on Sunday. In town to promote the movie Shrek 2, for which she provides the Japanese voice of Princess Fiona, she turned a lot of heads - and cameras - with her classic Asian look. Long, straight black hair accented her low-cut bustline and kimono-inspired sequined red dress as she hogged the red carpet for a full five minutes. Reportedly, the glamorous Norika drew a dinner invitation from an impressed Antonio Banderas, accompanied though he was by wife Melanie Griffith.
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J-pop Princesses in Action | May 17, 2004 |
 Over in South Korea, Amuro Namie (photo, 26) finished the final leg of her Asian tour at the Olympic gymnastics arena in Seoul on Saturday. The last show, for which she shared the headline with popular Korean male R&B singer Rain, brought the total number of fans for the three nights she played in Seoul to 25,000. The local media gave the event a lot of attention, welcoming Amuro as the "uta-hime" (song princess) of the Japanese pop world.
• Another J-pop star trying to relive her glory days, Suzuki Ami (22), gave her showbiz comeback a good publicity boost by playing a "mini live" before a J-League game on Saturday. Wearing a Kashiwa Reysol shirt, 'Amigo' sang three songs, including her new single, before the game between Reysol and Kashima Antlers at the National Stadium.
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Japan Contingent Strong at Cannes | May 15, 2004 |
 Japanese movies are making a strong showing at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Koreda Hirokazu's "Nobody Knows", the first movie shown of the 19 works contending for the prestigious Palme d'Or, received a resounding ovation from the audience yesterday. It has a good chance of becoming the first Japanese movie to take the top prize since 1997's "Unagi". Leading actress You (photo, 39) - a veteran TV personality but in her first real dramatic role - said tearfully, "It was the longest round of applause I've ever heard!" The Ishii Katsuhito-directed "The Taste of Tea" was the first Japanese movie to be chosen to open the Director's Week at the event. The film stars Asano Tadahito (30) and includes a special appearance by SMAP member Kusanagi Tsuyoshi (29). Fellow SMAPer Kimura Takuya (31) stars in the Wong Kar Wai flick "2046", also showing at the festival.
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Not Just a Case of Wind for Rie | May 14, 2004 |
 Actress Tomosaka Rie (photo, 24) is four months pregnant with her first child. She married producer and actor Kawahara Masahiko (34) in April of last year. She is currently starring alongside Yoshida Eisaku (35) in the TBS political drama series "Atarashii Kaze" (A New Wind), due to finish filming in June.
• Kono Akiko (25), a "sub-caster" on the TV Asahi "Houdou Station" news show and member of the Japanese lacrosse team, is romantically linked with head coach and former national team player Okubo Yoshihiro (36).
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Congratulations | May 13, 2004 |
 Actress Mifune Mika (photo, 21) is four months pregnant with her first baby. The daughter of screen legend Mifune Toshiro married rock vocalist Takahashi Joji (45) on her 16th birthday in 1998. She announced the pregnancy as the reason for taking a break after finishing a recent stage production in Tokyo.
• Tetsu (34), the red-sweatsuited half of comedy duo Tetsu & Tomo, announced this week that he recently got married on his bithday. His wife is a 29-year old accessory designer. Tetsu & Tomo got their break in showbiz last year with the "Nandedaro" song and dance routine. • Wedding bells also for comedian Nishii Ryuji (28) of the manzai duo Rainbaku, who announced this week that he tied the knot with 30-year company employee Sachimi way back on Valentine's Day. By the way, the name "Rainbaku" is a tribute to former Hanshin Tigers slugger Mike Reinbach, a popular star with the team in the late 1970s. • And former TV Asahi presenter Kawakita Momoko (29) is engaged to marry a 32-year old director at a company that produces shows for NTV.
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Happy Miwa, Woe is Mii | May 12, 2004 |
 Dreams Come True vocalist Yoshida Miwa (photo, 39) announced yesterday that she had married video director Sueda Ken (30) in a small private ceremony. The couple have not registered their marriage, and have no plans to do so, making it unofficial in the law. They met on a DCT video shoot 2 and a half years ago, while Sueda was still married. He got a divorce in March of last year.
• Nemoto Mitsuyo (46), better known as Mii of the pop duo Pink Lady, recently noticed that her bank account had been "skimmed" of ¥17 million. After reporting the theft to the police, it was discovered that the money had been withdrawn from her account over the course of the last six months. She hadn't missed the ATM card, which she says she seldom used.
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Takenouchi to Take on Yusaku Role | May 11, 2004 |
 Fuji TV's summer drama series is to be a remake of the 1977 movie "Ningen no Shomei" (Proof of the Man). It will star Takenouchi Yutaka (33) and air at 10pm on Thursdays from July 8. Other big names lined up include veterans Matsuzaka Keiko (51) and Ogata Ken (66). The original movie teamed up some of the biggest Japanese stars of the time - Matsuda Yusaku, Mifune Toshiro, Tsuruta Koji - with Hollywood star George Kennedy. When an American is murdered in a Japanese inn, Tokyo detective Munesue (Matsuda) follows the trail of the killer to New York, where he teams up with detective Shuftan (Kennedy).
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 Imai Eriko (20) of the defunct Okinawan pop group Speed is to marry 175R vocalist Shogo (24) next month. Imai is currently five months pregnant. Speed got their start as backing singers for J-pop queen Amuro Namie and became one of the top groups of the late-90s. They broke up in 2000 and Imai has pursued a solo acting and singing career.
• There will be two Japanese movies competing at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Oshii Mamoru's anime "Innocence" and "Nobody Knows" by Koreeda Hirokazu are both entered for the Palme d'Or grand prize. Japan's perennial #1 heart throb, Kimura Takuya (31) may also be in attendance, as he is a star of Wong Kar Wai's "2046", also selected for competition. • "Free caster" Katsu Keiko (37) and magazine editor Ebihara Takaaki (47) got married at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo on Saturday. • Baseball legend Nomura Katsuya (68) and his wife Sachiyo (72) have both written new books. They gave a simultaneous "sain kai" (book signing) in Tokyo yesterday. Widely hated TV personality "Satchi" has dropped out of the limelight since highly publicized libel and tax evasion cases put her under an effective "gag order".
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Maki's Big Day | May 08, 2004 |
 Actress Mizuno Maki (34) and politician Gotoda Masazumi (34), who recently registered their marriage, will hold their wedding ceremony in the city of Tokushima tomorrow. Mizuno says she is a big Hugh Grant fan and plans to have the theme tune to one of his movies at the ceremony. Before leaving Tokyo, she attended a press conference for her upcoming TV Asahi drama, "Jakou" (Evil Light). The suspense story is based on a prize-winning bestseller novel from last year. Mizuno plays the heroine, whose husband – played by Sawamura Ikki (36) – cheats on her. Asked what she thought of such things, she replied "I guess it's okay if I don't know. Some things are just better not known. Secrets should be taken to the grave".
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Teen Star to Hit US | May 07, 2004 |
 New teen singing sensation Tamaki Nami (15) played her first live concert in Tokyo yesterday. She performed 20 songs at the NHK Hall in Shibuya before 3,700 fans to start a brief tour. At the end of this month, she heads off to events to promote Asian entertainment in Los Angeles and San Jose. She will then take dance and voice lessons - and hopefully a trip to Disneyland - for two weeks before returning to Japan. Tamaki turned a lot of heads in the music business last year when she sold 300,000 copies of her debut single "Believe", also used as the opening theme of the popular anime Gundam Seed.
• Fujioka Hiroshi (58), the original Gamen Raida (Masked Rider), said at a talk event yesterday that he wants to make a comeback as the motorcycle-riding superhero. Usually such statements are to generate publicity for a real project, but it seems there are currently no plans for the self-proclaimed modern "samurai" to revive his 1971-73 role as Gamen Raida #1. These days, the series is a launching pad for the careers of young "ikemen" - good-looking actors who are as popular with mothers as they are among the target audience of young boys.
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Golden Week Roundup | May 06, 2004 |
 The Golden Week holiday has come to an end. Here are some of the stories from the last few days.
• On Monday, a ceremony was held to commemorate the "shichkaiki" (7th anniversary of a death) of X Japan guitarist Hide (photo). The traditional buddhist ceremony is actually held six years after someone's death. The ceremony was held at the Hide Museum in Yokosuka City, and 18,000 fans waited in a line that stretched 2km to pay their respects. Also in attendance were band members Yoshiki (38) and Pata (38). Notably absent was bandmate Toshi, who has been recently caught up in child abuse accusations. • Mini Moni played their last gig at the Saitama Super Arena on Monday. Leader Mika (19) is off to study in the US. • Singer Noguchi Goro (48) and his wife Mitsui Yuri (35) became parents for the second time. Mitsui gave birth to their first boy at a Tokyo hospital on Monday. • It was revealed this week that comedian Horiuchi Ken (34) of the trio Neptune had emergency surgery in late February following the discovery of testicular cancer. The loss of a testicle is the same fate suffered by fellow funny man Tanaka Yuji (38) of the duo Bakusho Mondai in 2000.
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hitomi's Back | May 02, 2004 |
 Singer hitomi (28) generated some publicity for her upcoming tour by playing an unannounced "secret live" in the departures lobby of Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Friday. Clad in a bikini top and cowboy hat, she gave a nice Golden Week surprise to about 3,000 people in the airport. (The event brought some good publicity for the airport too, after it had to be closed down on Thursday when a loony drove his car through a security fence, buzzed around the runways and killed himself by diving into Tokyo Bay.) The hitomi tour will be her first in almost two years. It kicks off in Chiba on May 15 and takes in 16 venues nationwide, finishing with Kokaido in Tokyo's teen mecca of Shibuya in July. hitomi married a design company employee in November 2002 and went "into hiding" for a year and a half.
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Anna Denies Wedding Plans | May 01, 2004 |
 TV personality Umemiya Anna (31) has denied any plans to remarry. A women's weekly magazine recently reported on her relationship with "A-san", a wealthy bachelor who works in the financial sector and has a luxury apartment in the exclusive Roppongi Hills development. The divorcee says that she is looking for someone who will take care not just of her but also her 2-year old daughter Momoka from her all-too-brief marriage. A-san has a reported annual salary of ¥50-60 million - enough to keep the spoilt Anna in the lifestyle to which she is accustomed? Time will tell.
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