Monthly Archives: May 2009

Comedian Matsumoto Hitoshi (45, photo left) has finally given up his bachelor ways, and in typical show business fashion. In a brief statement faxed to the media yesterday by the Yoshimoto Kogyo agency, it was announced that he has married a former TV weather girl nineteen years his junior and expecting a child within the year. Matsumoto asked that they be left in peace and said he was too shy to give a press conference. Although the announcement didn’t name his new bride, sources identified her as Ihara Rin (26, photo insert). Their relationship was first exposed in the weekly gossip magazines last summer, when Ihara was the weather presenter on NTV’s “Zoom In!! Super.” She retired from the show last September and quit show business at the end of the year. Though he has recently embarked on a career as a movie director, Matsumoto is best known as one half of the top comedy duo Downtown. His comedy partner Hamada Masatoshi (46, photo right) has been married 20 years and has two teenage children. “Congratulations. So you’re going to be a parent, too!” he said commenting on the news. In typical fashion, he quipped, “No more visits to Gotanda, eh?” referring to the Tokyo district known for its love hotels and brothels. Matsumoto has been the object of many romance rumors, and from 1995-2003 was in a relationship with actress Tokiwa Takako (37). Since then he’s gone for younger women, and in recent years was spotted on dates with the likes of talento Yuka (28) and Hiro (25) of the J-pop group Speed.

Director Kawase Naomi (39) has taken first honors for Japan at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival. On Thursday night she became the first Japanese director to be awarded the meritorious Carrosse d’Or prize, given as part of the festival’s Directors’ Fortnight. Before the ceremony, there was a screening of a re-edited version of Kawase’s 2000 feature “Hotaru.” Though less well known than many of her male counterparts, Kawase has a very strong track record at Cannes. She won the Camera D’Or prize for best first feature film in 1997 with “Moe no Suzaku” and in 2007 she took the Grand Prix with “Mogari no Mori” (The Mourning Forest). Elsewhere in this year’s festival, Koreeda Hirokazu’s “Kuki Ningyo” (Air Doll) will be screened in the Un Certain Regard category. It’s about a video store clerk falling for an inflatable female doll. “Map of the Sounds of Tokyo,” from Spaniard Isabel Coixet, stars Sergi Lopez and the busy Kikuchi Rinko. Set in Tokyo, the movie features both English and Japanese dialog.

The solidly “young cool” reputations of actors Matsuyama Kenichi (24) and Oscar nominee Kikuchi Rinko (28) no doubt helped them land the lead roles in the movie version of “Noruwei no Mori” (Norwegian Wood). The first big screen adaptation of Murakami Haruki’s legendary 1987 novel was first announced last summer. Under the eye of Vietnamese-born French director Tran Anh Hung, filming of winter scenes already took place back in February and full-scale filming is set to start on June 1. The novel’s protagonist is a businessman looking back on the loves and losses of his university days in the 1960s, when he was more interested in American fiction than in the student radicalism of the time. It has sold over 9 million copies in Japan alone and has been translated into 36 languages. But Murakami is famously protective of his work and has only ever allowed one to be put on celluloid – a movie version of the short story “Tony Takitani,” directed by Ishikawa Jun and starring Ogata Issei and Miyazawa Rie, was released in 2004. Like that duo, Matsuyama and Kikuchi bring some serious acting chops to the high-profile project. But Murakami mainly agreed to the adaptation as he is an admirer of Hung’s work. He has enjoyed a solid reputation since his 1993 debut film “The Scent of Green Papaya” won the Camera d’Or in Cannes and was nominated for an Oscar. He recently completed the Hong Kong thriller “I Come With the Rain,” with Josh Hartnett, Lee Byung-hun and SMAP’s Kimura Takuya. Hung said he first read Murakami’s novel in French in 1992. “I was touched by the spirit of youth, longing and radicalism of the main characters. I wanted to put their anxieties, fears and weaknesses on film.” The movie also features the acting debut of teenage “ViVi” fashion model Mizuhara Kiko (18) in a key role. Filming is expected to finish at the end of August and the movie is scheduled for release in the autumn of biaxin.

Incidentally, the movie brings Matsuyama and Kikuchi together for a second time. His recently revealed romance with actress Koyuki (32) blossomed during filming of the new big-screen manga adaptation “Kamui Gaiden.” But Koyuki only landed the heroine role after original choice Kikuchi was injured on the set.

• In the latest development of her turbulent life, enka singer Matsubara Nobue (47) yesterday underwent a successful kidney transplant. Doctors decided the operation was necessary as her own kidneys had deteriorated to the point where they were only working at about 2%. She was admitted to hospital earlier this month after a blood relative donated a kidney. Matsubara debuted in 1979, and a Japan Record Taisho best newcomer award launched her on a successful career. But in recent years she’s had nothing but heartache. Her ¥300-million home was seized in 2003 after she failed to pay income taxes. That in turn led to a divorce from her husband, who was also the president of her management agency. The following year, her office was broken into and ¥5 million stolen. Her health problems, for which she had taken diuretics since she was a child, worsened in 2007. Last summer, she began undergoing dialysis several times a week, which had an adverse effect on her performing career.

Kusanagi Tsuyoshi (34) is ready to get his career back on track barely a month after his arrest, according to a statement yesterday from Johnny’s Jimusho (profile). He will join the other members of SMAP on May 28 to record their weekly variety show “SMAPxSMAP,” which will be aired on June 1. On May 29 he will make his first live appearance, in his regular slot on the afternoon show “Waratte Iitomo,” and record the narration for the music show “Bokura no Ongaku.” Filming of the new “Jinkyo Helper” drama series in which he stars will begin as scheduled in June and the show will aired as planned from July. All the shows are on the same Fuji TV network. Johnny’s said that they are cooperating with Fuji and that Kusanagi is likely to give a press conference before his return to work. Although he was let off with a suspended indictment after his April 23 arrest for public indecency, the speed of his return is about money more than an admission of the limited impact of a rare drunken outburst on public morals. If he had received the standard punishment of several months probation, the losses from his TV, radio, movie and commercial contracts would have been in the billions of yen. There was also the outpouring of support from fans, many of whom thought that police had been unnecessarily harsh on someone who, at least when sober, is rather shy and one of the country’s most unassuming celebrities.

Earlier stories:

Butt Naked SMAP Star Arrested For Indecency (Apr 23, 2009)

Kusanagi’s Arrest to Cost Billions (Apr 24, 2009)

Kusanagi Tsuyoshi Gives Press Conference (Apr 25, 2009)

“London Hearts” has done it for the sixth year in a row. The TV Asahi variety show has been chosen yet again by parents nationwide as the TV program they are most unlikely to let their children watch. The show they are most keen to have their kids watch is NTV’s education-themed variety show “Sekai-ichi Uketai Jugyo.” The results of the survey are published annually by the Japan National PTA Association. Respondents are allowed to choose two TV shows for each category. 11% chose London Hearts, while 9% chose another perennial nemesis, the anime “Crayon Shinchan.” The third-worst show was deemed to be Fuji TV’s comedy “Shimura Ken no Bakatono-sama,” selected by 5% of parents. Common reasons given included “the content is ridiculous” and “the language is crude.” Among the shows getting parental approval, “Sekai-ichi…” was chosen by 8%, followed by TBS’s animal-themed “Dobutsu Kisotengai” with 5%. Naturally enough the most common reason given was that they help children with their academic studies. The standard format for London Hearts is a panel of female celebrities creating and commenting on rankings of each other’s less admirable qualities, such as who would make the worst girlfriend or who is likely to be unfaithful. The show is hosted by popular comedy duo London Boots No.1 No.2 (profile).

Lawyer and TV commentator Kawakami Kazuo (76) is married to singer Chiba Hiroko (61), according to the weekly magazine “Shuukan Shincho.” The magazine says the couple have been married since 2007. Kawakami’s first wife died of a brain hemorrhage in 2002. Kawakami is a Tokyo University graduate and a former public prosecutor at the special investigation department of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor’s Office. While in that job, he was involved in investigating the infamous Lockheed scandal that rocked Japanese politics in 1976. He served for two years in the late 1980s as director of the Justice Ministry’s bureau of corrections and was renowned as one of the country’s top investigators until his retirement in 1991. He continues to run a law firm in Ginza, central Tokyo. Chiba, who made her singing debut in 1971, is known for such hits as “Orizuru” but also for her volunteer work at prisons and reform schools. The magazine has speculated that the couple’s romance was born out of their common interests. Kawakami’s office refused to comment.

• Doctors have ordered singer Utada Hikaru (26, profile) to take a break from her promotional work in the U.S. She was diagnosed with an acute peritonsillar infection, affecting her neck and throat, and was told not to travel or speak for at least two weeks. Her second album in the U.S. “This Is The One” went on sale yesterday and Utada was scheduled to appear in stores all across the country, from New York to Honolulu. She apologized to fans on her blog and said that the condition affects her once or twice a year, caused when exhaustion weakens her immune system. Yesterday’s issue of the weekly magazine “Josei Jishin” said they spotted her at a hospital in Tokyo last week, but a spokesperson for the singer said that was just for a routine checkup.

The actress known as “Nihon no Okaasan” (Japan’s Mother) is to receive a National Honor Award, the government announced yesterday. Mori Mitsuko will be both the oldest ever recipient and the first working actor to be so recognized. Despite her age, Mori is still active and celebrated her 89th birthday last Saturday by starring in the stage play “Hourouki” for the 2,000th time, a role she has played for 48 years. Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura Takeo attended the landmark show at the Imperial Theater in Tokyo and made the announcement on Monday, while Mori was on stage for the 2,001st time. The decision to honor Mori was made by Prime Minister Aso Taro. Though the decision received widespread media coverage, Mori declined to comment as the details have yet to be formalized. The award was established in 1977 to recognize those who have earned national recognition and are deemed to have brought hope and inspiration to the country. The inaugural award was given to baseball legend and home run king Oh Sadaharu. To date there have been 16 recipients, of whom three were women: singer Misora Hibai in 1989, “Sazae-san” mangaka Hasegawa Machiko in 1992, and Olympic marathon gold medalist Takahashi Naoko in 2000. Since then, the only other recipient was songwriter Endo Minoru in January of this year. Mori is only the second person to receive both this award and the Order of Cultural Merit, after movie director Kurosawa Akira.

A Kyoto native, Mori made her acting debut at the age of 15, though she was somewhat disappointed to find herself appearing mostly in comedies. Her reputation was stained when she broke off her engagement to a movie producer and she moved to the theater. She contracted tuberculosis in 1949, which left her unable to work for three years and led to rumors of her death. In Osaka in the 1950s she worked on radio and TV, where she once again found herself in comedy. She moved to Tokyo in 1959 and married a radio producer. She switched from supporting roles to leading lady after she landed the starring role in Hourouki in 1961 (a highlight of the show was a stage tumble, which Mori did every night until 2008, when age finally caught up with her. She now does a triple banzai salute instead). From the mid60s to the 80s she regularly played motherly roles in popular TV dramas, such as “Jikan Desuyo” (1970-73) and “Hana Fubiki wa Hashigo Ikka” (1975-76). She is a big fan of Johnny’s Jimusho boy bands and is close to several of the top stars.

Popular songwriter Miki Takashi died yesterday of throat cancer at a hospital in Okayama Prefecture. He was 64. He had been undergoing treatment for cancer since 2006. Real name Watanabe Tadashi, he left junior high school wanting to be a singer. But instead he debuted as songwriter in 1967 and went on to write over 2,000 songs. Together with Aku Yuu, who passed away in 2007, he was regarded as one of the best songwriters of the late 20th century. His heyday for churning out hits was in the 1970s, when he wrote for stars as varied as Saijo Hideki, Agnes Chan and Iwasaki Hiromi. One of his biggest hits was Ishikawa Sayuri’s “Tsugarukaikyou – Fuyukeshiki” in 1977. Together with writer Araki Toyohisa, he penned a series of hits for the hugely successful Taiwanese star Teresa Teng, including the award-winning “Toki no Nagare ni Mi wo Makase” (photo right). Among his other well-known creations are the theme to the children’s anime “Anpanman.” In recent years he wrote music mostly for the theater. He was board chairman of the Japan Composer’s Association from 2004 and was recognized by the government for his contribution to the arts in 2005.

Musician and producer Komuro Tetsuya (50) has been found guilty of fraud but escaped with a suspended prison sentence, as his case drew to a close this morning. Crowds, including many young people, gathered outside the Osaka District Court for news of the verdict in one of the biggest celebrity trials in years. Komuro was given a three-year prison sentence, suspended for five years. Judge Sugita Munehisa said, “I can’t say I have no sympathy for the series of misfortunes that led up to this case, but they did not justify the actions that followed. While the crime was haphazard, it was also very devious.” But he said the judgment was offset by the fact that Komuro has shown remorse and the money has been repaid. Prosecutors had sought a five-year prison term, but by law three years is the longest sentence that can be suspended. Komuro was arrested last year for selling the copyrights to hundreds of his songs to a private investor, though the rights belonged to the Avex record label. It was revealed during the case that Avex Group Holdings president Matsuura Masato (44) later paid the plaintiff back his ¥500 million, plus ¥148 million in compensation and damages. Komuro and his wife Keiko have been living in the home of another Avex executive since his release on bail.

Earlier stories:

Komuro Tetsuya Faces Arrest For Fraud (Nov 4, 2008)

More Details on Komuro Arrest (Nov 5, 2008)

Komuro Court Case Opens (Jan 21, 2009)

Avex Boss Bails Out Komuro (Mar 13, 2009)

• Lots of maternity news over the weekend. As yesterday was Mother’s Day, there was an awards ceremony for the winners of a poll to choose the country’s best celebrity mothers. Among the recipients were actress Yasuda Narumi (43), who has three children with comedian Kinashi Noritake (47), and singer Imai Eriko of the group Speed. Meanwhile management for actress Maki Yoko (26) said yesterday that she recently gave birth to her first child. She and former actor Katayama Reo (27) married last November. And actress Nishida Hikaru (36) revealed that she is expecting her second child in November. She married a trading company executive in 2002 and had her first baby in the U.S. in 2006. They currently live in her husband’s hometown in the Kansai area.

Comedian Date Mikio (34, photo left) and freelance announcer Kumagai Maiko (38) are engaged to be married, it was revealed yesterday. The two started dating about a year ago. Marrying a fellow celebrity is seen as the icing on the cake for Date, who after ten years of struggle as one half of the duo Sandwichman made his breakthrough when they won the M-1 Grand Prix comedy event in 2007. The win brought instant success and prize money of ¥10 million. Both Date and Kumagai are from the northern city of Sendai, where they plan to hold their wedding this summer. Kumagai, who is also a qualified music teacher, joined a local TV network in 1993 and went freelance ten years later.

• One of Japan’s busiest young actors took time out from his movie schedule yesterday to promote a book and put some rumors to rest. Takaoka Sosuke (27) signed copies of his book “Hajimemashite, Konnichiwa” for fans at a Tokyo bookstore. In the autobiography he talks about how he went astray in his youth and got back on track by working in a ramen shop. Takaoka made his acting debut in a TV Asahi drama series in 1999 and hit the big screen in “Battle Royale” (2000). His big break came with the starring role in the 2005 movie “Pacchigi!” He’s recently worked on a couple of sequels, “Crows Zero 2” and the baseball movie “Rookies – Sotsugyo,” which opens at the end of the month. And he’s also appearing in what is said to be the last ever Zatoichi movie, starring SMAP’s Katori Shingo and scheduled to open next year. Takaoka married popular young actress Miyazaki Aoi (23) in 2007 but recently his late nights and rumored womanizing had the gossip magazines talking about a split. Takaoka said yesterday that he has mended his ways, given up drinking and they are now closer than ever. His new book includes the first ever official photo of the couple together.