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Well, nothing's changed - the World Cup has come and gone but
I'm busy as ever. Thank you to those of you who wrote to ask that
I continue the newsletter. I will try to do so, even if it's an
abridged version, for as long as I can.
World Cup fever has finally died down, so what is going to replace
it? Suspense as to who's going to lead the national team to Germany
in 2006 will keep soccer interest bubbling. Otherwise, more political
scandals, name-calling and the threat of a general election.
Mark McBennett
Webmaster, Japan Zone
Contents
1. Japan Zone Updates
2. What's going on in Japan
3. Sports news
4. Gei-noh news
5. Links we like
6. Unsubscribe
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1. Japan Zone Updates
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Profile: Tall, sultry and with a piercing falsetto voice, Hirai Ken is
the king of Japanese R&B.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/hirai_ken.shtml
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2. What's going on in Japan
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Well, they came and they went. Teams, media and fans from around
the globe joined together in a monthlong festival of football
that, all in all, was a success. Too many empty seats, too many
whining losers and a Japanese team that left the country asking
"What if...?" But some great goals, good games and, perhaps most
reassuring, little or no fan violence. I don't know what the final
figure spent on security came to but in a sense it was money thrown
away. TV advertisers got much more for their money - every slot
in the Top 20 for viewer ratings in June was taken by a World
Cup game. The Germany-Brazil final drew a phenomenal max rating
of 71.6%.
In a story recounted many times, traveling fans who would normally
not think twice about rising to provocation from aggressive locals
found the Japanese so polite, so welcoming and so friendly that
getting into a ruck never became an issue. Rival fans were more
often seen hugging or sharing a beer than taunting. Korean and
Japanese fans also showed due respect to opposing teams, unfurling
their flags. This feeling of camaraderie was best felt after the
Korea-Turkey game as the players took their bows and ovations
together.
Indeed the fiercely loyal Korean fans were only a little more
vocal and passionate than the Japanese, both creating scenes that
surprised many foreign visitors who considered East Asia as a
quirky, exotic venue but a footballing afterthought. It was also
good to see the Emperor and Empress watching the final at Yokohama
International stadium alongside Korean President Kim Dae Jung.
But at grass roots level, it was rare to find Japanese who would
support Korea, even after their own team had been eliminated.
The media focussed on feel-good, neighborly stories but there
was precious little of that on the ground.
Japan's manager Phillipe Troussier said long ago that he would
step down after the event and a replacement is expected to be
announced this month. Among the names being mentioned are France
98 mis-manager Okada Takeshi, Brazil & Kashima Antlers legend
Zico and former Verdy bigmouth Rui Ramos. The progress made by
Troussier and Guus Hiddink in Korea show that the job still needs
to be entrusted to a foreign manager.
Government
The day that the last issue went out, popular former foreign minister
Tanaka Makiko was handed down a punishment that saw her barred
from her party for two years. This harsh fate was due to financial
irregularities involving her secretaries and her failure to support
an LDP candidate in her constituency in the recent by-election.
She cannot attend party committee meetings or stand in the next
election.
Another populist with the same name is Tanaka Yasuo, governor
of Nagano Prefecture. With a goat character permanently attached
to his lapel and his white gloves (a fear of germs, it seems),
the writer-turned-politician has made political life interesting
in the mountain region. But his opposition to several dam projects
have made him a lot of enemies and his inability to come up with
alternatives has lost him some popular support. He currently faces
a vote of no confidence by the prefectural assembly. If he's ousted,
he'll be only the second governor to suffer such a fate in the
last 45 years.
PM Koizumi represented Japan at the recent G-8 summit in Canada.
But with the mid-east crisis, Japan's affairs registered on the
summit radar, and the best Koizumi could do was win the most fashionable
dresser award. But German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder hitched
a lift to Tokyo on the PM's jet to watch the WC final in Yokohama,
becoming the first foreign leader ever to do so.
The recently arrested Suzuki Muneo continues to defy his critics
and has published a book written in the run-up to his detainment.
The man seems totally incapable of admitting his own wrongdoings,
which perhaps will be the flaw that destroys his political career.
There was quite a big story about Defense Ministry officials keeping
lists of information about citizens who requested information.
The story resonated with the media because of the recent proposed
changes to privacy laws.
General
Senior Aum Sinrikyo cultist Niimi Tomomitsu became the eighth
cult member to receive the death penalty for crimes committed
in the mid-90s. Convicted in 11 cases, Niimi's crimes are second
in number only to those of cult leader Matsumoto Chizuo.
21-year old pianist Uehara Ayako won the 12th International Tchaikovsky
Competition, becoming the first Japanese to win the prestigious
prize. Another Japanese woman, who holds US citizenship, came
second in the violin section.
During his trial for the murder of eight elementary school children
and the injury of 15 others in Osaka last June, Takuma Mamoru
has admitted to the charges for the first time.
As of October 1st, Chiyoda Ward in Tokyo will enact an ordinance
that imposes a 20,000 yen fine on smokers in busy public areas.
The ordinance covers about 25% of the district.
Takahama City in Aichi Prefecture has decided to change voting
rights for referendums. The changes will allow people under 18,
prisoners and...foreign permanent residents to vote.
Partly to counter the upcoming merger of JAL and JAS, All Nippon
Airways (ANA) will take over much of the operations of the struggling
Hokkaido airline Air Do.
The prestigious Teikyo University became embroiled in a scandal
over billions of yen paid by parents of students before they enrolled
in its medical school.
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3. Sports news
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Baseball
Ichiro has taken a slight tumble in his US major league batting
average, but is currently still top. And, for the second year
running, he scored top in the balloting for the All Star game
with over 2.5 million votes. You just can't keep a good man down.
Ichiro's Mariners teammate Sasaki Kazuhiro also made the team
again as a stopper.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/suzuki_ichiro.shtml
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/sasaki_kazuhiro.shtml
LA Dodgers pitcher Ishii Kazuhisa was on track to make the All
Star game with 10 wins out of his first eleven decisions. But
only one of the last five have gone his way and his place was
lost.
NY Mets pitcher Komiyama Satoru became the fourth Japanese player
to be dropped to the minors this season.
Irabu Hideki has been having another mixed season with the Texas
Rangers. He has 15 saves but also seven losses under his ever-expanding
belt.
Soccer
The J-league will resume this month, with the second-tier J2 starting
July 5th and J1 on the 13th. It will be interesting to see how
much impact World Cup fever has on attendance figures.
Midfielder Nakamura Shunsuke, pencilled in for a transfer to powerhouse
Real Madrid, has had to settle for Serie A team Reggina instead.
The talented but starry-eyed Nakamura was controversially left
out of the World Cup squad, which certainly affected his transfer
options. Meanwhile, Inamoto Junichi ended up moving from north-London
team Arsenal across town to Fulham.
Other Sports
Another disappointing year for Japanese at Wimbledon, with top
women's player Sugiyama Ai failing to make any impact. The only
hope is the mixed doubles pair of Fujiwara Rika and Thomas Shimada.
As usual, in singles there are no male players even worthy of
mention.
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4. Gei-noh news
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The actor who plays the popular Ultraman Cosmos has been acquitted
on assault and extortion charges after the claimant admitted he
had falsified his statement. You have to wonder whether TV money
influenced his change of heart.
A TV Tokyo scoop that showed a Chinese burglary gang in action
turned out to have been arranged between an informant and a reporter,
who paid 350,000 out of his own pocket for the set up.
"Sora Kara Ochiru Ichioku no Hoshi" the drama starring SMAP-ite
Kimura Takuya and comedian Akashiya Sanma recorded a very healthy
audience rating of 27% for its final episode. Kimura's wife Kudo
Shizuka is to design the official T-shirt for the Nippon TV 24-hour
show "Ai wa Chikyu wo Sukuu" (Love Can Save the Earth). And Sanma
drew criticism for wearing a Germany shirt during the broadcast
of the Korea-Germany World Cup semi-final.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/akashiya_sanma.shtml
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/smap.shtml
More Bits and Bobs
Out of 28,000 hopefuls, 15 elementary school students were chosen
to join the "Tsunku Family", which has brought us such groups
as Morning Musume and Mini Moni.
Ichikawa Mikako won the Best Actress award at the Moscow Film
Festival for her performance in Ando Tadao's "Blue".
Actress Kato Natsuki is to be the first female "Rider" in the
"Gamen Rider Ryuki" series. The Sunday morning super hero show
is one of the longest-running and most popular in Japan.
Contrary to recent rumors, actress Hirosue Ryoko is said to be
faithfully attending classes at Waseda University.
Deep River, the new album from Utada Hikaru, sold some 1.05 million
copies on its first day of release.
Soccer star Nakata Hidetoshi is to get involved in a UN anti-drugs
campaign.
The switching of agencies by L'Arc en Ciel member Tetsu has led
to rumors of an imminent breakup of the rock group.
Singer/songwriter Yaida Hitomi is to play Tokyo Dome for the first
time, on Christmas Day.
Amuro Namie is to sing the theme song for the movie Inochi (Life),
starring Esumi Makiko and Toyokawa Etsushi which opens in September.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/toyokawa_etsushi.shtml
Masuda Keiko, better known as Kei of the 80s super-idol duo Pink
Lady married the president of a music production company.
Takarazuka top star Takumi Hibiki has given her final performance
with the all-female revue.
Playboy Haga Kenji is said to have bought a 300 million yen apartment,
despite the fact that he was recently in debt to the tune of almost
a billion. A new 46-year old widow benefactor perhaps?
50-year old singer Koyanagi Rumiko has relaunched her career under
the romanized name "rumico". Meanwhile, her ex-husband Osumi Kenya
is to be the only Japanese dancer in a Broadway musical.
In the Heat of Passion
National team striker Suzuki Takayuki and TV presenter Shiraishi
Miho are romantically entwined; Boy band Tokio member Matsuoka
Masahiro and pinup girl Soeda Megumi are "living in sin"; Yasuda
Kei of Morning Musume and Okuno Akihito of the group Porno Grafitti
have been spotted together.
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5. Links we like
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Japan-A-Radio
If you're into J-Pop and especially anime theme music, then this
is the site for you.
http://www.japanaradio.com/
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6. Unsubscribe
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