Thu, November 22, 2007 (6:12am EST)
Asahi has announced that 23-year-old model Miki Yoshimura will be the new face of its beer ads, serving as the 2008 Asahi Beer Image Girl. Previous image girls include Tomoko Yamaguchi, Norika Fujiwara, Misaki Ito, and Haruka Igawa.
Thu, November 22, 2007 (5:54am EST)
Talento and writer Genki Sudo, better known as a successful mixed martial artist who retired at the end of last year, announced on Thursday that he has married. According to a fax sent out to the media, his wife is not in show business. The two plan to hold a ceremony in December.
Thu, November 22, 2007 (5:44am EST)
In a recent survey, research firm Oricon asked 2,000 people, "Which celebrity has a wonderful voice?"
Among male celebrities, popular actor and singer Masaharu Fukuyama ranked first. Akira Kawashima of comedy duo Kirin came in second, followed by Shosuke Tanihara, Hiroshi Tamaki, and Hiroshi Abe. Akira Nakao and Leo Morimoto tied for 6th, ahead of Takuya Kimura, Gackt, and Koichi Yamadera.
On the women's side, actress/singer/seiyu Keiko Toda topped the list. She was chosen partly for her range of voices in anime, which includes Matilda from "Mobile Suit Gundam" and Anpanman. Nanako Matsushima, Yukie Nakama, Sayuri Yoshinaga, and Masami Nagasawa filled the rest of the top five. Hitomi Kuroki tied with Miwa Yoshida for #6. Erika Sawajiri and YUI tied for #8, while Ai Otsuka and Hikaru Utada tied for #10.
Among male celebrities, popular actor and singer Masaharu Fukuyama ranked first. Akira Kawashima of comedy duo Kirin came in second, followed by Shosuke Tanihara, Hiroshi Tamaki, and Hiroshi Abe. Akira Nakao and Leo Morimoto tied for 6th, ahead of Takuya Kimura, Gackt, and Koichi Yamadera.
On the women's side, actress/singer/seiyu Keiko Toda topped the list. She was chosen partly for her range of voices in anime, which includes Matilda from "Mobile Suit Gundam" and Anpanman. Nanako Matsushima, Yukie Nakama, Sayuri Yoshinaga, and Masami Nagasawa filled the rest of the top five. Hitomi Kuroki tied with Miwa Yoshida for #6. Erika Sawajiri and YUI tied for #8, while Ai Otsuka and Hikaru Utada tied for #10.
Thu, November 22, 2007 (5:21am EST)
20-year-old actress Natsuko Hoshino, who has played minor roles in television dramas such as "1 Litre of Tears" and "Jikou Keisatsu," has been suspended for a year by her management, it was announced on Wednesday.
Hoshino had written on her blog about the incident of Keiko Miura and her two granddaughters, who have been missing since last week and appear to have been the victims of a violent crime.
It seems the blog entry was written in a way that labeled a specific person as the culprit, even though the investigation is still ongoing. Upon discovering the post, Hoshino's agency deleted it, calling the remarks inappropriate and irresponsible, and forced the actress to apologize.
Hoshino had written on her blog about the incident of Keiko Miura and her two granddaughters, who have been missing since last week and appear to have been the victims of a violent crime.
It seems the blog entry was written in a way that labeled a specific person as the culprit, even though the investigation is still ongoing. Upon discovering the post, Hoshino's agency deleted it, calling the remarks inappropriate and irresponsible, and forced the actress to apologize.
Thu, November 22, 2007 (4:44am EST)
Actress Akiko Yada gave birth on Monday to her first child, a son weighing 3,200 grams.
She and singer Manabu Oshio married on November 13 of last year. Yada has since been absent from show business and has now devoted herself to being a housewife and mother. However, it is said she may try to return to acting when the child is a little older.
She and singer Manabu Oshio married on November 13 of last year. Yada has since been absent from show business and has now devoted herself to being a housewife and mother. However, it is said she may try to return to acting when the child is a little older.
Thu, November 22, 2007 (4:29am EST)
The trial of former Hikaru Genji member Akira Akasaka opened on Wednesday, and ended the same day with the judge handing Akasaka an 18-month sentence, suspended for three years.
Police arrested Akasaka at the end of October for possession of stimulants. According to his statement, he began using the drugs in April after he and his wife divorced, and explained that he was trying to escape from the pain of no longer being able to see his son.
Akasaka was dismissed by Johnny's Jimusho shortly after his arrest. Following the trial, he declared that he currently has no plans to return to show business. He said he would start his life over from part-time jobs just to pay child support for his son.
Police arrested Akasaka at the end of October for possession of stimulants. According to his statement, he began using the drugs in April after he and his wife divorced, and explained that he was trying to escape from the pain of no longer being able to see his son.
Akasaka was dismissed by Johnny's Jimusho shortly after his arrest. Following the trial, he declared that he currently has no plans to return to show business. He said he would start his life over from part-time jobs just to pay child support for his son.
