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Woke up yesterday morning to find Tokyo under a blanket of snow,
the first of the winter. Never mind, 'cos myself and the family
are off to Hawaii tomorrow! So things will be a bit quiet around
the Japan Zone for a couple of weeks.
As usual, the illuminations are out and Christmas events are in
full flow - spare a moment's thought for the unfortunate single
people without a Christmas Eve date! Then everyone will pile out
of Tokyo and head back home for the New Year.
We have a full month's worth of news for you. Prince Takamado
died at the early age of 47. Hatoyama Yukio, sometimes referred
to as the "Prince" of Japanese politics, has taken quite a tumble.
A couple of high-profile criminal cases have come back into the
spotlight. Otherwise, it's been the usual news of Nobel Prize
winners, road panels and oil spills.
Some firsts in sports: the J-League had its first ever "perfect
season" and we saw the first Mongolian to take the Emperor's Cup
in sumo.
Mark McBennett
Webmaster, Japan Zone
Contents
1. What's going on in Japan
2. Sports news
3. Gei-noh news
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1. What's going on in Japan
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Prince Takamado, a cousin of the Emperor and 7th in line to the
throne, died from a heart seizure. He had collapsed while taking
a regular squash lesson. He was 47. The prince was very active
in many areas, and was the first member of the Imperial family
to pay an official visit to South Korea at the opening of the
World Cup this summer. He is survived by his wife Hisako and three
teenage daughters.
Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) leader Hatoyama Yukio announced
his resignation after a misguided attempt to form a coalition
of opposition parties. He was replaced as leader by Okada Katsuya
in a party meeting tonight. Hatoyama had misread party sentiments
when he announced talks on forming a coalition with the Jiyuto
and SDP parties. Jiyuto leader Ozawa Ichiro met him once and backed
his plans but then refused to meet again, after he learned of
the level of opposition within the DPJ. Hatoyama had already been
under pressure to quit from younger members of the DPJ following
his party's dismal showing in recent elections.
Millard "Corky" Alexander, editor of the long-running Tokyo Weekender
magazine, collapsed and died recently. He was 73.
Nobel Prize winners Koshiba Masatoshi and Tanaka Koichi gave commemorative
speeches in English prior to the awards ceremony in Stockholm.
Tanaka in particular has become very popular due mainly to his
shy manner and obvious discomfort in the limelight.
The verdict in the 1998 Wakayama curry-poisoning case is expected
tomorrow. Four people died and more than 60 were seriously sickened
when curry that was laced with cyanide was served at a local summer
festival. Hayashi Masumi, the housewife who arrested along with
her husband after a three-month investigation and media circus
around the case, has become something of a household name.
The sentence handed down to Sato Nobuyuki, the Niigata man who
kept a girl captive in his home for nine years, has been reduced.
The original 14 year-sentence included one year for stealing underwear.
But it was reduced to eleven years, this plus the maximum that
could be given for the crime committed. Given that Sato kept the
girl a prisoner from the age of nine to 18 and caused her severe
mental and physical suffering, the public is having trouble accepting
the sentence.
The Aegis-equipped destroyer Kirishima is to join five vessels
already with the US-led forces in the Indian Ocean in preparation
for a possible attack against Iraq. The ship, which has cutting
edge air-defense capability, would raise the level of logistic
support being given by Japan, a very controversial issue that
some see as being in contravention of Japan's peace constitution.
A government panel on the privatization of road-related corporations
has submitted its final report. The panel made a majority-based
decision not to include opposing opinions in the report, causing
the chairman to quit in protest. The report includes proposals
that are sure to anger many politicians with vested interests
in the construction industry. Indeed many believe these politicians
within the ruling LDP will try to make sure the reforms are never
implemented and even try to overthrow PM Koizumi.
The families of 33 people killed when the Ehime Maru training
ship collided with a US submarine off Hawaii in February 2001
are to receive 1.67 billion yen (almost $14 million) in compensation.
Five former executives of the Snow Brand Foods company received
suspended prison sentences for their involvement in a scam of
government subsidies. In the very Japanese decision, the judge
said the five had already taken social responsibility for their
crimes by being dismissed.
13 executives of the Okinawa-based Zenkoku Hachiyo Butsuryu group
were arrested in a pyramid scheme that bilked investors out of
155 billion yen over two years. Police believe it to have been
the biggest fraud operation ever in Japan.
In tax hikes to counter falling revenues, cigarettes will cost
an extra 2.5 yen apiece, while the cost of a can of "happoshu"
low-malt beer will increase by 20 yen.
In a sharp downturn in business sentiment, 75 out of 100 companies
in a newspaper survey said they thought the economy was stagnant.
The figure is up from 47 in a similar survey taken in July.
I was using the recent oil spill off the coast of Spain as an
example to explain about environmental problems to my high school
students recently. The very next day, we had a spill off the Japan
coast. The 3,144-ton North Korean freighter ran aground near Hitachi,
Ibaraki Prefecture, creating a relatively minor oil slick. Earlier,
another ship that had been stranded on the coast of Izu-Oshima
island, suddenly erupted into flames. The 56,800-ton freighter
carrying heavy machinery and thousands of cars ran aground on
October 1.
The Tohoku Shinkansen now runs all the way to Hachinohe in Aomori
Prefecture, an almost 100-km extension beyond Morioka in Iwate.
It's the first new bullet train service in five years. The extension
is mostly through mountainous country, and includes the 25.8km
Iwate-Ichinohe tunnel, the longest overland tunnel in the world.
The Shonen Jump manga (comic book) was launched in the US, with
great success. The first issue was of 250,000 copies and many
stores sold out within days. The 288-page English-language manga
features favorites such as "Dragon Ball" and "Yu-Gi-Oh" and sells
for $4.95. In order to preserve the original artwork, the translated
version is printed in Japanese style, from right to left.
Square, producers of the popular "Final Fantasy" video game series
and Enix, who make "Dragon Quest", announced that they will merge
in April. The companies have been rivals in an increasingly competitive
market. The Final Fantasy series (which was also made into a full-length
animated feature film) has sold over 42 million copies; Dragon
Quest 30 million.
The number of foreign students in Japan is up by 21% this year
to over 95,000. The majority are from Asia, mainly China and South
Korea. The government originally set a target of 100,000 by the
beginning of this century.
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2. Sports news
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Jubilo Iwata became the first team to win both stages of the J-League
championship, meaning there was no playoff for the first time
in the league's 10-year history. Striker Takahara Naohiro, who
missed out on the World Cup through injury was the league's leading
scorer with 25 goals. He is currently undergoing trials with Hamburg
SV in the German Bundesliga.
Hiroshima Sanfrecce postponed the fateful day as long as they
could but ended up being relegated to J-1 for the first time.
The stars of Real Madrid came to Tokyo and got what they were
looking for - some more silverware to celebrate their club's centenary.
The European Champions beat South America's No.1 team Olimpia
of Paraguay 2-0 to claim the first Toyota Cup played outside the
National Stadium. The return to Yokohama International Stadium
was a happy one for Brazilian World Cup winners Ronaldo and Roberto
Carlos. Ronaldo also took the Man of the Match award.
Japan's weakness was a customary lapse of concentration in their
2-0 defeat to Argentina in the last soccer international of the
year. The team was without manager Zico, who returned to Brazil
following the sudden death of his mother.
Ricardo of the J-1 team Vegalta Sendai was driving without a license
when he hit two taxis.
Matsui Hideki won his third straight Gold Glove. The former Yomiuri
Giant has hired American agent Arn Tellem to handle his discussions
with Major League teams, after originally saying he would make
do with a Japanese lawyer friend. A decision on his future team
is yet to to be announced. He and the Japan All Stars took a commanding
3-0 lead in the series with visiting MLB stars but ended up losing
4-3. Matsui was a disappointment and played almost no role in
the series.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/matsui_hideki.shtml
In order to fill the gap in their lineup, the Giants have signed
Venezuelan Roberto Petagine, one of the most productive hitters
in Japan, after he failed to reach an agreement to renew his contract
with the Yakult Swallows.
Shinjo Tsuyoshi has been released by the San Francisco Giants
after a lackluster season with the World Series runners-up. And
Irabu Hideki (33) is heading back to Japan after seven mixed seasons
in the Majors. Irabu, released by the Texas Rangers but who still
has one of the speediest fastballs around, has joined the Hanshin
Tigers.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/shinjo_tsuyoshi.shtml
In sumo, Okeki (Champion) Asashoryu became the first Mongolian
rikishi to win an Emperor's Cup when he took the Kyushu basho
(tournament) with a couple of days to spare. He finished with
an impressive 14-1 record. His recent performances have him on
track for Yokozuna (Grand Champion) promotion in the near future.
Yokozuna Musashimaru withdrew from the basho with a wrist injury
in the first week.
British-based jockey Frankie Dettori won both the Japan Cup Dirt
and the Japan Cup in one weekend. The latter was a controversial
photo-finish, announced some 20 minutes after the race finished.
The first place earned the owners of ninth-favorite Falbrav 250
million yen.
Yoshie Onda became the first Japanese woman to win ice-skating's
NHK Trophy since Ito Midori in 1991. The event was the sixth and
final leg of the international Grand Prix series.
The 24th Tokyo Marathon was won by 25-year old Tanzanian Banuelia
Mrashani, in an event that got the most publicity from the withdrawal
of Sydney gold medallist Takahashi "Q-chan" Naoko.
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3. Gei-noh news
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In what they obviously hoped was to be the showbiz wedding of
the year, musician/producer Komuro Tetsuya (43) married Globe
vocalist Keiko (30) at the infamous Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo.
There were plenty of showbiz people in attendance and the event
was televised live and got a moderate 15.5% viewer rating. But
many big names were conspicuous by their absence. It seems that
order forms for Globe albums and goods produced by Keiko's family
were given to guests. Sounds about right. There are rumors that
a "janken" game was played at the "nijikai" (after-party), with
prizes such as a 30-million yen Ferrari and a Cadillac!
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/komuro_tetsuya.shtml
"Tasogare Seibei", the first period drama by director Yamada Yoji,
is winning a lot of awards. At the Nikkan Sports Movie Awards,
the Best Actor award went to Sanada Hiroyuki while Miyazawa Rie
took Best Supporting Actress. Yamada is best known for the Tora-san
series, the longest-running movies series in history.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/yamada_yoji.shtml
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/miyazawa_rie.shtml
Pop star Mariah Carey, busy trying to rebuild her faltering career,
caused a mass panic when she and her crew stopped at the Hachiko
intersection in Tokyo's youth mecca of Shibuya to make a promotion
video.
News on this year's "Kohaku Uta Gassen" New Year spectacular:
making a brief Morning Musume comeback is recently "graduated"
member Goto Maki (17); appearing for the first time in 14 years
is neurotic pop queen Nakamori Akina (37); also slated to appear
are SMAP and Kahala Tomomi. Soul balladeer Hirai Ken is to appear
by satellite.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/morning_musume.shtml
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/smap.shtml
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/hirai_ken.shtml
The silly awards are back! Best Hair went to Yonekura Ryoko; Shaku
Yumiko won the Nature Friend Award from the Shiga Kogen resort;
Nail Queen went to pop star Hamasaki Ayumi for the third year
in a row; Best Dresser Awards went to media commentator Terry
Ito and actress Kikukawa Rei. In the annual awards for new words
riding the popularity wave, the top prize went to "Tama-chan",
the name given to a seal spotted in various rivers in the Tokyo
area in the autumn.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/yonekura_ryoko.shtml
Breaking Up is Hard to Do
It comes as no surprise to me to hear a rumor that actress/model
Umemiya Anna and her husband of less than a year are considering
divorce. The reason is said to be hubby's inability to find a
steady job. The couple recently married, while Umemiya was several
months pregnant.
Divorce rumors are circulating about super-couple Matsushima Nanako
(29) and Sorimachi Takashi (29) following their constant bickering
while filming an NHK historical drama. It seems they were both
unhappy with the other's poor acting - it's about time they noticed!
Meanwhile, Matsushima is rumored to be pregnant.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/matsushima_nanako.shtml
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/sorimachi_takashi.shtml
Similar rumors are going around about actor couple Koizumi Kyoko
and Nagase Masatoshi, who are already separated. Koizumi's career
has been becoming quite a bit busier recently.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/koizumi_kyoko.shtml
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/nagase_masatoshi.shtml
Another couple said to be on the rocks are the recently resurgent
rock star Inoue Yosui (54) and Ishikawa Seri.
More Bits and Bobs
The first "Super Idol" group, Pink Lady, are set to play their
first concert tour since they broke up 22 years ago. The national
tour will start next summer and is sure to attract huge media
attention.
Actor Oda Yuji is said to be so selfish and arrogant during filming
that he has pissed off co-stars Matsuyuki Yasuko and others.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/oda_yuji.shtml
Yoshioka Hidetaka (32) and Uchida Yuki (26), who played a couple
destined to wed in the long-running "Kita no Kuni Kara" series,
got married in the town where the drama was set. The church was
specially decorated by the show's staff, 50 of whom attended the
wedding. Uchida has disbanded her fan club and looks set to retire
from show business.
Moriuchi Hiroki, son of enka singers Mori Shinichi and Mori Masako,
is to make his debut as a member of teen-boy band Johnnys Jr.
In the US, the National Board of Revue gave the animated movie
award to "Spirited Away", the 2001 hit movie by Miyazaki Hayao.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/miyazaki_hayao.shtml
In a survey of the most popular women in TV commercials, the No.2
spot went to Hamasaki Ayumi and the No.3 position was held by
Tanaka Reina. Surprisingly, in the top spot was 59-year old actress
Kiki Kirin, who plays scatty or pushy middle-aged ladies in several
comedy-style CM's, most recently for Fujicolor. It was no surprise
that SMAP's Kimura Takuya topped the male rankings.
The father of enka singer Matsubara Nobue was killed in a traffic
accident.
The new Harry Potter movie was seen by over a million people on
its opening day alone.
Arakaki Hitoe (21) of the defunct pop group Speed, who until recently
was studying in New York, has launched a solo career
Hirose Yoichi of the now-defunct band Yellow Monkey is to start
a solo career next February.
Ishii Kazuyoshi, founder of the company that promotes the K-1
sport which has become increasingly popular in recent years, has
been arrested for tax evasion.
It came as little surprise that Chiaki (30), who recently married
Endo Shozo (31) of the comedy duo Cocorico, is five months pregnant.
In a Spa! magazine poll of Japanese women's favorite "oyaji" (middle-aged
man), first place was held by all-round entertainer Tokoro Joji
(47). Cartoonist Ebisu Yoshikazu (55) was chosen for most dislikable
oyaji and in four other less-than desirable categories.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/tokoro_joji.shtml
There is a rumor that pop diva Matsuda Seiko, whose popularity
has been on the wane for some time, is planning some kind of publicity-boosting
scandal for the New Year. It certainly wouldn't be a first for
her.
Comedian Kuwano Nobuyoshi was robbed of 100,000 yen while walking
in the fashionable Ginza district of Tokyo.
Abe Masami (17) younger sister of Morning Musume's Abe Natsumi
(Natchi), is to make her recording debut next spring.
At the Yomiuri TV "All Japan Request Awards", the Pop Grand Prix
went to Hamasaki Ayumi for the third year running. Shimatani Hitomi
won the Best Singer Award. Hamasaki also won an award for her
single Voyage at the 44th "Japan Record Awards".
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/hamasaki_ayumi.shtml
Former member of Tokyo Performance Doll Anai Yoko (28) and pro
golfer Yokota Shinichi (30) recently had a baby boy. It was later
revealed that the pregnancy had been artificially induced.
Also proud parents are TV personalities Nonomura Shin and his
wife Sakagami Toshie, who had a baby boy.
Matsutoya Yumi is to hold the most expensive concert tour in Japanese
history next summer. The sum cost of the events is around 5 billion
yen.
Folk rock star Minami Masato (58), who made his debut back in
1969 and is best known for his 1971 album Kaikisen, was arrested
for possession of marijuana.
TV Tokyo presenter Iemori Sachiko (30) and Chunich Dragons baseball
player Sekikawa Koichi (33) are said to be ready to wed before
the end of the year.
Recently spotted together were currently hot actor Sakaguchi Kenji
(27) and actress Koyuki (25).
Oricon Album Chart (December 8th)
1. Kuwata Keisuke - Top of the Pops
2. Gospellers - Acapella
3. Kubota Toshinobu - The Baddest III
4. Move - Move Super Tune, Best Selections
5. Globe - 8 Years, Many Classic Moments
Kuwata Keisuke is huge these days, perhaps even surpassing the
success of his band Southern All Stars. Gospellers are an acappella
group that have enjoyed a lot of success over the last couple
of years. One member graduated from the high school where I teach,
though before my time there. Soul singer Kubota Toshinobu has
been making a name for himself for several years in the US. Not
that he's ever been forgotten in Japan, but this is something
of a comeback here. If you're a regular reader, you'll know that
Globe is the brainchild of Komuro Tetsuya, who recently married
vocalist Keiko.
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