Monthly Archives: April 2003

The latest “hot” movie is an action flick starring two of Japan’s most narcissistic rock stars. Gackt (photo), who is enjoying huge success these days as a solo artist and in various TV commercials, came up with the script for “Moon Child” and co-stars with Hyde. Both singers made their names with visual rock bands, Gackt with the short-lived Malice Mizer and Hyde as front man for L’Arc en Ciel. Despite his ability in several languages and being classically trained in a virtual orchestra of instruments, Gackt trades very much in his image as the cool silent type. But recent commercials have revealed a sense of humor that indicate previously hidden depth to his character.

“Mandan” comic Ayanokoji Kimimaro (52) has admitted stealing some of his best gags. Several jokes were taken directly from a compilation of contributions from real office workers put together by Dai-ichi Seimei insurance company. Kimimaro has re-released last year’s best-selling CD and book with the “second hand” material edited out. He has been entertaining middle-aged fans for years on the comedy circuit but grabbed headlines last year when a live album sold a whopping 750,000 copies. His style of comedy is rarely seen on Japanese TV but is much closer to western stand-up than the popular “manzai.”

R&B duo Chemistry played the Nippon Budokan for the first time yesterday as the Tokyo leg of their 17-city national tour. With this being their third tour, it’s hard to believe they made their debut only in March of 2001. The show was attended by 12,000 fans and centered around songs from their current album “Second to None.”

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.

An impressive lineup of 1980s Grammy winners and chart toppers are to record an album of hits by singer/songwriter Takeuchi Mariya (48). The artists include Cindi Lauper, Christopher Cross and Kim Carnes and the album will be produced by David Foster, who has worked with Madonna and Celine Dion among others. Needless to say, the songs will be translated into English.

• TV personality and former ballet dancer Kanda Uno (28) has further dampened rumors of any impending marriage to Yamano Mikio (34), president of the Yamano Group. She recently said that she had returned the engagement ring he gave her and now says that they have become just friends.

Actress Takashima Reiko (38) and her husband, actor Takachi Noboru (38), have had their home broken into yet again. The couple’s Setagaya Ward apartment was robbed while they were both away filming on location. An estimated 10 million yen’s worth of jewellery and cash was stolen. The couple were also burglarized back in 1999 in their former home. The posh apartment building is also home to pro golfer Yokoh Kaname and his wife, former pin-up Kato Reiko, and actor Bessho Tetsuya.

Voters in the northern city of Morioka have chosen a man for the Iwate Prefectural Assembly without even seeing his face! Masked pro wrestler The Great Sasuke (33) got more votes than any of the other 11 candidates for the ten seats up for grabs. He said that he plans to attend assembly meetings in his mask and that he will work to deal with problems with the medical system and child abuse. If he moves up to the national level, he’ll be following in the footsteps of such famous grapplers as Antonio Inoki and Onita Atsushi. (By the way, The Great Sasuke’s real identity is Murakawa Masanori). Another sportsman elected, in Saitama Prefecture, was former J-Leaguer Taguchi Yasunori.

• Kabuki actor Ichikawa Shinnosuke (25) was late for the opening ceremony of a statue of samurai hero Miyamoto Musashi, the part he plays in the current NHK taiga drama. The statue is located at the scene of the famous Duel at Ganryujima, for which Japan’s most famous swordsman was also late. Coincidence?

• Kinki Kids have extended their world record with a 16th consecutive single going straight to No.1 in the Oricon chart.

Kicking off national tours in Chiba Prefecture yesterday were former Morning Musume member Goto Maki (photo, 17) in her first solo tour, and rock unit Do As Infinity.

• Veteran Yoshimoto comedian Ikeno Medaka (59) is the latest to announce that he has had “petit seikei” or minor plastic surgery, which is all the rage these days. He had one of the most common operations — getting double eyelids. There have even been cases reported of parents encouraging their elementary school kids to have surgery.

Chosen for the 2003 Nice Couple of the Year award were kabuki actor Matsumoto Koshiro (photo) and his wife Noriko, last year’s Nobel Prize winner Koshiba Masatoshi and Keiko, enka singing couple Mori Shinichi and Masako, and senior tour golfer Aoki Isao and his wife Chie.

Veteran actor Ashiya Gannosuke (71) was rushed to a Nagoya hospital after a sudden heart failure. His condition is said to be comfortable. He had just made his stage comeback after more than two years absence.

• Actress Shimizu Misa (32) has given birth to her second child. The baby boy was born in Maryland in the US.