Kabuki actor Nakamura Shido (photo, 33) is suffering considerable backlash from a recent drunk driving incident. NHK has decided not to give him a leading role in its upcoming drama series “Hagetaka”. Several companies that use the popular actor in their commercials, including Mandom, Morinaga and UC Card, are also reconsidering their contracts. Nakamura was questioned by police after running a red light and being found over the limit on July 12.
• Former Southern All Stars band member Omori Takashi (49) and his wife Ryoko (52) are currently on trial for possession of amphetamine drugs. Prosecutors have sought a prison sentence of three and a half years for Omori and eighteen months for his wife. Both have admitted to the offence and pleaded for clemency at the Yokohama District Court. Sentencing is expected to be on July 19. Omori said his drug habit went back four or five years, but court documents show his first use was more like 15 years ago. As he was an SAS guitarist as recently as 2001, there is bound to be speculation about the habits of the other remaining band members.
• Meanwhile, SAS vocalist Kuwata Keisuke (50) teamed up with Mr. Children singer Sakurai Kazutoshi (36) for the first time in 11 years. With a rousing, rain and sweat-drenched performance, they closed the “ap bank fes06” festival in Tsumagoi in Shizuoka Prefecture on Saturday. They performed several songs, including their 1995 collaborative mega-hit “Kiseki no Chikyu” (Miraculous Earth). The 3-day event with an environmental theme drew 75,000 fans who came to see a lineup of 19 acts.
• Young actress Morisako Ei (8) is to take on the role of Heidi. Chosen from tens of thousands of hopefuls to play the lead role in the recent live action version of Chibi Maruko-chan, her next challenge will be to be the voice of the world’s most famous little Swiss girl. She will play the lead role in the Japanese dub version of the British animation movie “Heidi”. The character has been popular in Japan since a TV anime series ran in the 1970s.