Japan Entertainment News - July 2005
Fuji Rock '05 Kicks Off | July 30, 2005 |
 The 9th Fuji Rock Festival kicked off at the Naeba ski ground in Niigata Prefecture yesterday. Foo Fighters were officially top of the bill for opening day, but probably more fans turned out for the hugely popular British band Coldplay. Chris Martin and the band were making their second Fuji Rock appearance after they played in 2003. But Martin's attempt at Japanese back-fired when he came on stage and greeted the audience with "Sayonara" (Goodbye) instead of "Konbanwa" (Good evening). Coldplay's latest album "X&Y" has been No.1 in 31 countries and looks set to match the 10 million-plus sales of its two predecessors. Other big names on the opening day were The Music and The Pogues, and local bands such as The High-Lows and Crazy Ken Band. Photos and more are already up on the official site (http://www.fujirockfestival.com).
• The slump in TV popularity for the Yomiuri Giants shows no signs of letting up. Giants fans have always been fickle, and the 5.2% Kanto area viewer rating for NTV's broadcast of their Thursday night game against old rivals the Hanshin Tigers was yet another season low. It was the lowest figure on all the networks, worse even that the 5.3% for "Pocket Monsters" on TV Tokyo. By contrast, the rating for the game among viewers in the Kansai area, centered around Hanshin's hometown of Osaka, was a healthy 19.2%.
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Choi Hime Arrives in Japan | July 29, 2005 |
 Popular South Korean actress Choi Ji Woo (30) finally arrived in Japan yesterday. She was scheduled to arrive for a series of PR events at the beginning of the month, but was rushed to a Seoul hospital the day before due to chronic fatigue. The actress - known to Japanese fans as "Choi Hime" (Princess Choi) was welcomed at Narita Airport by about 150 fans, far fewer than usually turn up for male stars. A spokesperson said she is not yet back to full strength, but she will meet fans and attend an event to mark the release of a new DVD and photo book tomorrow.
• This year's 5th "John Lennon Super Live" event will mark the 65th anniversary of his birth and 25 years since his death in New York in 1980. To be held at the Nippon Budokan, it will feature a solo performance from Lennon's widow Ono Yoko (72) for the first time. Also on the bill are a selection of big local names, including Love Psychedelico, Puffy, Okuda Tamio and Bonnie Pink. Tickets for the October 7 event go on sale on August 27.
• Actor Sugimoto Tetta (40) was questioned by police recently for stealing a bicycle, it was revealed yesterday. Sugimoto was stopped by police in Setagaya Ward of Tokyo late on the night of July 17. He was drunk and admitted to having taken a bicycle he found on the street. Police are unlikely to prosecute the actor and will deal with it as a minor offense.
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Yappari! Sugita's Marriage Coming to an End | July 27, 2005 |
 It looks like the brief marriage between actress Sugita Kaoru (40) and wealthy heir Ayukawa Junta (44) really is at an end. Sugita is said to have taken the case for arbitration at the domestic affairs court. Appearing on recent variety shows, she has strongly hinted that her days as a "celeb" wife are close to an end, just six months after she shocked the showbiz world with her surprise engagement. She says she has returned her wedding ring -- by parcel delivery, no less -- and hasn't seen her husband since a highly publicized fight four months ago. Asked if she still loves him, she simply replied, "No, I don't."
• Comedian Oka Hachiro died yesterday at a hospital in Hyogo Prefecture of complications resulting from pneumonia. He was 67. One of the stars of the "golden age" of the Yoshimoto Shinkigeki comedy troupe, he was among the first young comedians to join the group in 1969. In 1990, he and other older members found themselves being displaced for younger, more telegenic comedians and were relegated from TV appearances to regional theater performances. Over the following years, Oka struggled with alcoholism and cancer as well as his wife's suicide and the untimely death of his son. He was recently in high spirits when he appeared in his role as mentor to the popular manzai duo of All Kyojin-Hanshin, who this year celebrate 30 years in showbusiness.
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Anything She Can Do... | July 26, 2005 |
 It seems like popular Okinawan duo Kiroro have to do everything together. Vocalist Tamashiro Chiharu (photo right, 28) announced yesterday that she is 3 months pregnant. Both she and the other half of the duo, pianist Kinjou Ayano (27), got married in the spring, and Kinjou announced her pregnancy in May. They will start a tour as a "foursome" on August 13.
• Some good and bad news for TV stations that had high hopes for some recent broadcasts. Fuji TV's 25-hour TV marathon managed a high "shuukan" rating of 25.4% on Saturday night. The show also got a very respectable 22% for the finale on Sunday evening, when host Shofukutei Tsurubei (53) ended up in tears. At the other end of the scale, even the all-star games seem to be suffering from the declining interest in televised baseball. The two-game series was shown on TV Asahi on Saturday and Sunday. The first game got a poor 11.9% rating, while game 2 did even worse. Its 10.3% was the worst since monitoring began in 1994 and lower than 2001's 11%, when it was still a three-game series.
• Actress Nakamura Tamao (66) is to undergo surgery to have a polyp removed from her vocal cords. The operation, planned for August, means that she has had to step down from her planned role in a stage show at the Meijiza Theater in September.
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Chiyo, Kawamura Split | July 25, 2005 |
 It was revealed yesterday that sumo star Chiyotaikai (29) and talento Kawamura Hikaru (photo, 25) have broken up. The media first reported on their romance in the summer of 2003, and marriage was thought to be on the cards. But it seems they split up about six months ago. Kawamura made the revelation during the recording of a variety show on Sunday. She recently joined the agency Suns, set up by former Yellow Cab founder Noda Yoshiharu (59), which specializes in busty female talento. Kawamura made her debut in Playboy magazine in 1996 (yes, she would have been about 16 at the time).
• Popular guitar duo Yuzu played to more than 120,000 fans over two nights at the weekend in their hometown of Yokohama. They played the two concerts at the Nissan Stadium, built for the World Cup in 2002 and the biggest in Japan.
• Academy-award winning musician Sakamoto Ryuichi (53) is back on the road again. His first tour in ten years will take him to four venues across the country, starting with Zepp Tokyo last night. The theme for his tour is the environment, and he has been an advocate of sustainable energy for several years. His rehearsals and concerts make use of electricity created by wind or solar energy. On Wednesday, he will make his first ever in-store appearance at the Tower Records outlet in Shibuya, Tokyo.
• Rising Hollywood star Orlando Bloom (28) is to pay another visit to Japan, just three months after promoting "Kingdom of Heaven" here in the spring. "Orly" will be arriving on August 1 to promote his latest feature, "Elizabeth Town," directed by Cameron Crowe and produced by Tom Cruise. He can expect even more than the 700 fans who turned up at Narita Airport to welcome him in April.
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Okina Megumi Divorces | July 22, 2005 |
 It turns out that rumors about a split between actress Okina Megumi (photo, 25) and her husband were true. The actress married 32-year Fujita Susumu, president of IT company Cyber Agent, only in February of last year, and up until last month she was insisting that everything was fine between them. But her agency announced the news of their divorce today. In the statement she said that they had discussed and mutually agreed on the split. Last year's romance was seen as part of a boom in eligible showbusiness women going for high-profile and wealthy IT types.
• Japan's most famous and successful race jockey is to make his acting debut. Take Yutaka (32) will appear as himself in the ongoing NHK morning drama series "Fight!" His wife, former actress Sano Ryoko is said to be envious as she never got to appear in an NHK morning drama.
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Matsuken's Back | July 21, 2005 |
 Actor turned singer Matsudaira Ken (51) is to release the follow up to last year's smash hit "Matsuken Samba II" on September 14. For "Matsuken Samba III" he will augment his gold lame kimono with some fiery red. This time around Matsudaira has written his own lyrics. The actor best known for years as the "Abarenbo Shogun" samurai in the TV series of that name is hoping to cash in on another boom this year.
• Actor Takashima Masahiro (39) and musical actress Sylvia Grab (31) tied the knot on Grab's birthday last Sunday and held a ceremony in Kyoto yesterday. They held a traditional wedding ceremony at the Shimogamo Shrine, a World Heritage Site that is open to members of the public for such ceremonies. They will then travel with about 50-60 guests for another ceremony and reception in Hawaii on July 30. They will also hold a formal reception party for about 1,000 guests at the Hotel New Otani in Tokyo on November 11. The couple gave a press conference to announce their engagement last December and originally planned to only have the ceremony in Hawaii, as Grab is studying in Boston. She is the daughter of a Swiss father and Japanese mother. Takashima comes from an acting family, with both his parents and his younger brother Masanobu (38) all familiar faces on TV and stage.
&$149; Also getting hitched was Golgo Matsumoto (38) of the comedy duo TIM. He married a 38-year old aromatherapist and former high school classmate. The two met up again after many years at a school reunion last summer.
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Underage Drinking Scandal Continues | July 20, 2005 |
 The media have been surprised at the reletively light punishment given to Fuji TV staff involved in the recent scandal where an underage member of the popular group News was detained by police for drunken behavior. The group had been special guests in Sendai at a game played by national women's volleyball team, after which the 18-year old was taken out dining and drinking by Fuji TV staff till the early morning. The company said that announcer Kikuma Yukino (33) and nine others will have their salaries docked. Kikuma will not appear on her regular morning show slot this week, and may be removed from the show altogether. The station received thousands of calls from irate viewers and many thousands more complaints on its website after the incident became known, most complaining that the punishment was too light. The case is so high profile that even the Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission made a public statement condemning both the behavior of the adults involved in the incident and the company's response. Meanwhile, the 18-year old's place in the 8-man group has been taken by Taguchi Junnosuke(19), a member of fellow Johnny's Jimusho group Kat-Tun.
• Talento and former pin-up girl Megumi (23) was briefly admitted to hospital yesterday following a car crash on Sunday. She was being driven between work assignments by her manager when the accident occured. Megumi suffered bruising and is expected to take a brief break from her many drama and variety show commitments.
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Ren Finally Gets to Hog the Limelight | July 19, 2005 |
 A veteran of over 300 movies, Osugi Ren (53) is to finally get the spotlight all to himself. In "Life on the Longboard" he will play his first sole starring role, as a man who feels lost after taking early retirement, only to find a new lust for life in surfing. Osugi has had starring roles a couple of times before, but always sharing the limelight with at least one other actor. The "man of many faces" was the natural choice for director Kita Ichiro, even though he had no experience of surfing. Normally, an actor would have time to learn the ropes before shooting, but a tight schedule meant Osugi had just five hours, and that was in between shoots! But the high-school soccer star still managed to get the first wave-riding shot done in the first take. He has since added surfing to his interests listed on his official website. The movie, which incidentally is Osugi's tenth this year, is scheduled for release in mid-August.
• Another veteran back in the spotlight is singer Wada Akiko (55), whose latest single has set a new record. "Loop in my Heart/Hey!" her collaboration with popular duo m-flo, has entered the Oricon singles chart Top 10 at No.9, more than 33 years since she last made the Top 10 with "Yoake no Yume" in February 1972. The previous record of 22 years and one month was held by the Carpenters.
• Meanwhile, entering at No.1 for the fourth consecutive time are young boy band News with "Teppen." (One of the younger members of the group was briefly taken into police custody last week for underage drinking. Fuji TV announcer Kikuma Yukino (33), who is reported to have encouraged the 18-year old to go drinking, has had to step down from her regular morning show.) Ketsumeishi kept the No.1 spot in the album chart for the third week with "Ketsunopolis 4".
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Secret Marriages | July 18, 2005 |
 Today is the Umi no Hi (Marine Day) national holiday.
• Comedian Ayanokoji Kimimaro (photo, 54) married the former president of his agency, it was revealed on Saturday. The "mandan" stand-up comedian and his new wife have both been divorcees for some time and have been living together for years. Her son took over her position as president early in the spring, allowing the couple to finally tie the knot. Ayanokoji became an "overnight star" a couple of years back after a long career, first in his native Osaka and later in Tokyo. His distinctive look and sharp one-liners had won him a growing and loyal following among middle-aged housewives. But it wasn't until their support helped make his CD the first comedy album to make the Oricon charts Top 10 in 2003 that the media finally put him in the spotlight.
• Another marriage just revealed: actress Ogawa Noriko (31) recently married a 53-year old TV company employee. A fax was sent out to the media yesterday saying that Ogawa and Yoshida Akio registered their marriage on July 1. The couple have been friends since Ogawa appeared in a TBS drama produced by Yoshida when she was just 13. She has been playing the daughter of the veteran detective "Hagure Keiji Junjoha" in the long-running TV Asahi series for 18 years. This is her first marriage, while Yoshida is a divorcee and father of two children.
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A Samurai in NYC | July 16, 2005 |
 Comedian Hata Yoku (30), who rose to fame last year as the Guitar Samurai, recently made his US debut. He appeared before 200 locals at the Frederick Loewe Theatre in New York, making jabs at George W. Bush, Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson in his broken English. Hata spent the last two months practicing his language skills. He explained his catchphrases to the audience in advance, with "seppuku" being "harakiri" and "...tte iun janai" as "that's what you say." "I'm glad I went," he said. "Next, I'd like to go to Italy and France!" Asked if he wasn't worried about being sued for speaking his mind in the US, he said, "Well, I don't have a million dollars, so I'll just leave that to my agency to sort out!"
• The Tokyo District Court on Friday rejected a slander lawsuit by two executives of the Johnny's Jimusho talent agency. Fujishima Julie-Keiko and Fujishima Mary-Yasuko each sought ¥11 million in damages from the publisher of the "Josei Shukan" magazine. An article in the September 2003 issue of the women's weekly magazine reported a rumor that the pair had received "favorable treatment" as regular customers of a high class Tokyo boutique. The judge said that the article may have exaggerated the favorable repayment terms given to the two, but as the article was reported as a rumor, it could hardly have "lowered their social image" as they had claimed.
• Meanwhile, a juvenile members of the Johnny's group News was taken into protective custody yesterday after being found drinking in a park in Sendai. As he was uner the legal drinking age of 20, police gave him a severe warning before releasing him. He did not appear on the following evening's edition of "Music Station" with his fellow group members. The 8-member group are currently among the most popular in the all-male Johnny's stable of idol groups, and have had a string of No.1's in the year or so since their major debut. They were in Sendai as "special supporters" of the Japan women's volleyball team, who played Canada in the World Grand Prix on Friday.
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Return of an Idol | July 15, 2005 |
 Former idol singer Hori Chiemi (38) is making a comback after 18 years. The mother of five children will release an album of new recordings, "Hori Chiemi '80s Idol Songs Collection," on the Pony Canyon label on September 7. The album is a collection of covers of hits by other 1980s idols, such as Koizumi Kyoko, Hayami Yu and Matsumoto Iyo. There is also a bonus track, which is a medley of her own hits. This is in addition to a greatest hits album, which will go on sale September 20. She will also play her first solo concert since 1987 on September 17 in Osaka, and another on the 24th in Tokyo.
• The son of legendary animator Tezuka Osamu is to put one of his most popular creations on the big screen. Tezuka Makoto (43) is to make an animated movie version of "Black Jack," a tale of two rival doctors. Osamu Tezuka drew on his knowledge as a physician in writing the stories, which first appeared in the Shukan Shonen Champion weekly manga. A TV anime series based on the popular manga has been a hit on NTV since last October. The movie version is scheduled for a December 17 release. "Black Jack" ranks alongside "Tesuwan no Atomu," "Hi no Tori" and "Junguru Taitei" as one of Tezuka's masterworks. (There was an earlier movie version of Black Jack in 1996, directed and written by Tezuka protege Dezaki Osamu)
• The TV ratings of the one-almighty Yomiuri Giants baseball team continue to spiral downwards. The latest record low was a paltry 6% audience rating for their July 13 night game against the Chunichi Dragons, which they lost 12-2.
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Otoha Student #1 at New English School | July 14, 2005 |
 Celebrity Otoha (24) was named as the first student at the new Gaba "learning studio" in Ginza on Tuesday. Speaking at the PR event to promote the opening of the school, the pin-up "idol" said she hopes to develop enough English conversation ability to be able to interview Hollywood stars and to travel abroad alone. This despite the fact that she and popular comedian Takashi Fujii (33) recently gave a highly publicized press conference to announce their engagement. They will hold their wedding reception on July 30. Fujii has become even more visible in the last couple of years with his Matthew Minami character, even appearing alongside Bill Murray in the Hollywood movie "Lost in Translation."
• Showbiz all-rounder Kitano "Beat" Takeshi (58) is to be a grandfather for the second time. His son Kitano Atsushi (24) has been dating Office Kitano talento Takada Yuko (29), who is eight months pregnant, for 5 years but the couple are not yet married. Takeshi's daughter Shoko (22) had a baby girl in March.
• Former TV Asahi drama producer Katsuta Kozo died of stomach cancer this week. He was 76. He was best known for popular period dramas, such as "Dai Chushingura," starring the late great Mifune Toshiro and several seasons of "Toyama no Kin-san."
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Top Cast for Ecstasy Hotel | July 13, 2005 |
 Popular scriptwriter Mitani Koki (44) is to direct his third feature film. "The Uchoten Hoteru" (The Ecstasy Hotel) will be his first directorial project in four years, and with a cast that includes respected actors Yakusho Koji (49) and Matsu Takako (28), it's sure to be another hit. The romantic comedy tells of a series of characters at a plush central Tokyo hotel who gather for a New Year's Eve countdown. Mitani's previous movies were "Rajio no Jikan" (1997, Radio Time) and "Minna no Ie" (2001, Everyone's House). The new movie is scheduled for release next spring.
• Fukawa Toshikazu (39), a former member of the 1980s idol trio Shibugatai, made a rare appearance yesterday. "Fu-kun" was a guest judge at an event to choose an image girl for pachinko maker Sanyo. Together with celebrity choreographer Kaba-chan (36) and comedian Maeda Ken (34), he formed a one-day-only unit called Ocean's 3. Shibugatai -- Fu-kun, Motoki "Mo-kun" Masahiro and Yakumaru "Ya-kun" Hirohide -- were one of the first and most popular male idol groups in the Johnny's Jimusho stable. Mo-kun is a familiar face in movies and TV commercials and Ya-kun presents the TBS morning show "Hanamaru Market."
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King of Destruction Dies | July 12, 2005 |
 Popular pro wrestler Hashimoto Shinya, known as the "King of Destruction," died yesterday at a Yokohama hospital of a brain haemorrhage. He was just 40. While a high school judo star in his native Gifu Prefecture, he lost his mother to the same condition. He became a poster boy in the golden age of Shin-Nihon Pro Wrestling in the early 1990s. Later he formed his own organization, "Zero One," before retiring in November of last year and undergoing shoulder surgery. He had a history of heart problems, including an irregular heartbeat, and recently had been suffering from sleep apnea.
• Soul balladeer Hirai Ken (photo, 33) is to provide the theme tune for the upcoming Fuji TV drama special "Tsumiki Kuzushi Shinsou." The show, scheduled to air on September 2 and 3, will feature last year's single "Omoi ga Kasanaru Sono Mae ni," which was used in a tie up for Toyota's Corolla Fielder TV commercial. This is the seventh time for a Hirai song to feature as a theme tune.
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Takashima, Grab to Wed at Historical Shrine | July 11, 2005 |
 Actor Takashima Masahiro (39) and his fiancee, theater actress Sylvia Grab (30), will hold their traditional wedding ceremony in Kyoto on July 20. The ceremony will be held at the Shimogamo Shrine, a World Heritage Site that is open to members of the public for such ceremonies. They will then travel with about 50-60 guests for another ceremony and reception in Hawaii. The couple gave a press conference to announce their engagement last December and originally planned to only have a ceremony in Hawaii, as Grab is studying in Boston. She is the daughter of a Swiss father and Japanese mother.
• Singer Hitomi (photo, 29) looks to be making a big comeback. Very popular a few years ago, she pretty much disappeared from the media except for an occasional TV show. Now she's everywhere again. With a new single, "Love Angel," coming out August 24, she put on combined fashion show/concert yesterday in Tokyo featuring her own designs.
• The Shinjuku Plaza movie theater is the only cinema in japan that has shown all six episodes in the Star Wars seies. The theater welcomed its 1 millionth Star Wars viewer yesterday. The 26-year old company worker and his girlfriend received a Darth Vader figure and a signed photo of actor Hayden Christensen.
• Rap-metal band Rize and hip hop duo Def Tech played a joint gig at the Shibuya branch of Tower Records yesterday. About 150 fans were chosen by lottery from over 5,000 hopefuls for the event. The bands are both on the same Tensaibaka Records label. Def Tech released their smash debut album in January, becoming the first indie band to sell 1.5 million copies. Rize are on something of a comeback after their brief rise to fame a few years ago.
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Choi Cancels Japan Trip | July 08, 2005 |
South Korean actress Choi Ji Woo (29) has cancelled a 3-day visit to Japan on doctor's orders. The actress was hospitalized on Wednesday after collapsing at her home, reportedly from exhaustion. She was scheduled to arrive yesterday for a reception in honor of the ongoing Japan-South Korea friendship year and to attend a press conference in Tokyo. TBS announced just days ago that it plans to work with South Korean companies to produce a TV drama series starring Choi and local heart throb Takenouchi Yutaka (34). It will be the first time for Choi to appear in a Japanese drama, though she has legions of fans here following the huge success of "Winter Sonata," in which she starred alongside Bae Yong Joon (32), better known as "Yon-sama". The drama, tentatively titled "Rondo," will start filming in November - mostly in Tokyo and partly in Seoul - and is scheduled to go on the air between January and March 2006. It may also be shown on South Korean TV. Some of the buzz surrounding the popularity of Korean dramas has faded, but they remain popular among the middle-aged female audience and are still being aired regularly on several networks.
• It was revealed yesterday that the disease afflicting popular rakugo storyteller hayashiya Kompei (62) is multiple sclerosis. A regular on the NTV show "Shoten," he was hospitalized between August last year and this May, and is said to be on the road to recovery.
• Ann (19), the model daughter of Hollywood actor Watanabe Ken (44), attended a party in Tokyo yesterday given by French watchmaker Piaget. The popular show and magazine model revealed that she will make her first appearance at the Paris Fashion Week this autumn. "It's a dream come true for me," she said. "It's my No.1 priority right now."
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No-go for Ei-chan's Studio? | July 07, 2005 |
 It seems that the building put up last November in central Tokyo by rocker Yazawa Eikichi (photo, 55) may be illegal. The ¥1.5 billion building in Akasaka includes a private recording studio. There are said to be differences between the actual building and the plans submitted to the Minato Ward Office. officials and Yazawa's architects are said to be looking into the matter.
• Singer-songwriter Utada Hikaru (22) is to provide the theme song for the upcoming movie "Haru no Yuki" (Spring Snow). Scheduled for general release on October 29, the film will feature "Be My Last," Utada's first new release in 17 months. The romance stars two of the hottest young names of the moment, Takeuchi Yuko (25) and Tsumabuki Satoshi (24) and is sure to be a big hit. The main reason Utada took on the job of writing the song was that the movie is based on a novel by the late Mishima Yukio, of whom she's a big fan. The only movie theme she's done to date was for "Casshern," the debut by her husband, Kiriya Kazuaki (38).
• Mr. Children vocalist Sakurai Kazutoshi (35) and producer Kobayashi Takeshi (45) have put together an impressive lineup for their new summer music festival. The "ap bank fes' 05" is happening in Shizuoka on July 16-18 and will feature nine major acts, including Hamada Shogo (52), Inoue Yosui (56), Nakashima Mika (22), Pornograffitti and Every Little Thing. It will be Hamada's first outdoor appearance in 21 years. Sakurai and Kobayashi will play in a backing band.
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Namie Panther | July 06, 2005 |
 Singer Amuro Namie (27) appeared at the J-Wave radio studio in the Shibuya HMV store yesterday to promote her latest album, "Queen of Hip Hop." The promo video for the first single "WoWa" features a "cameo" by the Pink Panther cartoon character, as well as an original Namie Panther. It's the first time that MGM have allowed the character to be used in a music video and it's also the first time a female version has been created. The new album goes on sale July 13, and Amuro will be playing a 27-city nationwide tour from September 1.
• Former The Yellow Monkey vocalist Yoshii Kazuya (38) played the last gig of his latest solo tour at Zepp Tokyo yesterday. He's ben playing under the stage name of Yoshii Lovinson since he went solo in October 2003, but announced at last night's show that he's planning another name change next year. The Yellow Monkey formed in 1989 and released a slew of albums and singles until their last gig at Tokyo Dome in 2001. They officially broke up last year.
• Talento Tsukitei Hachimitsu (28) became a father yesterday when his wife gave birth to a baby girl at an Osaka hospital. Tsukitei's father, traditional rakugo storyteller Tsukitei Happo (57), said he was delighted to be a grandfather at last.
• Actor Tanihara Shousuke (32) and singer Kahara Tomomi (30) have the dubious honor of being this year's "Natto King and Queen." July 10 can be read as "natto" in Japanese, so that day is used for various PR events for the stinky, slimy but healthy fermented bean food.
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Mister Returns | July 05, 2005 |
 "Mister" fans have been welcoming the legendary baseball star back. Nagashima Shigeo is the most popular player ever to have graced the Japanese baseball world and his recent bout with illness had fans, especially Yomiuri Giants fans, pretty worried. He was hospitalized in the spring of 2004 following a stroke that left him with a slight temporary paralysis in the right side of his body. He finally made his first public appearance at a Giants-Hiroshima Carp game at the Tokyo Dome on Sunday. His appearance in a balcony seat was broadcast live on several TV networks. In the showbiz world, Giants fans have been singing his praises. Kabuki star Nakamura Kazaburo (50) and SMAP leader Nakai Masahiro (32) were among those expressing their undying admiration and support. As usual celebrity Tokumitsu Kazuo (64) couldn't hold back the tears on seeing his old friend.
• Actress Nishida Naomi (33) is planning to get married sometime this month, according to a statement from her agency. Her fiancee is said to be in his 30's but no name or occupation were given.
• Actress Sugita Kaoru (40) said on the Downtown-hosted show "Hey! Hey! Hey!" last night that she hasn't seen her husband for three months (the couple only married six months ago!) She added that her husband, the extremely wealthy Ayukawa Junta (44) told her he didn't want to see her face, kicked her out of his house and changed the locks. Rumors of a divorce have been rampant in the last couple of weeks. And there have been conflicting reports of one kicking the other several months ago while in a restaurant with friends.
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Live8 in Japan | July 04, 2005 |
 News reports on Saturday's Live8 event in Japan say that only 10,000 fans turned up. This is half of the projected number, despite a lineup that included foreign artists Bjork and Good Charlotte as well as domestic acts such as Dreams Come True and Rize. DCT vocalist Yoshida Miwa (photo) was dressed all in white and had the white-armband-waving fans at the Makuhari Messe convention center singing "bimbou wo nakusou" (let's get rid of poverty) to the group's popular hit "Love Love Love." The amount of money raised by the event is due to be announced on the Japanese Live8 website today.
• Actor Akabane Hideyuki (32) foiled an attempted mugging outside his suburban Tokyo home late Saturday night. He and his wife were watching TV about 1am when they heard a woman screaming for help on the street outside. The actor tackled the 30-year old mugger and held him until police arrived. Akabane is a member of the Mumeijuku theater group and a minor celebrity, but has worked regularly on TV since 1992.
• Tourbillion, the new group formed by former Luna Sea vocalist Kawamura Ryuichi (35), played their first concert at the Nippon Budokan at the weekend. Kawamura put the group together with former bandmate Inoran (34) and D-Loop member Hayama Hiroaki (31) after they played in his backing band at a solo Tokyo concert last December. They played a 20-song set, one each from their various solo careers but all the rest were new compositions. The name of the group means "whirlpool" in French.
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Ishino Burgalized Again | July 02, 2005 |
 Actress Ishino Youko (37) gave a press conference yesterday to reveal that her Tokyo home has been burglarized again. She returned to her home in Meguro Ward from filming a TV drama at about 3am on June 30 to find her living room in a mess. She found about ¥400-500,000 in cash was missing. According to her agency, it is at least the third time she has beeen the victim of burglars.
• The once almighty Yomiuri Giants baseball team can see no end to their declining popularity. Though they're still the most supported team in the country, viewership of their TV broadcasts continues to reach new lows. The latest is a new record low average of 10.1% for their night games broadcast in June. This follows the trend of record low numbers every month so far this season. The Giants have been wallowing at or near the bottom of the Central League since the season started.
• Rakugo performer Hayashiya Kompei (photo, 67) is to make his comeback no sooner than September. the popular traditional storyteller was admitted to hospital in June of last year with throat problems. He is said to have left hospital in May but is still recuperating. It was rumored that he might appear back in his regular slot in the TV show "Shoten" in August but an NTV spokesperson denied this.
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Issey's Day in the Sun | July 01, 2005 |
 "The Sun" (Taiyo), the Russian movie depicting the Emperor Hirohito in the dying days of World War II, has taken the Grand Prix at the 13th St. Petersburg International Film Festival. Starring versatile actor Issey Ogata (photo, 53), the critically acclaimed film (it has been described as the best Russian film in years) is unlikely to see general release in this country due to its subject matter. Indeed, the identity of the actor playing the lead role was not revealed until after shooting had finished, for fear of what right-wingers might do. The movie is the third in a series by director Alexander Sokurov which has previously included films about Hitler and Lenin.
• Rumors continue of a split between recently married actress Sugita Kaoru (40) and wealthy entrepreneur Ayukawa Junta (44). She is denying the rumors so far, but in a way that has the media even more convined that the marriage is on the rocks. She is scheduled to appear on a live morning show on TBS and may be a bit more forthcoming on the issue. The couple married in January, but have not lived together at Ayukawa's plush Tokyo home. He is said to be the one pushing for divorce.
• NHK announcer Udo Yumiko (36) was caught on a date with her rumored boyfriend by the weekly gossip magazine "Friday." The man is described as a 35-year old "ikemen" (handsome) certified public accountant. Udo has been romantically linked with a host of men over the years, including Yokohama Bay Stars player Ishii Takuro (34), but the latest romance is said to be one step away from marriage.
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