If you’re wondering who that was belting out the national anthem before Japan’s friendly international against Senegal last night, it was 29-year old singer Lyrico. Thanks to her impressive 4-octave vocal range, Kimigayo has rarely sounded better.
• Kawada Hiroki (28) of the popular comedy duo Garage Sale married yesterday, on the anniversary of the day he and his 25-year old wife met. Gori, the other half of the duo, married last December and the couple had their first baby last month.
• Singer Abe “Acchi” Asami (18), younger sister of Morning Musume founding member Abe “Nacchi” Natsumi (22), is to play her first live show, at Zepp Tokyo on December 21. The elder Abe announced recently that she is to “graduate” from MM and go solo.