Keeping with yesterday’s divorce theme, actor Watanabe Ken (photo, 44) and his wife Yumiko (44) seem to be getting closer to a settlement in their ongoing Tokyo district court case. The main bone of contention are the huge debts built up by Yumiko, revealed in court to be ¥180 million. Her husband says he doesn’t know where the money went, but she claims he told her to use it to hush up various “scandals.” A final decision is to be handed down on September 9.
• Meanwhile, the same district court held the first hearing in the divorce case initiated by former pro wrestler Onita Atsushi (46), currently a member of the House of Councillors. His lawyer said that the couple have been living apart for some time. His wife (43) is refusing the divorce, saying that his work keeps him away from home for long periods anyway, so their separation shouldn’t be considered the same as for an ordinary couple. Onita has one high-school age son.