Monthly Archives: November 2003

TV personality Hinagata Akiko (25) has separated from her TV-commercial director husband Yamamoto Kazuma (36). The couple married in 1999 and have a 3-year old daughter. Hinagata, who is with the Yellow Cab agency, known for its stable of busty starlets, was caught having an affair in 2001 and the couple’s marriage never recovered. She and her daughter are now living with her mother. Those of you who watch too much TV may have noticed Hinagata making more and more regular TV appearances after fading away following her marriage, a clear sign in such cases that someone has chosen career over family.

• Actress Kobayashi Chitose died on Wednesday of heart failure. She was 66. Born in Seoul, Korea, she made her name in dramas on the NHK network, including the famous series of the early 1980s “Oshin”.

The big names are being rolled out for the annual Kohaku New Year’s Eve song contest on NHK. One of the biggest TV events every year, an appearance on Kohaku is considered a sign of having made the big time, even if only temporarily. Matsui Masao (61) is enjoying sharing the limelight with his son, NY Yankees outfielder Matsui Hideki (photo, 29). “PapaGoji,” so named after his son’s nickname of Godzilla, is to sing a duet with 12-time vetran enka singer Kasai Kaori (40). The pair recorded a hit single this year. The younger Matsui is to be a judge on Kohaku, but a father-son double act seems too good for NHK to resist. Also among the more than 60 artists on the bill are Morning Musume, J-pop diva Hamasaki Ayumi (25), and the “nande-daro” comedy duo of Tetsu and Tomo.

Full Kohaku lineup (Japanese)

Two foreign-born sumo giants have been in the news recently. Former Yokozuna Akebono (34) announced that he was turning his back on the Sumo Association and accepting a lucrative offer to fight in the increasingly poplar K-1 sport. He will face former NFL lineman Bob Sapp in what will probably be one of the most hyped TV events of the New Year schedule. The main reason seems to be money, as he said to not have had enough to buy his way into the lifelong security of an oyakata (stablemaster) position. The Hawaiian-born Akebono was the first foreigner to reach sumo’s highest rank. The second, Musashimaru (photo, 32), finally announced his retirement mid-way through the ongoing basho. After missing six straight tournaments, his career was on the line. But a recurring wrist injury, not mention being about 8okg over his prime fighting weight, meant that he couldn’t perform at the high level expected of a Yokozuna. After he rakes in some money from his retirement ceremony and bonuses, he is expected to leave Japan and sumo behind.

Abe Natsumi (photo, 22) is the latest member of Morning Musume to announce her ‘graduation’ from the group. She is scheduled to make her debut in a starring role in a musical next February. Her ‘graduation ceremony’ will be a MM show at Yokohama Arena at the end of January. “Nacchi” is one of the most popular members of the group and is sure to be successful in her own right.

• Following the recent scandal at NTV, the company’s CEO has resigned and other senior execs have volunteered for demotion. The scandal involved a producer bribing viewers taking part in TV ratings surveys. The 41-year old producer has been fired.

• Pin-up idol turned TV personality and girl-next-door Yuka (23) has been awarded the Best Hair award for 2003.

It was revealed yesterday that TV Asahi presenter Tokunaga Yumi (28) and her producer husband divorced in September. Tokunaga was embroiled in an affair scandal this spring with comedian Uchimura Teruyoshi (39, photo, U-chan of the duo U-chan Nan-chan), who has something of a reputation as an “announcer killer.” She quit as presenter (usually called ‘announcer’, or ‘ana’ for short) of the Super Morning show following the scandal. There is also a story circulating of a rape case involving a TV Asahi employee that the company has kept covered up for the last six months. With the impending resignation of some senior NTV officials over a scandal at that station (see Oct. 29 news story), TV is in the news for the wrong reasons these days.

The celebrity couple chosen as the “Partners of the Year” for 2003 are actor and director Okuda Eiji (53) and his wife, actress and essayist Ando Kazu (55), who will celebrate their 25th anniversary next January. The couple received a matching pair of platinum rings. Okuda said it was just as well as he’d lost his wedding ring!

• According to the Wall Street Journal, the TV rights to broadcast MLB games in Japan are to increase threefold next season. The cost this year was about $13 million, and that’s set to jump to $275 million for the next six years, about $46 million a year. This is largely due to the success of such stars as Matsui Hideki ( NY Yankees) and Ichiro (Seattle Mariners).