It was revealed recently that popular actress Tokiwa Takako (photo, 33) is romantically involved with actor Nagatsuka Keishi (30). The two met when they both appeared in the movie “Geroppa!” in 2002. Romance bloomed when Tokiwa took on her first stage role in May. Nagatsuka – the son of actor Nagatsuka Kyozo (60) – is considered one of the leading lights of the theater world, and works as a writer, producer and director as well as acting. These two are sure to be one couple the media will be watching closely.
• The illegitimate son of actor Matsukata Hiroki (63) and singer Chiba Maria (56) is to make his acting debut. Toeda Masahi (20) was born after an affair between the two stars. His father refused to acknowledge parenthood for many years and he was raised by his mother. The debut by the son of one of Japan’s most established samurai actors will be, naturally, in the leading role. Toeda, who says that becoming an actor was his “unescapable destiny,” will play the lead in “Ai no Kizuna” which is scheduled for release in September 2006.
• Tokita Shintaro (27), the piano-playing half of the popular duo Sukima Switch, revealed on his official website that he recently got married. There were no details about his new bride except that they met four years ago. That was around the time that Tokita and vocalist-guitarist Ohashi Takuya (27) started getting serious about playing gigs in the Shibuya and Shinjuku areas of Tokyo. In April, their single “Zenryoku Shonen” made No.3 on the Oricon chart.
• Japan Zone entertainment news updates will be off until next Monday. Have a great weekend!