Monthly Archives: March 2003

Veteran movie and TV actor Nishida Toshiyuki (55) was rushed to hospital after suffering an acute heart attack on Monday. He is expected to recover after a couple of weeks of rehabilitation. He is best known for his roles as ‘Piggy’ in the classic TV series “Saiyuki” (Monkey Magic) and as the fishing fool of the movie series “Tsuri Baka Nisshi.”

Two of Japan’s most popular female entertainers have teamed up to form a singing duo. Comedienne Hisamoto Masami (left, 42) and singer Wada Akiko (52) have worked together often and this week released their first single, whose title translates as something like “Things I Learned from Onions.” ‘Matchami’ has been voted No.1 in NHK’s popularity ranking for the last two years. ‘Akko’ also regularly makes the Top 10 and is currently celebrating her 35th year in showbiz.

Assault charges were filed against Nakagawa Reiji (31), the younger of the two brothers who make up the popular Nakaga-kei comedy duo. A woman whom he met while the pair were appearing in Hiroshima told police that he had got drunk and hit her in a local bar. He denied the charges saying that it was just a “tsukomi”, a staple part of Japanese manzai where one comedian slaps the other around the head. The duo are part of the huge Yoshimoto talent agency. Elder brother Tsuyoshi married recently while Reiji was married briefly back in 1999.

New York Yankees outfielder Matsui Hideki (28) is the man of the moment in the Japanese media, and it’s still only the pre-season. “Godzilla” hit his first home run in the Yankees pin-stripes against the Cincinnati Reds. Almost half the country’s TV viewers at the time were tuned in to the game, though it was broadcast live at 4:30 am Japan time.

TV personality Kanda Uno (27) revealed that she had returned the engagement ring given to her by company president Yamano Mikio (34). The former ballet dancer said that she had doubts about whether marriage would really make her happy. No doubt she has been influenced by the recent divorce of good friend Umemiya Anna. The fact that being extremely conceited and spoilt doesn’t bode well in such matters seems to have eluded both of them. Kanda says she and Yamano are still going out. Good luck to him.