Latest News from Japan Zone & Japan Store

Former baseball star Sasaki Kazuhiro (37) and his second wife, talento Enamoto Kanako (25), made their first public appearance together on Thursday. The former Yokohama Bay Stars and Seattle Mariners star pitcher caused quite a media storm last year when he was thought to have dumped his wife, former talento Shimizu Kaori, and the mother of his two kids for Enamoto, considered a “high maintenance” type. But Sasaki has custody of the kids and they all attended the Tokyo preview of “The Chronicles of Narnia” together, looking every bit the happy family. Sasaki, known to fans as “Daimajin” and who now works as a baseball analyst for TBS, admitted that appearing together in public made him uncomfortable, but added that if they didn’t do so occasionally, the weekly tabloids would start writing divorce rumors again. On a recent TV appearance with fortune-teller Hosoki Kazuko, Sasaki described how basically his former wife had been the one to walk out, leaving him to – as he put it in typical Japanese style – “make their lunchboxes every morning.”

• The latest issue of the weekly magazine Friday reports that rotund comedian Yamamoto Keiichi (37) and model/talento Osawa Akane (20) are romantically involved. Yamamoto is one half of popular comedy duo Gokuraku Tombo, while Ohsawa is the grand-daughter of Ohsawa Keiji, manager of the Nippon Ham Fighters baseball team. The unlikely romance is said to have started last October. Her agency describe Yamamoto as “just a friend, like a big brother.”

Police have filed papers with the Tokyo District Court on talento Bobby Ologun (39). The decision was made after they failed to resolve exactly what happened and who did what to whom during a brawl at his management agency in January. At the time, Ologun turned up at the Shibuya agency to dispute payments with R&A Promotions boss, Ito Kazuyuki (55). When Ito refused to meet with him, Ologun – a burly K-1 fighter – started trashing the office and got into a fist fight with 2.1m-tall John Muwete Muluaka (44), a fellow talento from Congo. The pair later appeared at a press conference and tried to patch things up. But when repeated questioning by police failed to resolve conflicts in their versions of events, it was decided to try and settle the matter in court. Talento Thane Camus (35), formerly with the same agency, offered encouragement for his friend at the opening of a new bar in central Tokyo yesterday. Camus himself is currently in a dispute with R&A after he left the agency to set up his own.

• Talento Niiyama Chiharu (25) is five months pregnant. She married Yomiuri Giants infielder Kuroda Satoshi (31) in December 2004. Kuroda is currently at the Giants’ spring training camp in Miyazaki Prefecture.

• Actress Matsushima Nanako (32) has been named to the cast of “Inugamike no Ichizoku”, a remake of the 1976 hit movie. It will be her first movie role in six years. The movie has the same lead actor, Ishizaka Koji (64), and director, Ichikawa Kon (90), as the original. Ishizaka will again play Yokomizo Seishi’s famous detective creation Kindaichi Kosuke.

Okinawan six-member hard rock band High and Mighty Color are to make their US debut, and in record time. The band’s first album “Goover”, which went on sale here in September of last year and entered the Oricon chart at No.2, will be released in the States on March 21. Shortly afterwards, they will release their second album in Japan, “Gouon Progressive”, on April 4. The US-market release of Goover comes just fourteen months after they made their major-label debut here in Japan, a new record. Much of the band’s success and popularity comes from the use of their song “Pride” as the theme for the anime series “Kidou Senshi Gundam – Seed Destiny”, which will air in the US from April. To coincide with this, on April 28 they will play about 10 songs at the Shiokaze Con anime convention in Houston (April 28-30). Haikara, as they are known to fans, will play Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka before heading to the US, and another ten shows after they get back. The band, labelmates of fellow Okinawan band Orange Range, is made up of five guys in their early 20s and vocalist Maaki (18), who said she couldn’t believe it when she heard of their US debut. The only band member with decent English ability is said to be guitarist Meg (21).

• Also looking forward to her US debut is musician Uno Misako (19), though she is heading for Tinseltown. A member of the pop group AAA, which won a Best Newcomer award last year, Uno is making her acting debut in the Hollywood remake of “Juon 2”, entitled “The Grudge 2”. With her good English and acting abilities, she was chosen by director Shimizu Takashi and producer Ichise Takashige to play the role of Miyuki, a cursed student at an international high school. She will play alongside Sara Michelle Gellar, who continues her role from the first film. Filming in Japan began on February 13. AAA (Triple A) is with the Avex record label and made of five guys and three girls.

• Hollywood actress Natalie Portman (24) is in town for the first time in six years. Arriving at Narita Airport yesterday in jeans and a sweater, she looked none the worse for her long flight from London. She’s here to promote “V for Vendetta”, the latest movie from the Wachowski brothers, makers of the “Matrix” trilogy. She’s scheduled to hold a press conference in Tokyo today.

Popular actor Yamada Takayuki (photo, 22) is the father of an illegitimate child, it was revealed this week. The star of the current TBS drama “Byaku Yakou” and the 2003 Fuji TV hit “Waterboys” became a father last October. The 22-year-old mother of the “kakushigo” (hidden child) is said to be raising the baby at her family home. Yamada is providing full financial support for the child.

• The Johnny’s Jimusho management agency is planning to sue women’s weekly magazine Shuukan Josei for libel. The magazine published an article in its February 14 issue claiming that Kat-Tun member Kamenashi Kazuya (19) was photographed drinking beer though he is under the legal age of 20. Johnnys claim that the photo was taken by his uncle in 2003 at a relative’s house, and that the beer was his grandfather’s. The uncle took the photo with his mobile phone and sent it to a friend, who still has the original file. The magazine article comes at a sensitive time, as two young members of Johnnys group News have been in trouble for drinking in the past year.

• Talento Mister Chin (42) is to marry a beautiful 27-year-old company employee. The former member of comedy trio B-21 Special and his new bride, who is ten weeks pregnant, will hold a wedding ceremony in Tokyo on May 20. Real name Miyake Yasutoshi, Chin formed B-21 in 1986 with Hiromi (41) and David Itoh (39), both of whom are still active on the variety show circuit. Hiromi married former idol singer Matsumoto Iyo in 1993 and Itoh married in 2003.

Two big names announced to play at the Nippon Budokan during the coming year. British band Coldplay, riding the global success of their latest album “X&Y”, will have their first solo gigs in Japan in August. The band, whose three albums have sold over 25 million copies to date, played the SummerSonic festival shortly after their debut in 2000 and have also played the Fuji Rock festival twice. The dates confirmed for this year are July 18 & 19, but more may be announced later. Vocalist Chris Martin said, “Japanese fans are different than anywhere else. They’re so polite that we can concentrate on the music and give our best. So we want to play more than two dates. I’d like to play Osaka.” Tickets are due to go on sale on April 1 from Smash.

• Local boy Kondo Masahiko (photo, 41) played the Budokan yesterday for the first time in 22 years. Celebrating his 25th year in the business, the veteran Johnny’s Jimusho star has been making something of a comeback recently after pursuing a career as a racing driver. He also announced yesterday that he will star in his first TV drama role in 8 years in the autumn, and play the Budokan again on Valentine’s Day, 2007.

Anyone who enjoyed last year’s popular school drama “Jo no Kyoshitsu” (Queen’s Classroom) on NTV will want to catch a special coming up next month. Over two nights (March 18-19), the special will reveal how the main character, “demon” teacher Akutsu Maya (played by former Takarazuka star Amami Yuki, 38), developed her strict and cynical style. The drama and the teacher who almost terrorized her pupils became a talking point and achieved high audience ratings when it aired between July and September. The final episode pulled in a rating of 25.3% and the show’s official website had almost 12 million hits over two days. The March special is at least in part a result of tens of thousands of posts on the website’s BBS from fans wanting to know more about the story and its background.

• The father of iconic folk singer Matsutoya Yumi (52) died of multiple organ failure on February 2, it was revealed yesterday. He was 93. Always the consumate professional, “Yuming” completed her series of 10 shows at the ski resort of Naeba in Niigata Prefecture, which ran until February 13.

• Poster girl violinist Kawai Ikuko (38) is expecting her first child. She married a 40-year old university professor and graduate of Tokyo University medical school last November. She is expecting the baby in mid-June and plans to be back at work promoting a new album in September.

• Guitarist Hotei Tomoyasu (44) has published his autobiography. In it he reveals for the first time that his father is Korean, as well as talking about life with his wife, actress Imai Miki (42). In his 25th year in showbiz, he looks back at his career in the hugely popular 80s rock band Boowy, the divorce of his parents, and the death of his father-in-law. meanwhile, Imai has done her first anime character recording in 15 years for the fantasy movie “Brave Story”. The movie features a stellar cast of voices, including Matsu Takako, Itoh Shiro, Tokiwa Takako and Takahashi Katsumi.

Pop duo Pink Lady are to include their first single release, from all of 32 years ago, on a box-set to commemorate their 30th anniversary as pros. The song “Koi no Lessun” (Love Lesson) was recorded in 1974 when high school friends Mii and Kei called themselves “Cookie”. The single was only sold in record stores in the Tokai region. It was another two years before the pair, now known as Pink Lady, won the NTV audition show “Sutaa Tanjo” (A Star is Born) and became overnight stars with the single “Peppaa Keibu” (Sergeant Pepper). They went on to spend several years at the top of the showbiz world, bringing in as much as ¥30 billion yen a year. They faded away in the mid-80s only to rsurface in a revival tour last year. The new Platinum Box, which goes on sale March 24, includes 22 a-sides, NHK TV appearances and a host of other rare material on 4 CDs and 2 DVDs.

• Popular freelance announcer Shindo Masako (34) has tied the knot with pro golfer Fukabori Keiichiro (37). The recent wedding of Fukabori, described as the “prince” of the Japanese golfing world, and the former TBS sportscaster was announced on their respective official websites on Friday. Fukabori left for California soon after the marriage had been registered to take part in the Nissan Open at the Riviera Country Club. The couple met during a magazine interview in 1998 and are said to have broken up twice before finally taking the plunge. In February of last year, Shindo had to deny media rumors of an impending marriage with the elder brother of popular actress Matsushima Nanako. Fukabori ranked third in last year’s money rankings.

Popular idol singer Kago Ai has been suspended by her agency for underage smoking. The idol was not named in some media reports as she is still a minor, but was described as an 18-year-old represented by Upfront Agency, which handles Morning Musume among others. Kago is a former MM member who is now one half of the duo W. Her scheduled appearances in TV shows and concerts have been cancelled until further notice. The singer, who turned 18 on February 7, was spotted smoking in a restaurant in the Ebisu area of Tokyo by photographers from the weekly gossip magazine Friday. The agency issued an apology, saying the behavior was inexcusable. The legal age for smoking and drinking is 20.

• Rock band Glay recently performed live for the first time in almost a year. They played for 13,000 fans at the Nippon Budokan, which was surrounded by hundreds more fans without tickets. “Dafuya” ticket touts were selling arena tickets for up to ¥70,000. Vocalist Teru (34) told fans that they can expect some new material in the autumn.

The latest romance rumor about actor Tsutsumi Shinichi (41) has him involved with actress Koyuki (29). The pair co-starred in the recent hit “Always – 3-chome no Yuhi” and the latest issue of women’s magazine Shuukan Josei says that romance started on the set. Koyuki’s management agency have said that the pair are “100% not having a relationship”, but such official denials are standard. Koyuki, who made her Hollywood debut in the 2003 Tom Cruise hit “The Last Samurai”, went to see Tsutsumi perform on stage last October, and the following month revealed that her relationship with actor Sakaguchi Kenji (30) had ended during the summer. Ironically, it was divorcee Matsuyuki Yasuko (33) Tsutsumi’s co-star in that stage production, that was rumored to be his most recent love interest. They were spotted holding hands while on date in Kyoto and Osaka at the beginning of the year. In recent years, Tsutsumi – who bears a strong resemblance to Jet Li – has been romantically involved with actress Suzuki Kyoka (37), and after he broke up with her, was linked with actress Takeuchi Yuko (26), who married kabuki actor Nakamura Shido (33) last summer.

• Actress Miyazawa Rie (32) has denied rumours of a split with jewellery designer Mikita Takuji (32). Appearing in Tokyo at a PR event for the movie “Hana Yorimo Naho”, due for release in June, she showed off a sparkling ring and said the rumours were untrue.

• Over in the US, the big winners at the Grammies were my boys U2. They took the big two awards, Best Album and Best Song as well as Best Rock Band, Song and Album. The lads from Dublin will be here in April to play one show at the Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, and of course Japan Zone will be there! Back at the Grammies, Mariah Carey wasn’t a complete washout this time, taking three of the eight awards she was nominated for, but all in the R&B categories. Local boy Kitaro was nominated but failed to win for Best New Age Album. He took that award in 2001.

Talento Bobby Ologun (39) is to be punished by his management agency for his recent outburst. The Nigerian K-1 fighter started a fight at the office of R&A Promotions on January 26, after a dispute over his salary. Agency boss Ito Kazuyuki (55) claimed that Ologun and his Bangladeshi manager have been directly pocketing appearance fees to the tune of ¥10-15 million, in breach of a contract that splits fees 50-50 between the agency and employees. Ologun got into a fight with the 2.1m tall John Muwete Muluaka (44), a fellow talento from Congo and former assistant to politician Suzuki Muneo. The two appeared together at a press conference several days later, with Ologun looking suitably tearful and repentant and Muluaka making the lame excuse that these kinds of things “happen a lot in Africa.” Ito announced yesterday that Ologun will not be allowed to work until the end of March. Until April, the only shows to be aired featuring him will be those recorded before the incident. he will also be visiting the local police station again soon for further questioning on the matter.

• Composer Ifukubei Akira has died of multiple organ failure at a Tokyo hospital. He was 91. he was best known as the composer of the music for the original Godzilla movies, but also wrote scores for the “Daikmajin” and “Zatoichi” series. In 2003, he was recognized by the government as a person who has made outstanding cultural contributions.

• Hip hop unit Def Tech are going global later this year. The duo performed at a PR event yesterday for Sony Ericsson’s latest keitai (mobile phone) model. They announced that will play their first national tour during the summer, including two dates at the venerable Nippon Budokan, before embarking on a world tour that will take in Asia and Europe and may also include dates in the US.