The abductees returned from North Korea are still dominating the
news. The latest development is that they are now requesting that
they be reunited in Japan with their children and relatives still
in North Korea.
Foreigners have featured recently in the news, for reasons both
good and bad. A court decision could open the way for more cases
against racial discrimination. A visiting team of MLB players
somewhat dampened the celebratory mood of the Yomiuri Giants.
"Godzilla" has made his intentions a little clearer and will be
heading across the Pacific. And the season's winners and losers
in the J-League are becoming clearer.
Mark McBennett
Webmaster, Japan Zone
Contents
1. Japan Zone Updates
2. What's going on in Japan
3. Sports news
4. Gei-noh news
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1. Japan Zone Updates
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Our new Japan Forum system is leaner and meaner than the old BBS.
You can create your own profile with photo or avatar, and there
is a ranking system depending on how many messages you post. The
Forum also has its own internal email system, and you can leave
instant messages for other members. Anyway, it's all pretty cool
so check it out:
https://www.japan-zone.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi
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2. What's going on in Japan
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Arudou Debito, formerly David Aldwinckle, is a naturalized Japanese
citizen from the US active in anti-discrimination efforts in Japan.
He and two foreign plaintiffs today won a case against a hot spring
in Otaru, Hokkaido that discriminates against non-Japanese. The
Yunohana bath house, which had claimed that the presence of foreigners
would drive away Japanese visitors, was ordered to pay 3 million
yen to the three men, half the amount claimed. In the case against
Otaru City, the judge ruled that the city itself had no legal
obligation to try to put an end to discrimination. The problem
dates back to the early 1990s when drunken Russian sailors caused
havoc in several establishments in the city. Since last year,
the bath house has been allowing foreigners in but only with the
preconditions that they "behave" or "understand Japanese".
A right-wing activist with a history of threats against Diet member
Ishii Koki was arrested for his recent murder after turning himself
in to police. Ito Hakusui (48) has a history of gang involvement
and violent political activism.
The Daily Yomiuri reported on a South American crime syndicate
with over 100 members that it claims is responsible for a crime
wave in Tokyo and the surrounding region. The group focuses on
two types of crime, burglary and robbing users of ATMs. The report
described the group as having a training camp in Chiba where members
were assessed and assigned to one or the other of two 'divisions'.
More than 30 Latin Americans believed to belong to the group are
currently being held by police.
The ruling LDP won a surprising five out of seven by-elections
at the end of October. Four of the seven seats were vacant after
lawmakers resigned due to money scandals. The voter turnout was
down in all constituencies, to record low levels in some. But
public support for the Koizumi cabinet remains quite high at about
66%.
Economic and fiscal policy minister Takenaka Heizo finally released
his plan to fight deflation and revive the economy. The plan was
considerably watered down but still met stiff opposition from
political elders and those with vested interests, especially the
major banks. Such "forces of resistance" have been the main barrier
so far in the fight to get the economy back on its feet. This
time they managed to get the government to postpone its deadline
for reining in deflation by a year, to fiscal 2004.
In spite of the prolonged recession, automobile maker Toyota reported
pretax profits of 794 billion yen, up by more than 50% from last
year. But mobile phone giant DoCoMo saw its profits plunge by
95%, largely due to foreign investments gone bad.
Chiyoda Ward in Tokyo has started imposing its new regulation
against smoking in certain public areas. Offenders are given a
fine of 2,000 yen. It's been reported that women are more likely
than men to become hostile when confronted. One woman allegedly
screamed at officials for making her late, threw three 10,000
yen notes on the road and stormed off.
The rate for employment insurance contributions is to be increased
from 1.4% to 1.6% next June, the third increase in as many years.
Nabari in Mie Prefecture is to become the latest city to allow
foreigners to vote in a city referendum. About 200 foreigners
with permanent residency status will be able to vote on a municipal
merger.
The country's largest aquarium opened in Okinawa with a 60cm-thick
glass viewing panel of 22.5m by 8.2m, said to be the largest in
the world. The aquarium is home to four whale sharks and hundreds
of species of fish.
The birthplace of the Empress is set to be torn down, despite
protests and proposals to have it relocated. The house, built
in 1933 in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, is the property of the Finance
Ministry as it was used as part of an inheritance tax payment
after the Empress' father died in 1999. It is believed to be worth
about 340 million yen. The Empress' maiden name is Shoda Michiko
and the house is known as Shoda-tei.
"Broken Wings" by Israeli director Nir Bergman won the Grand Prix
at the 15th Tokyo International Film Festival. The Special Jury
Prize went to the Japanese movie "Hotel Hibiscus".
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3. Sports news
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The anticlimactic baseball season continued to its logical conclusion,
probably a relief for Giants fans with heart conditions. "Japan's
Team" gave them a nice stress-free ride through the Japan Series,
with a surprisingly easy 4-0 sweep of the Seibu Lions. It is the
Giants' 20th title. Seibu
slugger Alex Cabrera commented that he hadn't worked hard all
season just to look like a fool in the grand finale. His comment
was taken as criticism of manager Ihara's failure to play the
other foreign power hitters. In fact, the Lions made so many errors
and the Giants were so confident that it hardly mattered when
they were put into the starting rotation. Cabrera was the only
bright spot on his team and recovered some pride by taking the
PL MVP award for the season. Matsui Hideki was a cinch for the
CL award.
A team of Major League stars, including Ichiro, Barry Bonds and
Jason Giambi arrived for a series of games against the Yomiuri
Giants and a team of Japanese stars. The opening game of the series
was an exhibition which also marked the end of Matsui's career
with the Giants, as he has finally declared his free agency and
intention to go to the US next season. He had a
very average game and was completely overshadowed by the two home
runs apiece hit by Bonds and Giambi. That probably sent a shiver
down his spine and made him wonder just how much he'll be able
to live up to expectations in the US. He has yet to make an announcement
on his choice of team.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/matsui_hideki.shtml
Trey Hillman has become the new manager of the Nippon Ham Fighters,
perennial strugglers in the Pacific League. Hillman was formerly
a minor league manager with the New York Yankees.
Yokozuna Takanohana is again sitting out the current Autumn sumo
tournament (aki basho) with a recurrence of his knee injury. After
finishing just one basho following his year-long absence, retirement
has to be a real possibility.
Oita Trinita, a team established eight years ago to play at the
city's World Cup stadium, have finally made it to J-1 as winners
of J-2. The last three years, Trinita have been pipped for a promotion
spot from J-2 on the very last day of the season. Cerezo Osaka
are best placed to move up with them. Taking the drop from J-1
are Consadole Sapporo and probably Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
Last year's J-League champions Kashima Antlers deprived the fanatical
Urawa Reds fans of their first piece of silverware by snatching
the Nabisco Cup 1-0.
The Japanese team ended the Asian Under-20 soccer tournament as
runners-up. They lost 1-0 to South Korea in the final.
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4. Gei-noh news
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Nippon TV's Dempa Shonen show has flirted with trouble in the
past to generate publicity - stunts have even included getting
Yasser Arafat to clown around on camera. Well, this time they
pissed off Minshuto party leader Hatoyama Yukio. He was giving
a speech at Meiji Gakuin University when a female chorus group
interrupted proceedings to serenade the politician. He was not
amused and the episode will probably not be aired.
Actress Takagi Saya (38) set a new Japanese record of 53m for
free diving in the recent World Cup. Takagi currently lives in
a jungle home in Hawaii with her new husband, also a diver. She
divorced singer Nakanishi Keizo last year.
Udo Suzuki, one half of the comedy duo Kyaeen, got into a fight
with a group of youths in Tokyo's Kabukicho district. It seems
the group approached the - onscreen anyway - dimwitted Udo, who
was alone, for his autograph but things quickly got out of hand
and became hostile. No charges were made.
In kabuki, Bando Shonosuke has become Kawarazaki Gonjuro IV, Kataoka
Juzo has become Kataoka Ichizo VI, and Ichikawa Otora has become
Ichikawa Omezo VI. The name changes indicate when an actor takes
on the name of the founder of their family line. Most names date
back several centuries.
Japan just can't seem to get enough of the glamorous Beckhams.
Manchester United football star David Beckham and his former Spice
Girls wife Victoria have been paid 400 million yen to appear in
a TV commercial for "aesthetic" company Tokyo Beauty Clinic. And
hubby has also made an ad for Meiji's "Almond Choco".
Some 800 people have been invited to the wedding party of Komuro
Tetsuya (43) and his bride to be Keiko (30). The 500-million-yen
event is to be televised live by TBS. In return, musician and
producer Komuro is considered a cinch for a special prize at the
TBS Record Awards. The wedding has seemingly sent Komuro's old
flame, singer Kahala Tomomi (28) into a dating frenzy.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/komuro_tetsuya.shtml
More Bits and Bobs
Ishibashi Takaaki of the Tunnels comedy duo is one of the best-paid
entertainers in Japan, which may be part of the reason he was
chosen as the most hated TV personality by readers of the weekly
Nikkei Entertainment magazine.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/comedian2.shtml
Anita Alvarado, the Chilean former prostitute who made a fortune
from her Japanese husband's embezzled funds has cancelled her
December trip to Japan. Instead she will appear on a chat show
that features Hollywood stars.
The reason for the breakup of Tokio member Kokubun Taichi (28)
and singer Aiko (26) is said to have been her jealousy.
Actress Okina Megumi (23) is romantically involved with the president
of the successful Cyber Agent company, whose success has been
built on "meru-maga" (email magazines).
Kuraki Mai new album set a new speed record for a female solo
artist to release three consecutive albums that went straight
to No.1 on the Oricon
chart.
The uncle of Wada Akiko, Japanese TV's "big sister", was reportedly
arrested on charges of attempted extortion.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/wada_akiko.shtml
TV personality Kase Taishu was ordered by a court to pay 66 million
yen to his former agency for contract violations.
Seemingly, the upcoming concurrent release of a new single CD,
DVD and video by Mini Moni will be the first ever.
Reaching new depths of ridiculousness, the "Best Smile of the
Year" awards went to actress Suzuki Anne (15) and pro golfer Maruyama
Shigeki (33). The "Ideal Couple of the Year" went to former idol
singer Nishimura Tomomi (32, known as Tororin) and her husband
Nishio Takumi (35).
Nippon Broadcasting presenter Tanaka Miwako (34) is getting married
within the year. She is expecting a child in January.
Musician Kuwana Masahiro (49) and his eldest son Myuji have joined
the Yoshimoto Kogyo talent agency.
"Vijuaru kei" (glam rock) band Lucifer are to break up after their
upcoming gig in January.
Recently, a taxi carrying comedian Shofukutei Tsurube (50) was
in a traffic accident. The TV star's injuries will take two weeks
to heal.
The romance between TV stars Kato Haruhiko (27) and Uchiyama Rina
(21) has ended. Kato is to co-star in a new TV series in January
with hot star Kikukawa Rei (24).
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/kikukawa_rei.shtml
Actress Ishiki Sae (25) gave birth to her first child, a daughter.
The pregnancy was reported to have been the reason for her marriage
this spring to American-Japanese former model Sarfen Satoshi (25).
Low viewer ratings for the new TV series Home and Away have hinted
that the popularity of Nakayama Miho (32) is on the wane.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/nakayama_miho.shtml
Similarly dropping in the popularity stakes are SMAP. Their SMAPxSMAP
show's ratings have dropped below 20% for the first time.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/smap.shtml
Japan's funniest woman, Hisamoto Masami (42), is said to be romantically
pursuing Tanaka Naoki (31) of the comedy duo Cocorico.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/hisamoto_masami.shtml
Actress Ishida Hikari (30) is three months pregnant.
20th Century, a sub-group of Johnny's Jimusho boy band V6, are
to perform in three plays at the Globe Theater, recently bought
by the talent agency.
Matsuda Seiko (40) has announced that she will no longer perform
at the annual New Year Kohaku song contest and will instead play
a countdown show with her teenage daughter Sayaka (16).
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/matsuda_seiko.shtml
Oricon Daily Single Chart (November 7th)
1. Hirai Ken - Ring
2. Fujimoto Miki - Boyfriend
3. Hajime Chitose - Kono Machi
4. Ueto Aya - Kizuna
5. TM Revolution - Invoke
Hirai Ken is the current King of the Crooners. His latest hit
follows up the
huge success he had with "My Grandfather's Clock", and needless
to say it's
another ballad. Fujimoto Miki is yet another cute teenager from
the Hello
Project that has spawned the likes of Morning Musume and Matsuura
Aya.
Hajime Chitose is the young singer from the southern islands whose
distinctively soulful, warbling voice has made her a big star.
Ueto Aya is
an up-and-coming actress/singer who made a name for herself as
a transsexual
schoolgirl on the recent run of the popular "Kinpachi Sensei"
TV series. TM
Revolution are a pop/rock band fronted by the charismatic Shiga
native
Nishikawa Takanori.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/hirai_ken.shtml
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/chitose_hajime.shtml
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