Monthly Archives: March 2010

Japan didn’t have much at stake this year at the Oscars. But all the same, the eyes of the world were on the reaction of one little fishing town in central Japan. As “The Cove” won the Academy Award for Best Documentary it became that bit more difficult for Japan to ignore the film’s message – stop the unnecessary annual slaughter of thousands of dolphins in the town of Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture, and the sale of dolphin meat containing dangerously high levels of mercury.

Some local media reported on the movie’s win with the minimum of fuss or detail, referring simply to the overseas controversy surrounding Japan’s “irukaryou” or dolphin fishing. Most reports made sure to describe Taiji as “the birthplace of the ancient rites of whaling” and to point out “problems” with the making of the film, such as the filmmakers trespassing on private property to conceal their cameras, filming fishermen and other Taiji residents without permission, or Taiji city assemblyman Ryono Hisato and a Hokkaido university professor who claim they were tricked into participating in the film. A story on the national TBS network website included only comments critical of the film. It included one from Ryono saying he thought it “unbelievable that a secretly filmed movie could win such an authoritative award.”

The documentary is due to be released at 20-30 cinemas across Japan, but with heavy editing and faces obscured after legal threats. A similarly controversial documentary, “Yasukuni,” was withdrawn from many cinemas in 2008 after threats from right-wing extremists, who protested against the depiction of the Tokyo shrine dedicated to Japan’s war dead, including Class A war criminals.

The hype continues to build around Japan-based Korean singer Iconiq (25). It was announced yesterday that, starting from today and barely three month after her Japan debut, she will start appearing in TV commercials for seven different corporations at the same time. This is said to be a record, as is the fact that all seven commercials will air together on TV Asahi March 13. She recently spent 26 hours straight in a studio in Kawasaki filming the commercials. With all this momentum behind her, her Japan debut album “Change Myself,” will no doubt chart well after its release tomorrow.

Back in January, Japan Zone reported on Shiseido’s unusual decision to choose the relatively unknown Iconiq as the new face of their MAQuillAGE line of cosmetics. With her shaved head and baby-face looks, Iconiq stands out from the usual fashion models hocking beauty products in Japan. But the latest commercial gigs aren’t restricted to cosmetic brands, and she will also be pitching for the likes of ANA, Starbucks, and Maserati.

Things are also looking good for Iconiq on the personal front. Today’s issue of weekly women’s magazine “Josei Jishin” reports that she is romantically involved with J-League soccer player Lee Tadanari (24). A fourth generation ethnic Korean, who formally took Japanese citizenship in 2007, he currently plays for Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
Earlier story:
An Iconiq J-Pop Star (Jan. 20, 2010)

Aoki Sayaka a Mother
Talento Aoki Sayaka (36) gave birth to her first child at a Tokyo hospital on Monday morning. Aoki became a TV variety show regular largely on the strength of her straight-talking and short-tempered image and often appeared on shows as a “make-inu” type, a woman destined to remain single. But in October 2007 she underwent something of an image change when she married a dancer three years her junior.

Oshio Manabu Refused Bail
In the ongoing trial of former actor Oshio Manabu (31), the Tokyo District Court denied an appeal of its earlier decision to refuse him bail. Oshio is on trial for his involvement of the drug-related death of Ginza hostess Tanaka Kaori last August.

Earlier story:
Oshio Refused Bail (Feb. 9, 2010)
Other related stories

Fuji TV announcer Nakano Minako (30, photo left) had a tearful wedding ceremony and reception yesterday at the Shangri-La hotel in central Tokyo. She and her groom, a 34-year-old doctor she met in the autumn of 2008, held a relatively simple and “at home” reception attended by about 180 people. In addition to her own father’s speech, Nakano was reduced to tears by the words of other father figures. The couple were toasted by Ogura Tomoaki (62), Nakano’s current co-anchor on the “Tokudane” morning wide show, and Otsuka Norikazu (61), with whom she worked for more than six years on the “Mezamashi Terebi” show. There was a surprise performance by singer-songwriter Angela Aki (32), who serenaded the couple with her ballads “Sakurairo” and “This Love.”

Tekken Star No Match for Mona
Irish-Chinese actor John Foo (27, photo right) was unable to resist the charms, and fighting skills, of local beauty Yamamoto Mona (34, photo right) yesterday. In Tokyo to promote the Hollywood adaptation of the popular video game “Tekken,” he took on Mona in a best-of-three game of “Tekken 6” and promptly had his butt kicked. Needless to say he does a lot better on the big screen and the results can be seen when the Dwight Little-directed martial arts movie opens here on March 20.

Mona meanwhile refused to be drawn on questions about her romance with a real estate company owner. But she said that, compared with the image she gained after a couple of affairs with married men, these days she is “a boring woman.”

Former Wrestling Idol to be a Mother
Happy news for actress and former idol wrestler Noumi Kayo (33, photo left), who revealed yesterday that she is five months pregnant. She and Horiuchi Kazuyoshi (35) of the dance group Panicrew married in April 2007. The couple were overjoyed when they learned of the pregnancy last December, especially as Noumi’s history of injuries from her 1995-2004 wrestling career caused concern that she might not be able to bear children. After retiring from the sport she trained as a theater actress under the guidance of top playwright Tsuka Kouhei (61).

Tomochika, Nadagi Split
Less happy news for comedy couple Tomochika (36) and Nadagi Takeshi (39, photo right), whose six-year romance has ended. Thought to be on the verge of marriage, the two were reported on Saturday as having recently broken up, and Tomochika confirmed the rumors on a radio show yesterday. Appearing on a show hosted by comedy duo Bakusho Mondai, she shared their surprise that the story made the front page of the Sankei Sports newspaper. She said that she and Nadagi had simply grown apart largely due to the success of their mutual careers.

As a solo act, Tomochika brings a variety of characters to comedic life and is a regular on many TV shows. Nadagi is a member of the manzai group Plan 9 but has had a lot of success as a solo act, winning the annual R-1 contest in 2007 and 2008. He sometimes paired with Tomochika and they had a hit with their parody of a couple from the US TV show “Beverly Hills 90210.”

The president of the talent management agency that represented several popular female stars has been found guilty of tax evasion. At the Tokyo District Court yesterday, Makino Masaya (42), CEO of Ichi Estate Corporation (formerly Avant-Garde) was given a 2-and-a-half-year prison sentence, suspended for five years, and fined ¥85 million. He had been accused of evading taxes to the tune of ¥345 million on earnings of almost ¥1.2 billion over a period of three years up to the end of 2006.

Makino set up the company in 1989 and it became known as one of the largest stables of young, pretty, and largely disposable female talent. The dozens of girls and young women on its books would appear in magazines and manga, as pinup “idols,” race queens and a multitude of other decorative functions. In recent years the company represented such established celebrities as Manabe Kaori (28, photo left) and Ogura Yuko (25, photo right), and manipulating the increasing revenues generated from their growing popularity was done using an affiliation of paper companies. Over the last couple of years, the business underwent several changes of name in a game of cat and mouse with the tax authorities.

Megumi Hits Shibuya Pedestrian
Meanwhile, talento – and another former pinup girl – Megumi (28) was involved in a minor traffic accident, according to Tokyo police. She was driving in the Jingumae area of Shibuya Ward, Tokyo on Monday afternoon when she hit a female pedestrian in her 20s. The woman is said to have suffered minor leg injuries and police are currently looking into the matter.

Actress Sawajiri Erika (23, photo left) is making a comeback but maybe not a return to Japan. After a string of critically acclaimed movie roles, her promising career was derailed in 2007 when a petulant performance at a movie PR event, and her refusal to say anything other than “Betsu ni..,” (Whatever…) gave her an image of arrogance. The following year she married the much older “hypermedia creator” Takashiro Tsuyoshi (45), since when the couple have spent most of their time living overseas. Last September her management agency decided they’d had enough and cut her loose.

But her agent in Japan revealed yesterday that Sawajiri has recently set up a private office in Spain, acquired agents in various countries, and will be launching a new website later this month. The first job she has lined up is a commercial gig in Japan for the Takano Yuri chain of beauty clinics. She is also expected to publish a book of photos in the spring, a collaboration with a British photographer friend of Takashiro’s. There is no word yet of any movie projects, though she is said to have received several offers and still hopes to work in Hollywood.
Earlier stories:
New Year Wedding for Erika-sama? (Dec. 30, 2008)
Celebrities in Damage Control Mode (Oct. 2, 2007)

Shoken Returns to Big Screen
Already making a return to the big screen, after an absence of 10 years, is actor Hagiwara Kenichi (59, photo center). At a pre-production event held in Tokyo yesterday, it was announced that he will play the lead in the movie “Naomi, Chijin no Ai.” Directed by Fukasaku Kenta (37), son of the legendary Fukasaku Kinji, the movie is an adaptation of a novel by the famous Tanizaki Junichiro (1886-1965). As the young heroine will need to do nude scenes, it was decided to audition actresses for the role. Hagiwara said, “I hope they don’t choose a Naomi who’s too young! But work is work.” Popularly known by nickname Shoken, the actor has a rough few years, with a history of arrests for a variety of offenses and a divorce in 2006. He started getting things back on track last autumn, returning to the recording studio for the first time in seven years.
Earlier stories:
Shoken Back in the Studio (Sep. 11, 2009)
Stars Breaking Up (Mar. 31, 2006)
Shoken Guilty As Charged (Jun. 29, 2005)
Shoken Arrested Again (Feb. 8, 2005)

Toda Naho Engaged to Doctor
Actress Toda Naho (35, photo right) is engaged to a Tokyo-based doctor (35), it was revealed yesterday. Previously romantically linked with Major League baseball star Matsui Hideki until the split in 2006, the actress met the new love in her life last summer. They started dating in September, he proposed on Christmas Eve and the couple officially got engaged at the end of February. They are expected to get married within the year and Toda is said to be planning to continue her acting career. One of her earliest TV roles was as a young country doctor in the NHK morning soap opera “Ee Nyobo.”

WBC world flyweight boxing champion Kameda Koki (23, photo right) is to make his acting debut with a cameo role in the upcoming movie “Box!” Directed by Li Toshio (45), it stars top young actor Ichihara Hayato (23, photo left) as Gihei, a lazy but extremely gifted boxer. Ichihara and Kameda have been friends since the actor was a guest ringside announcer for Kameda’s fight against Rexon Flores in March 2008. The boxer known as “Naniwa no Token” (The Fist of Naniwa) joined the movie project at the invitation of his friend, but the two don’t share any screen time. In the movie, Kameda appears to give ringside support to Gihei’s rival Inamura, played by super lightweight pro Suwa Masashi (29). Talking about last month’s filming Kameda said, “It was fun to experience something new, but acting is tough. I was embarrassed and nervous. Boxing is much easier!” He is the first current world boxing champion to appear in a movie in Japan. The movie is scheduled for release on May 22.

Comedian Gekidan Hitori (33, photo left) and talento Ohsawa Akane (24, photo left) announced yesterday that they are expecting their first child. The couple married in February 2009 and are both enjoying very successful and busy careers. Ohsawa is currently three months pregnant and says she has been suffering badly with morning sickness. But her management agency say she plans to continue working until as close as possible to the due date. Her husband, whose stage name translates as “one-man theater group,” said in a fax to the media, “A year has passed since we became the Gekidan Duo, and now it looks like we will be joined by the child actor we had hoped for. I look forward to the day when we can perform as the Gekidan Trio.”

Rakugo Welcomes New Enraku
A party was held at the Imperial Hotel in central Tokyo yesterday to celebrate the succession of rakugo-ka Sanyuutei Rakutaro (60, photo) to the stage name Enraku VI. All the big names from the world of traditional buy viagra online were there, including Tachikawa Danshi (74), who has been undergoing treatment for diabetes since last summer. Also there, despite his recent battles with prosecutors over alleged financial irregularities, was political kingpin Ozawa Ichiro (67). The previous Sanyuutei Enraku died of lung cancer last October.

Fuji TV are putting actor and SMAP member Kimura Takuya back where his legions of female fans want him. He will star in a yet-to-be-named drama series in the network’s golden time slot, Monday 9pm, from April. Fuji haven’t revealed much about the show other than that the drama will be KimuTaku’s first full-on romance drama in 10 years, and that he will play a company president for the first time. No doubt Fuji will be hoping for the kind of huge success that rivals TBS enjoyed with the 2000 series “Beautiful Life.” That show, with KimuTaku’s hairstylist falling for Tokiwa Takako, as a wheelchair-bound librarian, had a massive audience rating of 41.3%.

Fuji last bet the bank on Kimura in their spring 2008 series “Change,” in which he played a schoolteacher who suddenly finds himself Prime Minister of Japan. But the show was only a modest success and lost out in the ratings to the popularity of actress Nakama Yukie in NTV’s “Gokusen.” The key to the new drama will be the actress chosen to play opposite Kimura.
Earlier stories:
An Unwelcome Change for Kimura Takuya (May 14, 2008)

Morimoto Leo Suffers Heart Attack
Actor Morimoto Leo (67) was recently rushed to a Tokyo hospital following a heart attack, it was revealed yesterday. The actor’s management agency said that he felt chest pains after getting up on the morning of February 27 and called for an ambulance. He is said to be recovering in hospital but has been forced to drop out of an upcoming drama. His other regular appearances, such as the Japan FM radio show “Mori no Sampomichi” and the TV Asahi drama “Salaryman Kintaro 2,” are subject to his ongoing recovery.

Morimoto is easily recognized by his sad expression and the doleful voice that, among other roles, provides the narration to the Japanese version of Thomas the Tank Engine.

One of the annual rituals of Japanese show business took place this morning, as the latest batch of young women graduated from the Takarazuka Music School. From this afternoon the 38 members of the 96th graduating class will officially become members of the professional Takarazuka Theatrical Revue. As members of the Moon Troupe, they will take the stage for the first time from April 16 in a production of “The Scarlet Pimpernel.” Top graduate Norimatsu Ami, who will take the stage name of Yumeka Ami, addressed the ceremony, “Taking the things we learned at music school as nourishment for our hearts, we are leaving the nest to join the Takarazuka Theatrical Revue. The artistic road is long and steep, but we will carry on our quest with even greater devotion as maidens of the theater troupe.”

The school, based in the city of Takarazuka in Hyogo prefecture, is famously competitive with thousands of teenage girls applying for the 40-50 places each year. Those accepted face two years of strict discipline and rigorous training, and the ones left at the end join the professional ranks and perform at theaters across the country.

Related article:
Takarazuka, All-Female Theater

Japanese TV may have a new King of the Presenters. Just about anyone in the Kansai region of central Japan knows the name and face of TV presenter Miyane Seiji (46). His “Ohayao Asahi Desu” morning show (ABC TV in Kansai only) and “Miyaneya” afternoon show (NTV) are broadcast from Osaka every weekday. The ABC show is due to come to an end next month, and Fuji TV saw a chance to headhunt the rising star. From mid-April, he will be teaming up with former “News Japan” announcer Takigawa Christel (32) for a nationwide show broadcast on Sunday nights from Fuji’s studios in Tokyo. “Mr. Sunday” will air from 10pm from April 18, with the two popular freelancers at its core. Miyane will travel to Tokyo every weekend then rush back to Osaka for his ongoing NTV gig. His busy schedule will approach that of the master himself, Mino Monta (65, profile), who is recognized by Guinness World Records as the busiest man on TV.

Both Miyane and the half-French Takigawa have been maneuvering their careers steadily upwards and their pairing for the new show will be closely watched. Miyane has built a fan base with his typical Kansai frankness, his subtle way with words, and the wide range of topics he can cover. Takigawa, who graduated in French literature from Aoyama Gakuin University, failed to get into Fuji TV in 2000 and joined the subsidiary Kyodo TV. She was “outsourced” to a variety of minor posts on the Fuji network before landing the “News Japan” job in 2002. Since stepping down from that show in September of last year, she has appeared mainly in TV commercials for Toyota and cosmetics brand Shiseido.