The new issue of Josei Seven that went on sale on Thursday reported that 175R's SHOGO is dating gravure idol Yuka Kosaka. Later that day, SHOGO posted a message on the band's official website denying the rumors.

SHOGO said that everything reported is untrue - he did not spend a night with Kosaka, has never been alone with her, and has not traded spare keys with her. He apologized for all the trouble caused by the news, but also expressed that he was upset by it.

Nissan's collaborative "CUBE LOVES MUSIC" project has lined up its third song. This time, the artists involved are new unit Superfly and popular Australian rock band Jet. Jet's two full albums have sold roughly 6 million copies worldwide, compared to Superfly's two major label singles that have only sold about 60,000.

The song is called "High Five," arranged and written by Jet. The new Nissan commercials will start airing on November 8, followed by the single's release on the 28th.

Actress Youki Kudoh is starring in a new movie titled "Haruyokoi," directed by Kenki Saegusa. It is her first lead role in a Japanese film since Tadashi Imai's "Sensou to Seishun" in 1991. Since then, she has been active mainly in the U.S., appearing in works such as "Snow Falling on Cedars." She returned to Japan two years ago.

"Haruyokoi" is set in the Saga Prefecture during the 1980s. Kudoh plays a woman living an ordinary life with her husband and son. However, the husband disappears after he accidentally kills someone.

Kazuki Koshimizu plays the son. Filming starts on November 6, with theatrical release set for next spring.

Variety reports that New Line Cinema has acquired rights for an American version of "OUT," a popular 1997 novel by Natsuo Kirino. The book won the Mystery Writers of Japan Award in 1998, was adapted as a Fuji TV drama series in 1999, and became a film directed by Hideyuki Hirayama in 2002. It was Kirino's first novel to be published in English, and was nominated for an Edgar Award in 2004.

The original novel revolves around a woman who murders her abusive husband, then calls upon three of her colleagues to help dispose of the body.

Hideo Nakata will direct, while Joe Forte is handling the script.

"Afro Samurai" creator Takashi Okazaki has confirmed that a second series is in production, scheduled to air on Spike TV in early 2008. The new series, set after the first one, "follows Afro as he finally 'wakes up to his destiny, which is to be the world's No. 1 warrior.'" His new enemy is described as being an "alluring female warrior."

North American manga publisher Tokyopop is looking to do a live-action remake of Yuji Shiozaki's action manga "Ikki Tousen" (also known as "Battle Vixens"). The company presented its plans at the TIFFCOM trade show, which opened in Roppongi on the 22nd.

The original story, loosely based on "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," features battles between students from warring high schools. The proposed remake has moved the setting to American college campuses and emphasizes the story's comedy aspects. According to the outline, an Asian female would be cast in the lead role.

The media have picked up on rumors that actress Masami Nagasawa is being heavily considered as the Red Team host at the upcoming Kohaku Uta Gassen. Usually, selected hosts are celebrities who serve major roles in NHK shows. For example, Yukie Nakama was the team's host for the past two years because she appeared in the taiga drama "Komyo ga Tsuji," and Takako Matsu hosted in 1996 when she appeared in "Hideyoshi." Most of the time, the host is one of the network's announcers.

Even though Nagasawa hasn't done anything big for NHK and has nearly zero experience as a TV show host, the network seems to be banking on her immense popularity at the moment. She frequently appears at the top of celebrity rankings and has a very clean image.

Nagasawa is currently busy filming for the drama series "Hatachi no Koibito," but that ends in mid-December, and her schedule is said to be clear after that.

Because of her inexperience, if she does get chosen as a host, the White Team host will most likely be a TV show veteran. The members of SMAP are among the names being circulated as strong possibilities. An official announcement is expected to be made by mid-November.