SMAP, Aya Still Rule the Roost

SMAP‘s rule of the showbiz world shows no signs of fading. The 5-man pop group easily topped this year’s TV commercial popularity rankings, and the individual members took the Top 5 of the male star rankings. Katori Shingo (28) pushed Kimura Takuya (33) out of the top spot for the first time in 3 years, followed by Nakai Masahiro, Inagaki Goro and Kusanagi Tsuyoshi. Fellow Johnny’s Jimusho band Tokio, band member Nagase Tomoya, and gangly comedy duo Ungirls also made the rankings. The most popular female star was last year’s No.3 Ueto Aya (photo, 20) followed by 2004’s top star Matsuura Aya (19). Kuu-chan, the oh-so-cute Chihuahua from the Aiful commercials, was the most popular character.

Overall

1. SMAP

2. Katori Shingo

3. Kimura Takuya

4. Nakai Masahiro

5. Tokio

6. Ueto Aya

7. Inagaki Goro

8. Matsuura Aya

9. Kuu-chan

10. Kusanagai Tsuyoshi

Male

1. Katori Shingo

2. Kimura Takuya

3. Nakai Masahiro

4. Inagaki Goro

5. Kusanagai Tsuyoshi

6. Shimizu Shogo

7. Nagase Tomoya

8. Tsumabuki Satoshi

9. Yamane (Ungirls)

10. Tanaka (Ungirls)

Female

1. Ueto Aya

2. Matsuura Aya

3. Yada Akiko

4. Kiki Kirin

5. Yasuda Misako

6. Kato Ai

7. Matsushima Nanako

8. Horikita Maki

9. Miyazawa Rie

10. Suzuki Kyoka