Japan Entertainment News - May 2008
Bono, Misia in One For All | May 30, 2008 |
 Yesterday musicians including U2 frontman Bono and local star Misia braved the rain to take part in an event in Yokohama to raise awareness of poverty in Africa. The "One For All" event was held at the city's waterfront Yamashita Park, and also featured saxophonist Watanabe Sadao, Colombian rock musician Juanes, and African singer Youssou N'Dour. They and some 1,500 local residents donned white t-shirts with the simple kanji "hito" (person), designed by artist Antony Gormley. In what was described as an artistic installation, the British sculptor directed the crowd in forming a human figure. Also yesterday, Bono addressed the Tokyo International Conference on African Development IV meeting of Japan and African nations, and met with Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo for about 40 minutes to discuss Japan's aid program to Africa and environmental issues. His attendance at the TICAD meeting, appearances on TV and in various events this week have greatly increased public and media interest in the issues. On Tuesday, Bono received an honorary doctorate from Keio University.
• SMAP's Nakai Masahiro (35) and J-pop queen Koda Kumi (25) were recently spotted at an exclusive onsen resort. The couple were seen leaving a high-class ryokan at the Yugawara onsen this week and the photos appear in today's issue of weekly magazine "Friday." Rumors of their romance caused a huge media buzz late last year but they have continued to refuse to acknowledge their relationship. Following a scandal in January that side-tracked her career, Koda is due to make her first TV appearance in several months on TV Asahi's "Music Station" tonight.
• R&B star Beyonce (26) is showing some love to her many Japanese fans. It was announced yesterday that a compilation album featuring Destiny's Child hits and solo recordings by former members and Beyonce's kid sister Solange (21) will be released in Japan next month. The album will also include a Beyonce cover version of Billy Joel's 1978 hit "Honesty," which has always been a popular song in Japan. The song will be released as a download for mobile phones on June 4, while the album "Love: Destiny" (also the title of a 2001 EP) goes on sale June 25. Beyonce is due to release a new album in November, while the other two former "DesuCha" members Kelly Rowland (27) and Michelle Williams (28) have albums due out in the summer.
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Nakamura Ataru Teams Up With Kitaro | May 29, 2008 |
 Singer-songwriter Nakamura Ataru (22) is to provide the theme tune for the upcoming "Gegege no Kitaro" movie. The ballad "Kaze Tachinu" will be released on July 9, three days before the movie opens in theaters. The song is Nakamura's second movie theme, after "Kaze ni Naru" was used for the movie "Sakebi" in 2006. A talented songwriter, singer and pianist, Nakamura initially received a lot of media attention as one of Japan's few transsexual artists. But an appearance on NHK's "Kohaku Uta Gassen" last New Year's Eve confirmed her status as a popular musician. "Kaze Tachinu" is an original composition, though it was also the title of a 1981 hit for Matsuda Seiko and the Japanese title of the 1979 Christopher Cross hit "Ride Like the Wind." "Gegege no Kitaro - Sennen Noroi Uta" is the second live action adaptation of the popular manga/anime, following last year's hit that made ¥2.3 billion at the box office. Wentz Eiji (22) again stars as Kitaro and is supported by an all-star cast. Discuss the story and watch the movie trailer on our Japanese Movies forum.
” After a half century of hosting some of Japan's biggest stars, the Shinjuku Koma Theater is to close. Located in the heart of the Kabukicho entertainment district, the theater named after its circular stage opened in 1956. It played host to such legendary names as Misora Hibari, Kitajima Saburo and Yashiro Aki and at it's peak in the 1970s the 2,088-seat venue welcomed a million visitors a year. But that number has dropped recently, even with big productions like the show that launched Matsudaira Ken's "MatsuKen Samba II" or the Queen tribute "We Will Rock You." The last regular production will feature a cast of former top Takarazuka stars and run until December 22. The theater's swan song will be a New Year's Eve concert to be broadcast live on TV Tokyo. The closure also means the end for the smaller Theater Apple, the Shinjuku Koma Toei cinema, a bowling alley and restaurants. Management company Koma Stadium say they will work with the Toei movie studio, who own the land, the develop a new site from next year.
• Actress Kyono Kotomi (29) got married last weekend, it was revealed yesterday. She and her new hubbie, described only as 30-year-old theater staffer "A-san," registered their marriage at a Tokyo city office on Saturday. They currently have no plans for a wedding or reception.
• Tokio member Kokubun Taichi (33) has a new love in his life, according to today's issue of weekly magazine "Shuukan Bunshun." His partner is described as a beauty in her early 20s and the couple are said to be sharing Kokubun's Tokyo apartment. As usual, Johnny's Jimusho have denied that the two are anything more than friends. It's the first such rumor about Kokubun since he and singer Aiko (32) split up in August 2006 after an 8-year relationship.
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Dr. Bono at Keio University | May 28, 2008 |
 You can now call him "Dr. Bono." The U2 frontman is in Japan this week to participate in the TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African Development) IV meeting of Japan and African nations, which is being held in Yokohama from May 28-30. But yesterday he was at the prestigious Keio University to receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree for his humanitarian work. In a lecture to 900 students, he said, "I believe in this country. The world needs your involvement." He urged Japan to double its aid to Africa by 2012 and recapture its position as the global leader in overseas development. The country was the biggest provider of overseas aid in the early 1990s but has since lost much of that generosity. "The world is watching Japan as the G8 (summit) approaches, and it's not good news." Keio freshman Watanabe Michitake, who admitted he isn't a U2 fan, said Bono's words opened his eyes to issues he had never considered. "He's an amazing person. It's really incredible that he doesn't seem to be confined by traditional frameworks like race or religion."
• Some big names have been announced to the cast of Miyazaki Hayao's latest anime feature. "Gake no Ue no Ponyo" will feature Amami Yuki (40) and Tokoro Joji (53) as the parents of the fish Ponyo who longs to be human. Yamaguchi Tomoko (43) and Nagashima Kazushige (42) will provide the voices of the parents of Sousuke, the boy she falls in love with. The lead roles will be played by youngsters Nara Yurina (8) and Doi Hiroki (8). Both kids already have several years of TV, stage and commercial experience but this is the first movie for both.
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TV Announcer Commits Suicide | May 27, 2008 |
 Early yesterday morning, popular TV announcer Kawada Ako was found dead in her car just a few hundred meters from her Tokyo apartment. Police are treating it as a suicide. She was 29. Along with a suicide note, a gas stove and charcoal were found in the Mercedes sports car, indicating a common form of suicide from carbon monoxide fumes. She recently indicated on her blog that she was struggling with some kind of problem, but didn't specify what it was. Her management agency expressed their shock at the news yesterday, saying they had been aware of some problem but that Kawada had been working as usual and had reassured them that she'd be fine. She appeared as usual on the "Saturday Scramble" show on Saturday. Talento Dave Spector said she had seemed even perkier than usual, but speculated that she had been compensating for some deeper anxieties. Announcer Torigoe Shuntarou (68), with whom she co-hosted a BS Asahi satellite show since April, said he felt like he had lost a daughter. He said Kawada emailed him on Saturday and thanked him for his encouragement and support. He added that he had considered emailing her back on Sunday, but that it might have seemed too forward. A doctor commenting on the case said that one symptom Kawada had mentioned on her blog suggested she may have been suffering side effects from sleeping pills. A native of Ishikawa Prefecture, Kawada joined TBS in 2002 and went freelance in 2007.
• Talento Ogura Yuko (24) is dating the 34-year-old president of an estate agency company, according to today's issue of weekly magazine "Flash." The two were spotted at a recent Yomiuri Giants-Hiroshima Carp baseball game at Tokyo Dome, after which they ate at a yakiniku restaurant and hung out with players including Giants ace closer Marc Kroon. Ogura has confirmed the relationship, something she refused to do with her rumored romance last year with comedian Hamaguchi Masaru (36).
 Newlyweds Mariah Carey (38) and Nick Cannon (27) arrived in Tokyo yesterday to promote her latest album. It's Cannon's first time in Japan, while his wife was last here in October 2006. Carey greeted the 400 fans who turned out to welcome them at Narita Airport with the Japanese phrase "Tadaima!" (I'm home!). Asked how she was enjoying married life, she said simply "Very nice." The couple will be in Japan until June 3, and Carey will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Giants-Golden Eagles game at Tokyo Dome tomorrow night.
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Tsuchiya Anna's Ex Dead at 25 | May 26, 2008 |
 Model Joshua has died suddenly, though details of how or when have yet to be announced. He was 25. His management agency have confirmed his death, but said details would be revealed this week. The ex-husband of popular actress-singer Tsuchiya Anna (24), he was born and raised in the U.S. to a Japanese father and Brazilian mother. His elder sister is talento Friedia Niimura (28), who was born in Germany and formerly used the stage name Kozue Rin. The family moved to Japan when Joshua was 11. He was scouted as a fashion model while working in a Harajuku cafe as a high school student, and appeared in magazines such as "Smart." In June 2004, he married Tsuchiya, who he had known from his teens. They had a baby boy the following November but the marriage ended in July 2006. Joshua appeared in just one movie, the ominously titled "Jisatsu Saakuru" (The Suicide Circle, 2002). The Niimura family have maintained their international lifestyle, with Friedia often traveling overseas and being partly based in Los Angeles. She was romantically linked with Good Charlotte frontman Benji Madden in 2005.
• "Tokyo Sonata," the Kurosawa Kiyoshi-directed feature, has won an award at the Cannes International Film Festival. Considered one of the event's most unexpected surprises, on Saturday it became the first Japanese movie to be awarded the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard category that focuses on singular, original films. The main award in the category went to "Tulpan" by Kazakh director Sergey Dvortsevoy. "Tokyo Sonata" is a portrait of an unemployed middle-aged man and his seemingly ordinary but slowly disintegrating family, it stars actor Kagawa Teruyuki (42) and Koizumi Kyoko (42). Kurosawa learned of the win by email while traveling by shinkansen to his home in Kobe. The first person he told was his hospitalized wife, who suffered a mild stroke two weeks ago. The movie opens in Japan in the autumn. Discuss the movie on our Japanese Movies board.
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Gary Oldman Chasing Rain in Tokyo | May 23, 2008 |
 Top British actor Gary Oldman (50) has been in Tokyo for the last few days filming location scenes for the movie "Rain Fall." A Japanese adaptation of the first book in the John Rain series by thriller writer Barry Eisler, the movie stars Shiina Kippei (43) in the title role of the Japanese-American assassin. At a pre-production event at the Toei Studio in Higashi Oizumi yesterday, Shiina said he could hardly believe he was working alongside an actor that he admired so much. They talked about scenes they shot in city locations such as Ginza and Shinjuku as Oldman's character, CIA nemesis William Holtzer, pursues Rain through the capital. Also attending yesterday's event were actress Hasegawa Kyoko (29), actor Emoto Akira (59) and director Max Mannix. The movie is scheduled to open during Golden Week next year. Discuss the movie on our Japanese Movie board.
 Singer Saiji Hideki (53) found himself drowned out by the noise of Shibuya yesterday. On a rooftop in the popular Center-gai shopping street, he was taking part in a publicity stunt for online dating site Match.com. Due to the 20m height of the roof and the usual high noise level, only a few passersby even noticed that someone was "shouting out love" from the rooftops, and almost no one realized it was one of Japan's top stars (yes, he is in the photo!). The gathered TV cameras and reporters were enough to cause a crowd to form, blocking the street. But the "guerilla" stunt didn't have police approval and the authorities moved in and issued a stern warning to Media Concierge, the company that staged the event. Saying that he'd had a bad feeling about the event from the start, Saijo referred to a similar stunt in Shibuya by Go Hiromi back in 1999 that led to six people being prosecuted. He added that his fear of heights had made yesterday's experience even worse. He never even got past the intro of his famous hit, a cover of the disco classic "YMCA."
• Young actress Kuroki Meisa (19) has been romantically linked with handsome musician Ken, according to today's issue of weekly magazine "Friday." The two are said to have got together in New York, where Ken is based and he was recently spotted spending the night at Kuroki's Tokyo apartment. He and his American musical partner perform as the unit 2Soul and have created hits for artists such as Hirahara Ayaka (24) and Ai (26).
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Fallen Idol Goto Yuuki Gets Prison Time | May 22, 2008 |
 Former idol singer Goto Yuuki (21) was sentenced to time in prison by the Tokyo District Court yesterday. The judge handed down a sentence of five and a half years - prosecutors had sought eight years - for robbery and assault. Goto and two teenage associates were arrested last autumn after robbing construction materials from a Tokyo site on several occasions last year. In announcing the verdict, the judge said, "As the accused committed repeated crimes for fun and financial gain, motivated by selfishness and greed, there is no room for lenience." He added that Goto was "the ringleader, central to both the planning and the execution of the crimes." In one case a security guard was beaten and suffered a broken nose. Goto was charged with that assault, though he insisted that one of his accomplices did it. In addressing this, the judge said, "The accused's attitude is one of avoiding responsibility and as such he can't be said to have sufficiently repented." The younger brother of former Morning Musume member Goto Maki (22), Yuuki was briefly a member of the pop duo EE Jump back in 2001 but was suspended when caught drinking while underage. He later married - his wife was pregnant at the time - and they are expecting their third child in July. She was in the courtroom gallery with Goto's mother yesterday and he gave them a smile after judgment was handed down.
• Actress Miyazaki Masumi (40) has been divorced since last November, she reveals in today's issue of women's magazine "Fujin Kouron." She and her TV cameraman husband (54) married in Las Vegas in 1994 and, with their two children, lived in Los Angeles and Hawaii until Miyazaki returned to work in Japan in 2005. That led to tensions in the marriage and later that year she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Miyazaki debuted in 1983 and appeared in the popular "Bebop High School" movie series from 1985-88. Her career has also included soft porn movies and nude photo books.
• Avex held a party at the Cannes International Film Festival yesterday to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The company has recently been expanding beyond its usual music base into movies, and actress Takaoka Saki (34) was on hand for the announcement that she is to appear in a movie produced by Hollywood star Danny Glover. "The hariyama Bridge" is a joint U.S.-Japan production and is to be premiered at Cannes next year. The party also featured, among others, actor Oshio Manabu (30) and singer Suzuki Ami (26), and performances from Kyoto geisha Katsuno and shodo (calligraphy) artist Kaneda Sekijo.
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Shimada Yoshichi to Direct Saga no Gabai Baachan | May 21, 2008 |
 Comedian and talento Shimada Yoshichi (58) is to direct the latest movie adaptation of his best-selling autobiography "Saga no Gabai Baachan." He announced at a pre-production event yesterday that he has lined up a pair of top stars to appear in his directorial debut: talento Shimada Shinsuke (52) as his inspirational school teacher, and Miyazaki prefectural governor Higashikokubaru Hideo (50) as a post office worker. Both are close friends since the early 80s when they were among the pioneers of the manzai (stand up comedy) boom. In his heyday as one half of the manzai duo B&B, Yoshichi was said to earn over ¥100 million a month. But he never lost touch with his impoverished roots, growing up in postwar Hiroshima. He lost his father to radiation sickness and spent his youth with his grandmother in Saga Prefecture, a period that became the basis of not just one but a series of books. The stories have previously been adapted to the manga, stage play, TV drama and movie formats.
• Actor Hosaka Naoki (40) is to appear on a live afternoon show today with the new love of his life. Hosaka, who was married to a Ginza hostess and later to actress Takaoka Saki (36), is now dating former talento Ishikawa Kanoko (29) and they will appear together on the NTV show "Houdou Miyaneya." Hosaka revealed last year that he lost both parents to suicide when he was just seven years old.
• TBS announced yesterday that they are to air a TV drama adaptation of last autumn's hit movie "Koizora." They are currently auditioning for the lead roles played by Aragaki Yui (19) and Miura Haruma (18), whose careers got a huge boost from the movie's success. It made over ¥3.9 billion at the box office. The story was originally created as a "keitai shosetsu", or a novel written on a mobile phone. The new drama will air in the Saturday night slot currently occupied by the baseball drama "Rookies."
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The Model and The Giant | May 20, 2008 |
 Popular "charisma" model Oshikiri Moe (28) has been dating Yomiuri Giants star Nomaguchi Takahiko (24) for the last three years, it was revealed yesterday. They first met in the autumn of 2004, when the right-handed pitcher joined the Giants as a free agent from the Shidax corporate league team, and started dating about a year later. They've been through one break-up in the meantime but getting their relationship back on course helped Nomaguchi get back into the Giants' starting rotation last autumn. Known as a "charisma" model, Oshikiri has been the cover girl for fashion magazines "CanCam" and "AneCan" for several years and is also one of several fashion models who have become regulars on variety shows and TV commercials.
• Actor Mizutani Yutaka (55) has a Top 10 album for the first time in more than 30 years. As we reported here yesterday, he recently released "Time Capsule," an album of self-covers of songs he released back in the late-1970s to late-80s. The album entered the latest Oricon chart at No. 2, Mizutani's highest-ever ranking. The gap of 30 years and 8 months since his eponymous album entered the Top 10 is a new record, beating the 27-year, 8-month gap for the group Carol. meanwhile, one spot above him at No.1 is "Superfly" from the group of the same name. And Johnny's Jimusho idol group KAT-TUN are on top of the singles chart with "Don't U Ever Stop."
• Actress Tanaka Minako (40) gave birth to her first child last week, she announced yesterday. The baby girl was born by Caesarean and a month early, to coincide with the birthday of her father, actor Okada Taro (34). Tanaka plans to return to work in the summer.
• The guitar-playing brothers Hirakawachi Ichoume are splitting up. The duo, made up of Hayashi Ryunosuke (20) and his younger brother Naojiro (17), announced that they will break up after their upcoming concert tour in August as Naojiro plans to enter university. The pair from Sado Island made a big splash with their debut single "Tokyo" in 2003. They only this week revealed for the first time why they became professional musicians - it was in an effort to find their mother, who had disappeared with their youngest brother. Ryunosuke says he plans to take time to think about his future, while Naojiro will continue his acting career, and is appearing alongside Koizumi Kyoko in the movie "GuuGuu Datte Neko de Aru," set for release in September.
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The Sun Goes Down on Southern All Stars (For Now) | May 19, 2008 |
 One of the country's most popular and successful pop bands are taking an extended break. Though they have a series of big events lined up to commemorate their 30th anniversary this year, Southern All Stars will be on a sabbatical of unspecified length from next year. The members all have their own solo projects, with vocalist Kuwata Keisuke as usual being the most visible. But the band plan to release a new single in August, play a series of four shows at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama and otherwise keep fans happy for the rest of this year. The band debuted in 1978 with "Katte ni Sinbad" and have had dozens of hits over the years. They took their first extended break in 1985 and have alternated between band and solo projects ever since. They were reduced from six members to five in 2001 with the departure of guitarist Ohmori Takashi, ironically after having a best-ever year that included their historic 2000 live shows in Kuwata's hometown of Chigasaki and the release of J-pop's biggest-ever single "Tsunami," which sold almost 3 million copies.
• Restaurateur and former comedian Ohshima Naoya (36) and former talento Takeda Kayoko (30) held their wedding ceremony and reception in Tokyo yesterday. Ohshima and Ishimoto Takeshi(34) made up the now defunct comedy group Dronz, who made their name in 1997 on the variety show "Susume! Denpa Shonen" but broke up in 2003. Ohshima now works as an actor and runs a nabe restuarant in the Ebisu district of Tokyo. Takeda is the great-great-granddaughter of Yoshihara Shigetoshi, the first ever governor of the Bank of Japan.
• Actress Suzuki An (21) has returned from her two-month English study trip to New York. Though she says she was reluctant to leave the Big Apple, she is looking forward to her next job. She will begin rehearsals for the stage production "Sisters," starring Matsu Takako (30), which runs for a month in Tokyo from July 5.
• "20th Century," the spinoff group from popular Johnny's Jimusho idol band V6, finished their nationwide tour at the Tokyo International Forum last night. They announced that V6 will go on tour later in the year, starting at Osaka Castle Hall on August 1. They also announced that the new V6 song "Light in Your Heart" is to be the theme tune for the upcoming movie "Daikessen Cho-Ultra 8-Kyodai." The movie, the latest in the long-running Ultraman superhero series, stars member Nagano Hiroshi (35) and opens in mid-September.
• Actor Mizutani Yutaka (55) is reviving his long-dormant singing career. A familiar face in detective dramas for several decades, he had a string of more than a dozen singles from the late 1970s but hasn't released an original album since "Simple Man" in 1986. He gave a mini concert at a shopping mall in Kawasaki yesterday to promote "Time Capsule," a new album of self-covers that was released last week. At one time married to American actress Miki MacKenzie, he is currently married to actress Ito Ran, a former member of the 1970's idol group Candies. They have one daughter.
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High King the Latest from Hello! Project | May 16, 2008 |
 High King is the latest pop unit to be launched from the Hello! Project ensemble. Made up of Morning Musume's Takahashi Ai (21) and Tanaka Reina (18), Shimizu Saki (16) of Berryz Kobo, °C-ute's Yajima Maimi (16), and Maeda Yuuka (13), chosen from the Hello! Project Egg apprentice program, they will make their debut with the single "C/C (Cinderella Complex)" on June 11. Producer-guru Tsunku (39) said the members were chosen for their ability to dance and belt out dancable R&B numbers, adding, "As they're girls they should really be 'High Queen' but it didn't have enough punch." He said their debut has a faster beat than anything he's produced so far, using a triple rhythm like that in the Beatles "All My Loving." High King is the 83rd pop unit formed from the dozens of starlets that make up Hello! Project, of which there are currently 21 groups and solo artists.
• TV writer Tsukada Shigeru has died at the age of 82. He was the man behind such major postwar TV hits as "8-ji Dayo! Zenin Shuugo" and "Yoru no Hitto Sutajio." He started his career in 1945 when he joined the major Toei movie studio.
• Oshio Manabu (30) is getting his career back into gear. He dropped out of a promising acting career a couple of years ago to focus on music. But this week it was revealed that he has signed a contract with major record label Avex. No specific details were given about his plans, but it's thought that he's aiming to act in Hollywood. He spent his elementary school years in Los Angeles and regularly spends time there with his wife, actress Yada Akiko (29) and their six-month-old son. The couple married in November 2006. Avex has been recruiting more top acting talent recently, including kabuki star Nakamura Shido (35) and actress Koyuki (31).
• Actor Fujita Makoto (75) is said to be doing well in his fight with esophageal cancer. Doctors reduced the level of his radiation therapy last week. He is able to leave hospital at the weekends and recently spent the Golden Week holidays at an onsen resort.
• In its 25th year, the science fiction anime "Macross" is enjoying something of a boom. "Diamond Crevasse", the ending theme for the latest series "Macross Frontier" has entered the Oricon singles chart at No.3, as did the opening theme, "Triangular," on its release in April. The franchise was created by by Shoji Kawamori of Studio Nue in 1982 and has included three TV series (TBS), three movies, four OVAs, and 2 manga series.
• Baseball star Aoki Norichika (26) and TV Tokyo sports announcer Ohtake Sachi (24) are romantically involved. The two are said to have started dating at the beginning of the year. Aoki, an outfielder for the Yakult Swallows, has been one of Japan's best hitters over the last few seasons and has woin several batting titles but is currently with the farm team recovering from a torn muscle.
• Watari Kazuhisa (30), vocalist and pianist of the group Fuumidou, got married at the end of April, it was revealed yesterday.
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Sonny Rollins, Cyndi Lauper in Tokyo | May 15, 2008 |
 A couple of American music legends wowed fans in Tokyo yesterday. Pop star Cyndi Lauper (54) was her usual maniac self during a mini concert to promote "Bring Ya to the Brink," her first original album in seven years. It went on sale in Japan yesterday, ahead of its May 27 U.S. release. At the Maru Building in front of Tokyo Station, Lauper performed four songs, including the track "Set Your Heart," which has been receiving heavy airplay. During the first song, "She Bop" from her 1983 debut album, she launched herself into the invited crowd of 100 and hardly used the stage again after that, even removing her shoes as she got the audience up on their feet and dancing.
Meanwhile, Jazz giant Sonny Rollins (77) performed last night at the International Forum in the center of the capital. On his 24th visit to Japan, the tenor sax master performed a set of nine songs, including "In a Sentimental Mood" and "Saint Thomas", from his 1956 album "Saxophone Colossus" and his most recognizable instrumental. He plays at the same venue again May 19.
• JASRAC has announced the biggest royalty-earning songs from last year. The Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers based its rankings not just on CD sales but also things like digital downloads and karaoke. The top five earners were:
- Flavor of Life - Utada Hikaru
- Evangelion BGM
- Lovers Again - Exile
- DragonballZ BGM
- Nada Sou Sou - Natsukawa Rimi, Begin, Moriyama Ryoko
• Pop queen Koda Kumi (25) has been replaced as the pitchwoman for Kirin's chuhai brand. She appeared in commercials for "Kirin Chuhai Hyoketsu" for several years but the spots were all dropped back in February after Koda said some things she shouldn't have on a radio show. A Kirin spokesperson said simply, "Ms. Koda's contract was originally until this spring." She has been replaced by actress Fukuda Kyoko (25).
• Freelance announcer Yukino Tomoyo (44) gave birth to her first child in Tokyo yesterday. The baby boy was born by Caesarean as her husband, a 41-year-old real estate company president, and parents waited outside the delivery room. Early in her pregnancy, Yukino was hopitalized for three weeks due to fears of a miscarriage. She plans to return to work in September and publish a book on her pregnancy and motherhood. She and her husband have a teenage son from his previous marriage.
• Actress Kimura Yoshino (32) and actor Iseya Yuusuke (31) are in Cannes for the 61st International Film Festival. A couple off-screen, the pair appear in the movie "Blindness" which opened the festival yesterday. The only Japanese among the cast, they play a married couple living in a town where everyone has been struck with a mysterious case of sudden blindness.
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An Unwelcome Change for Kimura Takuya | May 14, 2008 |
 Any TV drama that stars SMAP member Kimura Takuya (35) is guaranteed to be a hit. But so far Fuji TV's "Change," which on Monday was the last series to launch in the spring season, hasn't quite lived up to expectations. With an audience rating of 23.8%, it ranks second for the season behind NTV's third series of "Gokusen" starring Nakama Yukie (26.4%). That's the first time for a KimuTaku series to miss out on the top spot since "Nemureru Mori" in the autumn of 1998. In the latest series, he plays a school teacher suddenly thrust into the world of politics, reluctantly following in the footsteps of his late father. Even with the solid support of a cast that includes Abe Hiroshi and Fukatsu Eri, and an ending theme song by Madonna, the opening episode was somewhat flat. Despite the hype surrounding it, the series has the usual low production values and is riddled with dramatic cliches. And it lacks the glamor of KimuTaku flying an airliner or driving a racing car.
• Actress Oyama Nobuyo (71) suffered a mild stroke in addition to her recent heart attack, it was revealed this week. For many years the voice of anime robot cat Doraemon, Oyama was hospitalized in April and was expected to leave hospital at the beginning of this month. But following the discovery of the stroke, it was decided to keep her in for further tests and rehabilitation.
• Japan-based Korean singer Kye Eun Sook (46) has returned to her home country after being refused a visa extension. She was arrested by Tokyo police in November 2007 for drug possession and received an 18-month prison sentence suspended for three years. After a three-month investigation last year, police found amphetamines and paraphernalia in the Tokyo apartment she shared with her 85-year-old mother. Born in Seoul, Kye was a model before becoming a singer and first came to Japan in 1984. She had several hits between the late 1980s and early 90s, but also has also faced huge gambling debts and the suicide of her manager. On her return to Korea she is said to have undergone drug tests and is expected to check herself into a rehabilitation clinic.
• Actress and former Miss Universe Japan runner-up Mion (28) announced yesterday that she and actor Takashima Masanobu (41) are planning to have two weddings. In addition to the previously announced ceremony and reception in Tokyo in August, the half-Korean Mion said they will also hold a wedding for family only in Hong Kong in December. She said that she and her future parents-in-law, actor Takashima Tadao and former Takarazuka top star Sumi Hanayo, are flying to Hong Kong today to make arrangements. The couple plan to honeymoon in Tahiti.
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Prosecutors Seek 8 Years for Goto Yuki | May 13, 2008 |
Prosecutors at the Tokyo District Court are seeking an eight-year prison sentence for former idol singer Goto Yuuki (21). During the closing argument of the trial yesterday, they said the likelihood of a return to crime was high and that Goto should be put away. He has admitted to the charges of robbery at several construction sites, for which he was arrested last October and again in December. Although he has denied the charge of assault on a security guard, insisting that an accomplice was responsible, he admitted that he paid the guard ¥200 million in an out-of-court settlement. Appearing in the courtroom with his head shaven and a tattoo peeking over the collar of his suit, Goto said "I committed the crime because I needed money for my living costs." In the courtroom were his mother and wife, who is expecting their third child in July, but there was no sign of his sister, idol singer and former Morning Musume member Goto Maki (22). The court's verdict will be handed down on May 21.
• The Victor Entertainment record company has described as "pure conjecture" the recent newspaper story claiming that rock band Southern All Stars are on the verge of breaking up. Tokyo Sports said in an article published yesterday that the hugely popular band, led by charismatic singer Kuwata Keisuke, were planning to split next year after their 30th anniversary concert tour. Victor said they will make an official statement on May 19.
• "Heart Station", the latest album from Utada Hikaru (25) is another million seller. Each of her six albums released to date have broken the mark, and her total album sales are over 20 million. Digital downloads of "Prisoner of Love," the theme tune for Fuji TV's drama "Last Friends," and other tracks from the new album have already reached 15 million.
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Happy News for Shinohara Ryoko, Sakai Miki | May 12, 2008 |
Happy news for a pair of established actresses. Management for Shinohara Ryoko (34, photo left) informed the media by fax yesterday that she gave birth to a baby boy at a Tokyo hospital on Saturday. Her husband, actor Ichimura Masachika (59), was present for the birth and expressed his happiness saying, "God sent us an angel!" The couple have been married since December 2005. Meanwhile, actress Sakai Miki (30, photo right) is engaged to marry a 34-year-old doctor, she informed the media by fax on Friday. She and her fiance first met in New York four years ago and started dating after meeting again last summer. Sakai says they had their formal yuinou (exchange of engagement gifts) in January and plan to hold a wedding and reception in the autumn. She also says that she is not pregnant and plans to continue her career. When she was based in New York in 2004, Sakai was romantically linked with New York Yankees baseball star Matsui Hideki (33), who got married in March.
• While such happy news is no surprise for such beauties, the announcement from comedienne Minowa Haruka (28) that she finally has a boyfriend came out of the blue. The lanky half of duo Harisenbon, whose comedy is largely based around their physical unattractiveness, Minowa revealed on a variety show at the weekend that she has been dating an assistant TV director for about six months.
• Singer Izumiya Shigeru (60) is already regretting his decision to give a marathon all-night concert in the autumn. Meeting the press before a show in Tokyo yesterday, his birthday, he wore the red "chanchanko" clothes traditional worn to commemorate the landmark occasion. He joked that he was having second thoughts about the October "60x60" show at Zepp Tokyo in which he has said he will perform 60 songs.
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Haga Kenji, Watanabe Jiro Facing Prison Terms | May 09, 2008 |
 Prosecutors sought an eight-year prison sentence for disgraced actor Haga Kenji (46) at the Osaka District Court yesterday. In the ongoing trial that began in February, Haga is accused of attempted blackmail and fraud of over ¥370 million. Also on trial is former world boxing champion Watanabe Jiro (53), for whom prosecutors are seeking a four-year sentence. Both defendants have pleaded innocent. Haga, real name Toma Mikio, once again turned on the waterworks, shedding tears as he has done at most of the hearings over the last few months. But prosectors said he has shown no sign of repentance and there is no room for taking extenuating circumstances into consideration. The case dates back to 2001, when Haga sold an acquaintance shares in a medical consultancy business at three times their value. When the company went bankrupt in 2006 and the man came looking for his money back, Haga enlisted the help of Watanabe and others. Using threats of violence and worse, they coerced the man into forgiving the debt for a small repayment of ¥10 million. The court's verdict will be handed down on July 15.
• Veteran rakugo-ka Katsura Beichou (82) has been hospitalized with a broken lumbar vertebrae. He suffered the injury from a fall on a staircase after a performance at the Torii Hall theater in Osaka on May 3. But it was several days before he saw a doctor about his recurring back pain, and he is expected to remain in hospital for about a month. He says he plans to make a full recovery for the formal succession of his son Katsura Kobeichou (49) to the stage name Yonedanji in October. As a veteran of the traditional comic storytelling theater, Beichou is designated as a living national treasure, someone whose individual skills are deemed essential to their art.
• Hip hop/dance trio W-inds were among the performers at a rare concert held at the prime minister's official residence. The show was held in honor of visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao, who attended with Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo, and to promote friendship between the youth of both countries. Other performers included Chinese singer Jane Zhang (23), local duo Kiroro and dancer/talento Papaya Suzuki. W-inds performed at two official events in China last year, as well as playing shows in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
• Nanao Aika (29), a field reporter for NTV's "News Zero" show, revealed on her blog yesterday that she married a political journalist (31) at the end of March. The two are both graduates of the prestigious Tokyo University and met again last year while Nanao was working on location. They plan to hold a wedding and reception in the summer. The daughter of a diplomat, Nanao was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in the U.S., Switzerland and South Korea.
• More coy is actress Maya Miki (44). The former top Takarazuka star said at the launch of her new book yesterday that she is romantically involved with someone. She refused to reveal any more but said they had no plans to marry within the year.
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Oguri Shun, Yamada Yu are a Couple | May 08, 2008 |
 Actor Oguri Shun (25) and actress-model Yamada Yu (23) are the latest young power couple. Though management for both stars refuse to acknowledge their relationship as anything more than good friends, it is widely believed that they are serious. They first worked together on the Japanese dubbing of U.S. animated movie "Surf's Up" last October. And in January they appeared together in the NTV drama series "Binbomen," which was Oguri's first starring role. Both ended romantic relationships last year, Oguri with model Tanaka Miho (25) and Yamada with actor Itoh Hideaki (31).
 Up-and-coming American enka singer Jero (26) has his first TV commercial contract. From May 21 he will appear in commercials for Kirin's Fire Cafe Zero canned coffee. The singer made his debut in February and will release a cover album of enka classics in June.
• In his trial for robbery and assault, former idol singer Goto Yuuki (21) pleaded guilty yesterday to most charges. The younger brother of former Morning Musume member Goto Maki (22), he and members of his teenage gang were arrested last year for stealing materials from a construction site and assaulting a security guard. At the second hearing at the Tokyo District Court, he admitted to several cases of theft but said that another member of the group was responsible for the assault.
• Yamaguchi Tatsuya (36) is a father. Less than two months after getting married, the member of Johnny's Jimusho idol group Tokio had the day off on Tuesday and was at the hospital when his wife gave birth to a baby boy a few weeks earlier than expected. Yamaguchi announced his marriage to the former model at a concert in early March.
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YMO Provide Movie Theme for Tokyo! | May 07, 2008 |
 Japan's most famous techno trio have teamed up with a trio of international movie directors for the omnibus movie "Tokyo!" The members of HASYMO - Hosono Haruomi (60), Sakamoto Ryuichi (56) and Takahashi Yukihiro (55) - are better known as the pioneering 80s band Yellow Magic Orchestra. They wrote the instrumental "Tokyo Town Pages" between them, mixing in station platform announcements and other sounds familiar to anyone who has been to Tokyo. The song, which features as the movie's ending theme, will be released as a double-A side single with the TBS "News23" theme "The City of Light" on August 6. The trio were chosen for the movie for a variety of reasons, among them being that they are all Tokyo natives, and the fact that their number matches the number of directors - Frenchmen Leos Carax (47) and Michel Gondry (44), and Korean Bong Joon-ho (38). The movie is to have its world premiere later this month in the "Un Certain Regard" category at the Cannes International Film Festival. Among the cast members are Kase Ryo, Kagawa Teruyuki and Aoi Yuu.
• A red-faced Sylvester Stallone (61) is in Japan promoting his latest Rambo movie. The Hollywood star was red-faced but happy as he greeted the 50 or so fans who greeted him at 3am at Narita Airport. During the 11-hour flight on a privately chartered Gulf Stream jet, the actor indulged in two steak meals and plenty of booze. He's due to meet with reporters today and attend the movie's Japan premiere tomorrow.
• Madonna (49) has her first No.1 album on the combined Oricon chart in 18 years. Sales of "Hard Candy" have been helped by heavy airp@lay for the single "Four Minutes" and the fact that the track "Miles Away" is the theme for the highly anticipated Fuji TV drama series "Change." Meanwhile Aoyama Teruma's "Soba ni Irune" has become the biggest-selling single of the year. It's been in the Oricon Top 10 for 12 weeks and has sold over 420,000 copies. It was used as the spring campaign song by NTT for its DoCoMo mobile phone service, and has been downloaded more than 6 million times.
• British singer Leona Lewis (23) paid her first visit to Japan at the weekend. Her album "Spirit" and the single "Bleeding Love" have been smash hits in the U.K. and the U.S., and the album has sold 150,000 copies here. Appearing on a live radio show on Saturday, she said she loved the warmth of the Japanese fans and that she planned to spend her day off shopping in Harajuku.
• A Golden Week roundup of pregnancy announcements: singer UA (36) told the audience at the 9Alive concert on Sunday that she's expecting her second child. She had a son with actor Murakami Ryo (34) in 1997, but they divorced in August 2006; actress Itaya Yuka (32) said on her regular slot as an announcer on the NTV show "News Zero" last night that she is taking maternity leave as of today. She is expecting her first child at the beginning of June. She married stylist Furuta Hirohiko (40) in February 2007; and NTV announcer Mori Fumi (34) said on Monday that she is four months pregnant with her first child. The former Miss Japan married a staff member from the afternoon show "Za Waido" in 2002.
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Okamura Yasuyuki Drug Trial Begins | May 03, 2008 |
 The latest trial of rock musician Okamura Yasuyuki (45), who already has two convictions for the use of stimulant drugs, began at the Tokyo District Court yesterday. He was arrested in February for the use of the drugs at his Shinjuku, Tokyo home and is likely to face prison time for a third drug-related offense. Prosecutors are looking for a sentence of two and a half years, while lawyers for the defendant asked for leniency. The court will hand down a verdict on May 8. The singer, whose heyday was in the late 1980s, likes to invite comparisons with Prince and prides himself on his dancing and ability to play multiple instruments.
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My Little Lover Reunited on Stage | May 02, 2008 |
 Singer Akko (35) was joined on stage by her ex-husband at an anniversary concert yesterday. She and Kobayashi Takeshi (48), along with guitarist Fujii Kenji (39), debuted as My Little Lover on May 1, 1995 and went on to release 21 singles and 11 albums with combined sales of almost 12 million. The pair were married for twelve years and have two children but divorced on New Year's Day. "MaiRaba", as the band became popularly known, has been Akko's solo project for some time, though she remains with the management agency run by Kobayashi and they are clearly still on friendly terms. Yesterday's concert was the first time for them to share a stage in almost 4 years. Since before their divorce, Kobayashi has been romantically linked with singer Hitoto You (31).
• Popular singer Anri (46) announced this week on her blog that she and American guitarist Lee Ritenour (56) have broken off their engagement. She says, “I still intend to continue my music activities at my own pace.” The two, both divorcees, announced their engagement in May 2005, and Anri has a house in Los Angeles. An insider said the break-up came because Ritenour, known as "Captain Fingers," wouldn’t make the commitment on getting married.
• It's the end for Coconut Musume. The group of five Hawaiian-born idols was formed in 1999 as part of the Hello! Project that grew from the success of Morning Musume. But after many member changes, the only one left since 2004 has been Ayaka (26). She announced on her website yesterday that she is leaving the Project to become an actress.
• A group of 23 celebrities performed a concert at the Four Seasons hotel in Tokyo yesterday to raise awareness of the fight against cancer. Led by talento Yamada Kuniko (47), one of several members who have spoken about their battle with cancer, the group call themselves the "Star Mixed Chorus." Other members include singer Kobayashi Sachiko (54), actress Baisho Chieko (66), commentator Torigoe Shuntaro (68) and fashion designer Koshino Junko (68). The group plan to perform about once a month.
• Singer-songwriter Aiko (32) is to provide one of the theme songs for the upcoming movie finale to the popular TBS drama series "Hana Yori Dango." Her bittersweet ballad has been provisionally named "Tsukushi's Theme", named after the heroine again played by Inoue Mao (21). The movie's main theme is "One Love" by Arashi, whose Matsumoto Jun (24) again plays her love interest Domyoji Tsukasa. The movie opens on June 28.
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Wada Akiko Finally to Debut at Apollo Theater | |
 Veteran singer Wada Akiko (58) announced this week that she will perform her first ever overseas concert, and the venue will be none other than the Apollo Theater in New York's Harlem. The September 29 concert is to mark the 40th anniversary of her distinguished career. She has always regarded the late Ray Charles as her idol, and she says she is excited to finally have a chance to perform on the stage that he and so many other soul and R&B stars made their own. Charles was a guest performer at her 30th anniversary show in Tokyo in November 1998. She says the inspiration to become a singer came when she heard Charles' 1958 hit "I Can’t Stop Loving You" when she was in junior high school. She made her wish that she would someday perform at the Apollo four years when shooting a TV show in New York (photo). But if "Akko" had been a bit more serious about her English language studies, she might have had her chance many years ago. Early in her career Hori Takeo, the founder of her Hori Pro management agency, saw in her powerful voice and larger-than-life aura the makings of a singer who could succeed in the U.S. But Wada was more interested in playing pachinko than going to English classes and the plan never materialized. In 1975, she recorded the song "Mienai Sekai" in Los Angeles, and was the first Japanese artist to use black backing singers. She is taking her upcoming overseas debut seriously, is going to the gym two or three times a week to get into shape, and has cut back on her renowned drinking and socializing. Before heading to the U.S., she will have a Japan tour from June 20 to mid-September.
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Jack Nicholson Turns On the Charm in Tokyo | May 01, 2008 |
 Hollywood legend Jack Nicholson (71) turned on the old school charm yesterday in Tokyo. In town to promote his latest movie, "The Bucket List," he hammed it up for the cameras during a PR event at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo hotel. The movie, directed by Rob Reiner, is about two elderly terminal cancer patients (Nicholson and Morgan Freeman) who share a hospital room and decide to write a list of things to do before they die. Nicholson's billionaire character pays for a final big trip that takes the pair sky-diving, to the Pyramids, the Taj Mahal, and a safari in Africa (...but not to Japan). The promotional visit is Nicholson's fourth time in Japan but the first in 14 years. Throwing kisses to fans, he said that top among his remaining goals in life was "one last big love." Asked what had been the best kiss of his life he just gave that famous grin and said "So many!" Though Nicholson and Freeman have several Oscars between them, their on-screen collaboration has received generally poor reviews.
• Musician-producer Tsunku (39) is the father of twins. He announced yesterday that his wife Kanako (27) gave birth to a boy and a girl on April 29. Tsunku is the Svengali-like man behind the Hello! project and groups such as Morning Musume.
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