Actor Shimizu Kentaro (51) was sentenced yesterday at the Tokyo district court to 28 months for use of marijuana and stimulant drugs. The judge addressed him, saying, “You have fans supporting you all over the country. Do you swear never to touch drugs again?” Shimizu answered, “Yes.” He does not plan to appeal the sentence. Shimizu did time for the same offence in 1994.
• A new pop trio including Morning Musume member Ishikawa Rika (19) was announced yesterday. Biyuuden also includes Miyoshi Erika (19), who was the only person to pass last August’s audition to join the Hello! Project troupe, and Okada Yui (16), who was one of 32 new additions in June. The trio will release their debut single on September 23. Ishikawa is set to graduate from Momus next spring.
• The weekly magazine Focus has revealed a relationship between actress and former 80s idol Yakushimaru Hiroko (40) and a chief cameraman at NHK. Yakushimaru divorced singer Tamaki Koji (45) in 1998.