On May 3, 280,000 people packed into the small Iwate town of Hiraizumi for a glimpse of “Yoshitsune.” The occasion was an annual festival commemorating historical figure Minamoto no Yoshitsune, the subject of this year’s “taiga” period drama series on NHK. Yoshitsune is played by young heart throb and pop star Takizawa Hideaki (23), hence the much larger than usual turnout for a minor regional event. “Tackey” and his pop partner Imai Tsubasa (23) released their 5th single, the double A-side “Kamen/Mirai Koukai,” on May 4.
Meanwhile in Chiba, over 1,000 fans turned out to see rejuvenated pop singer Suzuki Ami (23). At an event organized by the Bay FM radio station at the Makuhari Messe conference center, she made her first live broadcast since joing the Avex label in January. Photos on her official web site show that “Amigo” is going for a much more “grown up” image. The site’s profile and discography make no mention of the past troubles in her career. In her late teens, she was one of the biggest up and coming pop stars in the country. With Sony Records, she had shifted over 10 million units by 2000. But legal dispute between her parents and her management company, and later with Sony, led to her being blackballed by the media and her career looked to be on the rocks. But Avex president Masato “Max” Matsuura, who groomed Hamasaki Ayumi to superstardom, took her on and she has been steadily rebuilding her fan base over the last few months. The title of her new single with Avex, “Eventful” says it all and is in keeping with the first two, “Hopeful” and “Delightful.” It goes on sale May 25.