At the age of 46, comedienne Hisamoto Masami may have found love at last, according to today’s issue of the weekly gossip magazine “Friday”. The article says that a handsome company heir, named only as “A-san” and said to be in his early 30s, spends several nights a week at Hisamoto’s Tokyo apartment. In a press release from her management agency she said, “He’s a good friend. I may be buck-toothed but I’m also a woman, so I’m gonna go on a date now and then. Korekara mo Yorochikubiii!”. The last part is one of her famous nipple puns! Known for her often crude humor and a veteran of the Wahaha Honpo comedy troupe, Hisamoto often ranks among Japan’s most popular TV celebrities. A-san is the third generation heir to his family’s business and is said to resemble a “macho version of soccer star Miura Kazu”.
• Director Kawase Naomi (37) is attending the Cannes Film Festival for the third time, as her movie “Magori no Mori” is the only Japanese entry in the competition section. She was a guest, along with her 3-year-old son, at a reception for the Japan Contents Festival held yesterday. Kawase won the Camera d’Or award for best directorial debut with “Moe no Suzaku” in 1997 and had “Sharasojyu” in competition in 2003. As this year is the 60th anniversary of the festival, she says she doesn’t get much attention because a lot of big names are in town. But she reckons her latest feature is in with a chance of taking the Palm d’Or.
• Troubled enka singer Mori Shinichi (59) brought the curtain down for the final time on his “Jagaimo no Kai” charity concert yesterday. He started the annual event 23 years ago when he married idol singer Mori Masako (48). But a battle with hepatitis, a messy divorce and an artistic dispute that prevents him from performing some of his greatest hits have led him to call it a day. Not that he’s retiring – he gave the first performance of his latest single, “Jinsei Hitasura”, set for release on May 23. More than 20 acts were on hand yesterday to lend their support, as was Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.