NHK chairman Ebisawa Katsuji (70) has finally indicated that he may step down as early as March. The public broadcaster has been beset with scandals and poor ratings for the last year. Just two days ago, a producer was arrested for the second time for embezzling program funds. Ebisawa has recently even taken the unprecedented step of appearing on the channel to apologize. But the number of viewers who refuse to pay their subscription fees continues to grow, and most want to see Ebisawa go. He has been chairman since 1996 and is in his third term, a long time by recent standards.
• The upcoming 6th movie version of the popular “One Piece” anime series will feature a theme tune by “tsuppari” rock band Kishidan. With their outlandish hairdos and student uniforms, the band look like bosozoku bike punks, but have been becoming very popular over the last year or so. Band leader Ayanokoji “Thelonius” Sho will do the voice narration for the character of Kotetsu. The movie is set to open on March 5.
• Takarazuka star Dan Rei announced this week that she is to retire in August. She joined the troupe in 1992 and became female star of the Star Troupe in 2003 alongside “male” star Kozuki Wataru.