Former Speed member Imai Eriko (21) has given birth to her first child, a baby boy, at a Tokyo hospital. She married Shogo (24), vocalist of the hip-hop group 175R, in June after a relationship of about a year. Next month will see the release of her first greatest hits album “Single Collection – Stairway.” Speed, the Okinawa pop group that got their start as backup singers for Amuro Namie (26), were one of the biggest names at the turn of the century. They broke up in 2000 and have played only charity events since.
• The silly award season is back. Among this year’s “Megane Best Dresser” award winners for people who look good in glasses were Cutie Honey actress Sato Eriko (22), retired news reader Kume Hiroshi (60) and popular golfer Miyazato Ai (19). And the “Best Leathernist” award went to actress Ishikawa Asami (27) for looking good in leather.