Veteran actress Nakamura Tamao (63) has been named honorary “village chief” of the Nihon Showa Mura theme park. The park is based around a reproduction of Japan in the mid-Showa era (1950s and 60s. The Showa Era was from 1926 to 1989). Nakamura is the widow of the famous actor Katsu Shintaro (1931-1997). He is best remembered for his legendary role as the blind swordsman Zatoichi. Kitano “Beat” Takeshi recently revealed that he is planning to play the character in his upcoming movie, adding that he would never have dared to do so while Katsu was alive.
• Rob Marshall, director of Oscar winning movie Chicago, has cancelled a planned promo trip to Japan due to the outbreak of SARS in Asia. There have still been no cases reported in Japan.