The glorious weather of Golden Week is behind us, though anyone who took Friday off too will still be enjoying the extended break. TV execs will be glad to see the end of the holiday as it really hits viewer ratings. Live coverage of a Yomiuri Giants night game failed to reach double digits for just the 3rd time ever. The May 4 game against the Yokohama Bay Stars on NTV, also owned by Yomiuri, pulled in a meager 9.9% rating. On the drama front, the third episode of the Kimura Takuya series “Engine” dropped below 20%. Kimutaku has starred in the most successful drama series ever and the 19.6% figure must be a disappointment for Fuji TV. The only bright spot was on the K-1 front. The preliminary rounds of the World Max 2005 championship helped TBS to break the new sport’s 20% barrier. particularly popular were young up and coming Japanese fighters Masato (photo), Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto, and Kohiruimaki Takayuki.
• Model and actress Yamada Yuu (20) is the official PR character for the upcoming Ridley Scott blockbuster “Kingdom of Heaven.” Yamada, who appears in a TV commercial from today, says she is a big fan of star Orlando Bloom (28). Since his rise to fame in the “Lord of the Rings” series, Bloom is popularly known as “Orly” in Japan. The movie opens here May 14.
• Actor Ichimura Masachika (56) is rumored to be dating actress Shinohara Ryoko (31). He refused to comment on the rumor at a PR event for the musical “Mozart,” in which he plays the composer’s father.