Legendary manga-ka Matsumoto Leiji (68) has a bone to pick with pop duo Chemistry. It seems that some of the lyrics to their song “Yakusoku no Basho”, written by singer/songwriter Makihara Noriyuki (37), were lifted without permission from Matsumoto’s famous manga “Ginga Tetsudo 999” (Galaxy Express 999). The phrase used is not exactly the same, but is almost identical to the famous line which translates as, “Time does not betray a dream as long as the dream does not betray time.” Makihara’s agency deny any attempt at plagiarism and are discussing the matter with their lawyers. Matsumoto said, “I’ve been using this phrase in speeches to cheer up young people for more than ten years. I don’t want to take the matter to court or anything, but I just want a sincere apology.” Matsumoto collaborated with French duo Daft Punk on the 2003 full-length anime feature “Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem”. The major club hit “One More Time” featured a video by Matsumoto (pic).
• Actor Ishida Junichi (52) and actress Sugimoto Aya (38) have teamed up to record an “adult” duet. Both are divorcees, twice in Ishida’s case, and renowned for flaunting their sex lives on TV variety shows. They have recorded “Gyaku ni, Sorette Ai Kamo Ne” (Then Again, That Could Be Love) in the style of the ballads popular in the postwar Showa Era. For Ishida, it’s his first recording since the album “Egoist” in 1992. He says they are aiming for an ivite to perform on NHK’s “Kohaku Utagassen” song spectacular on New Year’s Eve. The single, which is already being used in a TV commercial for throat lozenges featuring the pair, will be released on November 22. 11/22 is read as “ii fufu” in Japanese, which can also mean “good married couple”.
• Victoria Beckham (32) was in Tokyo yesterday to promote her original jewelry designs. She met the press at the Kita-Aoyama head office of popular brand Samantha Thavasa, for whom she has previously designed accessories.