The award winners of the 12th Animation Kobe were revealed on Thursday.

Hiroyuki Imaishi, who directed the Gainax anime series "Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann," earned the Individual Award. Studio Ghibli director Isao Takahata was given the Special Award in recognition of his long history of contributions to anime.

Satoshi Kon's "Paprika" won the Theatrical Film Award, "Code Geass" won the Television Award, and "Solid State Society" won for Packaged Work. The virtual world Second Life was honored with the Network Award. Lastly, the Theme Song Award (Radio Kansai Award) was given to the "Lucky Star" opening theme, "Motteke! Sailor Fuku."

A presentation ceremony will be held on November 4.

28-year-old Kota Matsumoto of comedy duo Regular has fallen under suspicion of having sexual relations with a 16-year-old girl. According to the newest issue of FRIDAY, the incident happened in August. Matsumoto went to karaoke in Shinjuku with some junior entertainers, and he took the girl to a love hotel afterwards. At the time, she said she was 22.

It was also reported that she had lent him 5,000 yen at the hotel, and she later threatened to expose him if he didn't repay her.

Matsumoto has been married since June 2006. A representative from his agency, Yoshimoto Kogyo, said that Matsumoto had not done anything inappropriate, and that the claim about the money was also untrue.

52-year-old actress Eriko Watanabe announced on Thursday that she has changed her name to Eri Watanabe.

During a television taping in June, she mentioned having a history of bad luck, so celebrity Akihiro Miwa advised her to drop the "ko" to give her name a more favorable stroke count. She officially changed her name on the 26th of this month.

Watanabe will also use the name Eri in her work as a playwright and stage director.

Former X Japan member Yoshiki is now in charge of producing the infamous Paris Hilton for her role in the rock musical film, "Repo! The Genetic Opera" (directed by Darren Lynn Bousman).

Producing for Paris is just one of Yoshiki's roles as the film's music director. This is his first time in that position. He was appointed by producer Mark Burg after he provided the theme song for "Catacombs" earlier this year.

Out of a reported 55 tunes in the movie's soundtrack, Paris performs about 7 of them. He is said to have approved of her singing, saying that she put in serious effort for the recordings.

"Repo!" is scheduled to open next spring in the U.S.

In November, actress Yukie Nakama will star in a play titled "Natsu Hitori -Todokanakatta Tegami-." This is her first stage performance in three years, as well as her first time serving as "zacho" (chairman of the play).

"Natsu Hitori" is an adaptation of NHK's 2005 drama special "Haru to Natsu." The story focuses on two young sisters named Haru and Natsu. Their family emigrates from Japan to Brazil, but Natsu gets left behind in Japan. The two meet again several decades later, and they discover that the letters they wrote each other over the years were never successfully delivered.

In the television drama, Nakama played the role of Natsu from adolescence to her thirties. In the stage version, she will portray the role all by herself, from the ages of 14 to 76.

Also appearing are Katsuhisa Namase (who has acted with Nakama before in dramas such as "Trick" and "Gokusen"), Ken Utsui, and Masami Sawada. The play will run from November 1 to November 26 at the Shinbashi Enbujo.

TOKIO's next single, "Seishun" (reportedly romanized as "SEISYuN"), has been written and composed by singer-songwriter Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi. The song has been chosen as the theme for TBS's upcoming drama series "Utahime," which stars TOKIO member Tomoya Nagase. The CD goes on sale November 21.