Japan Entertainment News - March 2010
Godzilla Coming in 3D | March 31, 2010 |
American movie production company Legendary Pictures announced yesterday plans for the 3D revival of Godzilla in 2012. It would be just the second Hollywood remake and the first Godzilla movie since 2004's "Gojira Final Wars," directed by Kitamura Ryuhei. Fans of the giant lizard will be hoping for something better than Roland Emmerich's 1998 effort.
Legendary are working together with Warner Brothers, and the movie will be distributed in Japan by Toho. No director has been named to the project yet but the lineup of U.S. producers includes Dan Lin (Terminator 4), and Roy Lee, who has produced remakes of several Japanese horror movies. The Japanese side includes Banno Yoshimitsu, who wrote and directed "Gojira vs Hedorah" way back in 1971, as an executive producer.
Back in 2004, Banno said that Toho had given him the rights to make an IMAX Godzilla film, provisionally titled "Godzilla 3-D to the Max." It later became clear that he wanted to make a sequel to his 1971 movie that the studio had blocked. It was reported that it would feature the Showa Era original Godzilla fighting a pollution-based monster called Deathla in South America and New York City. However it has been speculated that Banno's involvement in the 3D movie is simply part of the deal to acquire the IMAX rights.
"Godzilla is one of the world's most powerful pop culture icons, and we at Legendary are thrilled to be able to create a modern epic based on this long-loved Toho franchise," said Thomas Tull, Chairman and CEO of Legendary. "Our plans are to produce the Godzilla that we, as fans, would want to see. We intend to do justice to those essential elements that have allowed this character to remain as pop-culturally relevant for as long as it has."
"Godzilla is a signature Japanese character which we have nurtured over the years. It is a great honor to reach an agreement with Legendary Pictures, the parent to many a blockbuster film, and we are delighted in rebooting the character together to realize its much anticipated return by fans from all over the world," said Toho President Takai Hideyuki. "We are anxious to find out where Godzilla's new stomping will take us."
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NHK Dramas Continue Slide | |
NHK is seeing some more bad audience ratings for dramas this season. The new morning drama series "Gegege no Nyobo" started on Monday. It airs on the NHK General channel at 8am, 15 minutes earlier than usual and the first time slot change in 48 years. But the opening episode had an audience rating of 14.8% in the Kanto region, 10.1% in the Kansai region. These were both the lowest since the morning dramas began in 1964. The previous series "Welcame," which ended last Saturday, was also reported this week as having continued the trend in record low average ratings.
"Gegege..." is the 82nd drama to be aired by NHK as a "renzoku terebi shosetsu" (serialized TV novel).A movie version is scheduled for theatrical release this autumn. It is based on the autobiography of Mura Nunoe (78), wife of the manga-ka Mizuki Shigeru (88), and will run until September 25. Mizuki is the creator of the hugely popular "Gegege no Kitaro" manga, which has given birth to many anime and movie spinoffs.
Talento Kitano "Beat" Takeshi (63, photo right) spoke out yesterday on the topic of cuts in government funding. Visiting the Tsukuba Space Center of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), he strongly criticized the decision to cut public funding to the organization and other scientific research such as a program to develop supercomputers.
The most prominent member of the government team, whose efforts were widely publicized, is former journalist and TV presenter Ren Ho (42). "I shared a hot bath with her when she was talento, so who does she think she is?" he joked. "A country that puts no money into scientific research is screwed." Asked what he would cut if he were in her position, he said, "The number of Diet members."
Other half-joking suggestions included requiring prospective politicians to put up ¥5 billion of their own money, or the creation of an equivalent of the House of Lords where wealthy politicians are less likely to become corrupt. His most outlandish idea was to say, "Japanese love foreigners and will do anything they say. So why don't we give the job of running the Japanese government to someone like Bill Gates, who's not strapped for money. We could make Mikhail Gorbachev the foreign minister and get the Northern Territories back (from Russia)."
GReeeeN are All Smiles
The four members of successful J-pop group GReeeeN are now all qualified dentists. Soh (29) announced on his blog yesterday that he became the last member to pass the national examination required for all dental practitioners. The four met while studying at a university in Fukushima and continued their studies even as their musical career took off. In order to keep their careers separate, they have never shown their faces in public. They will be featured performing in silhouette in new software to be released for the Nintendo DS on April 1.
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Shibata Hatsumi Dead at 57 | March 30, 2010 |
Singer Shibata Hatsumi died of a heart attack at her home in the Shizuoka Prefecture city of Itoh last Saturday morning. She was 57. According to her husband and the president of her management agency, Shibata was found to have breast cancer in January and underwent a mastectomy. She was released from hospital in February and began anticancer drug treatment this month. Last Friday night, she awoke during the night feeling cold and decided to take a bath. Her father, visiting her home the next morning, found her collapsed in her bathroom.
Shibata began singing at a U.S. military base when she was just 9, and joined the band Smiley Ohara and the Skyliners at the age of 11. She made her pro debut in 1974 and had a major hit with "My Luxury Night" in 1977, which earned her an appearance on NHK's "Kohaku Uta Gassen" concert. She is perhaps best remembered for the song "Oh! Mouretsu," which was used in a series of hugely popular TV commercials by Maruzen Petrochemical Co., now known as Cosmo Oil Co. She semi-retired about ten years ago due to problems with depression caused by the onset of menopause. But two years ago her health improved and she said she looked forward to making a return to the stage.
The Start of Something Big?
Actor Miura Takahiro (24) is finally putting one of the finest pedigrees in Japanese showbiz into action. The son of actor Miura Tomokazu (58) and legendary pop idol Yamaguchi Momoe (51), he made his first public appearance yesterday as he was announced as the latest addition to famous the Lipovitan ad campaign. The energy drink's famous "Fight! Ippatsu!" TV commercials have run for almost 50 years and have featured many strapping young male duos. Miura teams up with Kane Kosugi (35), who's been doing the gig since 1999, in the 11th partnership. Kosugi knows a thing or two about living up to famous parents - his father is the legendary Hollywood ninja Sho Kosugi. Miura already has roles in three major movies coming out this year and will make his big screen debut in "Railways," due for release at the end of May.
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Romance for Dante, Fashion Model | March 29, 2010 |
American talento Dante Carver (33), best known for his ongoing role in the Softbank TV commercials, is getting a different kind of publicity since his romance with fashion model Matsumoto Akiko (23) was revealed at the weekend. Kobe native Matsumoto graduated from university last year and moved to Tokyo. A former reader-turned-model for the fashion magazines "ViVi" and "CanCam," she now runs her own online fashion store, HerraDura. The pair have been spotted vacationing in Korea and Hawaii together and post photos on each other's blogs. Once source has said that they are planning to get married in Hawaii this summer. Appearing at a PR event in Tokyo yesterday to celebrate Softbank's 30th anniversary, Dante was in high spirits but didn't comment on the relationship or his marriage plans.
Okinawa Film Fest Winds Down
The 2nd Okinawa International Film Festival came to a close yesterday. The festival's theme is "laugh and peace" and there was a grand prix for each. The winner in the "laugh" category was Watanabe Taku's "Kurosawa Eiga," which starred Kurosawa Kazuko (31) of the comedy trio Mori Sanchuu. The Bollywood "Rab de Bana de Jodi" (A Match Made in Heaven), written and directed by Aditya Chopra, took the top award in the "peace" category.
Comedian Hazama Kamperi (60), who is currently on his mammoth Earth Marathon, appeared from Iran via satellite hookup. The festival included the first showing of the movie "Run and Run," which local film makers in Iran put together in a matter of weeks when they learned of Hazama's feat.
Held in the city of Ginowan, the festival was largely put together by Yoshimoto Kogyo, the agency that manages most of Japan's comedy talent.
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Japan's Tax Exiles? | March 27, 2010 |
Catching up on a couple of stories from the past week...with record-breaking sales and a recent performance for the Emperor, the hugely popular dance/vocal group Exile (photo left) have had a pretty good few years and are rolling in the dough. But it seems even that might not have been enough. It was revealed this week that LDH, the management agency run by group leader Hiro (40), was nabbed by the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau for failing to report ¥300 million in revenue. The missing income - a fraction of the company's annual earnings, ¥19 billion in 2008 - was from the two fiscal years up to March 2009. LDH said in a statement, "There was a difference of opinion, but we have already filed a revised tax return." They refused to comment on the details, saying it related to their ongoing business dealings, but insisted that there had been no attempt to hide the revenue. The company represents a few dozen singers and models.
Moriyama Mirai Married, to be a Father
It was revealed on Thursday that acclaimed actor Moriyama Mirai (25, photo right) is not only married but also on his way to being a father. He and his wife, who sources describe only as not being in showbiz, started dating last fall, and got hitched early this year. The new Mrs. Moriyama is expecting to have a baby in October. Moriyama burst onto the movie scene in the 2004 tearjerker "Sekai no Chuushin de, Ai wo Sakebu," (Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World) and won best supporting actor and best newcomer at the Japan Academy Awards. He has since had plenty of exposure in film and television roles, but has made time to work in a dozen theater productions. His latest stage role is in an adaptation of Franz Kafka's classic novella "Metamorphosis."
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Sekine, Amami are the Ideal Bosses | March 26, 2010 |
In a survey that asked freshmen company employees to name the celebrity who personified their ideal boss, topping the poll for the first time were talento Sekine Tsutomu (56, photo left) and actress Amami Yuki (42, photo right). Sekine, a regular on a wide variety of TV shows, moved up from last year's third place, helped by a large number of female votes. Part of the reason may be his healthy relationship with his daughter, Mari (25), who has become a popular face on TV in the last year or so. Second in the male standings was former comedian Yamaguchi Tomomitsu (41), popularly known as "Gussan." And in third was actor Karasawa Toshiaki (56).
Amami, a former Takarazuka star, was a popular choice among both males and females, helping her improve from eighth place in last year's survey. She beat fellow former Takarazuka actress Maya Miki (46) and TV drama regular Esumi Makiko (43).
The survey of 1,030 people was carried out by Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance.
Ei-chan Impersonator Loses in Court
The Tokyo District Court yesterday dismissed a claim by an impersonator who filed for ¥30 million in damages from the very star he mimics. Ishiyama Ryudai makes a living from his resemblance to rock legend Yazawa Eikichi, and claimed on his website that he was the only impersonator "Ei-chan" officially endorsed. When representatives for the rock star denied that claim in 2007, Ishiyama said it damaged his reputation and filed a lawsuit which was settled out of court. The latest case was filed last October. The judge ruled that an impersonator's reputation was based not on whether he was endorsed by a star, but on whether their act was good or not.
Mokkun a Father Again
Award-winning actor Motoki Masahiro (44) is a father for the third time. His wife Yayako (34), the daughter of rocker Uchida Yuya and actress Kiki Kirin, gave birth to a baby boy yesterday. They have named their second son Gento, saying that its meaning conjures up the image of "the light of the moon against a deep, dark, silent sky." The showbiz couple had a son in 1997 and their daughter Kyara, born in 1999, made her movie debut last year.
Love Plus Plus
Konami yesterday announced the release of a new version of its popular dating sim video game. "Love Plus+" - an update on the Nintendo DS game (euphemistically referred to in Japanese as a "communication game") that was a big hit after it went on sale last September - is due for release during the summer.
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Kimura Takeo Dies at 91 | March 25, 2010 |
Acclaimed movie art director Kimura Takeo (photo left) died of interstitial pneumonia at a Tokyo hospital last weekend, it was revealed today. He was 91. Renowned as one of the finest art directors in the business, he worked on over 200 films, most notably with cult director Suzuki Seijun (86). Suzuki said of his collaborator, "Kimura makes every movie as if it were his last. And he would think 'if this is my last, then I can do anything I want.' That's why I love working with Kimura as an art director."
Kimura joined the scenography department at the Nikkatsu studio in 1941 and made his debut on the film "Umi no Yobu Koe" in 1945. Among his best known films are "Zigoineruwaizen" (1980, dir. Suzuki), "Umi to Dokuyaku" (The Sea and Poison, 1986, dir. Kumai Kei), "Yumemiru yoni Nemuritai" (To Sleep so as to Dream, 1986, dir. Hayashi Kaizo). He made his feature length directorial debut in 2008 at the age of 90, with "Yumeno Manimani."
Related article:
Suzuki Seijun – Legendary Movie Maverick
Actress Tokiwa Takako (37, photo right) has landed her first leading role in a TV drama since she got married last year. She will team up with writer Kitagawa Eriko (48) on the TV Asahi special drama "Okaasan no Saigono Ichinichi." The two have collaborated on several popular romantic dramas, but the most recent was the massive 2000 hit "Beautiful Life," in which Tokiwa fell for Kimura Takuya (37). But as she says herself, "I'm at an age where love stories are tough." The subject matter of "Okaasan..." is quite different - a mother's final day with her family before she dies. But she pointed out, "It's not just a sad story. It also conveys the warmth of family bonds." Tokiwa married playwright-actor Nagatsuka Keishi (34) last October.
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KAT-TUN Announce Asia Tour, Minus Akanishi | |
Johnny's Jimusho have announced the first overseas concert tour by idol group KAT-TUN, but member Akanishi Jin (25, photo 3rd from left) won't be joining them. Why? Because he's going to be busy performing solo in Los Angeles. The other five members of KAT-TUN will be touring Japan and Asia between May and August, while Akanishi will be heading to L.A. in June. KAT-TUN will play 21 arena shows in 10 cities across Japan between May 2 and June 27. They start their "World Big Tour" at Tokyo Dome on July 16 before heading to Bangkok, Thailand; Seoul, Korea; Kyocera Dome Osaka; and Taipei, Taiwan. Negotiations are also underway for them to be the first Johnny's artists to perform in Hawaii. As an indication of KAT-TUN's popularity at home, last year they set a new record by playing eight straight days at Tokyo Dome.
Though the KAT-TUN tour had already been decided, when representatives of the American cable network UTB came to see Akanishi's solo show in Tokyo last month, they approached him about performing Stateside. After consultation with Johnny Kitagawa himself and the other group members, three U.S. shows were set up on June 19 & 20 at Club Nokia LA Live. Akanishi will be staying in the U.S. until at least October where he will no doubt be working toward his dream of performing in Las Vegas. It's said to be the first time for a Johnny's group member to drop out of a tour to perform solo, and Akanishi will be first artist from the agency to go it alone in the U.S. He has a history of doing his own thing, and in October 2006 shocked KAT-TUN fans when he took off to spend six months studying in the U.S. For the upcoming L.A. shows, he is planning to speak mostly in English.
Earlier stories:
KAT-TUN's Akanishi "On Leave" (Oct. 13, 2006)
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Singers on the Road to Recovery | March 24, 2010 |
Jazz singer Ayado Chie (52, photo left) is expected to check out of a Tokyo hospital today after recently knocking herself out with prescription tranquilizers, according to her management agency. Her manager visited her apartment on the morning of March 19 as they were scheduled to go to Kumamoto for a concert performance that evening, but got no reply. On a later visit, accompanied by Ayado's mother, they found the singer snoring loudly but were unable to wake her and called for an ambulance.
Ayado has been caring for her mother at home since she suffered a stroke six years ago. Due to stress and her own work schedule, she has been taking tranquilizers for the last month or so. Ayado updated her blog on March 23, saying in her Kansai dialect, "I just messed up taking care of my own health. Due to exhaustion, my usual medication dosage just wasn't cutting it and I made a mistake. I'm really, really sorry." She added her usual dose of humor, "I'm in bed wearing my mother's diapers."
The Indestructible Yoshida Takuro
Also making a recovery from health problems is singer-songwriter Yoshida Takuro (63, photo right), who yesterday performed in front of fans for the first time since he was forced to cut short a nationwide tour last July due to chronic bronchitis. The long hiatus was the third for Yoshida, who underwent surgery for lung cancer in 2003 and canceled shows because of bronchitis and pleurisy in 2007.
He was at the Nippon Housou studios in Tokyo yesterday to record his regular radio show with fellow musician and The Alfee member Sakazaki Konosuke (55). But for the first time since his return to the show last November, there was a small studio audience who afterward were treated to a surprise performance of two songs. The 111 mostly female audience members were selected by lottery from over 55,000 applications. The 2-hour show will be broadcast on April 5, which is Yoshida's 64th birthday.
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Johnny and Tim in a Tokyo Wonderland | March 23, 2010 |
Hollywood heart-throb Johnny Depp was welcomed by a massive crowd as he arrived at Narita International Airport yesterday. He and director Tim Burton were in Tokyo for the Japanese premiere of "Alice in Wonderland" at the Ebisu Garden Place. It is the pair's seventh collaboration, and Burton's first excursion into 3D. Speaking at a press conference at the Park Hyatt Tokyo, he described it as "just a great tool, if you love movies. It’s a way to bring you into a movie in a way. Especially with Wonderland, which is such an off-kilter place, it becomes another character."
He had no problem casting Depp as the zany Mad Hatter, a role the actor described as "not a great stretch by any means." Asked whether Disney's version of the classic children's tale might be a little too scary for a young audience, Depp told reporters that his own kids are big fans of the movie. "My kids actually saw the film because I send them out there in the front lines," he said. "They absolutely adored it. They loved every character. They weren't freaked out by it whatsoever." Japanese kids will have to wait almost a month to see it for themselves as it doesn't open in theaters here until April 17.
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Actors Get their Dues | March 20, 2010 |
Major talent management agency Sun Music won a minor legal dispute at the Tokyo District Court yesterday. The agency sued Osaka-based movie production company Be Wild Co. Ltd. for ¥6.4 million in performance and management fees owed to Sun Music, actor Tsukamoto Takashi (27, photo left) and talento Cunning Takayama (38, photo right). The two filmed supporting roles in the movie "Nakumonka" in February of last year, for which Tsukamoto was due to be paid ¥5.46 million and Takayama ¥315,000. The movie played in theaters nationwide last November. Set in downtown Tokyo, the story about two brothers separated at an early age, was based on a screenplay by multiple award winner Kudo Kankuro (39).
At yesterday's first oral proceedings, lawyers for Be Wild acknowledged the plaintiff's debt claim and formally signed documents to that effect, bringing the case to a close.
Celebs Need Driving Crash Course?
Tegoshi Yuya (22), a member of popular Johnny's Jimusho idol group NEWS, recently caused a minor traffic accident, Tokyo police revealed yesterday. Tegoshi was driving his car out of a parking lot when he hit the rear of a taxi. Neither driver was injured. Tegoshi is currently a distance learning student of human science at Waseda University.
And actress Hirosue Ryoko (29) was on her way to her son's kindergarten when she collided with another car yesterday morning, according to Tokyo police. There were no injuries.
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Girls Who are Boys, Who Like Boys to be Girls | March 19, 2010 |
Well, here's an interesting way to hype a rock concert. Gackt (36) announced yesterday that his show at Club Citta in Kawasaki on Sunday will be a guys-only affair. That means no female crew or staff and no female members of the audience. Organizers have reportedly set up an examination room to deal with any suspicious ticket holders. Gackt says the move is his attempt to reverse the recent trend among Japanese guys to shun traditional male stereotypes and get in touch with their feminine side. The trend is encapsulated in the phrase "soushokukei danshi, nikushokukei joshi" which translates as "grass-eating guys, meat-eating girls," and with his origins being in the visual-kei rock scene, Gackt himself has been a style leader for that scene.
Saotome Embarks on New Road
In his own way, popular young actor Saotome Taichi (18, photo left) is another example of gender bending in Japan. Not only does he perform dressed as a kimono-clad female (photo right), but he is so totally convincing that his onnagata dance has won him legions of female fans. Now it seems that he is leaving behind the woman who helped make him a star. Saito Chieko (84), chairwoman of the Asakusa Rock-za theater, said yesterday that Otome has refused to renew his contract with her management agency, which expires at the end of this month, and has already found new representation. A spokesperson for the Meiji-za theater in Tokyo said they knew nothing of the matter and that Saotome would perform there as scheduled from April 1.
AKB48 Fan Meet is Canceled
An event where fans would have a chance to meet members of the popular idol group AKB48 was canceled after ticket fraud was discovered. Fans were to meet the five members of spinoff group "Watarirouka Hashiritai" at an "akushukai" (shake hands meeting) in Nagoya on Wednesday. The event, to promote their new single, was called off due to what organizers described as the "theft of used tickets and the use of forged tickets."
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Yada Akiko Back to Work, Talks About Ex | March 18, 2010 |
Actress Yada Akiko (31) has finally spoken about the multiple arrests of her ex-husband, former actor Oshio Manabu (31), first on drug charges and later in relation to the death of a Ginza bar hostess. Speaking to the Sports Hochi newspaper, she said, "I didn't even have suspicions about (Oshio's drug use). I blame myself for being blind to that." Oshio was arrested last August and received a suspended prison sentence for the drug charges. Yada divorced him just days after his arrest, though they had already been separated for some time. Oshio was re-arrested at the end of the year once the Tokyo police had built a case against him regarding the death of Tanaka Kaori. That trial is ongoing.
After an absence from the screen of about a year, Yada is finally making a comeback in an upcoming TV drama. "The fact that I have my son is what helps me carry on," she said. "Being a mother makes you strong." She and Oshio met in 2005 on the set of the movie "Yume de Aimashou" and married at the end of 2006. They had a son, Liamu, a year later.
Futaba Yuriko Announces Retirement
Enka singer Futaba Yuriko (78) has announced an end to her 75-year career. She held a press conference in Tokyo yesterday and said she will retire from the end of this month. She insisted that the decision is not because of health reasons and is something she first considered around 1994. "I want to retire while I still have my voice and my vitality." Futaba started her career at the age of three, but is best known for her 1972 hit "Ganpei no Haha," which sold over 2.5 million copies.
Suzanne and the Baseball Star
Talento Suzannu (23) is dating baseball player Saito Kazumi (32), according to this week's issue of the magazine "Friday." The pair were photographed on a date earlier this month in the beach resort of Shonan. Suzannu's management agency has acknowledged the romance, while the Softbank Fukuoka Hawks have said their former star pitcher is focused on making a comeback for the upcoming season. Saito was the best pitcher in the Pacific League in 2003 and 2006 but has missed the last two seasons following shoulder surgery.
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The Return of Erika-sama | March 17, 2010 |
Actress Sawajiri Erika (23) made her much anticipated return to the public spotlight yesterday, but still on her terms. She appeared at a press conference for the beauty clinic chain Takano Yuri, for whom she will be pitching product. It's been two and a half years since she last worked, after her refusal to play the public relations game changed her image from hugely promising actress to spoiled showbiz drama queen. And she was fired by Stardust Promotion last autumn, with the company saying only that she had been in serious breach of her contractual obligations. In between, she married a man twice her age and spent most of her time overseas. As Japan Zone reported, she has recently set up an office in Spain and acquired agents in various countries. So at yesterday's event, reporters were more interested in her career direction than beauty products.
Asked if she would retract the recently announced legal requirement for media people to sign a six-point agreement before getting access to her press releases, Sawajiri said no. She said she has been surprised by the media backlash against her requiring that reporters respect her privacy and public image. But she was clearly also trying to get back on their good side, bowing and expressing her apology several times. She often choked up and took long pauses as she thanked those who have supported her.
Earlier story:
Showbiz Bad Boys (and Girls) on the Comeback Trail (Mar. 4, 2010)
Misaki to be a Mama
Management for Itoh Misaki (32) announced this week that the popular actress is pregnant and expecting a baby in the summer. In a hand-written statement faxed to the media, she said she is six months pregnant and won't be taking on more new work this year. But she hinted that she plans to continue her career after becoming a mother. Her final pre-maternity gig was to film TV commercials for the Shiseido skin whitening brand "Haku." The CM will air from early April.
After playing the role of a mother of four in the 2007 movie "Life - Tengokude Kimini Aetara," Itoh said, "If I get married, I'd like to have lots of kids." She married Enomoto Yoshinori (42), CEO of major pachinko company Kyoraku Sangyo, last November after a one-year romance, and they held a church wedding and reception in Hawaii.
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Wedding News | March 16, 2010 |
Popular singer-songwriter Yamazaki Masayoshi (38, photo left) recently got married, it was revealed earlier this month. He is known for keeping his personal life private, and no details are known about his new bride other than she is not in show business. Currently celebrating the 15th anniversary of his debut, Yamazaki has not been the subject a single romantic rumor until now. Among his many hits are "One More Time, One More Chance" and "Serori," which he wrote for super idol group SMAP. He has also appeared in several movies and TV dramas, and earlier this year co-starred in "Bungo - Nihon Bungaku Drama" on TBS.
TV Asahi announcer Uemiya Nanako (28, photo right) said this morning that she is engaged to a Tokyo-based company employee (30). She made the announcement during a regular appearance on the "Super Morning" show. The couple, who have been dating for about six years, plan to hold a wedding ceremony and reception on April 24. As seems to be the norm, Uemiya made a point of saying she isn't pregnant and plans to continue her TV career.
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Yoshiki Wants His Day in Court | March 15, 2010 |
X Japan leader Yoshiki (photo left) has spoken publicly for the first time about his ongoing lawsuit against Nexstar Corporation. On March 10, he sued the Tokyo music production company through the Tokyo District Court seeking ¥375 million (about $4 million) in damages. Over the three-year period since X Japan made their comeback, the company is believed to owe at least ¥600 million ($6.7 million) in unpaid contractual fees and royalties, as well as ¥300 million ($3.3 million) for tickets and merchandise from 10 concerts. Speaking from his base in Los Angeles, where he is currently recording, Yoshiki said, "Our relationship of trust has been completely trodden on."
Nexstar already have a similar unresolved case with Glay, another rock band with a history of legal problems. That lawsuit was filed in 2005 and the failure to resolve it was also behind Yoshiki's decision to go after the company in court. The case is just the latest legal and financial problem to hit the band. Vocalist Toshi recently divorced, after almost a decade of seeing his money siphoned off by his wife and the scam artist she was living with.
Earlier story:
X Japan's Toshi Breaks Away (Feb. 25, 2010)
Glay Win the Day (Oct. 23, 2009)
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Kitano Takeshi Receives Top French Honor | March 11, 2010 |
The multi-talented Kitano Takeshi (63, profile) was given the highest honor by the French government on Tuesday for his film and artistic works. French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand (photo right) presented the Commander of the Order of the Arts and Letters award at the Fondation Cartier museum in Paris, which is showing Kitano's artworks to the public from Thursday through Sept. 12. His films will also be screened at the Centre Pompidou museum in Paris for the next three months. Mitterrand lauded the Japanese filmmaker's extraordinary creativity and saying his work is full of spontaneity and teaches us about the multi-faceted nature of people.
"I have long had a fondness for Paris, which is at the heart of culture. This is like an illusion, a dream," Kitano said. "I'm not so sure I deserve this honor, but I will do my best to be worthy of it."
Kitano, still best known at home by his comedian stage name Beat Takeshi, made a dramatic entrance into the world of film directing in 1989 with "Violent Cop." He went on to make a series of films in which explosive violence is balanced against human drama and artistic sensibilities, including 1997's "Hana-bi," which won the Golden Lion for best movie at the Venice Film Festival. His work has regularly been hailed in Europe, event the recent avant garde movies that left most Japanese audiences scratching their heads.
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Hirahara Ayaka Makes World Debut | |
Already regarded as one of the most talented young vocalists in Japanese music, Hirahara Ayaka (25) has been given the nod by none other than Andrew Lloyd Webber (61) in what the local media is calling her "world debut." The man behind such smash hits as "Cats" and "Evita" opened "Love Never Dies," his sequel to "Phantom of the Opera," on London's West End this week. And it was revealed yesterday that he chose Hirahara to sing the title song on the musical's album version. She recorded the song in a Tokyo studio in February and Webber was impressed enough to invite her to London for the premiere. "Love Never Dies" is due for release here on March 24.
A couple of numbers from the musical have been publicly performed and released in various forms over the last six months, and the title song has been recorded by Sierra Boggess, who is playing the heroine role of Christine Daaé, and Katherine Jenkins. The Welsh singer was originally invited to provide the album version, but it was decided her mezzo-soprano vocal range didn't quite fit the bill.
"Love Never Dies" is set 10 years after the original story. In his guise as an anonymous impresario, the Phantom invites Christine to perform at Phantasma, a new attraction in Coney Island. With her husband and son, she travels to Brooklyn...The musical has received mostly scathing reviews, from critics as well as fans of the original.
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Japanese Music Just Got a Bit Weirder | |
A couple of bizarre musical groups with a common connection are in the news today. FANTA is a rock quintet with a pretty unusual lineup: former sumo yokozuna (grand champion) Akebono Taro (40) is a Tower of Power on drums; former Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman (47), who's long since defected to the commercial dark side of J-pop; The Alfee guitarist Takamizawa Toshihiko (55), who leads the band and always looks like he's stuck in the 1970s; J-pop singer Tanimura Nana (22) adds not just vocals but beauty and considerable cleavage; and on bass is Kishiden frontman Ayanokoji Sho (age unknown).
As the name suggests, the group was created first and foremost to promote a certain soft drink, though the TV commercials currently airing didn't reveal the band members. Ayanokoji said he hopes the band do well enough that NHK let him back in the "Kohaku Uta Gassen" lineup on New Year's Eve. A couple of years ago in his guise as DJ Ozma, he was banned from the public network after he and his dancers appeared in bodysuits that fooled TV audiences into thinking they were naked.
Ayanokoji also provides the common link with another outlandish group, Yajima Biyoshitsu (Yazima Beauty Salon). He and comedy duo Tunnels have enjoyed a string of hits since October 2008, performing as a trio of Vegas showgirls who happen to be a mother and her daughters with the names Margaret (Kinashi Noritake, 48), Strawberry (Ishibashi Takaaki, 48) and Naomi (Ayanokoji). They've earned enough commercial success that there is now an album out and a movie spinoff due for release April 29, with none other than Matsuda Seiko (48) singing the theme song. The song "Aidoru Mitaini Utawasete" (Let Me Sing Like an Idol), which harkens back to her heyday as Japan's top idol singer in the 1980s, will be out as a single on April 21.
Earlier stories:
Toshiba EMI Sorry for Ozma Scandal (Jan. 11, 2007)
Yajima Biyoshitsu...from Nevada (Sep. 2008, Japan Forum)
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JayWalk Vocalist in Drug Arrest | March 10, 2010 |
Rock vocalist Nakamura Kouichi (59, photo center) is the latest celebrity to be arrested for drug possession. According to the Azabu branch of the Tokyo Metropolitan police, Nakamura was found in possession of a very small amount of "kakuseizai" or stimulant drugs in a parked car in Nishi Azabu in the early hours of Tuesday morning. It's not the first time for the Jaywalk frontman, who has admitted to the charges, to get into trouble with the police. In 2007 he had a case sent to the public prosecutor's office for having an army knife in his car, in violation of the Firearm Control Law.
One of Japan's premier rock bands, Jaywalk debuted in 1981 and had their first major hit with "Nanimo Ienai - Natsu" in 1991. That single sold 1.8 million copies, earning the band an appearance on NHK's annual "Kohaku Uta Gassen" New Year's Eve concert. They have remained active over the last two decades and released their latest single, "Sora to Kumo noyouni," in February.
Update: It was revealed today that police found quantities of marijuana and cocaine and drug paraphernalia when they searched Nakamura's home. They sent the case to the public prosecutor's office today.
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Reaction to The Cove Oscar Win | March 09, 2010 |
Japan didn't have much at stake this year at the Oscars. But all the same, the eyes of the world were on the reaction of one little fishing town in central Japan. As "The Cove" won the Academy Award for Best Documentary it became that bit more difficult for Japan to ignore the film's message - stop the unnecessary annual slaughter of thousands of dolphins in the town of Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture, and the sale of dolphin meat containing dangerously high levels of mercury.
Some local media reported on the movie's win with the minimum of fuss or detail, referring simply to the overseas controversy surrounding Japan's "irukaryou" or dolphin fishing. Most reports made sure to describe Taiji as "the birthplace of the ancient rites of whaling" and to point out "problems" with the making of the film, such as the filmmakers trespassing on private property to conceal their cameras, filming fishermen and other Taiji residents without permission, or Taiji city assemblyman Ryono Hisato and a Hokkaido university professor who claim they were tricked into participating in the film. A story on the national TBS network website included only comments critical of the film. It included one from Ryono saying he thought it "unbelievable that a secretly filmed movie could win such an authoritative award."
The documentary is due to be released at 20-30 cinemas across Japan, but with heavy editing and faces obscured after legal threats. A similarly controversial documentary, "Yasukuni," was withdrawn from many cinemas in 2008 after threats from right-wing extremists, who protested against the depiction of the Tokyo shrine dedicated to Japan's war dead, including Class A war criminals.
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The hype continues to build around Japan-based Korean singer Iconiq (25). It was announced yesterday that, starting from today and barely three month after her Japan debut, she will start appearing in TV commercials for seven different corporations at the same time. This is said to be a record, as is the fact that all seven commercials will air together on TV Asahi March 13. She recently spent 26 hours straight in a studio in Kawasaki filming the commercials. With all this momentum behind her, her Japan debut album "Change Myself," will no doubt chart well after its release tomorrow.
Back in January, Japan Zone reported on Shiseido's unusual decision to choose the relatively unknown Iconiq as the new face of their MAQuillAGE line of cosmetics. With her shaved head and baby-face looks, Iconiq stands out from the usual fashion models hocking beauty products in Japan. But the latest commercial gigs aren't restricted to cosmetic brands, and she will also be pitching for the likes of ANA, Starbucks, and Maserati.
Things are also looking good for Iconiq on the personal front. Today's issue of weekly women's magazine "Josei Jishin" reports that she is romantically involved with J-League soccer player Lee Tadanari (24). A fourth generation ethnic Korean, who formally took Japanese citizenship in 2007, he currently plays for Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
Earlier story:
An Iconiq J-Pop Star (Jan. 20, 2010)
Aoki Sayaka a Mother
Talento Aoki Sayaka (36) gave birth to her first child at a Tokyo hospital on Monday morning. Aoki became a TV variety show regular largely on the strength of her straight-talking and short-tempered image and often appeared on shows as a "make-inu" type, a woman destined to remain single. But in October 2007 she underwent something of an image change when she married a dancer three years her junior.
Oshio Manabu Refused Bail
In the ongoing trial of former actor Oshio Manabu (31), the Tokyo District Court denied an appeal of its earlier decision to refuse him bail. Oshio is on trial for his involvement of the drug-related death of Ginza hostess Tanaka Kaori last August.
Earlier story:
Oshio Refused Bail (Feb. 9, 2010)
Other related stories
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Tears of Joy and Butt Kicking | March 08, 2010 |
Fuji TV announcer Nakano Minako (30, photo left) had a tearful wedding ceremony and reception yesterday at the Shangri-La hotel in central Tokyo. She and her groom, a 34-year-old doctor she met in the autumn of 2008, held a relatively simple and "at home" reception attended by about 180 people. In addition to her own father's speech, Nakano was reduced to tears by the words of other father figures. The couple were toasted by Ogura Tomoaki (62), Nakano's current co-anchor on the "Tokudane" morning wide show, and Otsuka Norikazu (61), with whom she worked for more than six years on the "Mezamashi Terebi" show. There was a surprise performance by singer-songwriter Angela Aki (32), who serenaded the couple with her ballads "Sakurairo" and "This Love."
Tekken Star No Match for Mona
Irish-Chinese actor John Foo (27, photo right) was unable to resist the charms, and fighting skills, of local beauty Yamamoto Mona (34, photo right) yesterday. In Tokyo to promote the Hollywood adaptation of the popular video game "Tekken," he took on Mona in a best-of-three game of "Tekken 6" and promptly had his butt kicked. Needless to say he does a lot better on the big screen and the results can be seen when the Dwight Little-directed martial arts movie opens here on March 20.
Mona meanwhile refused to be drawn on questions about her romance with a real estate company owner. But she said that, compared with the image she gained after a couple of affairs with married men, these days she is "a boring woman."
Former Wrestling Idol to be a Mother
Happy news for actress and former idol wrestler Noumi Kayo (33, photo left), who revealed yesterday that she is five months pregnant. She and Horiuchi Kazuyoshi (35) of the dance group Panicrew married in April 2007. The couple were overjoyed when they learned of the pregnancy last December, especially as Noumi's history of injuries from her 1995-2004 wrestling career caused concern that she might not be able to bear children. After retiring from the sport she trained as a theater actress under the guidance of top playwright Tsuka Kouhei (61).
Tomochika, Nadagi Split
Less happy news for comedy couple Tomochika (36) and Nadagi Takeshi (39, photo right), whose six-year romance has ended. Thought to be on the verge of marriage, the two were reported on Saturday as having recently broken up, and Tomochika confirmed the rumors on a radio show yesterday. Appearing on a show hosted by comedy duo Bakusho Mondai, she shared their surprise that the story made the front page of the Sankei Sports newspaper. She said that she and Nadagi had simply grown apart largely due to the success of their mutual careers.
As a solo act, Tomochika brings a variety of characters to comedic life and is a regular on many TV shows. Nadagi is a member of the manzai group Plan 9 but has had a lot of success as a solo act, winning the annual R-1 contest in 2007 and 2008. He sometimes paired with Tomochika and they had a hit with their parody of a couple from the US TV show "Beverly Hills 90210."
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Talent Agency CEO Guilty of Tax Evasion | March 05, 2010 |
The president of the talent management agency that represented several popular female stars has been found guilty of tax evasion. At the Tokyo District Court yesterday, Makino Masaya (42), CEO of Ichi Estate Corporation (formerly Avant-Garde) was given a 2-and-a-half-year prison sentence, suspended for five years, and fined ¥85 million. He had been accused of evading taxes to the tune of ¥345 million on earnings of almost ¥1.2 billion over a period of three years up to the end of 2006.
Makino set up the company in 1989 and it became known as one of the largest stables of young, pretty, and largely disposable female talent. The dozens of girls and young women on its books would appear in magazines and manga, as pinup "idols," race queens and a multitude of other decorative functions. In recent years the company represented such established celebrities as Manabe Kaori (28, photo left) and Ogura Yuko (25, photo right), and manipulating the increasing revenues generated from their growing popularity was done using an affiliation of paper companies. Over the last couple of years, the business underwent several changes of name in a game of cat and mouse with the tax authorities.
Megumi Hits Shibuya Pedestrian
Meanwhile, talento - and another former pinup girl - Megumi (28) was involved in a minor traffic accident, according to Tokyo police. She was driving in the Jingumae area of Shibuya Ward, Tokyo on Monday afternoon when she hit a female pedestrian in her 20s. The woman is said to have suffered minor leg injuries and police are currently looking into the matter.
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Showbiz Bad Boys (and Girls) on the Comeback Trail | March 04, 2010 |
Actress Sawajiri Erika (23, photo left) is making a comeback but maybe not a return to Japan. After a string of critically acclaimed movie roles, her promising career was derailed in 2007 when a petulant performance at a movie PR event, and her refusal to say anything other than "Betsu ni..," (Whatever...) gave her an image of arrogance. The following year she married the much older "hypermedia creator" Takashiro Tsuyoshi (45), since when the couple have spent most of their time living overseas. Last September her management agency decided they'd had enough and cut her loose.
But her agent in Japan revealed yesterday that Sawajiri has recently set up a private office in Spain, acquired agents in various countries, and will be launching a new website later this month. The first job she has lined up is a commercial gig in Japan for the Takano Yuri chain of beauty clinics. She is also expected to publish a book of photos in the spring, a collaboration with a British photographer friend of Takashiro's. There is no word yet of any movie projects, though she is said to have received several offers and still hopes to work in Hollywood.
Earlier stories:
New Year Wedding for Erika-sama? (Dec. 30, 2008)
Celebrities in Damage Control Mode (Oct. 2, 2007)
Shoken Returns to Big Screen
Already making a return to the big screen, after an absence of 10 years, is actor Hagiwara Kenichi (59, photo center). At a pre-production event held in Tokyo yesterday, it was announced that he will play the lead in the movie "Naomi, Chijin no Ai." Directed by Fukasaku Kenta (37), son of the legendary Fukasaku Kinji, the movie is an adaptation of a novel by the famous Tanizaki Junichiro (1886-1965). As the young heroine will need to do nude scenes, it was decided to audition actresses for the role. Hagiwara said, "I hope they don't choose a Naomi who's too young! But work is work." Popularly known by nickname Shoken, the actor has a rough few years, with a history of arrests for a variety of offenses and a divorce in 2006. He started getting things back on track last autumn, returning to the recording studio for the first time in seven years.
Earlier stories:
Shoken Back in the Studio (Sep. 11, 2009)
Stars Breaking Up (Mar. 31, 2006)
Shoken Guilty As Charged (Jun. 29, 2005)
Shoken Arrested Again (Feb. 8, 2005)
Toda Naho Engaged to Doctor
Actress Toda Naho (35, photo right) is engaged to a Tokyo-based doctor (35), it was revealed yesterday. Previously romantically linked with Major League baseball star Matsui Hideki until the split in 2006, the actress met the new love in her life last summer. They started dating in September, he proposed on Christmas Eve and the couple officially got engaged at the end of February. They are expected to get married within the year and Toda is said to be planning to continue her acting career. One of her earliest TV roles was as a young country doctor in the NHK morning soap opera "Ee Nyobo."
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Kameda Koki Makes Big Screen Debut | March 03, 2010 |
WBC world flyweight boxing champion Kameda Koki (23, photo right) is to make his acting debut with a cameo role in the upcoming movie "Box!" Directed by Li Toshio (45), it stars top young actor Ichihara Hayato (23, photo left) as Gihei, a lazy but extremely gifted boxer. Ichihara and Kameda have been friends since the actor was a guest ringside announcer for Kameda's fight against Rexon Flores in March 2008. The boxer known as "Naniwa no Token" (The Fist of Naniwa) joined the movie project at the invitation of his friend, but the two don't share any screen time. In the movie, Kameda appears to give ringside support to Gihei's rival Inamura, played by super lightweight pro Suwa Masashi (29). Talking about last month's filming Kameda said, "It was fun to experience something new, but acting is tough. I was embarrassed and nervous. Boxing is much easier!" He is the first current world boxing champion to appear in a movie in Japan. The movie is scheduled for release on May 22.
Comedian Gekidan Hitori (33, photo left) and talento Ohsawa Akane (24, photo left) announced yesterday that they are expecting their first child. The couple married in February 2009 and are both enjoying very successful and busy careers. Ohsawa is currently three months pregnant and says she has been suffering badly with morning sickness. But her management agency say she plans to continue working until as close as possible to the due date. Her husband, whose stage name translates as "one-man theater group," said in a fax to the media, "A year has passed since we became the Gekidan Duo, and now it looks like we will be joined by the child actor we had hoped for. I look forward to the day when we can perform as the Gekidan Trio."
Rakugo Welcomes New Enraku
A party was held at the Imperial Hotel in central Tokyo yesterday to celebrate the succession of rakugo-ka Sanyuutei Rakutaro (60, photo) to the stage name Enraku VI. All the big names from the world of traditional comic storytelling were there, including Tachikawa Danshi (74), who has been undergoing treatment for diabetes since last summer. Also there, despite his recent battles with prosecutors over alleged financial irregularities, was political kingpin Ozawa Ichiro (67). The previous Sanyuutei Enraku died of lung cancer last October.
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Will the Kimura Love Potion Work for Fuji? | March 02, 2010 |
Fuji TV are putting actor and SMAP member Kimura Takuya back where his legions of female fans want him. He will star in a yet-to-be-named drama series in the network's golden time slot, Monday 9pm, from April. Fuji haven't revealed much about the show other than that the drama will be KimuTaku's first full-on romance drama in 10 years, and that he will play a company president for the first time. No doubt Fuji will be hoping for the kind of huge success that rivals TBS enjoyed with the 2000 series "Beautiful Life." That show, with KimuTaku's hairstylist falling for Tokiwa Takako, as a wheelchair-bound librarian, had a massive audience rating of 41.3%.
Fuji last bet the bank on Kimura in their spring 2008 series "Change," in which he played a schoolteacher who suddenly finds himself Prime Minister of Japan. But the show was only a modest success and lost out in the ratings to the popularity of actress Nakama Yukie in NTV's "Gokusen." The key to the new drama will be the actress chosen to play opposite Kimura.
Earlier stories:
An Unwelcome Change for Kimura Takuya (May 14, 2008)
Morimoto Leo Suffers Heart Attack
Actor Morimoto Leo (67) was recently rushed to a Tokyo hospital following a heart attack, it was revealed yesterday. The actor's management agency said that he felt chest pains after getting up on the morning of February 27 and called for an ambulance. He is said to be recovering in hospital but has been forced to drop out of an upcoming drama. His other regular appearances, such as the Japan FM radio show "Mori no Sampomichi" and the TV Asahi drama "Salaryman Kintaro 2," are subject to his ongoing recovery.
Morimoto is easily recognized by his sad expression and the doleful voice that, among other roles, provides the narration to the Japanese version of Thomas the Tank Engine.
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The New Faces of Takarazuka | March 01, 2010 |
One of the annual rituals of Japanese show business took place this morning, as the latest batch of young women graduated from the Takarazuka Music School. From this afternoon the 38 members of the 96th graduating class will officially become members of the professional Takarazuka Theatrical Revue. As members of the Moon Troupe, they will take the stage for the first time from April 16 in a production of "The Scarlet Pimpernel." Top graduate Norimatsu Ami, who will take the stage name of Yumeka Ami, addressed the ceremony, "Taking the things we learned at music school as nourishment for our hearts, we are leaving the nest to join the Takarazuka Theatrical Revue. The artistic road is long and steep, but we will carry on our quest with even greater devotion as maidens of the theater troupe."
The school, based in the city of Takarazuka in Hyogo prefecture, is famously competitive with thousands of teenage girls applying for the 40-50 places each year. Those accepted face two years of strict discipline and rigorous training, and the ones left at the end join the professional ranks and perform at theaters across the country. Related article:
Takarazuka, All-Female Theater
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Miyane, Christel to Team Up on Fuji | |
Japanese TV may have a new King of the Presenters. Just about anyone in the Kansai region of central Japan knows the name and face of TV presenter Miyane Seiji (46). His "Ohayao Asahi Desu" morning show (ABC TV in Kansai only) and "Miyaneya" afternoon show (NTV) are broadcast from Osaka every weekday. The ABC show is due to come to an end next month, and Fuji TV saw a chance to headhunt the rising star. From mid-April, he will be teaming up with former "News Japan" announcer Takigawa Christel (32) for a nationwide show broadcast on Sunday nights from Fuji's studios in Tokyo. "Mr. Sunday" will air from 10pm from April 18, with the two popular freelancers at its core. Miyane will travel to Tokyo every weekend then rush back to Osaka for his ongoing NTV gig. His busy schedule will approach that of the master himself, Mino Monta (65, profile), who is recognized by Guinness World Records as the busiest man on TV.
Both Miyane and the half-French Takigawa have been maneuvering their careers steadily upwards and their pairing for the new show will be closely watched. Miyane has built a fan base with his typical Kansai frankness, his subtle way with words, and the wide range of topics he can cover. Takigawa, who graduated in French literature from Aoyama Gakuin University, failed to get into Fuji TV in 2000 and joined the subsidiary Kyodo TV. She was "outsourced" to a variety of minor posts on the Fuji network before landing the "News Japan" job in 2002. Since stepping down from that show in September of last year, she has appeared mainly in TV commercials for Toyota and cosmetics brand Shiseido.
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