Latest News from Japan Zone & Japan Store

The apartment of Shiina Junpei (photo, 29), elder brother of singer Shiina Ringo (25), was destroyed Monday in a fire started by his wife’s cooking. Junpei, also a singer who recently recorded a duet with Shinohara Ryoko, was sleeping in his room when the fire broke out. He escaped without injury, while his wife – who had been cooking tempura – suffered from minor smoke inhalation.

• Singer Chiba Maria (55) attended a PR event yesterday to promote her new book, “Baka demo ii sa” (It’s Alright to be Stupid). She was accompanied by her sons Kotaro (34) and Masashi (19). Masashi was born following an affair with popular actor Matsukata Hiroki (61), something Chiba writes explicitly about in her book. She also talks about the sexual abuse she received as a child. When asked if he planned to follow his old man into show business, Masashi said “It would be cool if I were as popular with the ladies as he is. But the chances of that are, what, 2%?”

• TBS presenter Komada Kengo (30) announced that is to marry former sports presenter Takahashi Shiho (25) in early May. The 173cm model-like Takahashi retired from TBS in 2002.

Hamasaki Ayumi (25) wrapped up her national tour with a show at the National Stadium No.1 Gymnasium in Yoyogi, Tokyo on Sunday. The “Arena Tour 2003-2004” took in 12 venues and 31 shows, and was attended by a total of 230,000 fans. The media saw this as a huge number, which together with the elaborate staging had them crowning her “Queen of J-pop”. But her recent failure to dominate the charts as she did a couple of years back suggests that the title more rightly belongs to Utada Hikaru (21). This week, Utada became the first artist in 16 years to reach No.1 in both the single and album charts with titles not released on the same day (Ayu achieved the feat in 2000 and 2001 for same-day releases). Her “Single Collection” album is in its 3rd week in the top spot. The single is the title track of her husband’s movie-directing debut, “Casshern”.

• TV personality Kawashima Amiru (26) is pregnant with her second child. She is the daughter of the late singer Kawashima Eigo, who died in 2001 at the age of 48. The pregnancy was announced during a charity concert held to support those affected by the Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake of 1995. It was the tenth and final concert in a series started in 1995 by the late singer.

“Lovers” (English title “Flying Daggers”), the new movie starring Kaneshiro Takeshi (30), has received a special invitation to be shown at the 57th Cannes Movie Festival. Directed by Zhang Yimou, the action-romance also stars Andy Lau (42) and Zhang Ziyi (25), all major Asian movie names. Yimou’s previous movie “Hero” grossed ¥4 billion at the Japanese box office, so hopes are high for the new film. It is scheduled for release here on August 28.

Popular TV presenter Tamari Kaoru (42) is six months pregnant. A graduate of a medical university, she started as a TV commercial model before becoming a presenter on the “Yajiuma Wide” and “Tonight” shows on ANB. She’s also an expert on wine and works as a DJ and columnist. She married a dentist five years younger than her in 2002.

• British actor Jude Law, in town to promote “Cold Mountain”, says he’s a big fan of Kitano Takeshi’s movies and would love to work with him. “But he probably wouldn’t want to cast me!” he added with a smile.

Electronics maker Panasonic have put up a huge billboard of J-pop star Hamasaki Ayumi (26) in the center of teen mecca Shibuya. The ad for the latest MD player featues an extreme black and white close up and the ad copy – “Eye Love Music”. It measures more than 12 meters by 8 meters and is located on the trendy 109 building, which faces the famous Hachiko intersection. The billboard will be in place for two weeks.

• Songwriter Nakano Masahito (34) has been arrested for involvement in teenage prostitution. He has admitted paying ¥30,000 for sex with a 16-year old girl he met through a “deai-kei” (dating) website. Nakano is known as the man behind the hits by major artists, including Skoop On Somebody, Misia, and several by Hirai Ken.

Pop singer Suzuki Ami (22) has finally made her long-awaited comeback. Hugely popular at the end of the 1990s, Amigo’s career took a long slide due to legal wrangles and a court case with her record company. There have several attempts at a comeback, but until now they’ve all ended in disagreement, usually over money, and she has been on a hiatus since the spring of 2001. Her new CD “Tsuyoi Kizuna” (Strong Ties) was released yesterday by publishing company Bungeishunju. as it will be distributed as a publishing product, it will not be ranked in the Oricon charts. At a press conference, she said, “It’s been so long. I feel like I could jump into space, I’m so happy!” She also denied rumors of a romance with singer and actor Takizawa Hideaki (22).

Horror movie director Nakata Hideo (42) is said to be a strong contender to get the megaphone for the upcoming Hollywood remake of “The Ring 2”, the sequel to the 2002 hit based on Nakata’s original. If he does, he will follow in the footsteps of Shimizu Takashi, who is working on the Hollywood version of the 2002 horror flick “Juon” (The Grudge), set for US release this autumn and starring Sarah Michelle Gellar. “Carrie” star Sissy Spacek (53) has been named as one possible member of the cast of “The Ring 2”. Filming is due to begin as early as next month.

Actress Seto Asaka (photo, 27) and actor Hakamada Yoshihiko (30) have split up. The two met in spring of last year while on location together for the first time in nine years and started going out at that time. They were spotted out on dates several times over the last year. But they have been unable to reconcile their busy working schedules and decided to make the split.

• The latest album by Utada Hikaru (21) has set a new record. It is the first time the first four albums by an artist have all become double million sellers. “Single Collection” is currently top of the Oricon charts. Utada recently appeared in public with her husband for the first time. She accompanied Kiriya Kazuaki (36) to the premiere of “Casshern”, his movie-directing debut. Meanwhile, the top-selling single, “Aja” by Southern All Stars, is their 38th Top 10 hit, tying them for the record with Tahara Toshihiko.

Kajiwara Yuta (photo right, 23) of the manzai comedy duo King Kong, has divorced after just 13 months of marriage, it was announced by the Yoshimoto agency. He met his wife early last year while on a break from work due to stress. In October of last year, Kajiwara was caught leaving a hotel with pin-up girl Fujikawa Nozomi (21). He and his partner Nishino Akihiro (23) formed the duo in 1999 and have become rising stars over the last couple of years.

• Rakugo comedian Katsura Kinshi (53) has made good on his promise to marry if the Hanshin Tigers won the Central league last season. It was announced yesterday that he and Shimoma Asami (29) held a wedding ceremony on her birthday last week. She is four months pregnant, while Katsura has two children in their 20s from a previous marriage.

Recently divorced actress Sugimoto Aya (35) has released a new collection of essays with a title that translates as “Orgasm Life: My Declaration of Emancipation”. She also announced that she will soon publish her third erotic novel, “Lost Virgin”, whose storyline of a divorced actress sounds all too familiar. The self-confessed sex fiend has built a reputation as a seductress and woman with a healthy “appetite”. She says the new book is based 80% on her own experiences.

• Manga artist Yokoyama Mitsuteru died recently in a Tokyo hospital after a fire at his home, said to have been caused by his smoking in bed. He was 69. Yokoyama is known as the creator of such popular manga and TV anime series as “Testujin 28-go” (Robot #28) and “Mahou Tsukai Sally” (Sally the Witch).