Former Takarazuka top star Kei Takashiro has joined the talent agency Oscar Promotion. Takashiro was a member of the Takarazuka Revue for 15 years until she resigned in February of this year. She is the second top star to enter the agency; Jun Shibuki made a similar move in 2004.

Actor Hiroshi Mikami will appear in Fuji TV's spring drama series, "Proposal Daisakusen."

The drama tells the story of a young man (Tomohisa Yamashita) who has feelings for his childhood friend (Masami Nagasawa). On the day of her wedding, he feels regret and a desire to have a second chance at love. In response, a gentlemanly "fairy" (played by Mikami) creates a "time slip" to send the man back in time.

This is Mikami's first "Getsu 9" (Monday 9:00pm) drama series since "Lipstick" in 1999. It is his 7th overall, though it is the first one in which he is not playing a starring role.

Talento Eiji Wentz will appear in a new commercial for BVD Body Gear underwear. The ad will feature Wentz wearing the product in various colors. He spent approximately three months getting in shape for the commercial. Broadcast begins on the 28th.

Actor, comedian, and musician Hitoshi Ueki died of respiratory failure on Tuesday morning in a Tokyo hospital. He was 80.

In January, Ueki complained of several problems, such as loss of appetite. He was in and out of the hospital until the middle of this month, when his condition worsened.

Ueki debuted as a musician in 1947. In 1957, he became a member of the jazz band Hajime Hana and the Crazy Cats, who were popular in the sixties. The group appeared in many movies, including the "Musekinin" series and the "Nippon Ichi no Otoko" series. Ueki was also very active in television.

In 1993, Ueki was awarded the Shiju Hosho, a national honor.

Kansai Johnny's Jr. has been assigned its first regular role on a radio program. The show is titled "Kansai Johnny's Jr. Mogitate Kan Juice" and will be broadcast on Radio Kansai, starting on April 7. It will run for 15 minutes every Saturday at about 7:20pm. The group's members will take turns serving as personalities on the show.

Actress Ryoko Hirosue is in a new commercial for Coca-Cola's Karada Meguricha tea drink. The ad, which was filmed in Kuala Lumpur, begins airing on the 28th.

Up-Front Agency, the company behind Hello! Project, announced on Monday that it has dismissed idol Ai Kago.

Kago was suspended from work last year for underage smoking. In January of this year, Up-Front Agency allowed Kago to work in their offices in preparation for a comeback, and fans were excited to hear the news about her possible return. But the plans were quickly abandoned within the last few days.

Tabloid magazine Weekly Gendai just published an article reporting that it had seen Kago smoking again. Furthermore, it reported that Kago is dating 37-year old Yasuyuki Ishimoto, the owner of the Shibuya cafe SOMA. The two of them were seen spending the night at an onsen ryoken in Kusatsu, Gunma on March 17.

On Monday, Up-Front Agency stated that Kago had confirmed the story herself. Because she is a minor, the company consulted with her parents, and it was decided that her contract would be cancelled.

Actor Issei Ishida and actress Chiharu Kawai are currently dating. According to their agencies, their relationship started while they were working together for the film, "Do you believe PEACE, LOVE and UNDERSTANDING? 2007" (directed by Ryotaro Muramatsu), which opens in theaters this summer. Their agencies also said there have not yet been definite talks of marriage.

In January 2006, Ishida divorced from Emi Miyake, who recently got remarried to Shosuke Tanihara.

Singer-songwriter and actor Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi is set to release his first album in four years. It will be titled "Come on Stand up," and it goes on sale on May 16.

Distinguished actor Ken Watanabe will star in his first television drama in three years. His last role was in TBS's "Suna no Utsuwa" in 2004.

"Hoshi Hitotsu no Yoru" is a 2-hour special written by acclaimed author and screenwriter Taichi Yamada. Watanabe plays an introverted employee in the janitorial staff at a concert hall. The story unfolds when he finds a coat left behind, with one of its pockets containing 500,000 yen in cash.

Other cast members include Hiroshi Tamaki, Takashi Sasano, Ryoko Kuninaka, and Ayumi Ishida. Filming is scheduled to take a month, starting on March 29. The drama will air on Fuji TV on May 25 at 9:00pm.

Model/actress Meisa Kuroki has been cast in her first voice acting role. She will play the title character in the science fiction CG anime film, "Vexille 2077 Nihon Sakoku."

The film, directed by Fumihiko Sori, is set in the near future. Japan has greatly developed its technology to the point where the United Nations seeks to regulate it. The country decides to withdraw from the U.N. and completely isolate itself from the rest of the world. An American special soldier named Vexille (voiced by Kuroki) is sent to infiltrate Japan.

The cast includes Shosuke Tanihara and Yasuko Matsuyuki, as well as voice actors Romi Paku and Tetsuya Kakihara. Internationally known DJ and producer Paul Oakenfold is in charge of the music.

"Vexille" is scheduled to open in theaters this summer.

Pro golfer Shinichi Yokota and talento/actress Yuko Anai celebrated the birth of their second child, a girl, on Monday morning. The two married in June 2000. Anai underwent treatment for infertility and was able to give birth to their son, Tomoki, in 2002.

19-year-old Nihon University student Akiko Osawa has become the new weather caster for Fuji TV's "Mezamashi Saturday" program. She is the third to fulfill that role, following in the footsteps of Sonoko Yamagata and Mao Kobayashi. Osawa is also the youngest weather caster to ever appear on the show or its related weekday program, "Mezamashi TV," which has been on the air since 1994. She will make her first appearance on April 7.

Johnny's group NEWS appears to be back in full force. "Hoshi wo Mezashite," their first single since they resumed activity, has taken the #1 spot on the Oricon singles chart this week.

"Hoshi wo Mezashite" sold approximately 244,000 copies this past week, becoming their first single since their debut "Kibou ~Yell~" to sell more than 200,000 copies in its first week. It has already exceeded the total sales of their previous release, "Sayaendo / Hadashi no Cinderella Boy."