Monthly Archives: July 2008

Japan Zone is back after a relaxing family vacation. Here’s a roundup of the main stories since the last entry on July 8.

The career of Yamamoto Mona (32) has taken yet another dramatic – and familiar – turn. She’s been put on indefinite probation by her management agency following a new romantic scandal. Yamamoto became a newscaster on the News23 show in late 2006 but really hit the headlines when she was fired just days later due to an affair with a married politician. After laying low for a few months she reappeared, thanks largely to the support of top star Kitano “Beat” Takeshi (61), whose Office Kitano represents her. She even donned a watermelon on her head as a sign of repentance and to indicate that she was ready to do anything to get her career back on track. This plus her beauty and intelligence helped her become a regular on the variety show circuit, though she is officially described as a freelance announcer. But then a story was published in a women’s weekly magazine that she was having an affair with Yomiuri Giants baseball star Nioka Tomoharu (32). She sent out a fax saying there was no “physical” relationship, but that hasn’t convinced too many people. Kitano has so far refused to comment on the story. Singer Wada Akiko (58) was among the more critical celebrities, saying she is now known not as a “free” (the Japanese word for freelance) announcer but as a “furin” (the word for extra-marital affair) announcer.

• Veteran rocker Imawano Kiyoshiro (57) has canceled all live appearances this summer to undergo treatment for cancer. The singer was treated for cancer of the throat in 2006 and returned to the stage in February of this year. Now the cancer is said to have appeared in his left hip.

• A man was recently arrested for attempted extortion involving caramel. The incident involves the limited availability of the hugely popular “nama kyarameru” candy, which is produced at the Hokkaido farm owned by talento Tanaka Yoshitake (50). The product, which sells for ¥850, is available at Chitose Airport and the farm itself, though only in small quantities. The suspect is accused of demanding 100 boxes by telephone, threatening violence if he was refused.

• Young actor Koide Keisuke (24) recently underwent emergency surgery for appendicitis. But just four days later he was back at work, taking part in filming of the final episode of the popular TBS drama series “Rookies.”

• Former martial arts fighter Sudo Genki (30) held a wedding reception in Tokyo on July 14. Sudo, now a talento, and his wife Ai (23) got hitched last November.

There have been a couple of recent marriages involving major music stars. Dreams Come True member Nakamura Masato (49) and the much younger Onaga Maki (20) of the band High and Mighty Color got hitched on June 22, though the news didn’t break until this month. Both musicians have seen their blogs overwhelmed with comments, particularly as Onaga has said she may quit the band within the year.

Meanwhile, talento/actress Megumi and Dragon Ash frontman Furuya Kenji are married and expecting a baby. The couple registered their marriage at a Tokyo municipal office on July 7, the date of the traditionally romantic festival of Tanabata. Though she started out as just another busty pinup model, Megumi has managed to carve out a career as an actress and variety show regular. Currently three months pregnant, she has pulled out of a theatrical production planned for early August but says she will continue doing TV work as long as her condition allows. The two started dating in 2006 and have been living in a house in Tokyo since last year.

• Comedian Matsumoto Hitoshi (44) of the popular duo Downtown has a new romantic interest. According to the July 3 issue of women’s weekly magazine “Josei Seven,” he is now dating half-Korean talento Ihara Rin (25), the weather girl on NTV’s morning show “Zoom In! Super.”

• Less happy news for actress Kato Ai (25) and soccer star Nakata Koji (29). Romance between the actress and the former Japan national team defender was first reported back in April 2004. As recently as the beginning of this year there were rumors of marriage. But sources close to both say they have split up. Kato’s agency said simply “She is currently in new York and we have heard no news of a breakup.”

Action star Jackie Chan (54) was recently in Japan to help promote an upcoming concert to raise money for the survivors of the major earthquake in China in May. “Heart Aid Sichuan” will be held at the Tokyo International Forum on July 14. It will feature Taiwanese-born Judy Ongg (58), Minami Kousetsu (59), Atari Kousuke (27), and young boy band w-inds. Yahoo! Japan will support the charity through its auctions service. Meanwhile, idol group Morning Musume donated ¥10 million to the cause following their first ever show in China on June 28. They took part in an event in Shanghai to promote the World Expo, which takes place in the city in 2010. The 9-member group includes two Chinese and recently held auditions in Taiwan. New Taiwanese members are expected to be announced within the year.

• Singer Matsuyama Chiharu (52) has canceled a series of concerts as he recovers from emergency surgery. He was diagnosed with unstable angina following a show on June 25 and underwent a coronary angioplasty, a medical procedure in which a balloon is used to open a blockage in a heart artery. He has been told to rest and has canceled all shows between June 27 and July 11. In his 32-year career, it’s the first time he’s been forced to cancel a show.

• Actress Maya Miki (44) is engaged to be married. She announced on her blog on July 1 that she and ballet dancer/actor Nishijima Kazuhiro (38) plan to tie the knot within the year. The two met when they worked together on the stage production “Stardust in Shanghai” in 2002. They started dating last summer and Nishijima proposed in March.

• Nakanomori Band have announced that they have officially split up. The four female members of the band said the decision was due to differences in musical direction. The band debuted in 2004 and won a best newcomer award. They won a record of the year award for “Fly High” in 2006. In all they released three albums and eight singles. Vocalist Ayako (23) is currently recovering from surgery she underwent in April to remove a cyst from her vocal chords.