Monthly Archives: February 2003

Hamasaki Ayumi (24), on her show “Ayu Ready?” to be aired this Saturday, under direct questioning from drag queen Mikawa Kenichi (56) hints that a wedding may be in the near future. Ayu is dating Tokio member Nagase Tomoya (24). Meanwhile, News Station (TV Asahi) weather announcer Inui Kimiko (27) revealed on a radio program that she got married last week. Her husband is a 34-year old record company employee.

Dragon Ash have set up a new record label together with fellow popular hip hop groups Mach 25 and Source. The first release on Mob Squad, due on March 19th, will be an album of the same name featuring all three bands. Dragon Ash, fronted by vocalist Furuya Kenji (left, 24), have been leading the Japanese hip hop scene since their 1999 hit “Grateful Days.” This will be their first release in a year. Mach 25 had a breakthrough hit last April with “Sons of the Sun.” Source made their debut last year.

One of Japan’s most talented singers, Yoshida Miwa (37) of the group Dreams Come True is to release her first solo album in over seven years. “Beauty and Harmony 2” is due for release on May 6th, Yoshida’s birthday, on DCT Records. She is currently recording in the US with 11-time Grammy-winning producer Al Schmitt. Yoshida was recently reported as being involved with a married 28-year old video director.

Singer Shiina Ringo (24) continued her comeback with a live event “Baisho Ecstasy”, broadcast by satellite to 12 venues across the country. She made an unannounced live appearance at the Tokyo venue, to the ecstatic surprise of 1200 fans. It was the singer’s first live show in two and a half years, during which time she married guitarist Yayoshi Junji (33), had a baby and got divorced.

The bare back in the topical Kanebo TV commercial turns out to be that of actress Yonekura Ryoko (27). The mystery of the “Senaka Bijin” (woman with beautiful back) had the media speculating, but the hints made it pretty obvious. It was mentioned that she was appearing in the NHK taiga drama “Musashi”, in which Yonekura stars alongside kabuki actor Ichikawa Shinnosuke. The fuss over the CM, photos of the pair kissing and the scandal of Shinnosuke’s love child have given the show’s rankings quite a boost.

Some celebrities make a big splash with their weddings. Others do it on the quiet. There were a couple of examples of the latter this week. Nakagawa Tsuyoshi (left, 32) the shy elder brother of the comedy duo Nakagawa-kei revealed that he got married last October and is soon to be a father. But topping that was Masuda Hidehiko (33) of the popular manzai duo Masuda-Okada, who admitted having been married on the sly for the last six years!

The members of one of last year’s best-selling artists, rap group Rip Slyme, are to play five solo gigs on April 1st. Each event — featuring rappers Ryo-Z, Su, Pes, Ilmari or DJ Fumiya — will take place at a separate live house in Tokyo’s Shibuya area and all will kick off at 6pm. Which member will play which venue will not be announced. The unusual “April Fool Special” schedule will no doubt create publicity for their upcoming new live Budokan album, “Rip Slyme Orchestra Plus.”

Three years after her last release, Shiina Ringo (24) is back with a new album, a new single and a new lifestyle. Dressed in a simple black kimono, she gave an interview on Chikushi Tetsuya’s “News 23” show on TBS. The singer-songwriter, who has greatly influenced the style of female pop and rock over the last few years, spoke frankly about her recent divorce and the unusual title of her new album. “Karuki, Zahmen, Kuri no Hana” translates as “Bleach, Semen, Chestnut Blossom”, which she describes as how men appear — or rather smell — to women. She also said she wants to perform live with Utada Hikaru and other stars in the future.

A Tokyo court ordered acid-tongued Dewi Sukarno (63) to pay ¥2.2 million to an unnamed stage actress in a defamation case. During a routine press conference in 2001, she named the actress as the mistress of playboy actor Kawasaki Mayo. The judge said that the claim had been based only on what she heard from Kawasaki’s American wife Kaiya. “Dewi Fujin”, widow of the late Indonesian leader, has made a lot of enemies with her outspoken opinions on TV over the last few years.

Fuji TV announcer Masai Maya (26) has broken off her engagement to Fuji producer Hiraga Kimiyasu (39), and is now seeing fellow announcer Nishioka Takahiro (27). Meanwhile also at Fuji, newlyweds actress Esumi Makiko (36) and director Hirano Makoto (37) are both starting on new drama series in April. Esumi will star in “Marusa!!” while hubby is in charge of the prime time Monday 9pm slot.