The organization that decides on Japan’s commemorative holidays has designated October 6 as “Tomu no Hi” or Tom Day in honor of Hollywood actor Tom Cruise (42). It is the first time a holiday has been named after an American star. Pre-orders are being accepted from today for the DVD of “Mission Impossible 3”, due for release on November 17. By the way, today is also “Suppon no Hi” (Snapping Turtle Day) and “Denwa Housou no Hi” (Telephone Broadcast Day) among others.
• Rock bands the pillows and Mr. Children played the first show of their joint concert tour last night. Some 2,250 fans at Zepp Tokyo saw two of Japan’s best rock acts together for the first time in 14 years. Friends since before they debuted, they both performed a cover of one of the other’s hits, ‘Misuchiru’ playing a version of “Strange Cameleon” and the pillows knocking out their version of “Tsuyogari”.
• Singer Oshima Hanako (32) announced yesterday that she is engaged. Her fiance is the 38-year old owner of a dojo for Brazilian Jujitsu. They plan to hold a wedding ceremony on the island of Maui in December. Oshima is the daughter of the late singer Sakamoto Kyu, who died in a JAL airliner crash in 1985 at the age of 43. He remains the only Japanese artist to have reached No.1 on the U.S. Billboard chart.