Monthly Archives: January 2005

Soma Kazuhiko, the man who changed the Japanese music world with Pink Lady in the 1970s and 80s, died this week. He was 60. A funeral ceremony was held at the Daughters of Saint Paul Church in Tokyo. Pink Lady, a pop duo made up of Masuda Keiko (Kei, 47) and Nemoto Mitsuyo (Mii, 46), became superstars under Soma’s guidance in the late 70s. They enjoyed a revival in 2003, embarking on their first national tour since they broke up in 1981.

• There has been a major leak of online data on many of the top Korean entertainment stars. The 113-page file contains embarrassing and scathingly critical information on over 100 of Korea’s best-loved celebrities, including many who are currently big in Japan. It includes claims of violence and sexual perversion as well as personal and physical faults of such people as Bae Yong Joon (photo, 32) and Lee Byung Hun (34).

• Actress Nami Etsuko (54) is suffering from a nasty form of osteoarthritis. The disease alters bone structure and causes infected blisters on the palms and soles of the feet. She is expected to undergo hospital treatment in the near future.

Singer songwriter Yoriko (20) has made her major label debut. She made her indie debut in 2002, and became known as much for the fact that she conquered cancer as a child as for her angelic voice. She took a year off when overwhelmed by her early success. With the new album “Cocoon” coming out on the Toshiba EMI label, more people will get to hear the voice that radio listeners have described as “life-affirming.”

• Yesterday, actress Sugita Kaoru (40) made her first public appearance since her marriage “shocked” the entertainment world last week. Elegantly dressed and wearing a 3-carat diamond wedding ring, she spoke to the media at a PR event for the upcoming movie “Lakeside Murder Case.” Her marriage to the wealthy Ayukawa Junta (44), a descendant of the founder of Nissan, has been described as a “tama nokoshi” wedding. The expression translates as “a palanquin set with jewels” and refers to a woman who marries into a fortune. With a history of broken hearts, alcoholism and huge debts, and an image of “the woman least likely to marry,” Sugita has certainly turned things around.

Popular actress Kiki Kirin (62, real name Uchida Keiko) has undergone emergency surgery at a Tokyo hospital, reportedly for breast cancer. She was admitted about a week ago and is still hospitalized. Her daughter, Uchida Yayako, and son-in-law, actor Motoki Masahiro have been visiting her every day. Kiki suffered a detached retina last year and lost the sight in her left eye. She also suffers from asthma and said she was worried whether she had the physical strength to undergo surgery. These days she often appears in comic roles in many TV commercials, most recently in an ongoing series for Fujicolor.

• Inoue Noriko (26), a model who has appeared in over 100 commercials, is to make her dramatic debut. She will appear in “Fukigen no Gene” on the Fuji TV network. The drama will star one of the hottest actresses of the moment, Takeuchi Yuko (24).

Actress Matsuyuki Yasuko (photo, 32) revealed on her official web site on Saturday that she and her husband, guitarist Gaku (39), have divorced after seven years of marriage. She said that the couple have both been busy with their careers and have been separated since last April. Matsuyuki retains custody of their 3-year old son.

• Another recent breakup was between actor Ishida Junichi (50) and model Hasegawa Rie (31). The pair decided over the Christmas holidays to end their relationship of over eight years, and Hasegawa confirmed the breakup to reporters at the weekend on her return from location in New Zealand. &$149; NHK has announced that it will no longer carry out its annual surveys of viewers favorite TV stars. The national broadcaster said that there are now enough private research companies providing such services. Comedian Akashiya Sanma has topped the male rankings for the last 6 years, while comedienne Hisamoto Masami has been No.1 for 3 years.

The popular NTV talk show “Oshare Kankei” is to come to an end in March after a 10-year run. Hosted by Furutachi Ichiro (50) and co-hosted by Watanabe Marina (34), it has been one of the most popular Sunday night shows for some time. But since taking over the main weeknight news slot on TV Asahi from Kume Hiroshi, Furutachi has been looking to focus more on that. Kume became a regular fixture in many living rooms during his 18 years on “News Station,” and his successor is probably hoping to build the same legacy with the new version, “Houdou Station.”

• A signed photo of Korean heart-throb Bae Yong Joon (32) that had received bids of over ¥300,000 on Yahoo! Japan’s auction site turns out to have been a fake. The actor’s Tokyo management company has warned fans, mostly middle-aged women who he refers to as his “family,” on his official site.• Veteran actress Yoshinaga Sayuri (59) has just wrapped up her 111th movie. In “Kita no Zeronen” (Year One in the North) she plays the wife of Watanabe Ken in an original story set in post-Meiji era Hokkaido.

The entertainment world got a bit of a shock when actress Sugita Kaoru (40) announced that she got married this week. And what’s more, she married the very wealthy company president Ayukawa Junta (44), meaning she’ll be able to lead what is called a “celeb” lifestyle. The couple only met last December, so it’s a classic example of a “dengeki kekkon,” or speed wedding. Sugita became a star when still a child and cultivated an image of the “girl next door.” But the pressure of that image turned her into a rebel in her late teens and she became known as a fiery women who speaks her mind and likes a drink. In recent years, she’s been the poster girl for unmarried women heading into middle age, often referred to as “ma-ke inu.” Literally meaning “loser dog,” it can be translated as someone who has failed to follow the usual track to marriage and happiness. Sugita has been able to cash in on this image to ensure herself regular spots on variety shows. In her statement to the media she didn’t say whether she will continue working. Ayukawa, who was born in Boston and graduated from MIT, comes from a very distinguished family that includes former politicians and the founder of the Nissan zaibatsu.

Former Checkers sax player Fujii Naoyuki (photo, 40) revealed in a postcard sent out to fan club members that he got married at the New Year. he said he married “A-san” in a ceremony in Hawaii, the most popular winter destination for Japanese celebrities. Also in attendance was his elder brother, singer/songwriter and former Checkers vocalist Fujii Fumiya (42).

• The official Japanese web site of Korean heart-throb Bae Yong Joon (32) has reopened. The site was hacked on Christmas Eve last year, and “Yon-sama” thanked his “family” of fans for their patience in waiting 18 days for it to reopen. Site administrators in Tokyo are working with police to look into the attack. Meanwhile “Winter Sonata,” the show that made Bae a household name in Japan, is a hit all over again in Korea. Last Saturday, KBS broadcast the original first two episodes in a late-night slot usually reserved for hit Western movies. They both scored very high ratings for the slot, as Koreans try to work out why their popular culture icons have become so big in Japan.

Singer Suzuki Ami (22) announced a recent concert that she has signed with the Avex record label. Once one of the biggest pop stars, her career went into a dive four years ago after disputes and a court case with her former label.

• Popular rakugo comedian Shoufukutei Nikaku (67) is to become a special consultant to the Yoshimoto talent agency. The appointment was a request in the will of former chairman Hayashi Hiroaki, who died on January 3.

• A couple of big Hollywood stars are on their way to Japan for the first time in 4 years. Nicole Kidman will be here on January 20 to promote her new movie “Stepford Wives.” And Jennifer Lopez will be in town at the end of February to promote her upcoming 4th album “Rebirth.”

After three months, the recently completed 7th series of auditions for new members of Morning Musume has failed to turn up any stars in the making. Producer Tsunku said that he was looking for a new “ace” as group leader Iida Kaoru (23) is graduating at the end of this month. Ishikawa Rika is also leaving the group in May, leaving it with ten members.

• Actress Yonekura Ryoko (photo, 29) is still denying having any impending wedding plans. Speaking at a PR event for the theater production of Liasons Dangereuses, she faced the usual barrage of questions about marriage before the end of the year with kabuki actor Ichikawa Ebizo (formerly Shinnosuke, 27). She also claimed the sparkler on her ring finger wasn’t an engagement ring, but reporters sense a big story in the making.

• Talento Nishikawa Kaneko (30) is engaged to marry a pattisier just seven years younger than her father, veteran Yoshimoto comedian Nishikawa Tsuyoshi (58). With both his sons being actors, and Kiyoshi himself a former Diet member, the Nishikawas are considered the Yoshimoto “Royal Family.”

Today is the Seijin no Hi (Coming of Age Day) national holiday. People who turn 20 this year attend ceremonies or visit shrines to celebrate their arrival in adulthood (and they can now legally drink and smoke!).