Actor Ken Matsudaira has been given his first starring role in a musical. He will play the legendary Count Dracula in a production of "Dracula, The Musical." It will be performed beginning in April of next year. The rest of the cast has not yet been decided.

Reggae artist MINMI is currently four months pregnant, and is getting married to Wakadanna of reggae group Shonannokaze. Both artists announced the news on their websites on Tuesday.

MINMI and Wakadanna met in Jamaica in 2001, and they began dating a few months later. The two are already living together. It had been previously reported by various sources that they got married in 2004, but the news was officially denied by MINMI's staff. Now it is said that they will be filing their marriage after MINMI delivers the child in December, with plans to hold a ceremony and reception.

Actress and model Meisa Kuroki has a new commercial for Asahi's Gyugyutto Shimikomu Collagen Water. The ad begins airing on the 26th.

Otakon 2007 has announced director Ryuhei Kitamura as a guest of honor. Kitamura is well-known internationally for his action films, which include "Versus," "Azumi," and "Godzilla: Final Wars."

Actress Yu Aoi will appear in a commercial for Kirin's new health drink, I-Tea. The beverage goes on sale on the 26th, and the commercial begins airing the next day.

Yuko Hara of Southern All Stars will release her first solo single in 10 years. Titled "Daisuki! Happy End," it will be the theme song for the Japanese dub of the animated film "Hoodwinked."

Hara's husband and fellow band member, Keisuke Kuwata, is lending his vocals to the song's chorus. Makoto Saito, a support guitarist for SAS, is also participating on the track.

The "Hoodwinked" dub, which features actress Juri Ueno as the lead voice, opens in Japan this October. No release date for Hara's single has been announced yet.