Monthly Archives: February 2006

Popular At shrines and temples across the country yesterday, celebrities took part in events to celebrate Setsubun. Throwing handfuls of dried beans, they shouted “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” (Demons out! Luck in!) in the traditional ceremony to bring luck in the coming year. Among the many stars taking part was enka singer Kitajima Saburo (69) and members of the “Saburo Family”, who were at the Yakuoin temple on Mt. Takao, in the west of Tokyo. Setsubun is not a national holiday and is held on February 3 or 4, one day before the start of spring according to the Japanese lunar calendar.

• Johnny’s Jimusho group News may be disbanded following a second scandal. Last week a 17-year old member of the boy band was suspended for underage drinking, a repeat of a similar case last summer. The group’s planned 12-date concert tour will go ahead in March and April, while their new single, the theme tune for the latest movie version of the hugely popular anime “One Piece”, will be re-recorded by the remaining six members. They are then expected to continue working solo at least through to the end of this year, when the fuss is likely to have died down. Two previously recorded TV shows that feature the suspended group member have been either edited or cancelled altogether. Asked about future plans for the group, a Johnny’s spokesman said they were still looking into the facts of the matter and the situation was still under review, leading the media to speculate that the group’s days may be numbered.

• It was revealed yesterday that NHK announcer Sumiyoshi Miki (32) has been divorced since the spring of last year. The presenter of “Professional – Shigoto no Ryugi” married a fellow NHK employee in 2003, but the marriage lasted only until April of 2005.

• Okamura Takashi (35) of the comedy duo Ninety Nine has said he’s given up hope of romance with pin-up girl Kumada Yoko (23). The weekly magazine Friday recently published photos of Kumada leaving his apartment and he hinted that there was a relationship. But on his regular radio show, Okamura said that while Kumada had been to his place for dinner, things had not turned romanrtic between them.

About 500 reporters turned out yesterday to hear about a movie that has barely started filming. Director Yamada Yoji‘s latest venture into the world of samurai drama stars SMAP heart-throb Kimura Takuya (33). And at yesterday’s pre-production announcement, they made it clear that they’re aiming to make a movie that is Oscar material. “Bushi no Ichibun” is Kimutaku’s first venture into period drama, but Yamada is already comparing him with that most stoic of actors, Takakura Ken. He has grown a bit of a beard for his role as a low-level samurai, blinded by his job as a poison tester, who seeks revenge against the man who steals his wife. The movie, not due for general release until next year, has had an offer from the Berlin Film Festival, where Yamada’s “Tasogare Seibei” (Twilight Samurai) was nominated for the Golden Bear award in 2003.

• The debut solo album by Bernard Fowler (47), backup singer for the Rolling Stones, will be released first in Japan on March 8. The Stones will be playing in Japan later in the month. Fowler has a long history of connections with Japan – his wife is Japanese and he worked on a Sakamoto Ryuichi solo album as far back as 1986. He’s been working with the Stones since 1989. The only band member appearing on his album is guitarist Ronnie Wood.

• The daughter of Academy Award nominated actor Watanabe Ken (46) has been named as a tourism ambassador for the Philippines. The tall and slender Anne (19) appeared at a PR event at the Ebisu Westin hotel in Tokyo yesterday. After greeting the gathered reporters in fluent English, she told them of her location work on the islands of Cebu and Bohol. She refused to comment when asked about her father’s recent re-marriage to actress Minami Kaho (41). A fashion model who has worked on the international circuit, she now lives with her mother.

A 17-year old member of popular Johnny’s band News has been suspended after his underage drinking was revealed in a monthly magazine. The magazine published photos of the singer, named only as B, with a young woman at a karaoke box last autumn, in what appear to be stills from a concealed camera. The singer has denied that he drank alcohol and says he plans to atend the prestigious Tokyo university that he gained entry to recently. Another of the 8-member group was suspended last summer for exactly the same reason. His suspension is still in effect, but the Johnny’s stable is so big that if need be, he can simply be replaced by a member from a different Johnny’s group.

• Actor Funakoshi Eiichiro (45) is to have his first starring role in a movie in 17 years. Known as the “emperor of 2-hour TV dramas”, he will star in “Bochan Chips” which is due for release in the autumn. His love interest will be played by 21-year old misono, former vocalist of the band Day After Tomorrow and younger sister of club queen Koda Kumi (23), in her movie debut.

Miyazaki Hayao‘s animated feature “Hauru no Ugoku Shiro” (Howl’s Moving Castle) has been nominated for an Academy Award. Miyazaki (65) previously won an Oscar in 2003 for “Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi” (Spirited Away). Howl is a love story that tells of a 90-year old woman who is transformed into an 18-year old girl. The movie took in almost ¥20 billion at the box office and has been an international success, seen by over 9 million people in some 50 countries worldwide. It won an award at the Venice International Film Festival in 2004.

• Also nominated in six categories, including nominations for costume design and music, is “Memoirs of a Geisha” (Sayuri), the Hollywood adaptation of Arthur Golden’s bestseller. Though set in Japan, the movie has an international cast that includes local stars Watanabe Ken, Yakusho Koji and Momoi Kaoru.

Actor Ishida Issei (31) and former talento wife Miyake Emi (27) filed for divorce on January 30, it was revealed yesterday. They have one child, a son born in December 2003, who will remain with his mother.