In a rare TV hiccup, the TBS travel documentary “Sekai Ururun Taizaiki” was interrupted for more than a minute last night. A “teroppu” message saying “Please wait” was broadcast. The exact cause is still not known but is believed to have been an error in the TV commercial data. The show features young TV personalities who are sent to spend a week with families in remote world locations.
• J Friends, the group formed by Johnny’s Jimusho band members to raise money for Kobe earthquake relief, has come to an end. The 13 members of Tokio, Kinki Kids (photo) and V6 raised more than ¥870 million over 9 years.
• The female duo Hana-Hana announced on the last night of a national tour that they are going to take a few months off. 26-year olds Ono Makiko and Kojima Izumi have had a breakneck couple of years, with hits like “Ah, Yokatta” and “Sayonara Daisukina Hito”, and making their Kohaku debut last New Year’s Eve.