There seems to be no end to the showbiz wedding rush! The latest big couple are actress Fujiwara Norika (35) and popular comedian Jinnai Tomonori (32). They have yet to make a formal announcement but their agencies have acknowledged their relationship and did not refute the prediction of a wedding early next year published in this week’s issue of women’s weekly magazine “Josei Seven”. The magazine says that Fujiwara and her mother attended a live performance by Jinnai in Tokyo earlier this month. Jinnai later went to Fujiwara’s home in the capital to formally meet her mother. The couple, both from Hyogo Prefecture, started going out just a few months ago after appearing together in the NTV drama “59-me no Propose” in July. Fujiwara is a former Miss Japan and model and stands 3cm taller than her new fiance. She made her acting debut in 1995 and has since appeared in a wide range of TV dramas. She’s also a fan of combat sports and has been an announcer many times for Fuji TV’s popular K-1 broadcasts. Last year she visited Afghanistan and held an exhibition of photos she took in the war-torn country. She has previously been in serious relationships with actor Kato Masaya (43) and Skoop on Somebody vocalist Take (37). Jinnai joined the Yoshimoto Kogyo talent agency in 1992 and started out as one half of a manzai duo, but found more success as a “pin geinin” or solo comedy act from 1995. He is known as an avid fan of the Hanshin Tigers baseball team.
Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood (76) met Japanese fans in Tokyo for the first time yesterday. He was at the Nippon Budokan for the world premiere of his latest directorial project, “Letters From Iwo Jima”. He shared the red carpet and later the stage with the movie’s star Watanabe Ken (47) and other Japanese cast members, including Itoh Tsuyoshi (43), Kase Ryo (32) and Ninomiya Kazunari (23), a member of pop group Arashi. It is Eastwood’s fourth time in Japan but the first time he has spoken directly with local fans. The movie tells the story of the infamous Battle of Iwo Jima form the Japanese side, and is a companion piece to the earlier-released “Flags of Our Fathers”.
• There are rumors of romance between retired soccer star Nakata Hidetoshi (29) and model Shirayuki (20). The two recently visited Tahiti together, where they spent a couple of nights at an exclusive resort. Quizzed by the media, Shirayuki said they are still just good friends.