With their hair tied up, tight black suits and glasses, playing their instruments in a circular room with people dancing all around them, the girls in the new Diet Coke TV commercial are obviously taking their cues from videos by Lenny Kravitz and the late Robert Palmer. Leading the “rock group” is Mayama Keiko (26), who is becoming one of the countries most popular fashion models. Known by her nickname of MayaKei, she made her name the same way as many other models, as a cover girl for JJ magazine. With a strong femal fan base, the new commercial, which clearly appeals to rock fans and those with a secretary fetish, is bringing her lots of male attention, too.
• According to a weekly magazine, the son of legendary idol singer Yamaguchi Momoe (46) and actor Miura Tomokazu (53) is planning his showbiz debut. Currently a university student, the 20 year old is said to resemble his mother and be a “Johnny’s Jimusho” type. But the article says he’s planning to join the more macho Ishihara Promotion agency, founded by the also legendary Ishihara Yujiro and home to many of the top action stars. The plan involves father and son Miura appearing together in a revival of a popular old TV drama series, “Daitokai.” The agency denies the report, but if it turns out to be true, the debut will receive huge media attention.
• Actress Seto Asaka (28) acknowledged her relationship with Johnny’s Jimusho idol group V6 member Inohara Yoshihiko (28) for the first time this week. At a PR even for an upcoming TV drama, Seto said she and Inohara were doing fine, thank you.