The buildup has already started to this year’s Kohaku Utagassen. The NHK New Year’s Eve song spectacular has seen dwindling audience figures in recent years and the broadcaster is having a harder time than in the past attracting top stars. NHK carried out its annual poll of who people want to see in the lineup: topping the list of male stars was young enka singer Hikawa Kiyoshi (27), followed by SMAP, a couple more enka celebs – 40-time veteran Kitajima Saburo (68) and 33-timer Itsuki Hiroshi (53) – and soul balladeer Hirai Ken (32). The top female star was Tendo Yoshimi (49). In 2nd and 3rd were a couple of younger popsters, Utada Hikaru (21) and Shibasaki Kou (23), neither of whom have appeared on Kohaku. After them came enka singer Sakamoto Fuyumi (37) and pop diva Hamasaki Ayumi (26), who has been on 5 times.
• “Casshern,” the directorial debut by Kiriya Kazuaki (36), is to be shown at U.S. cinemas through major studio Dream Works. The news follows the recent U.S. debut of Kiriya’s wife, Utada Hikaru (21), who sings the movie’s title track.
• Kabuki actor Nakamura Jakuemon (84) is one of five people to receive the Order of Cultural Merit this year. Among 15 others commended for their contribution to culture were movie director Yamada Yoji (73) and theatrical director Ninogawa Yukio (69). Yamada was known for years as the director of the long-running “Otoko wa Tsurai Yo” movie series. But in the last couple of years he has made a very successful switch to period, samurai dramas.