Monthly Archives: August 2007

Japan’s greatest postwar lyricist Aku Yuu died early yesterday morning of urethral cancer. He was 70. Real name Fukada Hiroyuki, Aku was born in Hyogo Prefecture and his experience growing up on the island of Awajishima became the inspiration for an award-winning novel that was also adapted as a movie. But he was best known as the man behind such songs as Pink Lady’s hits “UFO” and “Southpaw”, Miyako Harumi’s “Kita no Shuku Kara”, and over 5,000 other songs that spanned all genres. The combined sales of singles he penned reached almost 70 million. After working for an advertising firm, he made his songwriting debut in 1967 and quickly established himself as a writer of hit songs for enka, pop, and anime. He was often a judge on musical talent shows and helped launch the careers of the biggest names in the Golden Age of idol singers, including Pink Lady, Yamaguchi Momoe and Sakurada Junko. He appeared well at a party held in March to celebrate 35 years in showbiz of enka singer Ishikawa Sayuri, but he had been battling cancer for several years. He continued writing music even after his hospitalization on July 10 and penned several songs for the upcoming album by Nagisa Youko.

Japan Zone entertainment news will be updated on Monday, August 6.

Hollywood star George Clooney (46) showed his usual humor at a press conference in Tokyo yesterday. In town to promote his latest movie, he started off the “Ocean’s 13” press conference by introducing himself, “Hi. I’m Brad Pitt. I just look much older in person.” Among the reporters at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Tokyo’s Roppongi were comedy duo Dainoji. Wearing their trademark tiger pattern sweatshirts, Otani Nobuhiko and 2006 World Air Guitar champion Ochi Yosuke (35) asked Clooney, “As a world famous dandy, what do you think of this look?” To which Clooney replied, “Tiger shirts, nice! Show me the back!” When they asked if he’d cast them in the next sequel, he replied, “Sure, but there isn’t going to be an Ocean’s 14.” Later, when asked to describe his ideal women, he said, “A woman in a tiger shirt!” The Yoshimoto Kogyo duo praised Clooney’s comic skills, saying they’d love to get him on stage at the Yoshimoto theater. (George’s new look is “adapted” from the Reuter’s press conference images)

• Actor Yoshikawa Ginji (42) will not be prosecuted in the ongoing extortion case involving talento Haga Kenji (46). Yoshikawa was arrested on July 10 on suspicion of involvement in the June 2006 incident, in which several people are accused of strong-arming a real estate developer into dropping his claim on some ¥400 million in debts, but charges were dropped due to lack of evidence. Prosecution is continuing against Haga and three others, including a former world boxing champion.

• Actress Matsushima Nanako (33) revealed yesterday that she is pregnant with her second child. She and her husband, actor Sorimachi Takashi (33), have a 3-year-old daughter. With the baby due at the end of the year, Matsushima plans to continue working for the time being.

• 17-year-old Okinawa native Kishimoto Sesiru has been chosen to represent Japan in this year’s worldwide Elite Model Look competition. The annual event, which has launched the careers of such supermodels as Giselle Bundchen and Cindy Crawford, will take place in Turkey in November. Kishimoto was chosen as one of ten finalists from 3,000 original entrants. When asked what kind of model she wants to be, she said simply “I’d like for everyone to think I’m cute.”