Wed, September 5, 2007 (7:23pm EDT)
Kaoruko Sakai, the wife of Marc Panther of pop band globe, has been arrested for possession of narcotics.
On June 18 in Roppongi, a police officer stopped Sakai, who was driving with her friend. During questioning, the officer discovered a small bag with traces of a white powder, which was later identified as ketamine. A voluntary urine exam tested positive for both ketamine and cocaine, which led to Sakai being officially taken into custody on the 3rd of this month.
She admitted to using ketamine to relieve stomach pains, but stated that she was unaware of using cocaine.
Sakai has been married to Marc Panther since 2002. She is somewhat of a celebrity herself, having appeared on television and in magazines multiple times. She also operates a baby clothing brand named Irie Family and its related store, Crown Heart.
On June 18 in Roppongi, a police officer stopped Sakai, who was driving with her friend. During questioning, the officer discovered a small bag with traces of a white powder, which was later identified as ketamine. A voluntary urine exam tested positive for both ketamine and cocaine, which led to Sakai being officially taken into custody on the 3rd of this month.
She admitted to using ketamine to relieve stomach pains, but stated that she was unaware of using cocaine.
Sakai has been married to Marc Panther since 2002. She is somewhat of a celebrity herself, having appeared on television and in magazines multiple times. She also operates a baby clothing brand named Irie Family and its related store, Crown Heart.
Wed, September 5, 2007 (6:43pm EDT)
Director Makoto Sato died on Tuesday afternoon at a Tokyo hospital. He was 49.
Sato had been repeatedly admitted into a hospital for depression since last year. On Tuesday, he reportedly jumped from the stairs of an apartment building. He died shortly after being taken to the hospital.
Sato was best known for "Agano ni Ikiru," which was a grand prize runner-up at the 1993 Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival. His other works include "Mahiru no Hoshi" and "Out of Place: Memories of Edward Said."
Sato had been repeatedly admitted into a hospital for depression since last year. On Tuesday, he reportedly jumped from the stairs of an apartment building. He died shortly after being taken to the hospital.
Sato was best known for "Agano ni Ikiru," which was a grand prize runner-up at the 1993 Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival. His other works include "Mahiru no Hoshi" and "Out of Place: Memories of Edward Said."
Wed, September 5, 2007 (2:02pm EDT)
Kei Kurashima's gag manga "24 no Hitomi" is being adapted by TBS as a live-action series. The show will be the network's third "Ippunhan Gekijo" program - each episode lasts only 90 seconds.
Broadcast will begin on October 1, airing late night Mondays through Wednesdays (between 3:00 and 4:00am). The series is scheduled to run for about six months for a total of 80 episodes.
Rina Akiyama plays the starring role of Hitomi-sensei, a young teacher whose constant lies cause trouble around her. The character is a far cry from the admirable teacher in Sakae Tsuboi's 1952 postwar novel "Nijushi no Hitomi" ("Twenty-Four Eyes"), which inspired the title for Kurashima's manga.
The rest of the cast includes Ruito Aoyagi, Toshiya Sakai, Mizuki Sugasawa, Moe Miura, Ai Shinozaki, Yujiro Kazama, and Kazuya Suzuki.
Broadcast will begin on October 1, airing late night Mondays through Wednesdays (between 3:00 and 4:00am). The series is scheduled to run for about six months for a total of 80 episodes.
Rina Akiyama plays the starring role of Hitomi-sensei, a young teacher whose constant lies cause trouble around her. The character is a far cry from the admirable teacher in Sakae Tsuboi's 1952 postwar novel "Nijushi no Hitomi" ("Twenty-Four Eyes"), which inspired the title for Kurashima's manga.
The rest of the cast includes Ruito Aoyagi, Toshiya Sakai, Mizuki Sugasawa, Moe Miura, Ai Shinozaki, Yujiro Kazama, and Kazuya Suzuki.
