Johnny’s boy band KAT-TUN played to another packed house at Tokyo Dome yesterday. It was the third night at the 55,000-seat venue and finished off their successful debut tour. Their first single, “Real Face” is on the verge of becoming a million sller. But while the show marked the end of a very big first step for the band, the media had another question for them. They wanted more details of the rumored romance between Kamenashi Kazuya (20) and veteran pop idol/actress and divorcee Koizumi Kyoko (40). Koizumi has been silent about the affair, so no comment was really expected. Kamenashi simply said “I’m sorry” and bowed to the cameras. He was much more animated on stage, as the six members belted out a 28-song set with two encores, all ending up in tears.
• Also in tears was actor Watanabe Ken (46). The Hollywood-based star was in Tokyo on Saturday to greet the audience at the premiere of his latest domestic film. “Ashita no Kioku” (Tomorrow’s Memories) is a heart-wrenching drama about a man who develop’s Alzheimer’s Disease in middle age. Watanabe, who not only stars but is executive producer, has obviously invested a lot of emotion in the project and is often moved to tears when he talks about it. He himself battled with leukemia just when his career was reaching a peak in the early 90s.
• Pop duo Puffy finished off their national tour in the rain on Saturday. They played to 3,000 fans in Hibiya Park in Tokyo to round off the tour, which is to mark the 10th anniversary of their 1996 debut, “Asia no Junshin”. They will release a new album, “Splurge” on June 24 and embark on a US tour from July 8.
• Among the celebrities giving thanks to their mamas yesterday was actress Ueto Aya (20). The young star was promoting Lotte’s Ghana chocolate brand and Bic Camera at a Haha no Hi (Mother’s Day) PR event in Tokyo. The young star says she wants to become a mother herself as soon as possible, and there’s sure to be no shortage of takers.