Wed, June 27, 2007 (6:16pm EDT)
Actress Ai Kato and soccer star Koji Nakata are reportedly dating. The two met around five years ago through a mutual friend, and it developed into a serious relationship about a year ago.
In early 2006, Nakata began playing in the Swiss Super League for the team FC Basel. He recently finished the season and returned to Japan on May 30, and it is said he has seen Kato many times since then. It is also reported that they have already met each other's families.
Kato's agency neither confirmed nor denied the relationship.
In early 2006, Nakata began playing in the Swiss Super League for the team FC Basel. He recently finished the season and returned to Japan on May 30, and it is said he has seen Kato many times since then. It is also reported that they have already met each other's families.
Kato's agency neither confirmed nor denied the relationship.
Wed, June 27, 2007 (5:14pm EDT)
Comedian Hitori Gekidan and talento Akane Osawa were seen on a date earlier this month, according to Josei Seven. They ate together at a fancy yakiniku restaurant in Nishi Shinjuku, and they were reportedly holding hands. They were also spotted at a movie theater around the same time.
According to their agencies, the two celebrities are just close friends.
According to their agencies, the two celebrities are just close friends.
Wed, June 27, 2007 (5:06pm EDT)
Newlywed actress Aoi Miyazaki has been cast in Yuichiro Hirakawa's "Kagehinata ni Saku," scheduled for release in 2008. She will play two separate roles, which is a first for her.
The story is based on the popular novel by Hitori Gekidan, which is actually composed of five intertwining storylines. In the movie version, V6's Junichi Okada plays the lead role as a man who becomes a gambler in order to pay off his debts. Miyazaki will play a young woman that he meets, a character that does not appear in the original story.
Another character in the movie is Naruko, a woman who forms a manzai comedy duo with a man she loves. Miyazaki will play the role of Naruko in the past.
Filming begins next month and is scheduled to wrap up in mid-August. The rest of the main cast has not yet been revealed.
The story is based on the popular novel by Hitori Gekidan, which is actually composed of five intertwining storylines. In the movie version, V6's Junichi Okada plays the lead role as a man who becomes a gambler in order to pay off his debts. Miyazaki will play a young woman that he meets, a character that does not appear in the original story.
Another character in the movie is Naruko, a woman who forms a manzai comedy duo with a man she loves. Miyazaki will play the role of Naruko in the past.
Filming begins next month and is scheduled to wrap up in mid-August. The rest of the main cast has not yet been revealed.
Wed, June 27, 2007 (4:33pm EDT)
It was revealed on Wednesday that actress Keiko Toda and actor Junichi Inoue have been divorced since December. They had been married since June 1990.
Toda's agency did not offer details about the reason for the divorce, but the new issue of Josei Seven reports that around 4 years ago, the two separated so that Toda could live with her ailing mother. After her mother passed away two years ago, Toda and Inoue began living together again as a couple, but a gap had grown between them.
The magazine also says that one cause of the split started around 7 or 8 years ago, when Inoue joined a new religious movement and Toda disagreed with it.
Toda's agency did not offer details about the reason for the divorce, but the new issue of Josei Seven reports that around 4 years ago, the two separated so that Toda could live with her ailing mother. After her mother passed away two years ago, Toda and Inoue began living together again as a couple, but a gap had grown between them.
The magazine also says that one cause of the split started around 7 or 8 years ago, when Inoue joined a new religious movement and Toda disagreed with it.
Wed, June 27, 2007 (2:37am EDT)
Rock band Ulfuls has been chosen to sing the theme song for this summer's Koshien tournament. The song is titled "Ryoho For You" and goes on sale on July 25.
