Shimizu Takeshi (32) is to direct “The Grudge 2,” the Hollywood remake of his own hit horror movie. “Juon 2” was released in Japan last summer. The Sarah Michelle Gellar version of the 2002 original first movie pulled in $110 million at the US box office last autumn. It was the first time for a Japanese-directed movie to make the No.1 box office ranking for two weeks running. That project got the green light after “Spiderman” director Sam Raimi saw the Japanese version, and Raimi has been encouraging Shimizu to go for a sequel.
• Former sumo star turned talento Konishiki (41) spent almost a month in hospital over the New Year, according to a statement by his wife Chie on his official web site. He was hospitalized on December 23, just three days after his younger sister died in Hawaii of a heart attack.