Singer and actress Miyaji Mao (photo, 20) gave her fans a tearful apology at a recent CD launch event. The cause was a series of compromising pictures published in the gossip magazine Friday that showed her in a romantic clinch with a 27-year old man referred to as her “manipulator.” It is a common feature of the Japanese entertainment business that younger female artists have to apologize to (male) fans for shattering their illusions by getting romantically involved.
• Comedians Shinomiya Akira (21) and Matsumoto Mika (33) are set to get married on March 20, at an event to be organized by the Matsutake Geino agency which represents both artists. The event is ominously titled “Divorce Reorganization.” Shinomiya is one half of the manzai duo Ojin Osbourne who currently are hugely popular with high school girls.