Chosen last year in a magazine poll as the variety act most likely to disappear this year, Sanpei (26) talked on a variety show the other night about how close he came to realizing this fate himself. The unassuming and overweight comedian became an overnight star a couple of summers ago and soon everyone was copying his “Sanpei desu!” gesture. Even a visiting Britney Spears got in on the act, with her “Buri-chan desu!” version. Sanpei made hay while the sun shone, with a slew of TV appearances and commercials. But he’s yet to come up with a new routine, so he may not be around for long after all.
• The sequence to one of the most controversial movies of recent years, Battle Royale II, opened strongly at the weekend box office. It was seen by 230,000 people and pulled in over ¥300 million. It is expected to gross around ¥5 billion.