The Teriyaki Boyz are making their move. They will be the first hip hop group to represent Japan at the MTV Asia Awards, held this year in Bangkok on May 6. The unit, led by A Bathing Ape fashion producer Nigo (35), follow in the footsteps of J-pop princesses like Hamasaki Ayumi (27) and Amuro Namie (28). The Boyz originally planned to start their world assault in Europe, but have decided to conquer Asia first. On April 1, Nigo drew 2,000 young people to the opening of his first BAPE store in Hong Kong, where the album “Beef or Chicken” was released on March 22. Releases in Taiwan and South Korea are due later this month. Europe is still on the cards, with a club-oriented 12-inch set for release this month, the single “Heart Breaker” in May and the album in June. The group also has had several invitations to play at summer festivals. All of this is expected to be followed by an attempt on the US market, where they played a few gigs last year.
• W-inds vocalist Tachibana Keita (20) had to pull out of a planned live radio performance by the popular hip hop/dance trio in Osaka yesterday due to health problems. The event went ahead with members Ogata Ryuichi (20) and Chiba Ryohei (21). Keita is said to have come down with a fever after a recent series of fan events in Tokyo.
• Baseball News – Hanshin Tigers player Kanemoto Tomoaki played his 900th consecutive full game yesterday. That puts him just four games short of the record held by Cal Ripken, who played 8,243 consecutive innings between 1982 and 1987 on the way to playing an astonishing 2,131 consecutive games. Playing against his old team, the Hiroshima Carp, “Aniki” marked the occasion with a home run in the 4th inning. Meanwhile, Yomiuri Giants pitcher Kudo Kimiyasu became the oldest player in franchise history yesterday, and got a win to boot. One month shy of his 43rd birthday, he pitched seven innings in a 9-2 win over the Yakult Swallows at Jingu Stadium. He passed current Chunichi Dragons manager Ochiai Hiromichi as the oldest player to take to the field in a Giants uniform. With career win No. 213, he moved in a tie for 17th.