The latest romance rumor about actor Tsutsumi Shinichi (41) has him involved with actress Koyuki (29). The pair co-starred in the recent hit “Always – 3-chome no Yuhi” and the latest issue of women’s magazine Shuukan Josei says that romance started on the set. Koyuki’s management agency have said that the pair are “100% not having a relationship”, but such official denials are standard. Koyuki, who made her Hollywood debut in the 2003 Tom Cruise hit “The Last Samurai”, went to see Tsutsumi perform on stage last October, and the following month revealed that her relationship with actor Sakaguchi Kenji (30) had ended during the summer. Ironically, it was divorcee Matsuyuki Yasuko (33) Tsutsumi’s co-star in that stage production, that was rumored to be his most recent love interest. They were spotted holding hands while on date in Kyoto and Osaka at the beginning of the year. In recent years, Tsutsumi – who bears a strong resemblance to Jet Li – has been romantically involved with actress Suzuki Kyoka (37), and after he broke up with her, was linked with actress Takeuchi Yuko (26), who married kabuki actor Nakamura Shido (33) last summer.
• Actress Miyazawa Rie (32) has denied rumours of a split with jewellery designer Mikita Takuji (32). Appearing in Tokyo at a PR event for the movie “Hana Yorimo Naho”, due for release in June, she showed off a sparkling ring and said the rumours were untrue.
• Over in the US, the big winners at the Grammies were my boys U2. They took the big two awards, Best Album and Best Song as well as Best Rock Band, Song and Album. The lads from Dublin will be here in April to play one show at the Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, and of course Japan Zone will be there! Back at the Grammies, Mariah Carey wasn’t a complete washout this time, taking three of the eight awards she was nominated for, but all in the R&B categories. Local boy Kitaro was nominated but failed to win for Best New Age Album. He took that award in 2001.