Actor Hagiwara Kenichi (54) has been arrested for the fourth time. The arrest results from threatening phone calls he made to producers of the movie “Toukou no Ki” last year, after he was kicked off the project. Known for his sometimes erratic behavior, he assaulted staff and cast both verbally and physically during production. His role was given to Nagashima Toshiyuki. Hagiwara, or “Shoken” as he is popularly known, was arrested for marijuana possession and drunk driving in the 1980s. And just last October he was arrested for professional negligence resulting in injury after he caused a traffic accident.
• Singer Iwai Sayuri (36) recently made her comeback after having her first child last summer. But she told fans at her show in Tokyo that she’s off to the US for two years in April. She will accompany her doctor husband, who will be doing cancer research in Houston, where she plans to study English and jazz.