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Alice Back in Wonderland | March 05, 2009 |
With a combined age of almost 180 years, the members of Alice are hardly the wild young men of the Japanese music world. But the folk trio have decided they still have enough in them to give it one more go. They announced this week that they would be reuniting for the fourth time and touring the country for the first time in 28 years. The group is made up of Horiuchi Takao (59, photo left) and Tanimura Shinji (60, center) on vocals and guitar and backed by drummer Yazawa Toru (60, right). Tanimura and Horiuchi formed the group on Christmas Day 1971, with Yazawa joining soon after, and they released their debut single in March 1972. Fame didn't come quickly and they toured constantly in an effort to build up a reputation. They played more than 300 shows in 1974 alone, mostly for no pay. But the hard work paid of and the major hits started to flow, including "Kairazaru Hibi" (1976) and "Champion" (1978). The band broke up in 1981 and the members embarked on very successful solo careers, in particular Tanimura and Horiuchi. They've got back together several times, most recently for appearances on the annual NHK New Year's Eve concert "Kohaku Utagassen" in 2000 and 2005. They last released an album of all original material in 1987. The new tour is scheduled to run from July 24 to November 4, taking in 35 shows. Tanimura said he hopes the energy from the tour will even encourage them to come up with some new material.
• Comedian Nagura Jun (40) was rushed to hospital late last night with severe stomach pains. He was diagnosed with acute gastritis but was allowed to go home after receiving medication. His management agency said he had no work scheduled for today and he is expected to return to his usual work routine tomorrow. Nagura is married to talento Watanabe Marina (38) and they have a young son (1).
• NTV announcer Yamamoto Masumi (32) chose the March 3 Hina Matsuri festival to get married, the network said yesterday. The traditional girl's day is not a national holiday but is a popular choice for weddings. Yamamoto plans to continue her career and her new husband is described as a 32-year-old who is not in show business.
• Meanwhile actress Takagi Miho (46) chose this morning's "Tokudane" show to announce her wedding plans. A regular guest on the show, she was teased by host Ogura Tomoaki (61), who asked her, "Are you really getting married?!" He has already met her fiance (47), even though the couple have not been formally introduced to each other's parents. Takagi said the decision to get hitched was made just last weekend. The news came as a happy surprise as Takagai has for several years been regarded as one of Japan's perennial showbiz spinsters. The couple are said to have met last May when they were both being treated at the same massage clinic.
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