No comment! That was the response from celebrities at three different PR events over the weekend. Appearing at a publicity event for an upcoming NHK drama series, actress Sakai Miki (photo, 28) refused to confirm or deny rumors that her romance with New York Yankees star Matsui Hideki (32) is back on again. First reported as a couple in 2004, in June they were said to have made up after an earlier split. Neither has spoken to the media about it since. Ditzy talento Ogura Yuko (22) was once again well shielded by her management staff from questions about her rumored romance with comedian Hamaguchi Masaru (34). Reporters were not allowed to ask questions and were kept out of the area where she met with fans. When news of the relationship first broke at the end of August, her staff abruptly ended a press conference as soon as it came up. And staff running a photo book launch by actor Koide Keisuke (22) were equally touchy when the questions started about his recently revealed relationship with actress Saeko (19). Of course, all this “protection” serves a double purpose in that it also helps create juicier news stories and generate a bit of extra publicity.
• Fuji TV are to release a DVD compilation of the spring drama series “Top Caster”, but minus one entire episode. The drama, which starred Amami Yuki and Yada Akiko, told the story of a newscaster who made a different scoop in each of the 11 episodes. The problem was with episode 3, which featured a character who closely resembled popular fortune teller Hosoki Kazuko (68) and was exposed as a fake. The best-selling author complained and the network later apologized.
• Madonna (48) is back for her first Japan tour in 13 years. She played to 60,000 fans at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka on Saturday and Sunday. Her two shows at Tokyo Dome on Wednesday and Thursday will bring an end to this, the last leg of her Confessions Tour, which has made the Queen of Pop over ¥15 billion.