Monthly Archives: September 2010

Several stories today with a common theme – making a fresh start.

Three members of the popular female group AKB48 performed in Tokyo yesterday to mark the release of their debut single as the spinoff unit French Kiss. Made up of Kashiwagi Yuki (19), Takajo Aki (18) and Kuramochi Asuka (20), the trio performed “Zutto Mae Kara” at a movie theater before a special screening of a drama by the same title. During a stage interview, Kuramochi told the gathered 400 fans she had been scolded by her father, former pro baseball pitcher Kuramochi Akira (58), after her attempt to throw out the ceremonial opening pitch at Jingu Stadium on Tuesday.

Kane Aims to be the Asian Bond
Actor Kane Kosugi (35) says he hopes the new action role he has lined up will become the Asian version of James Bond. Provisionally titled “Silent Storm,” the movie is a joint production between Japan, the US, South Korea and Hong Kong. “In a suit, he will look like a regular office worker. But he’s actually a spy and kung fu expert. I want to create a strong hero figure using just the power of kung fu, without CG or wire action.” The search is on for a director and scriptwriter, but Kosugi will the role of producer for the first time. He hopes filming will get underway this winter.

Kane, the son of famed Hollywood ninja Sho Kosugi, has been established on Japanese TV for a decade. Though he has appeared in several overseas productions, most recently working on location in China, he has yet to make a major breakthrough internationally. On the private side, he got married to a Hong Kong beauty (32) last November.

A Girl for Hitori, Ohsawa
Comedian Gekidan Hitori (33) and talento Ohsawa Akane (25) became parents for the first time yesterday. Management for the couple (photo left), who got married in February 2009, said the proud parents have named their baby girl Senka. Osawa plans to return to work after a short maternity break.

Hama-chan to Play Rookie Detective
Comedian Hamada Masatoshi (47, photo center) has his first leading role in a TV drama series in 9 years. He will also play a detective for the first time in TV Asahi’s “Keiji – Onijima Heihachiro.” The title character is a 44-year-old company man who becomes a detective following the death of his sister. With his worldly experience, he brings a new perspective to the fight against political corruption and organized crime. Hamada will be supported by actress Uchida Yuki (35, photo right), who recently played a police role in the summer blockbuster “Odoru Daisosasen 3,” and Nishimura Masahiko (49). The drama is adapted from Ikebe Katsumi’s manga about a special prosecutor at the Tokyo District Court.

Fukatsu Eri (37) has won the Best Actress award at the 34th Montreal World Film Festival for her role in the movie “Akunin” (Villain). On Monday she thanked the festival in three languages, saying “Arigato, merci beaucoup, thank you so much.” Modest as always, she added, “I think this is an award given to the (movie’s) entire staff. I am very happy.” Fukatsu was in Canada along with the film’s director, Lee Sang Il (36), and Tsumabuki Satoshi (29, photo right), who played the title role. The movie was screened on the second-to-last day and received a standing ovation. It is scheduled for release in Japan on September 11.

Fukatsu is just the second Japanese actress to win the award and the first since Tanaka Yuko (55), who starred in “Amagi Goe” in 1983. But Japanese movies have been doing well at the festival in the last couple of years. Okuda Eiji’s “Nagai Sanpo” (A Long Walk) won the Grand Prix in 2006 and two year’s later Takita Yojiro’s “Okuribito” (Departures) took the top award. And Terajima Shinobu (37) won the Best Actress award at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival for her role in “Caterpillar.”

The trial of former actor and singer Oshio Manabu (32) continues this week. Already charged and tried for drug offenses, he is currently on trial for his involvement in the death of 30-year-old Ginza hostess Tanaka Kaori. In August of last year, the two took MDMA (ecstasy) at the luxury Roppongi Hills apartment of a friend, but when Tanaka lost consciousness Oshio called his manager rather than the police or an ambulance. Against his manager’s advice Oshio repeatedly refused to call for an ambulance, and it was 3 hours before medical assistance was finally requested, by which time Tanaka was beyond help.

Oshio’s former girlfriends and manager were among the witnesses called to the stand as prosecutors built a case around an image of Oshio as pressuring others to use drugs. This flies in the face of his own claims of innocence and that he used but did not supply drugs. Izumida Yusuke (32), a friend of Oshio who has been given a 1-year prison sentence in a related case, said he supplied the MDMA pills that are believed to have killed Tanaka just two days before her death. In text messages between the two, the drugs were referred to as “amino acids.” The trial at the Tokyo District Court is the first celebrity case to be held under the recently introduced lay judge system.

Nezu Jinpachi (62, photo left) has decided to retire from his long and successful acting career. The decision was announced by his wife Kimika (47) on today’s edition of the TV Asahi show “Super Morning.” He has been hardly since since he was sidelined by health problems in 2002. A fatal traffic accident in July 2004 and further health problems led to depression. His decision to retire was due to a loss of confidence in his acting ability. His wife says he plans to continue working as a ed-inform.net.

Nezu made his acting debut in a theater group in 1969. He had a few years of TV and movie experience before landing a part in the popular 1978 taiga historical drama on NHK. He later went on to work several times with the legendary Kurosawa Akira, including major roles in “Kagemusha” (1980) and “Ran” (1985).

175R Calling It Quits
Also calling it quits, at least temporarily, are the rock quartet 175R (photo right). They announced today that after their December tour of Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka, they will be taking an extended break. In a statement, the band said, “We aren’t taking it as a negative thing, but as a chance to polish our individual skills.” Made up of Shogo (vo), Kazya (g), Isakick (b) and Yoshiaki (dr), the group formed in 1998 and made their major-label debut in 2003. They had their first Oricon No.1 the same year with “Sora ni Utaeba.” Their sixth and most recent original album, “Japon,” was released earlier this year but only made No.55 on the chart. Shogo (30) was married to Speed member Imai Eriko (26) from 2004-07.

Tough guy actor Yasuoka Rikiya (63) underwent a liver transplant yesterday, with the donor being his son Rikito (24). The two were taken to the operating room on the morning of August 30. About 65% of Rikito’s liver was removed and transplanted to his father, who spent a total of 39 hours in surgery. Rikiya was diagnosed with a form of paralysis known as Guillain-Barré syndrome in 2006. But he made his return to work in an appearance on the TV Asahi talk show “Tetsuko no Heya” in April. He also worked on the movie “Oh! My Brother,” which is due for release in November.

Rikiya made his movie debut in 1964s “Jidosha Dorobo” (The Car Thieves) and went on establish himself as Japan’s most famous potrayer of hulking gangsters.

Living donor liver transplants began in Japan in the early 1990s and there are currently about 500 such procedures annually.