Actress Shibasaki Kou (27) has a new man rocking her world, according to today’s issue of weekly magazine “Josei Seven.” The article doesn’t say how or when Shibasaki split up with actor Tsumabuki Satoshi (27) – they had been dating since the spring of 2005 and were thought to be considering marriage. But she and Uverworld vocalist Takuya (28) are said to have moved beyond being friends sometime in the autumn. The couple were spotted out on the town together for three nights running, including a recent visit to see the Christmas illuminations in the trendy Tokyo district of Roppongi. Shibasaki, who also has a musical career, attended Uverworld’s concert at Nippon Budokan on December 5. The rock band debuted with gr8! Recordsin 2005 and have been making bigger waves in the last year or so. Their 12th and most recent single, “Hakanakumo Eikyu no Kanashi,” was their biggest seller so far and the first to reach No.1 on the Oricon chart. It was used as the opening theme for the “Mobile Suit Gundam 00” anime.
• Actor Kase Taishu (38) was all tears and apologies on his first day in court yesterday. He was arrested in October for possession of marijuana and stimulant drugs, which he said he has been using since high school. Appearing at the Tokyo District Court yesterday with his head shaved and wearing a gray suit, he said he has decided to quit show business and wants to return to his family home in Hakodate, Hokkaido. But if prosecutors get their way, he’ll be heading to prison for two and a half years. Kase, real name Kawamoto Nobuhiro, made his debut in 1990 and quickly became known as a “trendy” actor. But the fall came quickly and was followed by a move to Taiwan and a short-lived marriage. His drug use became more serious in 2004.
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