Popular duo Tackey & Tsubasa are appearing together in a short drama tied in with their soon-to-be-released single "Koiuta" (on sale June 4). Many artists have previously made music videos that have elements of a television drama, but this will be the first time an actual drama is included with a song's release.

The 20-minute episode will use the love ballad "Koiuta" as its motif. Hideaki Takizawa takes on the role of an angel watching over a blind woman (played by Rinako Matsuoka), while Tsubasa Imai plays the woman's childhood friend. The drama will be included as a bonus with the first press edition of the single.

The last time the pair were in a drama together was in NHK's 2005 taiga drama "Yoshitsune," which Takizawa starred in. Imai made a guest appearance on the show as a minor character.

Singer Yo Hitoto opened a 26-concert tour on Friday with a performance in Kanagawa. During her encore, she announced that she has finally scheduled her first solo show at the Nippon Budokan, to take place on September 16.

Musician Kazuo Otani died last week at the age of 61, it was announced on Sunday.

The news of his death was posted on the website of famed rock band SHOGUN. Otani was the keyboardist for the group, which he formed in 1978 along with Fujimaru Yoshino and Michio Nagaoka. Two of their best-known hits are "BAD CITY" and "Otokotachi no Melody."

Otani passed away on May 18. The cause of his death was not revealed.

Kiyoshi Kurosawa's new film, "Tokyo Sonata," won the jury prize in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival, which ended on Sunday. The movie, which stars Teruyuki Kagawa and Kyoko Koizumi, is the first from Japan to receive that honor.

Kurosawa previously won the FIPRESCI Award at Cannes in 2001 with his horror film "Kairo" (also known as "Pulse").

"Tokyo Sonata" opens in Japan this fall.