Latest News from Japan Zone & Japan Store

During the week, the ex-husband of TV personality Umemiya Anna was given a suspended two-year sentence for running an illegal gambling operation. Chiba Takashi (34), listed as unemployed, is said to have made about ¥72 million profit in just three months from the baccarat club in Roppongi. The couple married in 2002, when Umemiya was already several months pregnant. The publicity-hungry and spoiled daughter of actor Umemiya Tatsuo, proudly showed off her expensive engagement ring, but with her equally expensive lifestyle and her new husband’s dubious resume, the marriage was never going to last. In fact, it lasted less than two years. They had a daughter, who now lives with her mother.

• On the subject of shotgun weddings, F-cup pin-up girl Kitagawa Tomomi (25) has announced that she married a 23-year old company employee during the summer and is expecting his baby in January.

Topping Video Research’s latest survey of the most popular TV “talento” are comedian Akashiya Sanma and actress Takeuchi Yuko. The results are released twice a year. Sanma topped the male category for the fourth time in a row. Second was Southern All Stars vocalist Kuwata Keisuke (up from 6th), followed by rotund comedian Ishizuka Hidehiko (of Debuya and “maiuu” fame, up from 5th). In the female category, comedienne Hisamoto Masami moved up from 5th to 2nd, relegating actress Yamaguchi Tomoko to 3rd.

• Repercussions are still being felt from the Shimada Shinsuke assault case (see earlier stories). His original 10-day forced leave of absence has been extended by the Yoshimoto agency and his emcee role on several TV shows have been filled by other Yoshimoto regulars. The comedian was not arrested, as it was not felt that he was likely to do a runner, but documents were sent to the public prosecutor and the case is likely to go to court.

The 1977 TBS drama series “Fuyu no Undokai” (Winter Sports Meet), written by the popular Mukoda Kuniko, is to be revived as a 3-hour special on NTV in the New Year. The updated version will star Okada Junichi (23) of the Johnny’s pop group V6 and popular actress Hasegawa Kyoko (26). It will be broadcast from 9pm on January 4.

• Another Johnny’s act, Tackey and Tsubasa are currently at #3 in the Oricon singles chart with “Serenade.” At #1 is T.M. Revolution with “Ignited”, the opening theme from the anime series “Gundam Seed Destiny”; hip hop unit Orange Range are right behind with “Hana”; Morning Musume are at #4 with “Namida ga Tomaranai Hokago” and Dreams Come True fill out the top five with “Love Letter.”

Today is the Bunka no Hi (Culture Day) national holiday

Pop duo Kinki Kids are to release their 20th single – “Anniversary,” and a greatest hits album on December 8. They’ve sold over 20 million singles to date, and every one they’ve released since their debut in 1997 has gone to No.1 in the Oricon charts, a feat recorded in the Guinness Book of Records.

• Singer Matsuura Aya (18) has been chosen as the 2004 TV Commercial Queen. She was chosen at the 44th ACC CM Festival for her dancing performance in the Pritz commercials. The sponsor, Ezaki Glico – which also makes the Pocky series of snacks – is one of six companies she has represented this year.

• The Yoshimoto employee who recently filed assault charges against comedian Shimada Shinsuke (48) has said that his recent tearful apology on national TV only caused her more pain. Through her lawyers she said she won’t accept his apology and will take the matter to court.

At the 17th Tokyo International Film Festival, the Grand Prix and $100,000 prize went to “Whiskey” by Uruguayan directors Juan Pablo Rebella and Pablo Stoll. The festival’s website describes the 94-minute, Spanish-language movie about a trip by a widower, his employee with whom he pretends to be married and her brother as a “heartwarming film.” The inaugural Kurosawa Akira Award went to Steven Spielberg (56), a longtime fan of the legendary director, and Yamada Yoji (photo, 73), himself a master film-maker. Both served as judges at the festival.

• Rakugo performer Shunpuutei Ryuukyou died of cancer at a Tokyo hospital on Sunday. He was 69.

• TV personality Katsumata Shukazu (39) revealed on the TBS “Akko ni Omakase” show at the weekend that he recently became a father. The former boy band member married a former flight attendant in 2002. Their baby daughter was born on October 25.

Newly designed banknotes for ¥10,000, ¥5,000 and ¥1,000 will go into circulation today – the first redesigns in 20 years. The banknotes are produced with the world’s most advanced printing technologies in order to prevent counterfeiting, which has been rising sharply in Japan in recent years. The ¥1,000 note features the image of Noguchi Hideyo, an internationally renowned bacteriologist (1876-1928). The ¥5,000 note has the image of Higuchi Ichiyo, a female novelist and poet (1872-96). She is the subject of a new TBS drama series starting tonight, with Uchiyama Rina (photo, 22) in the title role. The ¥10,000 banknote has been redeisgned but keeps the image of Fukuzawa Yukichi (1835-1901), an educator during the Meiji era known as the founder of Keio University.

• Kataoka Sennosuke made his stage performance at the weekend – at the tender age of 4. The son of onnagata (actor who plays female roles) Kataoka Kotaro (36) and grandson of tachiyaku (male role specialist) Kataoka Nizaemon (60) showed no signs of nerves during his first appearance at the famous Kabukiza theater in Tokyo’s Ginza.

The buildup has already started to this year’s Kohaku Utagassen. The NHK New Year’s Eve song spectacular has seen dwindling audience figures in recent years and the broadcaster is having a harder time than in the past attracting top stars. NHK carried out its annual poll of who people want to see in the lineup: topping the list of male stars was young enka singer Hikawa Kiyoshi (27), followed by SMAP, a couple more enka celebs – 40-time veteran Kitajima Saburo (68) and 33-timer Itsuki Hiroshi (53) – and soul balladeer Hirai Ken (32). The top female star was Tendo Yoshimi (49). In 2nd and 3rd were a couple of younger popsters, Utada Hikaru (21) and Shibasaki Kou (23), neither of whom have appeared on Kohaku. After them came enka singer Sakamoto Fuyumi (37) and pop diva Hamasaki Ayumi (26), who has been on 5 times.

• “Casshern,” the directorial debut by Kiriya Kazuaki (36), is to be shown at U.S. cinemas through major studio Dream Works. The news follows the recent U.S. debut of Kiriya’s wife, Utada Hikaru (21), who sings the movie’s title track.

• Kabuki actor Nakamura Jakuemon (84) is one of five people to receive the Order of Cultural Merit this year. Among 15 others commended for their contribution to culture were movie director Yamada Yoji (73) and theatrical director Ninogawa Yukio (69). Yamada was known for years as the director of the long-running “Otoko wa Tsurai Yo” movie series. But in the last couple of years he has made a very successful switch to period, samurai dramas.

Comedian Shimada Shinsuke (48) gave an emotional press conference on Friday to apologize publicly to the Yoshimoto staff member who filed assault charges against him. He admitted that he had been 100% in the wrong and renounced claims made by some that she had been rude and “asking for it”. He said he had considered retiring from show business but had been talked out of it by his “sempai” (senior) Kamioka Ryutaro. As someone who has lived abroad and clearly has a strong personality, the 40-year old woman was brave enough to stand up to the star and behaviour that no doubt is common in the business. Comedians in particular regularly slap each other, though the woman’s version of last week’s incident was considerably more violent than Shimada’s. Still, his tearful apology has been made, he has given a suitably remorseful performance, he has been given 10 days house arrest, and he hosts 8 different TV shows, so the matter will probably be laid to rest.

One of Japan’s top baseball stars made a pitch of a whole different kind today. Seibu Lions star pitcher Matsuzaka Daisuke (24) and NTV announcer Shibata Tomoyo (29) held a press conference at a plush Tokyo hotel this afternoon to anounce their engagement. The couple have not tried to keep their 4-year relationship a secret, but the announcement is big news nonetheless. It comes shortly after Matsuzaka helped the Lions become Japan Series champion for the first time in 12 years. He also helped Japan win the bronze medal at the recent Olympics. The engagement follows a trend of star baseball players marrying TV announcers – other examples include the country’s top catcher Furuta Atsuya and Nakai Miho, L.A. Dodgers pitcher Ishii Kazuhisa and Kisa Ayako, and Mariners star Ichiro and Fukushima Yumiko.

Comedian and variety show host Shimada Shinsuke (48) has been questioned by police after assaulting a female member of staff during the recording of a TV show. One of the biggest names in the huge Yoshimoto comedy empire, Shimada was a shadow of his boisterous self when reporters tried to interview him on his arrival in Tokyo on Wednesday night. He has 8 regular TV shows, but some have already been affected by the case. This weekend’s recording of the TBS show “Bari Bari Value” has been postponed, for example. It seems that a 40-year old woman filed charges for assault on October 25 following an incident during the recording of an ABC TV show in Shimada’s hometown of Osaka. The woman is not a regular Yoshimoto manager and Shimada is said to have flown off the handle at her “attitude.” Sources say she has worked abroad and is “strong willed,” a comment that wouldn’t be made about a male employee.