The father of singer Mori Masako (47) lost his long battle with illness just hours after his daughter announced her comeback after 20 years. Morita Tsuneo died of liver failure last night at a Yokohama hospital. He was 75. Mori rushed to his bedside but arrived after he had passed away. She made her comeback announcement to the media on Monday, having waited for her youngest son to finish his junior high school entrance exams but always concerned about her father’s failing health. (see yesterday’s story for more)
• Popular group SMAP have announced their first new single of the year. “Dear Woman” will be released on April 19 and is an ode to all Japanese women. It will feature on the new TV commercial for Shiseido’s “Tsubaki” hair products.
• The latest rankings of the the most popular TV anime, according to Video Research:
- Crayon Shinchan (TV Asahi) – 11.8%
- Chibi Marukochan (Fuji TV) – 10.1%
- Doraemon (TV Asahi) – 9.8%
- Manga Nihon Mukashibanashi (TBS) – 8.8%
- One Piece (Fuji TV) – 8.7%
- Futari wa Puri Cure (TV Asahi) – 8.4%
- Naruto (TV Tokyo) – 6.1%