18-year-old talento and former fashion model Nanase Iwai wrote on her blog on Friday that she is retiring from show business. According to her, she had made the decision years ago, but she never mentioned it due to various circumstances.

Iwai said that she wants the freedom to try other things. She also borrowed a line from the idol group Candies (when they announced their breakup), saying that she would be an ordinary girl from now on.

Iwai made her entertainment debut after winning an Itoh Company audition in 1999. She started out as a model but also became active in film and television. Her credits include "Warau Mikaeru," "Genius Party," and "Sh15uya."

Popular actress Maki Horikita has been named as a guest judge for Asia's largest short film festival.

This year, the Short Shorts Film Festival & ASIA is establishing a new Online category. Horikita be one of the judges for that section.

The festival takes place in Harajuku, Tokyo, this June. More details about the event can be found at the official website.

Chemistry member Kaname Kawabata revealed during a performance on Friday that his wife, model Miki Takahashi, is currently pregnant with their first child.

Kawabata and Takahashi just got married on March 6. They first met in June of last year.

Anna Tsuchiya and AI are working together on a new single titled "Crazy World." The song goes on sale June 11.

The two singers both had minor roles as prisoners in the 2006 film "Memories of Matsuko" (directed by Tetsuya Nakashima). They became friends after that, and Tsuchiya came up with the offer to do a collaboration. This is her first time working with another artist on one of her own songs.

The first official lineup of the Rock In Japan Festival 2008, which takes place August 1-3 at Ibaraki's Hitachi Seaside Park, has been announced. Like previous years, there will be 4 concert stages (Grass Stage, Lake Stage, Sound of Forest, and Wing Tent). The festival will announce the timetable and additional artists at a later date.

Day 1: 175R, AIR, Kaela Kimura, GOOD 4 NOTHING, GO!GO!7188, The 50 Kaitenz, Sambomaster, Jinn, STRAIGHTENER, SUNEOHAIR, Sparta Locals, Spitz, TRICERATOPS, B-DASH, FoZZtone, Hoff Dylan, Polysics, UNISON SQUARE GARDEN, LUNKHEAD, RYUKYUDISKO

Day 2: asphalt frustration, ART-SCHOOL, UNCHAIN, Elephant Kashimashi, 8otto, Captain Straydum, Kinniku Shojotai, Kazuyoshi Saito, SEAMO, Zunou Keisatsu, SOIL & "PIMP" SESSIONS, dustbox, tobaccojuice, chatmonchy, Tsubakiya Quartette, the telephones, PUFFY, the HANGOVERS, BIGMAMA, Fujifabric, BRAHMAN, bonobos, MARS EURYTHMICS, monobright

Day 3: APOGEE, Tamio Okuda, Otogibanashi, GRAPEVINE, GOING UNDER GROUND, SNOWKEL, Takeuchi Denki, Tsuru, Dragon Ash, NICO Touches the Walls, Northern19, THE NOVEMBERS, HiGE, People In The Box, Magokoro Brothers, MO'SOME TONEBENDER, YOUR SONG IS GOOD, YO-KING, RIZE

Starting April 17, advance ticket reservations are being done by postcard lottery. The second lineup announcement is scheduled for June 1.

Four trainee members of Hello! Project Kansai have officially graduated and formed a new unit called SI☆NA (pronounced like "she-na"). The group's name comes from the initials of the members: Ai Suma, Manami Iwashima, Nana Nakayama, and Asami Abe (not to be confused with the sister of Natsumi Abe who has the same name).

Suma was a finalist in the 2005 Morning Musume audition, which was won by Koharu Kusumi.

The group has been hosting a weekly radio show from the Amerikamura studio of Kiss-FM since late February. Titled "Girls Kiss," the program has a blog, and videos of the shows can be watched on the Amerikamura TV website.