Actor Takaoka Sousuke (23) has had a change of name and management. Known mostly for his movie roles, such as “Pachigi”, “Battle Royale” and “Haru no Yuki”, it was announced at the weekend that he has changed to the Stardust Promotion management agency. He will also have his first leading role on stage in the play “Wee Thomas”, described as a “violence comedy”, adapted from the British original by popular playwright Nagatsuka Keishi (30). The change of name is in the second kanji of Sousuke, though it is pronounced the same.
• Popular idol singer Goto Maki (20) has been told to take two weeks rest after being diagnosed with acute enteritis. Just a week ago, she showed no signs of illness when she performed with other members of the Hello! Project on the final date of their national tour at the Yokohama Arena, but complained of stomach pains after the event. Though she doesn’t need to be hospitalized, she has had to pull out of another Hello! Project event scheduled for later this month in Tokyo. Her place will be taken by Melon Kinenbi member Shibata Ayumi (21).
• Sugimoto Hisashi, the father of comedian Akashiya Sanma (50), died of heart failure at a Nara hospital on Saturday. He was 78. Sanma took his stage name from the name of a fish (sanma = Pacific saury) as his father ran a fish processing business.
• Popular screenwriter and punk musician Kudo Kankuro (35) gave a press conference recently for his upcoming heavy metal stage production of Macbeth. The show, starring popular actress Matsu Takako (28) and actor Uchino Masaaki (37), will feature 19 original hard rock and metal songs by Kudo. He said he previously knew nothing of Shakespeare but was attracted by the line from Macbeth where the character says his mind is “full of scorpions”. Matsu said she felt she had almost been tricked into playing the role, but added that she looked forward to screaming four-letter words on stage.