25-year-old former idol Masumi Toyooka has given birth to her first child. She wrote on her blog on Friday night that her son was born that day, a few weeks before her due date.

Toyooka got married last November and retired from show business at the end of March, though she still remains active through her blog.

Music label Avex has announced that it is producing a musical this September, titled "Kokoro no Kakera." The soundtrack is said to feature 21 songs, chosen from the company's hits over the past two decades. This is the first time that a record company has put together a musical based on songs by several of its artists.

The story, set in a fantasy world, centers around a wounded OL who roams a futuristic city searching for mysterious "heart fragments." Avex talents such as Takahiro Nishijima (AAA) and Hiroki Aiba have been cast. Playwright Tsuyoshi Kida wrote the script, and Shunichi Okamura is directing.

Some of the songs being used are Namie Amuro's "Can You Celebrate?," Ayumi Hamasaki's "SEASONS," and Kumi Koda's "Koi no Tsubomi."

The musical will be performed at Tokyo's Aoyama Theatre from September 15 to September 29.

Sharam Q keyboardist Taisei announced on his blog that he has now become a father. His wife gave birth to a baby girl on Tuesday.

Taisei, 38, is in his 10th year of marriage.