Korean soap opera star Bae Yong Joon (32), known in Japan simply as “Yon-sama,” is rumored to have broken up with his “cho bikei” (extremely beautiful) girlfriend. The reason cited by a Korean sports newspaper was his extremely busy schedule, not only in his home country but also in Japan, where he is the most visible face of the current Korean boom.
• Minor actors Kawano Taro (44) and Ikuina Akiko (36) received equally minor injuries in a traffic accident yesterday. They were returning from a location in Yamaguchi prefecture by taxi van when the accident happened.
• Actor Ogishima Shinichi died of cancer at a Tokyo hospital last Thursday. He was 58. His final performance was as a guest star in a “Mito Komon” episode last November.