The members of pop group SMAP got quite a surprise last night when Michael Jackson made an unannounced visit to the studio where they were recording the Fuji TV show “SMAPxSMAP”. Jackson arrived on the set in the middle of a performance, catching the five local superstars completely by surprise. Group leader Nakai Masahiro (33) could only gape, wide-mouthed, while Katori Shingo (29) fell laughing to the floor at the sight of “nama Maikeru”. After they recovered, they exchanged high fives and Jackson chatted with them for about ten minutes and praised their singing (well, as a guest I suppose you have to be polite!). His appearance will be included on the episode that airs on Monday, June 5.
• Not such good news for TBS on another front. Almost a thousand cases of health problems have been reported by viewers of a show that promoted a diet based on white kidney beans. Of the total, over 100 people have had to visit hospital. The “Piikan Body” show was broadcast on May 6 and featured a way of losing weight by adding ground roasted kidney beans to rice. Th chairman of TBS has publicly apologized and sent letters to all of the reported victims.
• Singer Nakashima Mika (23) made a guest appearance at yesterday’s concert by Elvis Costello. Costello was playing at a church in Shinagawa, Tokyo with legendary blues pianist Allen Toussaint (68), who in turn produced Nakashima’s latest single. “All Hands Together” was recorded in New Orleans. Toussaint described the Japanese star as having a “heavenly voice”.