Actor Tsumabuki Satoshi (25) is to make his Hollywood debut in the latest sequel to “The Fast and The Furious”. Known in Japan as “Wild Speed x 3 – Tokyo Drift”, the movie is about the local drift racing scene and set almost entirely in the capital. Tsumabuki plays a race starter and spent a week in LA filming several early scenes, though he has only one line – “Go!” The part is said to have been created for the popular young actor, described by director Justin Lin as “unbelievably handsome”, after plans for him to have a bigger role fell through. He and former “Seventeen” model Kitagawa Keiko – who has appeared in several Sailor Moon movies – are the only Japanese actors included in the cast list. Incidentally, a quick read of the storyline on the IMDB website raises questions of authenticity (US military officer living in “a cramped apartment in a low-rent section of Tokyo”! If you want to see for yourself, the movie is due to open during the summer.
• Singer/actress Ogawa Noriko (32) revealed at a launch event for her greatest hits album that she suffers from cataplectic deafness. Speaking to fans at the launch of “Golden Best” in Tokyo yesterday, she said she suffered sudden loss of hearing in her right ear in mid-January. She underwent medical tests but the cause remains unknown. The condition is similar to narcolepsy, in which strong emotions can cause sudden muscle weakness and collapse. Ogawa is said to be recovering and has started rehearsals for a stage production due to begin in May.