It didn’t take long for the rumors to start flying around Kanda Uno’s recent marriage. Kanda (32) and pachinko company president Nishimura Takuro (38) held a hugely expensive and flamboyant wedding ceremony last October, with over 700 guests and at an expense of about ¥600 million. But rumors of constant bickering have hounded them ever since, even as they headed off for their honeymoon in Dubai last month. Last week, the weekly magazine “Flash” hinted at an affair when Kanda and resort company president Sadakata Kunisuke (40) were spotted sharing a flight to Paris. This week, with Kanda off working in Italy, it’s Nishimura’s turn. Today’s issue of the magazine “Friday” has a story about him galavanting around Hokkaido with a top Tokyo hostess. They were among a group of three men and five women who visited an onsen in Hakodate last weekend. Nishimura and the 28-year-old “A-san”, described as the No.1 hostess at a Roppongi club, are said to have a “relationship” that dates back five years. Japan Zone isn’t surprised to see Kanda end up in this kind of situation, as it’s always been clear that money and celebrity were her true loves. She’s made a small fortune herself in the fashion and entertainment businesses, but it pales in comparison with her husband’s wealth.
• “Friday” also reports that singer-songwriter Moriyama Naotaro (31) is living with a girlfriend, but perhaps not for long. The two have reportedly been going out for some time and vacationed together in Fiji last summer. But although she is said to resemble beautiful actress Matsushima Nanako, Moriyama has told friends he is considering ending their cohabitation arrangement. Not to end their relationship but so he can concentrate on his music career and come up with another mega-hit to match 2003’s “Sakura”.
• Singer Wada Akiko (57) is renowned for her tough talk when it comes to misbehaving celebs. Her target yesterday was sumo grand champion Asashoryu (27), who’s latest scandal involved him verbally abusing a newspaper reporter who snapped photos of him in Honolulu airport. Unhappy about being seen in an aloha shirt and shorts, he told the reporter to “Drop dead!” By the time he arrived back in Tokyo he’d changed into a kimono more befitting a yokozuna. Wada said “He’s bad by nature. I’d like to have a month with him. I’d take him on too, if I were a bit stronger.” She said he could learn a lesson from African-American enka debutant Jero (26) and his humble manner.
• With a sparkler on her left ring finger, busty talento Megumi (26) attended a movie PR event in Tokyo yesterday. Asked whether she and Dragon Ash vocalist Furuya Kenji (29) have any plans for marriage, she said “I’ll let you know when the time comes, so I’d be delighted if you’d just let us be.”
• Idol group AKB48 have canceled a promotion for their new single following complaints from fans and fears that it conflicted with the antitrust law. Fans who bought a copy of “Sakura no Hanabira-tachi 2008” at their stage venue in Tokyo’s Akihabara were to be given one of 44 posters featuring members of the group, and anyone who collected all the posters would be invited to a live event. This led to complaints among even the most dedicated fans about having to shell out for 44 CDs. Defstar Records announced yesterday that the plan had been canceled, saying it was in danger of being labeled an “unfair business practice.”