TV personality Yoshikawa Hinano (23) has been ordered by her doctor not to take to the stage next week. She was due t star in a stage production but has been diagnosed with a swollen throat. Hinano was briefly married to cross-dressing singer Izam in 1999 (photo).
• Fuji TV recently topped the viewer ratings for 4 weeks in a row for the first time in almost ten years. During the period from August 25 to September 21, popular shows like “Toribia no Izumi” and “Waterboys” drew consistently high ratings, averaging almost 16% in the 7-11pm prime time slot. Last week’s Judo World Championships did even better, drawing over 20% for five nights in a row.
Meanwhile, the Fuji TV-backed movie “Bayside Shakedown 2” has now reached ¥15.5 billion in box office returns. But Fuji president Murakami Koichi (63) apologized again at a press conference for the trouble caused by the popular Wednesday night comedy show “One Night Rock & Roll.” Following a skit that made fun of Daiei Hawks manager and baseball legend Oh Sadaharu, Fuji may not be able to televise the Japan Series. The Hawks look likely to win the Pacific League pennant and play the Hanshin Tigers in the series.