Latest News from Japan Zone & Japan Store

Veteran actor Komatsu Hosei died late Friday night after being hospitalized with complications of his diabetes condition. He was 76. Best known for his many supporting roles in almost 200 movies ranging from soft porn to narration of western films, he made his screen debut in 1959. He appeared in several movies by renowned director Oshima Nagisa. He narrated the Ed Asner character in the Japanese TV version of the US series Lou Grant.

There was a large press conference to promote the up-coming movie “Bayside Shakedown 2, Save the Rainbow Bridge.” Attended by most members of the cast, the event was held in the trendy bayside Odaiba area where the movie is set. The star is Oda Yuji (photo, 35), who’s supported by such names as Yanagiba Toshiro (42), Fukatsu Eri (30), and Yusuke Santamaria (32). Absent was veteran actor and former leader of the Drifters comedy group Ikariya Chosuke (71) who is recovering from lymphatic cancer. He is expected to attend when the movie opens on the 19th. The original movie, released in 1998, is still the 3rd biggest Japanese box-office hit, grossing over ¥10 billion. The official web site is here.

A star-studded ceremony was held yesterday to commemorate the anniversary of the death of legendary actor and singer Ishihara Yujiro. The day, as it has been on all previous anniversaries, was rainy (well, it is the rainy season after all). Ishihara and his writer brother Shintaro, now governor of Tokyo, rose to fame in the 1950s. Yujiro became one of the biggest stars of the 20th century, the Japanese equivalent of Elvis, and died in 1987 at the age of 52. His management agency, Ishihara Pro continues to provide some of the top male stars of TV and film. Yesterday’s ceremony was attended by Yujiro’s widow Makiko (69), his brother, and such luminaries as Watari Tetsuya (61), Tate Hiroshi (53) and Tokushige Satoshi (24), chosen as the “21st-century Yujiro.”

Chosen last year in a magazine poll as the variety act most likely to disappear this year, Sanpei (26) talked on a variety show the other night about how close he came to realizing this fate himself. The unassuming and overweight comedian became an overnight star a couple of summers ago and soon everyone was copying his “Sanpei desu!” gesture. Even a visiting Britney Spears got in on the act, with her “Buri-chan desu!” version. Sanpei made hay while the sun shone, with a slew of TV appearances and commercials. But he’s yet to come up with a new routine, so he may not be around for long after all.

• The sequence to one of the most controversial movies of recent years, Battle Royale II, opened strongly at the weekend box office. It was seen by 230,000 people and pulled in over ¥300 million. It is expected to gross around ¥5 billion.

Fans of L’Arc En Ciel can rest easy. The rock band finished what was widely expected to be their final live tour in Tokyo at the weekend. But the “big announcement” following the show turned out not to be that they were breaking up but a new album, planned for next March, followed by a tour in May. Publicity stunt? You bet.

• Morning Musume’s Yaguchi Mari (photo, 20) is the leader of yet another new unit to be spawned from the ever-growing Hello! Project. ZYX – the 11th unit so far – is made up of Yaguchi and five pre-teens selected from the Hello! Project Kids. Their debut single “Fly High” is due for release August 6. Yaguchi is now in three different groups, including the “sexy” Romans. &#149 Eric Clapton (57), who announced two years ago that he would no longer do world tours, will play a series of 16 shows in Japan this autumn. It will be his 16th trip.

Acid-tongued TV personality Dewi Sukarno (photo, 63) and gossip columnist Nashimoto Katsu (58) have both been issued with a court summons (again!). This case originates from early 2001, when both made accusations that actor and renowned womanizer Kawasaki Mayo (40) had been having an affair with an unnamed stage actress. She in turn sued the pair for libel in civil court. She won a claim for ¥33 million compensation against Sukarno, whose appeal to the Tokyo High Court was recently dismissed. The pair gave a pres conference yesterday to express their anger at the case, Nashimoto saying it’s his job to report such rumors and that he’s thinking of counter-suing. Sukarno complained that she’s already had a job cancelled because of the case.

Actor Hagiwara Masato (31) and actress Wakui Emi (photo, 32) announced to the media by fax that they have divorced. They had been married since 1995 but separated for the last two years. Rumors of violence, affairs and gambling have hovered around Hagiwara for years but there was never anything made public. He is a noted mahjang player, a game usually, though unofficialy, associated with gambling.

• Following the revelation of an affair with a busty NHK presenter (see last Friday), J2 soccer manager Hashiratani Koichi (42) has resigned his post at Yamagata Montedio. But he claims that his relationship with Furuse Eri (25) was innocent.

TV personality Hayashi Hiroko (43) revealed to the Sankei Sports newspaper that she and her husband Kurosawa Hisao (57) have divorced after 23 years of marriage. Hayashi said that the couple have busy schedules that keep them apart. They recently became grandparents and have three adult children. Kurosawa is a movie producer and eldest son of the late great director Kurosawa Akira. Hayashi, a former popular idol singer, once ran unsuccessfully for election to the national government.

Shizukusa Yumi (photo, 18) is receiving a lot of FM radio airplay with her major-label debut single “Don’t You Wanna See Me (Oh) Tonight?” She’s already established quite a name on the indie circuit – on the Usen chart, she recently ranked as the No.1 female vocalist. And she’s definitely got the looks. Watch out for this one.

• Singer and outspoken TV personality Yashiki Takajin (53) revealed that he has a hole in his lung. He’s unlikely to have hospital treatment but has been advised to give up his heavy smoking.

• Former Japan international soccer player and current manager of J2 team Montedio Yamagata Hashiratani Koichi (42) has been caught having an affair with a busty NHK announcer. Furuse Emi (25) works for the Yamagata regional branch of the national network, where she met Hashiratani, the father of two kids.

Matsui “Godzilla” Hideki is doing well for the New York Yankees these days. Following a less than spectacular start to the season, he’s been on a bit of a tear lately, hitting his second grand slam, batting .500 for the week to earn the American League’s weekly MVP award – the first for a Japanese player in two years. He also leads the Yankees in hitting (.304) and has moved up next to fellow countryman Ichiro in the All-Star game voting.

• Former sumo Yokozuna (Grand Champion) turned stablemaster Takanohana has sued three publishing companies for ¥400 million over stories linking him with yakuza syndicates and suggesting that he is hugely in debt.