Fri, May 4, 2007 (7:25pm EDT)
Actress Yoshiko Hattori died in a Tokyo hospital on Monday afternoon, suffering from respiratory failure caused by esophageal cancer. She was 55.
Hattori entered the prominent Shiki Theatre Company in 1972. She performed in many musicals during her career, but she is best known for her role as Jennyanydots in "Cats." Hattori played that character a total of 4,251 times, a record for any single role in Japanese theater.
Hattori entered the prominent Shiki Theatre Company in 1972. She performed in many musicals during her career, but she is best known for her role as Jennyanydots in "Cats." Hattori played that character a total of 4,251 times, a record for any single role in Japanese theater.
Fri, May 4, 2007 (6:59pm EDT)
On Friday, Johnny's Jimusho announced that the son of Shonentai member Katsuhide Uekusa has joined Johnny's Jr.
Uekusa mentioned to company president Johnny Kitagawa that his 12-year-old son Yuta wanted to join the junior group, and Kitagawa gave him an interview in March. Last month, Yuta officially became a member of Johnny's Jr. while also starting his first year of junior high school.
The Uekusas are the second active father-son pair in the company, the other being Kenichi Okamoto and his son Keito. However, they will be the first to appear together, when Yuta takes the stage in Shonentai's annual musical, "PLAYZONE."
This is the 22nd year for "PLAYZONE." It will be performed at the Aoyama Theatre in Tokyo from July 9 to August 14, then at the Umeda Arts Theater from September 1 to September 9.
Uekusa mentioned to company president Johnny Kitagawa that his 12-year-old son Yuta wanted to join the junior group, and Kitagawa gave him an interview in March. Last month, Yuta officially became a member of Johnny's Jr. while also starting his first year of junior high school.
The Uekusas are the second active father-son pair in the company, the other being Kenichi Okamoto and his son Keito. However, they will be the first to appear together, when Yuta takes the stage in Shonentai's annual musical, "PLAYZONE."
This is the 22nd year for "PLAYZONE." It will be performed at the Aoyama Theatre in Tokyo from July 9 to August 14, then at the Umeda Arts Theater from September 1 to September 9.
