Mon, August 20, 2007 (10:08pm EDT)
Yoshimi Tokui of owarai duo Tutorial is reportedly dating badminton player Reiko Shiota, who is one half of a doubles pair with Kumiko Ogura. The duo, affectionately known as "OguShio," earned the bronze medal at the 2006 Asian Games.
Tokui and Shiota's relationship began in February 2006 when they appeared on a television show called "Dream Supporter," whose theme was to fulfill the dreams of athletes. The two busy badminton players asked for an opportunity to go on a normal date, and they were paired up with Tutorial. Shiota and Tokui hit it off, so they continued seeing each other afterwards.
Tokui and Shiota's relationship began in February 2006 when they appeared on a television show called "Dream Supporter," whose theme was to fulfill the dreams of athletes. The two busy badminton players asked for an opportunity to go on a normal date, and they were paired up with Tutorial. Shiota and Tokui hit it off, so they continued seeing each other afterwards.
Mon, August 20, 2007 (6:38pm EDT)
Actor Kazuhiko Nishimura announced on his blog that his wife, calligrapher Tomomi Kunishige, is currently pregnant. The child is due in January.
Nishimura and Kunishige married in May of last year.
Nishimura and Kunishige married in May of last year.
Mon, August 20, 2007 (6:22pm EDT)
Starting in October, TV Asahi will air a drama series titled "Mop Girl," with actress Keiko Kitagawa in her first starring TV role.
The story is adapted from a serialized novel by Miaki Kato, published in Kirara magazine. Kitagawa plays the part of the slow but hardworking Momoko, a low-ranking employee at a funeral services company who carries a mop as part of her job.
However, Momoko happens to possess a strange ability. Whenever she comes across the corpse of someone who has left strong feelings behind, she travels back in time to save that person from his or her fate.
Other cast members include Shosuke Tanihara, Sousuke Takaoka, and Reina Asami. The drama will air in TV Asahi's Friday 11:15pm time slot.
The story is adapted from a serialized novel by Miaki Kato, published in Kirara magazine. Kitagawa plays the part of the slow but hardworking Momoko, a low-ranking employee at a funeral services company who carries a mop as part of her job.
However, Momoko happens to possess a strange ability. Whenever she comes across the corpse of someone who has left strong feelings behind, she travels back in time to save that person from his or her fate.
Other cast members include Shosuke Tanihara, Sousuke Takaoka, and Reina Asami. The drama will air in TV Asahi's Friday 11:15pm time slot.
Mon, August 20, 2007 (5:22pm EDT)
66-year-old comedian Kinichi Hagimoto was this year's celebrity runner in the marathon of NTV's charity telethon, "24 Hour Television." He completed the 70km course shortly after 9:00pm on Sunday, minutes after the telethon officially ended.
This year's "24 Hour Television," which featured celebrity hosts Tackey & Tsubasa, achieved the second-highest ratings in the program's 30-year history. It averaged 18.6% in the Kanto region, slightly below the 19.0% rating in 2005.
However, the show reached a peak rating of 43.9%, two minutes before the broadcast's end while viewers watched in anticipation of Hagimoto reaching the finish line. The network decided to continue the marathon coverage during the following program, "Gyouretsu no Dekiru Houritsu Soudanjo." When Hagimoto finally completed his run minutes later, viewership peaked at 42.9%.
The 43.9% rating was a record high for "24 Hour Television." Meanwhile, "Gyouretsu no Dekiru Houritsu Soudanjo" ended with a 35.3% average, a record for the show.
This year's "24 Hour Television," which featured celebrity hosts Tackey & Tsubasa, achieved the second-highest ratings in the program's 30-year history. It averaged 18.6% in the Kanto region, slightly below the 19.0% rating in 2005.
However, the show reached a peak rating of 43.9%, two minutes before the broadcast's end while viewers watched in anticipation of Hagimoto reaching the finish line. The network decided to continue the marathon coverage during the following program, "Gyouretsu no Dekiru Houritsu Soudanjo." When Hagimoto finally completed his run minutes later, viewership peaked at 42.9%.
The 43.9% rating was a record high for "24 Hour Television." Meanwhile, "Gyouretsu no Dekiru Houritsu Soudanjo" ended with a 35.3% average, a record for the show.
Mon, August 20, 2007 (4:47pm EDT)
Idols Yuko Ogura and Leah Dizon appear together in a new commercial for Lotte's Yukimi Daifuku ice cream product. The commercial can be viewed on the Lotte website.
Mon, August 20, 2007 (4:31pm EDT)
Actress and singer Aya Ueto is taking on her first role as a mother in a Fuji TV drama series this fall, tentatively titled "Wild Mama."
The comical home drama stars Ueto as the strong-minded Ayu, who has just married a divorced man (Yo Oizumi), despite a 12-year age difference and contrasting backgrounds (she grew up by the sea while he was raised in the city), as well as a 5-year-old son from his first marriage. While Ayu and her husband have their disagreements at home, she also gets in arguments with people outside the house, such as the other mothers at her son's kindergarten.
The series is being written by Shizuka Oishi and directed by Yuichi Sato (who also directed "Attention Please"). Fuji TV will broadcast the show on Tuesdays at 9:00pm, starting on October 16.
The comical home drama stars Ueto as the strong-minded Ayu, who has just married a divorced man (Yo Oizumi), despite a 12-year age difference and contrasting backgrounds (she grew up by the sea while he was raised in the city), as well as a 5-year-old son from his first marriage. While Ayu and her husband have their disagreements at home, she also gets in arguments with people outside the house, such as the other mothers at her son's kindergarten.
The series is being written by Shizuka Oishi and directed by Yuichi Sato (who also directed "Attention Please"). Fuji TV will broadcast the show on Tuesdays at 9:00pm, starting on October 16.
Mon, August 20, 2007 (5:30am EDT)
Actress Yoko Minakaze died of pancreatic cancer on Sunday afternoon, at a hospital in Yokohama. She was 77.
Minakaze, whose real name was Hiroko, matriculated into the Takarazuka Music School in 1948 and was a member of the Takarazuka Revue. In 1959, she joined the Mingei Theatre Company. Her last performance was in Taichi Yamada's "Hayashi no Naka no Napoli" last month.
Her acting skills earned her the Kinokuniya Theatre Award and the Kazuo Kikuta Drama Award. She was also active in movies and television.
Minakaze was married to film and theater director Mitsuo Wakasugi.
Minakaze, whose real name was Hiroko, matriculated into the Takarazuka Music School in 1948 and was a member of the Takarazuka Revue. In 1959, she joined the Mingei Theatre Company. Her last performance was in Taichi Yamada's "Hayashi no Naka no Napoli" last month.
Her acting skills earned her the Kinokuniya Theatre Award and the Kazuo Kikuta Drama Award. She was also active in movies and television.
Minakaze was married to film and theater director Mitsuo Wakasugi.
Mon, August 20, 2007 (5:09am EDT)
Fashion model Sayoko Yamaguchi died of acute pneumonia on the 14th, it was discovered on Monday. Relatives have already held her funeral service.
Yamaguchi graduated from Dressmaker Gakuin, and debuted as a professional model in 1971. She appeared in fashion shows in cities such as Paris and New York, as well as shows by well-known Japanese designers such as Kenzo Takada and Kansai Yamamoto. At one point in her career, she was named by Newsweek to be one of the top models in the world. She also appeared in movies, plays, and commercials.
Yamaguchi was 57 when she died, though her age was never made public during her career.
Yamaguchi graduated from Dressmaker Gakuin, and debuted as a professional model in 1971. She appeared in fashion shows in cities such as Paris and New York, as well as shows by well-known Japanese designers such as Kenzo Takada and Kansai Yamamoto. At one point in her career, she was named by Newsweek to be one of the top models in the world. She also appeared in movies, plays, and commercials.
Yamaguchi was 57 when she died, though her age was never made public during her career.
