Could they big the next big showbiz couple? Media mouths are watering at the prospect of romance between singer Gackt (age unknown) and actress Yonekura Ryoko (30). The pair appeared together yesterday in Tokyo at a PR event for the new TV commercial by Takano Yuri Beauty Clinic. Takano herself pushed the issue several times, asking the pair whether there was any romance between them. This was no doubt calculated to create more buzz about the commercial, and they played along by being as vague as possible. Dressed in matching white outfits, they arrived arm in arm and admitted that they were, at the very least, good friends who sometimes go out for dinner together. They also co-starred in last year’s commercial, which featured Yonekura in a wedding dress. Following her breakup with kabuki actor Ichikawa Ebizo (28) last spring, the press have been speculating about who the next lucky guy will be. Gackt, who made his name as the vocalist of a “visual-kei” rock band, is more than a match for her in terms of looks and star status. But his very successful solo career has been as much about style as substance, and romance might hurt his usual androgynous and mysterious image.
• Actor Yanagiba Toshiro (45) is Japan’s ideal showbiz Dad. The popular actor and former singer was chosen in the entertainment category of this year’s “Best Father Yellow Ribbon Awards”, held yesterday at a Tokyo hotel. Yanagiba brought his wife and 6-year old daughter to the award ceremony. He recently moved the family to his hometown in Akita Prefecture for the sake of his daughter, who just started elementary school. He said, “The thing I enjoy most is talking with my daughter as we take a bath together”, referring to a common practice in Japan.
• The current trend in TV dramas about flight attendants seems to be continuing. Mizuki Arisa (29) will play one for the first time in the new NTV series “CA to O-Yobi!” (Call Me a Cabin Attendant!), set to air on Wednesday nights from next month. Filming began in Okinawa yesterday, with former models Mizuki, Karina (22) and Nishida Naomi (34) all in bathing suits for their first scene. The Japanese often refer to flight attendants as “succhi”, derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the word stewardess.