Latest News from Japan Zone & Japan Store

Movie director Kitano “Beat” Takeshi (56) became the first Japanese to be awarded the “Silver Camera” award at an event connected with the Venice Film Festival. He received the award at the “Open 2003” event, in just its third year, based on the film’s technical merit. Kitano’s latest movie “Zatoichi” is in competition for the prestigious Golden Lion, which the actor/director/comedian previously won in 1997 (photo). The role of Zatoichi – the blind masseur who is also a master swordsman – was immortalized on TV and the big screen by the late actor Katsu Shintaro.

Rumours persist of a relationship between TV personality Shiraishi Miho (25) and popular actor/singer Fukuyama Masaharu (photo, 35). At an event to launch a new Pioneer DVD player, Shiraishi refused to answer questions on the issue. Sources say that the pair may have already split up.

• The first ever “Good Ager Awards” went to actress Nakamura Tamao (64), who always goes to bed at 10pm, and Miura Yuichiro (70), who recently became the oldest man ever to climb Mt Everest.

It was announced this week that former TV personality Hozumi Yukari (35) died of heart failure last month. She was 35. A true wild child, she was best known as a model for the heroine of her father’s semi-autobiographical book “Tsumiki Kuzushi.” The bestselling novel about the internal battles of a family was also a hugely popular TV series in 1983. It was one of the first serious examinations of the problem of teenage drugs and violence. Her father, actor Hozumi Takanobu (72), spoke of the grief following his daughter’s untimely death saying “Her life was too short. I feel as if I killed her myself.”

Film director/actor/comedian Kitano “Beat” Takeshi flew out to the Venice Film Festival on Sunday. His latest film, a remake of the classic ‘chambara’ (sword fight) hero “Zatoichi.” The role was immortalized by the late, great Katsu Shintaro. In the new version, a bleach blonde Kitano stars as well as directs. He hopes to repeat the success of 1997’s “Hanabi,” which won the festival’s Golden Lion award. The winners will be announced on the 7th, Japan time, while Kitano will fly back a day earlier for the Japanese premiere.

Newly weds: Azuma Chizuru (photo, 43), once considered Japan’s most marriageable woman, has finally tied the knot. She married 41-year old casting coordinator Horikawa Yasushi, with whom she’d been going out for 8 years; TV personality Uehara Sakura (27) announced that she had married apparel company owner Endo Noriaki (31) and also that she was 2 months pregnant.

• New arrivals: Kabuki actor and living national treasure Nakamura Tomijuro became the oldest father in showbiz at the ripe old age of 74 when his wife Masae (41) gave birth to a baby girl; TV personality Nishimura Tomomi (32) and her husband, restauranteur and former “talento” Nishio Takumi (36) had their first child, a baby girl whom they’ve named Sasa.

Rumors of trouble in the only recently revealed relationship between TV personality Henmi Emiri (photo, 26) and former J-Leaguer Nakanishi Tetsuo (33). She said on a recent talk show that she has given up on hopes of marriage, and was seen at a movie preview yesterday without the ring he had given her.• Sales of SMAP’s single “Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana” has broken the 2 million copy mark. It is the first time in over three years that a single has reached this figure and a first for SMAP.

Abe Natsumi (21) is the latest to announce her “graduation” from the idol group Morning Musume. At a Hello! Project show in Tokyo, “Nachi” shocked fans with the news that she will leave the group next February. This will leave Iida Kaori (21) as the only surviving original member. Abe will release her debut solo single in late August.

• Rock singer and poseur extraordinaire Yazawa Eikichi (53) made a rare guest appearance at the FM802 Meet the World live event in Osaka yesterday. He sang one song “Love Fighter” and left without so much as a word to the 16,000 audience. His only such outings in recent years have been in 1997 at Wembley Stadium in London alongside Jon Bon Jovi and Rod Stewart, and a tribute to his good self in Japan in 2001. The FM802 event also featured Hirai Ken and Chage & Aska.

Sato Akira (26), better known as Mach25 bassist Shakan Bass, was one of three people arrested for marijuana possession. Sato is the most visible and popualr member of the group, often appearing on TV variety shows. Whereas such an arrest of a rapper in the US would be seen as almost essential for credibility, in Japan it’s portrayed as a betrayal of the group’s fans. The arrests followed investigations into the drug suppliers used by writer Nakajima Ramo (51), who was arrested back in February. Mach25 have been one of Japan’s foremost hip hop groups since their hit last year with “Sons of the Sun.” They are scheduled to play at several events this summer, including the Rock in Japan Festival 2003 on August 1.

Former Osaka governor Yokoyama Nokku (photo, 71) has hinted at a political comeback. The former comedian was given a suspended 18-month sentence in August 2000 for sexually harrassing a student volunteer. With the 3-year suspension period almost up, he may try to make the most of the huge celebrations that will engulf the city after an increasingly likely pennant win by the Hanshin Tigers baseball team.

• Instrumental duo S.E.N.S. are to be the first Japanese to be the opening act for a Major League Baseball game. They will perform before the July 26 NY Mets-Cincinnatti Reds game at Shea Stadium. The duo have won Golden Disk awards twice for Instrumental Album of the Year and their tunes have been used in countless TV shows and commercials. They recorded their new album “The Key” in New York last year, which led to their MLB debut.

Singer Higashiyama Noriyuki (36) plans to carry on his present stage production despite having a broken foot. Performing together with fellow members of the one-time idol trio Shonentai, Higashiyama broke his foot in three places doing one of his acrobatic stunts but finished the show anyway. Following the accident, which happened during the 700th performance of the group’s “Playzone” show, Higashiyama was advised to take a month’s rest but the Johnny’s Jimusho star says he’ll carry on.

• Romances in the rumor mill include TV personality Kozue Rin (23) and Nishina Masaki (21), son of samurai/yakuza actor Matsukata Hiroki; TV personality Yoshikawa Hinano (23) and actor Iseya Yusuke. Yoshikawa was married for 7 months to cross-dressing singer Izam.