Jazz saxophonist Saori Yano has been chosen to appear in her first commercial, for Kao's Asience line of beauty products. The brand, whose theme is "Asian beauty," has previously featured Zhang Ziyi and Kurara Chibana in its ads.

Filming for the commercial took place in Los Angeles. Yano performs the theme song, "I&I," which will be released as a single on June 20 and included in her first best album (on sale the same day).

On Thursday, it was announced that actor Jun Murakami has been given his first starring movie role in two years. He will appear in next winter's "Wakuraba Nagarete," directed by Toru Kamei.

It was also revealed that Murakami was hospitalized for half a month last summer, due to liver problems caused by excessive drinking. It was around that time that he and singer UA divorced after ten years of marriage. Murakami mentioned that he was forced to rethink his life while in the hospital, and he is now ready for a new start after several months of not working.

The second series to occupy Fuji TV's new Saturday 11:10pm drama time slot has been announced. It will be an adaptation of Keiko Suenobu's popular manga "LIFE," known for its realistic depiction of a high schooler being bullied. So far, the manga's 14 volumes have sold a total of 6.5 million copies.

Actress Kie Kitano will star as the protagonist, Ayumu Shiiba. This is her first lead role in a drama series on a regular broadcast network.

Saki Fukuda has been cast as the bully, Manami Anzai. Other cast members include Miki Sakai, Asaka Seto, and Miki Maya. The series begins on June 30.

May 10 is Cotton Day, according to the Japan Cotton Promotion Institute. On Thursday, the 4th Cotton USA Awards took place, honoring celebrities who exhibit the supposedly cotton-like qualities of pleasantness, kindness, and freshness.

This year, teen actress Masami Nagasawa was named Miss Cotton, while actress Momoko Kikuchi received the title of Mrs. Cotton and former baseball player Tsuyoshi Shinjo became Mr. Cotton.

Toshiyuki Itakura of owarai duo Impulse is reported to be in a relationship. According to photo-tabloid FRIDAY, his partner is a model-like beauty who lives in an apartment near his. They were seen on a date in early April, and have been frequently visiting each other.

Actor Takashi Tsukamoto is said to be getting married to a woman in her 20s. The two met several years ago, and it seems that they are currently living together in a house in Setagaya, Tokyo that Tsukamoto recently bought. Reportedly, she is already pregnant.

According to several people, the woman was once an employee for a company in the entertainment industry, and Tsukamoto met her during a shoot.

Tsukamoto's agency said that it was aware he is in a relationship, but it had not heard anything about marriage. Hopefully, Tsukamoto will talk about it when he appears at the preview screening of "Sono Toki wa Kare ni Yoroshiku" on the 16th.