Actor Takahashi Katsunori (photo, 41) bade a tearful farewell to his late father yesterday. Over 800 people attended the wake in Yokohama for musician Takahashi Katsushi, who passed away on Monday at the age of 77. Katsunori married model Hanna (25) in 2004 and said his biggest regret was that his father hadn’t had a chance to see a grandchild.
• Former top bar host Shirosaki Jin (28) is to make his recording debut. The one-time Kabukicho “charisma” host will record the 1977 Four Leaves hit “Bulldog” and the song will be produced by veteran Sakai Masatoshi (67), who in the past has worked with modern legends Yamaguchi Momoe and Go Hiromi. Shirosaki, who in his heyday as a host is said to have made ¥100 million a year, says he is aiming for an invitation to the year-end Kohaku Uta Gassen song spectacular on NHK.
• Actress Adachi Yumi (24) is still a month away from the expected date of her first baby but has already announced her return to work. She will appear in the latest series of NHK’s Friday night samurai drama “Keijirou Engawa Nikki 3”, starring Takahashi Hideki (62) and airing from October. Filming will start in June and Adachi will be back on the set from July. The baby-faced actress played the role of a mother for the first time in the second series and her child will be five years old in the latest. Off the set, she will be the mother of a 3-month old baby with comedian Itoda Jun (33), who she married last September.