This summer, TV Asahi will broadcast a third "Kikujiro to Saki" drama series. The story is based on an original work by acclaimed director Takeshi Kitano, modeled after his own life. It first became serialized on television in 2003, and was followed up by a sequel in 2005.

Takanori Jinnai and Shigeru Muroi return as Kikujiro and Saki, the father and mother in the Kitano household. The new series actually takes place two years before the first one, at a time when the son Takeshi is in third grade. However, the drama will also include scenes of an older Takeshi, played by Takashi Tsukamoto (from the second series). Auditions are being held for the younger part.

The series will air on Thursdays at 9:00pm, starting in July.

Arashi members Kazunari Ninomiya and Sho Sakurai will star together in the TBS drama series, "Yamada Taro Monogatari." The series is based on Ai Morinaga's comedy manga of the same name, which was serialized in the shojo magazine "Monthly Asuka."

Ninomiya plays the title role of Taro Yamada, a smart, good-looking, and athletic high schooler. Unknown to his classmates, however, is that Yamada is actually living in poverty.

The series starts in July, airing every Friday at 10:00pm.

The recently released "Gegege no Kitaro" movie is on track to become the highest-grossing film about "yokai," a class of mythological creatures in Japan. The 2005 flick "The Great Yokai War" (directed by Takashi Miike) currently holds the record at 2 billion yen, but "Kitaro" is expected to surpass that mark this week. So far, more than 1.5 million people have watched it in theaters.

Distributor Shochiku is hoping the film eventually reaches 3 billion yen.

The "Gegege no Kitaro" franchise is currently experiencing a widespread boom in popularity. While the movie continues to pull in viewers, the currently running anime series has been achieving excellent ratings. Tourists are also flocking to Tottori to visit Shigeru Mizuki Road, named after the original manga's creator. Compared to the same time last year, visitors have increased by over 160%.

Fuji TV has announced the next series in line for its daytime drama slot, weekdays at 1:30pm. The drama is called "Kiniro no Tsubasa," starring Sachiko Kokubu.

"Kiniro no Tsubasa" is a suspense/mystery series, which is uncommon for a daytime drama. However, the positive response to last summer's "Utsukushii Wana" showed the producers that there is interest among viewers.

Kokubu plays the part of a wealthy widow suspected of murdering her husband. Actor Mizuho Takasugi plays a servant at a resort hotel on a remote island, where the story takes place. Other cast members include Mika Hijii, Arthur Kuroda, and Miyuki Tsurugi.

The series begins on July 2.

One of Oricon's latest online surveys asked 600 young men and women which celebrity they thought had a cute, lively voice. The top choice overall was talento Chinatsu Wakatsuki, with Becky and Masami Nagasawa rounding out the top three. Singers Ai Otsuka and Aya Ueto ranked fourth and fifth, respectively. The rest of the top 10 were Yui Aragaki, Aki Hoshino, Shoko Nakagawa, Saeko, and Saki Aibu, in that order.

Men and women differed greatly in their choices, with only Masami Nagasawa being common to both sexes' top five lists (she ranked third in both lists).

Actress Mami Kumagai has been chosen to play the female lead in the TBS daytime drama, "My Fair Boy," inspired by the hit musical "My Fair Lady." The series was first announced in December as a vehicle for young actor Yusuke Yamamoto, who won the Semi-Grand Prix in the 2005 JUNON Superboy Contest.

The series begins on June 4 in TBS's "Ai no Gekijo" time slot (weekdays 1:00-1:30pm).

Singer Kiyoshi Hikawa took two of the top three spots on the Oricon singles chart this past week. "Abayo" and "Kiyoshi no Soran Bushi" were both released last Wednesday, and they reached the #2 and #3 positions, respectively.

Selling two Top 3 singles is a fairly impressive feat. Hikawa is the first solo male singer to do so in 26 years, and the first enka artist in over 34 years. Meanwhile, the singles took the top two positions on the enka chart, which was last achieved in 2003 by Fuyumi Sakamoto.

Still, Hikawa could not top popular band B'z on the overall singles chart, whose new tune "Eien no Tsubasa" sold more than Hikawa's singles combined. This is their 39th consecutive single to debut at #1. It is also their 40th consecutive single in the Top 10, tying them for the record with SMAP and THE ALFEE.

Teen actress Aya Omasa has become the next in line for the popular "Keitai Deka" ("Cell Phone Detective") drama franchise. She will play the lead in "Keitai Deka Kai Zenigata," the sixth series since its start in 2002. Her predecessors include Aoi Miyazaki and Maki Horikita.

The series begins on July 7, and will air every Saturday at 11:00pm on satellite channel BS-i.

Takuhiro Kimura of comedy duo Tenshin is about to tie the knot. He and his girlfriend, a domestic helper from Hyogo, began dating twelve years ago, when Kimura was still in high school. They plan to register their marriage on the 22nd, which is Kimura's 31st birthday.