Sun, May 6, 2007 (10:32pm EDT)
Morning Musume ended their spring tour on Sunday at the Saitama Super Arena. The concert marked the graduation of leader Hitomi Yoshizawa. At just over seven years, Yoshizawa had one of the longest tenures as a Morning Musume member. She took over as leader in 2005 when Mari Yaguchi left the group.
New Chinese members Jun Jun and Lin Lin also took the stage for the first time at Sunday's concert.
New Chinese members Jun Jun and Lin Lin also took the stage for the first time at Sunday's concert.
Sun, May 6, 2007 (9:54pm EDT)
Comedian Yoku Hata will finally be getting married to his girlfriend of 12 years.
The two met at a school festival when Hata was a second-year student at Kumamoto Gakuen University, and they began dating soon after. After Hata graduated, he decided to go to Tokyo in pursuit of a career in entertainment, and they continued with a long-distance relationship. She promised she would wait for him until he became successful.
However, Hata didn't get his big break until several years later, when he performed his "guitar samurai" routine on NTV's "The God of Entertainment" in 2004. Now active on variety shows and in commercials, he finally proposed to his girlfriend this past March when she went to Tokyo to help him move into a bigger apartment.
The two are planning to register their marriage in the middle of this month.
The two met at a school festival when Hata was a second-year student at Kumamoto Gakuen University, and they began dating soon after. After Hata graduated, he decided to go to Tokyo in pursuit of a career in entertainment, and they continued with a long-distance relationship. She promised she would wait for him until he became successful.
However, Hata didn't get his big break until several years later, when he performed his "guitar samurai" routine on NTV's "The God of Entertainment" in 2004. Now active on variety shows and in commercials, he finally proposed to his girlfriend this past March when she went to Tokyo to help him move into a bigger apartment.
The two are planning to register their marriage in the middle of this month.
Sun, May 6, 2007 (9:19pm EDT)
Actor Kazuo Kitamura died of respiratory failure caused by pneumonia on Sunday morning. He was 80.
On April 20, Kitamura was hospitalized after he suffered a minor stroke. His condition worsened on May 2, when he began showing symptoms of pneumonia. He passed away four days later.
Kitamura was a leading member of the Bungakuza theater company, which he joined in the 1950s. He also appeared in dozens of movies and television dramas while remaining active as a stage actor.
Kazuo was also the father of actor Yukiya Kitamura and Bungakuza actress Yuri Kitamura.
On April 20, Kitamura was hospitalized after he suffered a minor stroke. His condition worsened on May 2, when he began showing symptoms of pneumonia. He passed away four days later.
Kitamura was a leading member of the Bungakuza theater company, which he joined in the 1950s. He also appeared in dozens of movies and television dramas while remaining active as a stage actor.
Kazuo was also the father of actor Yukiya Kitamura and Bungakuza actress Yuri Kitamura.
Sun, May 6, 2007 (8:43pm EDT)
NTT DoCoMo is launching a new ad campaign called "DoCoMo 2.0". The campaign includes a series of commercials featuring eight celebrities: Tomoya Nagase, Tadanobu Asano, Satoshi Tsumabuki, Eita, Kazue Fukiishi, Anna Tsuchiya, Yu Aoi, and Keiko Kitagawa. The first commercial begins airing on the 10th.
Sun, May 6, 2007 (8:22pm EDT)
Okinawan comedy duo KYAN x KYAN won the 5th Owarai Hope Award competition on Sunday. The event was part of the last day of Fuji TV's "Odaiba Gakuen 2007" culture festival, which started on April 28.
The competition started with 100 entrants, but the field was narrowed down to 12 groups for the finals on Sunday.
The victory was a satisfying one for KYAN x KYAN. They entered the same competition last year, but ended up taking second place against Tokyo03.
The competition started with 100 entrants, but the field was narrowed down to 12 groups for the finals on Sunday.
The victory was a satisfying one for KYAN x KYAN. They entered the same competition last year, but ended up taking second place against Tokyo03.
Sun, May 6, 2007 (5:57am EDT)
It was discovered on Saturday that NHK announcer Yumie Yoshiba is divorced. Yoshiba is currently a regular on three programs, but she is best known as the caster of "Sunday Sports." She took charge of the program in April 2006, and she has been gaining in popularity since then.
Yoshiba was named Miss Keio in 1995 while she was a law student. She joined NHK in 1998 and served three years at the network's Niigata office. In 2001, she was assigned to the announce center in Tokyo. During her time there, she married a young businessman, but the marriage ended after one to two years. The actual dates of the wedding and divorce have not yet been made public.
Yoshiba was named Miss Keio in 1995 while she was a law student. She joined NHK in 1998 and served three years at the network's Niigata office. In 2001, she was assigned to the announce center in Tokyo. During her time there, she married a young businessman, but the marriage ended after one to two years. The actual dates of the wedding and divorce have not yet been made public.
Sun, May 6, 2007 (5:36am EDT)
Music group EXILE has announced that they are entering the world of theater. Members MAKIDAI, USA, MATSU, and AKIRA have formed the unit Gekidan EXILES, while group leader HIRO will serve as the general producer.
HIRO explained that when he talked with EXILE's members about their individual dreams, the four dancers said that they wanted to try out acting.
So far, they have scheduled 25 performances at the Stellar Ball in Tokyo's Shinagawa Prince Hotel, starting on September 20.
HIRO explained that when he talked with EXILE's members about their individual dreams, the four dancers said that they wanted to try out acting.
So far, they have scheduled 25 performances at the Stellar Ball in Tokyo's Shinagawa Prince Hotel, starting on September 20.
Sun, May 6, 2007 (5:15am EDT)
Singer Beni Arashiro has been appointed as a field reporter for TBS's coverage of the IAAF World Championship in Athletics Osaka 2007. Her fondness of sports and her ability in English (Arashiro's father is American) made her a prime choice for the role. In addition to reporting at the actual event, Arashiro plans to visit an Indianapolis training camp in June for research.
TBS's broadcast of the competition, which takes place from August 25 to September 2, will be hosted by actor Yuji Oda and free announcer Miho Nakai.
TBS's broadcast of the competition, which takes place from August 25 to September 2, will be hosted by actor Yuji Oda and free announcer Miho Nakai.
