Singer Amuro Namie (27) appeared at the J-Wave radio studio in the Shibuya HMV store yesterday to promote her latest album, “Queen of Hip Hop.” The promo video for the first single “WoWa” features a “cameo” by the Pink Panther cartoon character, as well as an original Namie Panther. It’s the first time that MGM have allowed the character to be used in a music video and it’s also the first time a female version has been created. The new album goes on sale July 13, and Amuro will be playing a 27-city nationwide tour from September 1.
• Former The Yellow Monkey vocalist Yoshii Kazuya (38) played the last gig of his latest solo tour at Zepp Tokyo yesterday. He’s ben playing under the stage name of Yoshii Lovinson since he went solo in October 2003, but announced at last night’s show that he’s planning another name change next year. The Yellow Monkey formed in 1989 and released a slew of albums and singles until their last gig at Tokyo Dome in 2001. They officially broke up last year.
• Talento Tsukitei Hachimitsu (28) became a father yesterday when his wife gave birth to a baby girl at an Osaka hospital. Tsukitei’s father, traditional rakugo storyteller Tsukitei Happo (57), said he was delighted to be a grandfather at last.
• Actor Tanihara Shousuke (32) and singer Kahara Tomomi (30) have the dubious honor of being this year’s “Natto King and Queen.” July 10 can be read as “natto” in Japanese, so that day is used for various PR events for the stinky, slimy but healthy fermented bean food.