Thu, December 27, 2007 (8:13pm EST)
Talento Chinatsu Wakatsuki plans to go overseas to study, it was learned on Thursday.
On the 28th, TBS will air the final episode of the variety show "Natsumegudo," which is hosted by Wakatsuki and talento Megumi. After that, Wakatsuki will no longer be a regular on any TV show, so she will be taking the opportunity to go overseas to study language and writing.
It has not yet been announced when she will leave or where she is headed. Some publications have speculated that she is retiring or taking a break from show business, but she is apparently renewing her commercial contracts.
On the 28th, TBS will air the final episode of the variety show "Natsumegudo," which is hosted by Wakatsuki and talento Megumi. After that, Wakatsuki will no longer be a regular on any TV show, so she will be taking the opportunity to go overseas to study language and writing.
It has not yet been announced when she will leave or where she is headed. Some publications have speculated that she is retiring or taking a break from show business, but she is apparently renewing her commercial contracts.
Thu, December 27, 2007 (7:26pm EST)
22-year-old Tsubasa Masuwaka, a model for fashion magazine Popteen, got married on Christmas Day to her boyfriend Naoki Umeda. She announced the news on her blog on the 26th, one day before an article about it appeared in said magazine. She also revealed that she is graduating as a Popteen model.
The 25-year-old Umeda is currently a model for the magazine Men's egg.
The 25-year-old Umeda is currently a model for the magazine Men's egg.
Thu, December 27, 2007 (5:36pm EST)
32-year-old kyogen actor Motohiko Shigeyama got married on Christmas Eve, it was learned on Wednesday. This is his second marriage.
His wife, a non-celebrity, is one year younger than him. The two are already living together.
His wife, a non-celebrity, is one year younger than him. The two are already living together.
Thu, December 27, 2007 (5:23pm EST)
Talento Lou Oshiba is going independent at the end of January, it was learned on Thursday. Both he and his manager will leave talent agency Asaikikaku to start their own office.
Oshiba saw a resurgence in popularity this year with his practice of mixing Japanese and English in his speech, commonly known as "Lou-go." He also released a song titled "MOTTAINAI" for "Minna no Uta."
Oshiba saw a resurgence in popularity this year with his practice of mixing Japanese and English in his speech, commonly known as "Lou-go." He also released a song titled "MOTTAINAI" for "Minna no Uta."
Thu, December 27, 2007 (4:59pm EST)
Celebrity couple Norika Fujiwara and Tomonori Jinnai are planning to start 2008 with a honeymoon trip to Mauritius. They got married in February but due to their busy schedules, their only vacation time is at the start of the new year.
Jinnai will be absent from "Narutomo!" until January 14.
Jinnai will be absent from "Narutomo!" until January 14.
Thu, December 27, 2007 (3:54pm EST)
TERU, the vocalist of rock band GLAY, injured a bicyclist earlier this month while driving in the Meguro ward of Tokyo.
On the morning of December 7, TERU was making a right turn at an intersection when his vehicle came in contact with a bicycle coming from the right. Because the intersection had no traffic signal and involved only one-way streets, TERU said he had only checked for cars coming from the left. The cyclist, a woman in her 20s, fell down and injured her left knee.
TERU's wife, Ami Onuki of Puffy, was also in the car.
Meguro police said that they plan to send the case to prosecutors, charging TERU with negligent driving resulting in injury.
On the morning of December 7, TERU was making a right turn at an intersection when his vehicle came in contact with a bicycle coming from the right. Because the intersection had no traffic signal and involved only one-way streets, TERU said he had only checked for cars coming from the left. The cyclist, a woman in her 20s, fell down and injured her left knee.
TERU's wife, Ami Onuki of Puffy, was also in the car.
Meguro police said that they plan to send the case to prosecutors, charging TERU with negligent driving resulting in injury.
Thu, December 27, 2007 (3:16pm EST)
31-year-old actor Joe Odagiri and 20-year-old actress Yu Kashii surprised the entertainment world on Thursday when their agencies announced that the two are getting married. They held a press conference that night at a hotel in Tokyo.
The pair met in 2005 while working together for the movie "The Pavillion Salamandre." They began dating in the fall, and weekly magazine Josei Seven first reported the romance that December, when Odagiri was seen driving Kashii home after a night out with friends.
Odagiri said that he had marriage in mind from the start of their relationship. He explained that he will be doing more work overseas starting next year, so he wanted to get married soon to give Kashii some security. They plan to register the marriage early next year. No date has been set for a ceremony or reception.
While the two are separated by 11 years in age, they coincidentally have the same birthday, February 16. Odagiri will be filming abroad for a month starting in January, so they may end up registering the marriage in February as well.
The pair met in 2005 while working together for the movie "The Pavillion Salamandre." They began dating in the fall, and weekly magazine Josei Seven first reported the romance that December, when Odagiri was seen driving Kashii home after a night out with friends.
Odagiri said that he had marriage in mind from the start of their relationship. He explained that he will be doing more work overseas starting next year, so he wanted to get married soon to give Kashii some security. They plan to register the marriage early next year. No date has been set for a ceremony or reception.
While the two are separated by 11 years in age, they coincidentally have the same birthday, February 16. Odagiri will be filming abroad for a month starting in January, so they may end up registering the marriage in February as well.
