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I've recently added a daily update of entertainment news on the
Japan Zone main page. The Japan Zone is the only place on the web where you
can get these stories in English. Take a look:
https://www.japan-zone.com/
Doing this on the site allows me to include a photo of the person,
helping readers to put a face to the name. You can read earlier stories
in the daily and monthly archives.
https://www.japan-zone.com/news/
Mark McBennett
Webmaster, Japan Zone
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SMAP member Kimura Takuya (30) and Kudo Shizuka (32) have had
a second daughter. They have named her Mitsuki. "Kimutaku" is
currently starring as an airline pilot in the TV drama "Good Luck."
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/smap.shtml
It was revealed that popular young kabuki star Ichikawa Shinnosuke
(25) is the father of an illegitimate child. The mother was identified
simply as 29-year old "A", a former singer, and their child is
a one-year old girl. The couple are believed to have been seeing
each other for the last six years. The scandal is similar to one
involving Ichikawa Somegoro (30) back in 1997. Shinosuke is curently
starring in the NHK 'taiga' period drama "Musashi." Meanwhile,
his co-star Yonekura Ryoko has denied rumours of a relationship
between the two.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/yonekura_ryoko.shtml
In a Brisbane courtroom, a verdict was reached for one of the
two Japanese on trial for swindling popular rock singer Yazawa
Eikichi (53) out of ¥3.5 billion. The man, a 66-year old real
estate agent from Saitama and formerly an employee of Yazawa's
production company, was sentenced to 4 years. The scam involving
a plan to build a skyscraper, including a recording studio, on
Australia's Gold Coast. Yazawa's company filed a complaint back
in 1998.
TV commercial queen Kikukawa Rei (24) is to get her first starring
role in the TV Asahi (Ch.10) drama series "O.L. Zenimichi". She
plays an office worker obsessed with money and saving. The series
starts on April 11th. Kikukawa is currently appearing in a phenomenal
22 different CM's.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/kikukawa_rei.shtml
"Spirited Away" (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi), the movie by
master animator Miyazaki Hayao, has been nominated for the "Best
Animated Feature" Oscar. The Studio Ghibli flick set box office
records in Japan in 2002, and has since received several prestigious
awards in the US. It has already grossed $5.5 million in the US,
pretty good for a foreign film. The award ceremony will be held
on March 23rd.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/miyazaki_hayao.shtml
On the 5th anniversary of their debut, it was announced that Morning
Musume will be separated into two units, "Sakura Gumi" and "Otome
Gumi". Sakura Gumi will have eight membersled by Abe Natsumi (21),
while Otome Gumi will be a seven-girl unit with Iida Kaori (21)
as its leader.
Fujimoto Miki (17), who recently became the first new addition
to Morning Musume not to be chosen by audition, is to make her
TV commercial debut. "Miki-Ti" as she is known to her fans is
currently the biggest rival for Matsuura Aya's unofficial title
of most "kawaii" (cutesy) idol. She, Matsuura and former MM member
Goto Maki also make up the trio known as "Gomatto." The CM for
Glico's "Panappu" ice cream will run from March 3rd.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/morning_musume.shtml
Amuro Namie (25), who was by far the biggest trend setter and
leading lady of J-Pop in the late 1990s, is on the comeback trail.
Though she become a mother in 1998, her divorce last year from
TRF dancer Sam hinted that she was thinking of her career rather
than her family. This week came the announcement of a new TV commercial
for Lucido-L cosmetics, which will feature Amuro and her new single
"Shine More." Amuro started the trend for dyed hair and deep suntans
among high school girls in the 90s.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/amuro_namie.shtml
Movie director Yamada Yoji's first period drama "Twilight Samurai"
(Tasogare Seibei) was entered in the Berlin Film Festival, but
failed to win the Golden Bear award. The movie stars Sanada Hiroyuki,
who plays a samurai who rescues an abused wife, another strong
role for the resurgent Miyazawa Rie. Yamada (71) is best known
as the director of the "Tora-san" series, the longest-running
Japanese series ever.
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/yamada_yoji.shtml
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/sanada_hiroyuki.shtml
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/miyazawa_rie.shtml
Comedian Akashiya Sanma (47) has once again featured in a mini
scandal. The divorcee and most popular star in Japan for the past
five years running is often paired up with young starlets by the
gossip magazines. As with many such cases, this latest is seen
as an attempt to create publicity for an up and coming "talento."
This time he was said to have been drawn by the 100cm bust of
Saito Masumi (24). Both have denied anything other than friendship,
but Sanma added with a smile "If I invite a young woman over in
future, it sems I might as well sleep with her."
https://www.japan-zone.com/modern/akashiya_sanma.shtml
Getting Hitched
Leggy actress Esumi Makiko (36) recently married TV producer Hirano
Shin (37). Hirano was a producer on Esumi's most famous series,
the Fuji TV comedy "Shomuni". It is the second marriage for both
and they have no plans to hold a ceremony.
Actress Mizuno Maki (32) hinted that she may be getting hitched
before too long. When asked about marriage plans she said "It's
all up to my agency...", taken to mean that she is waiting for
a suitable time in her busy work schedule. She is currently seeing
an advertising agency executive.
Breaking Up is Hard to Do
The rumours were true after all. Actress/model Umemiya Anna (30)
divorced her husband of on year and eight months. It was rumoured
that the 32-year old "C" was something of a scam artist and couldn't
hold down a regular job. The couple held a lavish wedding reception
with 500 guests in September 2001. They have a one-year old daughter.
TV actress Yada Akiko (photo, 24) has broken up with Chunichi
Dragons and former Giants pitcher Hiramatsu Kazuhiro (28). The
pair admitted their relationship after they were spotted at Hiramatsu's
home by gossip magazine "Friday." The breakup was revealed when
Yada said she had no one to give Valentine's Day chocolates to
this year.
Also announced was the separation of singer Okamura Takako (40)
and husband Ishii Hiro (38) of the Yokohama Bay Stars.
2002 Top-grossing Japanese Movies
1 "Neko no Ongaeshi/Ghibli's Episode II" (6.4 billion)
2 "Metantei Conan" (3.4 billion)
3 "Pocket Monsters" (2.7 billion)
4 "Doraemon" (2.3 billion)
5 "2002 Toei Spring Anime Fair" (2 billion)
As proof that kids still drive the Japanese movie industry, the
top five grossing movies for last year were all animated features.
The No.1 at the box office was yet another hit for Studio Ghibli,
which in recent years brought us "Princess Mononoke" and "Spirited
Away."
2002 Best-selling CDs
1 Utada Hikaru - Deep River (3.53 million)
2 Hamasaki Ayumi - I am... (2.3 million)
3 Çlisia - Misia Greatest Hits (1.81 million)
4 Od Kazumasa - Personal Best (1.75 million)
5 Mongol 800 - Message (2.14 million)
6 Mr. Children - It's a Wonderful World (1.17 million)
7 B'z - Green (1.13 million)
8 Nakashima Miki - True (1 million)
9 RipSlyme - Tokyo Classic (0.92 million)
10 Chemistry - They Way We Are (0.87 million)
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