Actress Ishino Youko (37) gave a press conference yesterday to reveal that her Tokyo home has been burglarized again. She returned to her home in Meguro Ward from filming a TV drama at about 3am on June 30 to find her living room in a mess. She found about ¥400-500,000 in cash was missing. According to her agency, it is at least the third time she has beeen the victim of burglars.
• The once almighty Yomiuri Giants baseball team can see no end to their declining popularity. Though they’re still the most supported team in the country, viewership of their TV broadcasts continues to reach new lows. The latest is a new record low average of 10.1% for their night games broadcast in June. This follows the trend of record low numbers every month so far this season. The Giants have been wallowing at or near the bottom of the Central League since the season started.
• Rakugo performer Hayashiya Kompei (photo, 67) is to make his comeback no sooner than September. the popular traditional storyteller was admitted to hospital in June of last year with throat problems. He is said to have left hospital in May but is still recuperating. It was rumored that he might appear back in his regular slot in the TV show “Shoten” in August but an NTV spokesperson denied this.