The latest issue of weekly magazine Josei 7 reported spotting 22-year-old idol Yuko Ogura ("Yukorin") on a date with 34-year-old Masaru Hamaguchi (of the owarai combo Yoiko). According to the magazine, they met about four years ago but have been seeing each other for less than a year. The pair were seen walking Ogura's dog late at night on one occasion, and shopping in a department store on another. Hamaguchi's agency says that they are just good friends, while Ogura's agency had no comment.

Morning Musume announced that they will again hold an "Acchii Chikyuu wo Samasunda" Culture Festival in Yokohama this year. The festival addresses the issue of global warming. It will take place at the Pacifico Yokohama on September 16 and 17.

Popular actress Masami Nagasawa will star in a new TBS drama this fall. The series is titled "Sailor Suit and Machine Gun," based on the 1981 cult classic film of the same name. Shinichi Tsutsumi will co-star. The series begins on October 13 and will air at 10:00pm on Fridays.

Comedian Keiroku Seki, known for his roles in television drama and the "Otoko wa Tsurai yo" series of movies, passed away early Wednesday morning. He had been hospitalized in Chiyoda, Tokyo for pneumonia. Seki was 78 years old.

Last month, actor Shido Nakamura was stopped for running a red light, and he was discovered to be over the legal alcohol limit. It was reported that there was a woman in the car with him, later revealed to be actress Aya Okamoto. On Tuesday, Okamoto attended a PR event for the movie "Chikatetsu ni Notte," her first public appearance since the incident. When a reporter asked her about it, she declined to answer.