Monthly Archives: March 2003

Rakugoka Hayashiya Kobuhei (40) is to assume the name Hayashiya Shozo IX from the spring of 2005. As in the other traditional arts, such as kabuki or noh, stage names of the traditional comic story tellers are passed down through the generations. The name Shozo was “loaned” by Kobuhei’s grandfather outside the family for the duration of the 8th generation, and will be returning to the family bloodline for the first time in 24 years. Kobuhei started his career in 1978 and in 1987 was the youngest ever to be promoted to “shinuchi,” a qualification given to those comic storytellers who demonstrate superior skill. He can often be seen on TV variety shows but has recently been promoting traditional rakugo.

The samurai TV series “Abarenbo Shogun” is to come to an end after 25 years and 830 episodes, the second longest series of its kind. Star Matsudaira Ken (49) said he was sad, adding that he had hoped to reach the 1,000 mark. The final episode will air on TV Asahi on April 7.

• Several stars have stated their opposition to the war in Iraq. Singers including Utada Hikaru (20) and Yaida Hitomi (24) and actors Fujiwara Norika (31) and Kubotsuka Yosuke (23) have all posted anti-war messages on their websites. Singer Misia (24) appeared at an event to launch her new live DVD wearing a “No War” t-shirt.

There are rumours of romance between Matsushima Naomi (31) of the comedy duo Othello (photo, right) and Azuma Takahiro (33) of the combi Take2. Azuma was seen buying her ¥400,000 Tiffany earrings in Tokyo’s trendy Mishuku district.

• “Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla” star Shaku Yumiko (24) is to star in the movie version of her popular TV series “Sky High.” Shaku plays Izuko, guardian of a gate between this world and the afterlife, who listens to the tragic tales of murder victims. The show has scored high ratings despite its late-night time slot.

Beautiful young actress Fukiishi Kazue (20) is to be the first woman to play superhero Ultraman, in this summer’s movie “Ultraman Cosmos vs. Ultraman Justice.” There have been many members of the Ultraman family, including one “bi-sexual” in the early 1970s, when both a man and a woman transformed into the hero.

• “Chijo no Hoshi”, the single by Nakajima Miyuki (51) has become a million-seller after 139 straight weeks in the charts. SMAP’s latest single broke that mark in less than a week.

• Okuda Miri (41), who divorced actor Sakai Masaaki two years ago, has remarried. Her husband is a 46-year old sports and fitness advisor.

• NHK and TBS have announced that their live coverage of the opening games of the J-League season will be cancelled if the expected US-led attack on Iraq begins this weekend.

We’ve been seeing a lot of Koizumi Kotaro (24) in the last year and a half. The Prime Minister’s son entered showbusiness in 2001 and has been busy doing TV and commercial work since. Next month he is to get his own weekly show on Fuji TV, tentatively titled “Kotaro ga Yuku” (Kotaro Goes). He will seek out and interview big players in various walks of life. The first ‘target’ is baseball legend and current Daiei Hawks manager Oh Sadaharu.

• Up and coming “visual” rock band Akira were involved in a traffic accident at the weekend. Kimishima Hirotaka (18) was left unconscious and the four other band members slightly injured when their tour van was hit from behind by a refrigerator truck on the Tomei Expressway.

J-pop diva Hamasaki Ayumi was in the spotlight yet again, after making a rare appearance at the Tokyo FM radio studio in the middle of Tokyo’s trendy Shibuya district. The studio is visible to passers-by on the famous Spain-zaka street, and more than 1,000 people mobbed the area for a glimpse of the star. Some female fans were said to be in tears after such a close-up encounter with the aura of their idol.

• The latest in the recent spate of Hollywood remakes of Japanese hit movies is said to be Kurosawa Akira’s “Shichinin no Samurai” (The Seven Samurai). The movie was already the inspiration for 1960’s The Magnificent Seven, but the latest project is said to be happening under the Disney umbrella. Another movie in the works is a version of “Shall We Dance?” with Richard Gere in the lead.

Popular enka singer Itsuki Hiroshi held an extravagant 55th birthday party at the Yokohama Arena on Friday. Actually it was a concert for 12,000 fans, many of whom may well have turned up to see the impressive line up of star guests. These included Morning Musume, Da Pump, veteran actors such as Watari Tetsuya and Matsukata Hiroki, and former sports stars Konishiki and Ochiai Hiromichi.

Two new presenters have been announced for the late-night Fuji TV show “Sport!” Both are recently crowned beauty queens with no TV experience. The Sunday night job will go to Miss Japan 2003 Aizawa Reiko (left, 22), a senior at the Tamagawa University foreign language department. Honda Akiko (19), Miss Rikkyo (Uni.) will take over on Friday nights.

Onuki Ami (29) and her husband, Glay vocalist Teru (31), are the proud parents of a baby girl. Onuki is one half of the pop group Puffy who recently tried their luck with a live tour of the US, to mixed reviews. The couple married in April of last year.

The Gold Disc Award for artist of the year went to Utada Hikaru (20) for the second time. As in 2000, she accepted her prize by video at the awards ceremony, held at the NHK Hall in Shibuya, Tokyo. She joins Chage & Aska, trf and Hamasaki Ayumi as the only double winners. The award is based on sales for the previous year. Utada’s album and singles sales reached well over 6 million copies. She won six awards in all, including three for singles, one for Best Rock and Pop Album and one for Music Video of the Year. The Album of the Year award went to Korean artist BoA.

The king of 90s J-Pop is back in business. This month will see a new album “Level4” by Komuro Tetsuya’s (44) group Globe, featuring his new wife Keiko (30) on vocals, Marc Panther (30) and a new addition, former X-Japan drummer Yoshiki (36). The first single “Get it on Now, feat. Keiko” will be released March 26. Renamed Shinsei Globe, the group will play live for one night only at the Tokyo Dome in July. It will be Yoshiki’s first real live show since X-Japan broke up in 1997.