This fall, the "Kamen Rider" franchise will get yet another addition: "Kamen Rider The Next." The movie is being directed by Ryuta Tasaki, who helmed several other series and films in the franchise. As the title might suggest, it follows up on the 2005 release "Kamen Rider The First" (which was based on the first Kamen Rider series) and takes its inspiration from the second series, "Kamen Rider V3."

"V3" aired for 52 episodes between 1973 and 1974, and is often claimed by fans to be the best of the TV show's many incarnations. The hero, V3, will be played by Kazuki Kato, who played Drake in the "Kamen Rider Kabuto" series that ended earlier this year.

Due to horror elements, the film is expected to get a PG-12 rating.

TBS is planning to air a drama special about the life of actress Masako Natsume, who died of leukemia in 1985 at the age of 27. The drama is based on "Futari no Masako," a book written by Natsume's mother.

Natsume is perhaps best known for her role as Tripitaka (Sanzo Hoshi) in the "Saiyuki" drama series from the late '70s.

Popular actress Yukie Nakama will play Masako, and Yoshiko Mita will play her mother. Filming began on May 27, with a target broadcast date in autumn.

The special is titled "Himawari ~Masako Natsume 27-sai no Shougai to Haha no Ai~." Himawari is the Japanese word for sunflower, which was one of Natsume's favorite flowers and was also the title of a movie she watched many times as a student - "I Girasoli," starring Sophia Loren.

Model Kentaro Nakamura was arrested on Thursday for suspected use of cocaine. On May 6, he and three others were questioned in Roppongi by an officer from Tokyo's Azabu district, and urine samples were taken. The samples later tested positive for cocaine, and an arrest warrant was issued.

On Thursday, Nakamura stated that he had no recollection of using the drug.

It was recently announced that Nakamura and singer Rina Chinen got divorced on March 15. Her agency had no comment on the arrest.

A press conference was held on Thursday to announce the production of "SS," a film based on Shohei Harumoto's manga of the same name (also known as "Special Stage"). The film, scheduled for release next spring, is being helmed by TV director Yoshinori Kobayashi, who made his big screen debut with the "Unfair" movie.

Sho Aikawa stars as a middle-aged man who remembers his forgotten dreams of becoming a professional rally driver. The cast includes Noriko Sakai (as Aikawa's wife) and talento Megumi.

It was also noticed at the press conference that Megumi had a ring on her left ring finger, suggesting that her relationship with Dragon Ash's Kenji Furuya is going well.

Takashi Miike's "Sukiyaki Western Django" (in theaters September) is being serialized as a manga, drawn by mangaka Kotobuki Shiriagari ("Mayonaka no Yaji-san Kita-san").

The unusual film is a western set in 12th century Japan, with all of the dialogue spoken in English. The film has also received extra publicity for a special appearance by director Quentin Tarantino.

The manga will be serialized in Shogakukan's Big Comic Superior, starting with the next issue that goes on sale Friday (June 8). The series is scheduled to run for 10 chapters. It is also reported that Shiriagari's character drawings will be based on the movie's cast, which includes Hideaki Ito, Yoshino Kimura, Koichi Sato, Yusuke Iseya, and Kaori Momoi.