Monthly Archives: June 2004

Up-and-coming actor Kubozuka Yosuke (25) has miraculously survived a fall from the balcony of his 9th floor apartment in Yokohama. He was conscious when taken to a nearby hospital on Sunday afternoon but no further information is yet available on his condition. Police, who are investigating the possibility of a suicide attempt, said in a statement that the 26m fall was broken in part by a “fence-like” roof near the bottom. Kubozuka has a trail of strange events and activities behind him suggesting he has an afinity for drugs or, at best, is just plain flaky. He married a dancer a year ago and the couple had a baby in October.

J-pop star Utada Hikaru (21) will release two new DVDs on July 28. “Hikaru no 5” is over two hours of live performance and based on a series of shows she did at Tokyo’s venerable Budokan in February. The other is a DVD single version of her latest hit “Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro”. It will feature many of the cast of her husband Kiriya Kazuaki’s highly-acclaimed movie making debut “Casshern.”

Actor Kashiwabara Takashi (27) and former TV personality Hatano Hiroko (photo, 28) are said to be on the verge of getting hitched. Their parents were recently seen dining together, a common sign that nuptials are being planned. The couple met while appearing together in the TBS drama “Koi no Kamisama” four years ago. Hatano retired from showbusiness a year and a half ago, the first sign of an impending marriage. They are currently living together in Tokyo.

• Actress Sugita Kaoru (39) is to release a cover of her own 1981 hit “Tori no Uta”, her first new single in 23 years. Sugita has been a variety show regular over the last couple of years, her “selling point” being her image as a straight-talking woman who’s fond of a drink, and destined never to find true love. She started her acting career at the tender age of 8 and had her breakthrough at 15 on the hugely popular TV series “3-nen B-kumi Kimpachi Sensei”.

A series of performances to mark kabuki actor Ichikawa Shinnosuke’s (26) assumption of the title Ichikawa Ebizo XI takes place from today in Osaka’s Shochiku-za theater. Ichikawa is one of the most popular of the current young generation of kabuki stars. A special train, “Ebizo-go”, will run one way between Keihan Tenman and Kourien stations on June 30, on which Ichikawa will “visit” the Narita-san temple of his ancestors to announce his succession.

• Three of the younger groups belonging to the prolific Johnny’s Jimusho agency will take part in a “big top” event this summer. News, Kat-tun and Ya-Ya-Yah will perform songs and show video footage during the “Summary” show, which will run August 8-29 at the Harajuku Big Top.

Showbiz super-couple Sorimachi Takashi (30) and Matsushima Nanako (30) are now proud parents. Matsushima gave birth to a baby girl in a Tokyo hospital on May 31. The pair appeared together in the 1998 drama “GTO” and married in 2001.

• The lineup for The Who’s upcoming Japan dates has been announced. Original members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend will be joined by Zack Starkey – son of Ringo Starr – and Simon Townshend, joining his brother on guitar. The band, celebrating their 40th year in the business, will join Aerosmith, Red Hot Chili Peppers and other major international and domestic names at the inaugral Rock Odessey festival on July 24-25. The event will be split between Yokohama International Stadium and Osaka Dome.

Actor Eguchi Yosuke (36) and his wife, singer Moritaka Chisato (35) have teamed up to make their first TV appearance together since they married in 1999. They appear in a new commercial for House Java curry, starting today. Over the years, the brand has featured several real-life couples, including Hollywood martial arts star “Sonny” Chiba Shinichi (65) and his wife, Nogiwa Yoko (68). Moritaka was famous for her long legs during a career as an idol singer in the 1990s.