On Wednesday, it was formally announced that kabuki actor Shido Nakamura is now signed with Avex. The music label has recently moved into the field of talent management, and last month officially revealed that it has also acquired actress Koyuki.

Nakamura's first work under Avex will be a part in John Woo's highly anticipated "The Battle of Red Cliff." With a reported budget of between 75 and 80 million U.S. dollars, it is the most expensive Asian film in history.

Nakamura will play a trusted general under Sun Quan (played by Chang Chen). His character does not appear in history or in the original work, which depicts a battle during China's Three Kingdoms period.

Meiji Seika is revamping its sugarless gum Xylish, which has now been on the market for ten years. The face of the product's new commercial campaign is none other than the ever-popular Takuya Kimura.

Commercials begin airing on the 7th, the same day the product launches.

It was announced on Wednesday that vocal group The Gospellers are releasing a new single in collaboration with Howie Dorough of American boy band Backstreet Boys. The song, titled "It Still Matters ~ Ai wa Nemuranai," will be released on October 17.

TBS has now confirmed Sanma Akashiya's statement that he will be co-starring with Masami Nagasawa in a drama series this fall.

The drama is titled "Hatachi no Koibito," and will run in TBS's Sunday 9:00pm time slot. The story is described as a romantic comedy between the middle-aged Akashiya and the 20-year-old Nagasawa.

Filming begins in mid-August. Supporting cast members include Takashi Tsukamoto, Manami Kurose, and Aiko Morishita.

U.S.-born idol Leah Dizon has been chosen as the image character for a new clothing brand called Sweet Razzor. The brand, which is aimed at women between 18 and 25 years of age, was created by toy company Bandai.

17-year-old Seshiru Kishimoto has been chosen as Japan's representative for the Elite Model Look 2007 competition. The annual event is sponsored by international management group Elite Models. This year, it will be held in Antalya, Turkey during November.

The finals for Japan's competition were held on Tuesday. Kishimoto was awarded the Grand Prix, overcoming an initial field of about 3,000 entrants. The Semi-Grand Prix award went to 14-year-old Miki Hisada, while the special judges' award was given to 15-year-old Michelle Miki Nakajima.

Noted lyricist Yu Aku (real name: Hiroyuki Fukada) died of ureter cancer on Wednesday morning. He was 70.

Aku made his debut as a lyricist in 1967. He wrote many hits, such as Harumi Miyako's "Kita no Yado Kara," Linda Yamamoto's "Dou ni mo Tomaranai," and Masako Mori's "Sensei." He also worked extensively with artists such as Kenji Sawada and Pink Lady. In addition to writing lyrics, Aku published several novels and essays.

In 1999, Aku received the Shiju Hosho, one of the most prestigious honors awarded by the government.

Actress Aoi Miyazaki and actor Sousuke Takaoka held their wedding ceremony on the 25th, at a shrine in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The ceremony had only about fifteen people in attendance, all close relatives.