The new queen of the TV commercial world is actress Hasegawa Kyoko (26), according to Video Research Comhouse. “Hasekyo” appeared for a total of almost 29 hours of on-air time in the Kanto region during the first half of the year, pushing such sponsors as NTT DoCoMo, Canon and Nihon Seimei insurance. She jumped up from 94th place in last year’s list. Second and third places went to Lasaru Ishii (48) and Kisa Ayako (33) both mainly for insurance company Alico Japan. In fourth was N.Y. Yankees slugger Matsui Hideki (30). Topping the rankings for the Kansai region was recently married actress Mizuno Maki (34).
• Almost 100 young members of the Johnny’s Jimusho talent agency appeared in a music spectacle in Tokyo’s Harajuku on Sunday. The production cost ¥1.2 billion and was held at a newly unveiled “big top” theater. It featured 8m-high fountains, a 360-degree screen and singers flying all over the place on suspension wires. Johhny’s is known for producing most of the top male pop music acts, with current big names including SMAP, Tokio, V6, and Arashi.