Yasuda Kei (22) made her farewell to Morning Musume in a recent concert that also saw the official arrival of four new members. The group played its final show in their national tour at the Saitama Super Arena. The group now stands at 15 members.
• Renowned musician Chikubo Shoyaku (45) has been arrested for sexually molesting a junior high school girl at his home in a Tokyo suburb. Chikubo is a naturalized Chinese who plays the traditional Kokyu instrument.
• Singer Shima Koichi (60) has been arrested for swindling a woman out of ¥6 million in 2001. He told the woman he needed the money to pay for the release of a new CD and that he would pay her back from book royalties. He indeed made his recording debut two months later but never repaid the money.