Category Archives: Entertainment News

NTV announcer Yamamoto Masumi was found dead in front of her high-rise apartment building in Sendai early yesterday morning. She was just 34. A suicide note addressed to her family was found and Miyagi Prefecture police are treating the death as such. Yamamoto’s death came as a shock to those who knew her, particularly as she married last year and had her first child in February. She took maternity leave last August and had done mainly narration work since her baby was born. It is not known whether motherhood or its effect on her career was connected to her suicide.

A graduate of the prestigious Gakushuin University, Yamamoto joined NTV in 1999 and worked as an announcer on a variety of sports and news shows. She was a reporter in Turin for the Winter Olympics in 2006 and was considered one of the few joshiana who could also handle the job of sports announcer. She also had a scuba diving license and it was through that hobby that she met her future husband.

With X Japan gearing up for their long-awaited U.S. concert debut, the Los Angeles Times has put its spotlight on the rock band. The cover of its Arts & Books supplement on Sunday featured the headline, “America, Meet Yoshiki” and a photo of the band leader and drummer. The article – the kind of exposure the band needs if it is to have a chance of breaking into the U.S. market – gave a potted history of the band and compared their January rooftop video shoot in downtown Hollywood to similar stunts by The Beatles and U2. It included several quotes that confirmed Yoshiki’s ambitions for overseas success (“People say, ‘You cannot get to the moon.’ I want to get to the moon! The moon being the American market.”), but also others that revealed his band mates may not quite share that level of enthusiasm.

And the reason for the sudden attention to a band that formed in 1982? X Japan are scheduled to become the first ever Japanese artists to perform at the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago on August 8, and then they kick off their North America tour on October 1 in support of their first original album in 14 years. For the J-rock and visual-kei pioneers, it really is a make or break opportunity in the U.S.

In related news that is hugely meaningful to die-hard fans of the band, it was revealed yesterday that the two shows at Yokohama Nissan Stadium on August 14/15 may well have a very special guest. Bassist and original member Taiji is said to be enthusiastic about the idea of performing on stage with his old friends for the first time in 18 years. He posted on his blog about meeting them for drinks recently and sharing stories about the old days, back when the band was known simply as X. The news of a possible reunion will make a quick sellout of the 150,000 tickets all the more likely. Tickets go on sale July 31.

Hakamada Yoshihiko (37) is having a good year. The popular actor was recently announced to the cast of next year’s NHK taiga drama, and yesterday it was revealed that he is engaged to young “guravia aidoru” (pin-up model) Kawanaka Ai (25). According to a source close to the couple, they met through mutual friends about two years ago but only started dating this spring. Hakamada is said to have proposed about a month ago.

The couple plan to get married on August 8. But with Hakamada now in preparation for his key role as Toyotomi Hidenaga (1540 – 1591) in “Gou – Himetachi no Sengoku,” which starts filming in September, it’s likely that they won’t have a wedding ceremony or reception until next year.

It seems that romance is back on for British racing driver Jenson Button (30) and fashion model Michibata Jessica (25). The couple’s relationship was first reported at the beginning of last year and there were rumors of marriage last summer. Michibata claimed that a proposal was in the works if Button won the Formula One championship, but that title came and went without any news of wedding bells. Then in May things were said to be on the rocks due to the pressures of separate careers and a long-distance relationship.

But recently there was media speculation of a reunion when they were spotted dining out in London after the British Grand Prix earlier this month. Confirmation came over the weekend after qualifications for the German Grand Prix as Button told reporters he would be joined by Michibata at next week’s event in Hungary. She also posted to Twitter that she and friends had been cheering on her boyfriend at a sports bar in Tokyo.

Button has a new team this year but is currently in second place and in contention to defend his championship title. Michibata, whose father is half-Argentine, half-Italian, and whose mother is Japanese, has been modeling since she was a child, though the western media has gone a bit overboard in describing her as a “supermodel.” She speaks fluent English and Japanese, as well as Spanish and some Italian.

Saotome Ai Dies at 51
Former actress Saotome Ai has died of multiple organ failure in Seattle, it was reported today. She was 51. Saotome made her acting debut in the 1974 movie “Ai to Makoto” and she went on to make over 60 movies and TV dramas. In the mid-1980s she broke with her popular image to appear in a soft porn movie and published a photo book that included several nude shots. From that period on, she tended to play more villain parts. Her last movie role was in “Shin Jinjinaki Tatakai” in 2000, after which she quit showbiz and went to live with her family in the U.S.

Nishioka, Tokuzawa to Tie the Knot
Chiba Lotte Marines leadoff batter Nishioka Tsuyoshi (25) and popular fashion model Tokuzawa Naoko (25) both updated their blogs at the weekend to formally announce their upcoming wedding. The couple plan to tie the knot on July 27, which sees the start of the second half of the baseball season and is also Nishioka’s birthday.

With Leonardo Dicaprio and Watanabe Ken in town the day before, Tokyo is having a bumper week with Hollywood celebrities. Nicholas Cage (46) was the latest arrival, visiting the Cinema Mediage complex in Odaiba for the premiere of “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.” He was joined on stage by producer Jerry Bruckheimer (64) and Mickey Mouse, the star of the 1940 animation feature “Fantasia” from which the new movie is derived. Directed by Jon Turteltaub, the movie opens in theaters here on August 13. Both critically and, so far, commercially the movie has proved to be the fourth disappointment in a row for the Bruckheimer-Disney dream team.

It’s Cage’s 7th visit to Japan but his first in three years. So he took his time greeting the 350 or so fans who lined the 30-meter red carpet. Over the course of half an hour, he shook hands, signed autographs and even gave the occasional hug. During his two-day visit, Cage also took time to visit the Hie Jinja shrine in Akasaka.

Japan’s Chanson Pioneer Dies
Ishii Yoshiko, Japan’s leading singer in the French style of chanson, died of liver failure at a Tokyo hospital on July 17, it was announced yesterday. She was 87. She entered hospital about a month ago but until last week was hoping to recover enough to return to work. The daughter of a leading politician, she went against her parents’ wishes to become a jazz singer after WWII. But after she encountered chanson while vacationing in France, she moved to Paris where she lived for six years. From 1963, she produced an annual “Paris Matsuri” in Tokyo. And in 1990, she became the first Japanese singer to take the stage at the Paris l’Olympia theater.

Former J-Pop Star in Mistress Fraud
Former J-pop singer Uehara Azumi (26) has become involved in organized fraud, according to today’s issue of the weekly “Shuukan Bunshun” magazine. The story reports that a crime group swindled several men out of about 6yen;20 million through so-called “aijin keiyaku” (mistress contracts) using Uehara as the bait. In one case, she maintained a relationship, mostly through online contact, with a married man and received ¥2.5 million. The magazine says the relationship was consummated only once, following which Uehara cut off all contact with the man.

Uehara found overnight success as a 17-year-old when her debut single was used as the ending theme to the “Meitantei Conan” anime series. She went on to release 8 singles and 2 albums, but is said to have been emotionally unstable. She hadn’t worked as a singer since the October 2006 release of her second album. Uehara’s management agency said they had been unable to contact her, but they terminated her contract on Monday.

Actor Watanabe Ken (50) was joined by his new BFF, Hollywood superstar Leonardo Dicaprio (35), in Tokyo yesterday at the local premiere of Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi blockbuster “Inception.” About 2,00 fans turned out for the event, held at the Roppongi Hills Arena in the center of the capital. It’s only been a few months since “Leo-sama” was here promoting “Shutter Island,” and the climax of Inception was filmed here last year.

As he has been doing at all events for the latest movie, Dicaprio referred to Watanabe as a Japanese “treasure.” The local boy demured, saying, “It’s not just me. This movie is like the World Cup, with treasures from many different countries.” The movie, which has a diverse international cast, opens in theaters here on July 23.

Johnny’s Jimusho (profile) aidoru group KAT-TUN were minus one member as they kicked off their Asia concert tour (boldly titled “World Tour 2010”) last weekend. Kamenashi Kazuya (24, photo 3rd from right) apologized to fans before the show at Tokyo Dome for the absence of Akanishi Jin (26, photo 3rd from left), who has decided to leave the group and focus on his solo career in the U.S. He said he hadn’t heard anything from his band mate and didn’t even know if he was currently in Japan. The five remaining members performed 34 songs, including their new release, “Going.” The group will perform their first ever overseas concerts in Seoul, South Korea and Taipei, Taiwan, next month.

Akanishi later posted a message on the Johnny’s members website, saying that the main reason he left the group was a “strong difference in musical direction,” rather than any personal problems with the other members.

Director Edagawa Dies at 93
Movie director Edagawa Hiromu died last week at a Tokyo hospital, it was announced on Tuesday. He was 93. He was best known for his comedy movies of the 1950s and 60s, such as “Koi to Kane” and “Salaryman Dontobushi.”

Rock singer Tamaki Koji (51) and talento Aota Noriko (42) got married last Friday. The couple registered their marriage on Friday in Tamaki’s hometown of Asahikawa in Hokkaido. The following day they flew back to Tokyo, where they are living in a plush high-rise apartment building in the Nishi-Shinjuku district.

It’s just two months since their relationship first grabbed the headlines, though it was later revealed that they had dated as long ago as 1989. They broke up shortly before Aota had her showbiz breakthrough as a member of the pin-up group C.C. Girls. The marriage is Aota’s second, while it’s the fifth time around for Tamaki if you include his bizarre relationship and brief marriage with actress Ishihara Mari (46).

Tamaki is currently on tour of Japan and Asia with his band Anzen Chitai. Though Aota’s management has been against the relationship, and especially Tamaki’s frank talk to the media about their sex life, she has put her own career on hold and has been traveling with him on tour. They arrived here in Nagoya yesterday for two shows, and when asked about their plans for children (he has none), Tamaki said, “During the tour, we’ll get right to it!” The tour ends at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on October 6.
Related stories:
Tamaki Koji, Ishihara Mariko Together At Last (Feb. 26, 2009)

Japan Fans Say Sayonara to Korean Star
In a rare case for an overseas celebrity, over 14,000 fans of the late South Korean star Park Yong Ha turned out for a memorial service in Tokyo yesterday. The actor and singer committed suicide at his Seoul home at the end of June. The event was held at the Tokyo International Forum in the center of the capital, the same day and venue where Park had been scheduled to perform in concert. Park’s mother, sister and brother-in-law were in attendance as fans, many of them in tears, brought bouquets of flowers.
Related stories:
Korean Star Park in Apparent Suicide (Jun. 30, 2010)

Visual-kei rock musician Daisuke was found dead yesterday at his Tokyo home, the Sankei Sports newspaper reported today. He was 31. Police from the Yoyogi station are investigating the cause of death. A source revealed that Daisuke attended a meeting the night before and complained that he was unable to sleep.

In 1999 Daisuke was a founding member and vocalist of the rock band Kagerou (photo left), who had a minor hit in 2005 with their catchily-titled 12th single, “Kusatta Umide Oborekaketeru Boku wo Sukutekureta Kimi.” The single was used as the theme for the NTV show “Music Fighter” and topped the Oricon indies chart. The band broke up in 2007 and the singer was recently pursuing a solo project with the band Daisuke to Kurono Injatachi (Daisuke and the Black Hermits). Their second single is due for release edmeds24.com.

99’s Okamura Takes Extended Break
Popular comedian Okamura Takashi (40, photo right) is taking an indefinite leave of absence, according to his management at Yoshimoto Creative Agency. The extended break is said to be for as yet unspecified health reasons. His comedy partner Yabe Hiroyuki (38) will carry on working solo for the time being.

One half of the duo Ninety Nine, the diminutive Okamura is one of those celebrities who seems to always be on TV. His health problem is said to have started in mid-May and a one-man theatrical show scheduled for June and July was postponed. He continued doing some TV work but it was decided that he needed a complete break. He has been undergoing tests at a hospital since July 12. A Yoshimoto spokesperson said, “We are waiting to hear more about what exactly his condition is. He seems fine but is suffering from fatigue.” Okamura’s last appearance was on the “All Night Nippon” radio show on July 8.

Leonardo Dicaprio reckons that his “Inception” co-star Watanabe Ken should be made a national treasure in his homeland. The words of praise were among many thrown around as the latest Christopher Nolan-directed blockbuster premiered yesterday in Los Angeles. Dicaprio (35, photo right) and Watanabe (50, photo center) do not play friends in the dreams-meet-reality world of the science fiction movie, but off-screen the camaraderie between them, Nolan and the other cast members was clear to see. Leo said of his Japanese co-star, “He’s an unbelievably talented actor. He should be a national treasure in Japan.” Also at the Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood was Watanabe’s wife, actress Minami Kaho (46), and international cast members including Canadian actress Ellen Page (photo center), French actress Marion Cotillard, and Irishman Cillian Murphy. The movie’s soundtrack was written by Hans Zimmer, who gave a dramatic 25-minute performance of music from the film with musicians including guitarist Johnny Marr. The movie is scheduled to open in Japanese theaters on July 23, though Watanabe will be back home to greet audiences at previews this weekend.
Related stories:
Inception Hijacks Japan (Jul. 8, 2010)
New Poster Featuring Leo, Ken (Jun. 21, 2010)

Apologies for a Public Kiss
Actress Kitano Kii (19) has apologized on her blog for the recently published magazine story about her hotel stay with actor Sano Kazuma (21). She wrote, “I apologize sincerely for doing such a frivolous thing.” She added that she was sorry for “surprising and hurting” her fans and that she would focus seriously on her work from now on. The two were photographed kissing on the street and going to a hotel in Tokyo.
Related stories:
Romance for Kitano Kii, Sano Kazuma (Jul. 9, 2010)