World renowned theater director Ninogawa Yukio (66) is to take on a kabuki production for the first time. Known for his original and striking interpretations of the works of Shakespeare, he will put on a kabuki version of the Bard’s comedy “Twelfth Night” as part of the “Shichigatsu Daikabuki” (July Big Kabuki) at the Kabukiza theater in Tokyo’s Ginza. The idea came when Ninogawa cast kabuki actor Onoe Kikunosuke (27) in a 2000 production of “Greeks” alongside award-winning actress Terashima Shinobu (32). “Twelfth Night” will also feature the young actor’s father, Onoe Kikugoro (62), who has been designated a Living National Treasure.
• Reflecting his huge fan appeal, Kimura Takuya (photo, 32) will appear in a series of TV commercials tied to his starring role in the upcoming Fuji TV drama series “Engine.” The series starts on Monday, April 18 in the “golden” 9pm slot and is sure to draw good audience ratings. Kimura plays a racing driver, and so his endorsement of the Toyota Fielder car during the ad slots blurs the line between drama and commercial. This is yet another way, like product placement in movies, to integrate commercial messages into “non-commercial” programming. But unlike in some other countries, TV here has never had a rule preventing those appearing in a TV show from also appearing during the ad breaks.