Thu, July 10, 2008 (2:33am EDT)
Announcer Mona Yamamoto is once again in danger of losing her career. In 2006, she was dropped by TBS after her affair with married DPJ politician Goshi Hosono was discovered, but she was able to revive her career last year through Takeshi Kitano's management agency, making appearances on quiz and variety shows. This past Sunday, she finally returned to being a newscaster, but her future is now in jeopardy due to a second scandal.
The newest issue of Josei Seven reported that Yamamoto was seen at a love hotel this past weekend with Yomiuri Giants shortstop Tomohiro Nioka, who has a wife and a 1-year-old son.
Yamamoto had appeared on Sunday's premiere of the live news program "Sakiyomi" (Fuji TV). After the broadcast, she and some female staffers went to one of the many gay bars in Shinjuku's Ni-chome district. Many other celebrities, including Oriental Radio's Shingo Fujimori, were there at the bar, and Nioka showed up about half an hour later with some of his younger teammates.
The groups left the bar past 4:30am, but Nioka and Yamamoto got into a taxi together. They were seen kissing in the car, and they ended up at a love hotel in the Gotanda district.
On Wednesday night, Yamamoto issued a public statement on her own, acknowledging that she and Nioka had entered the hotel. However, she swore that all they did was drink. According to her, she had repeatedly tried to fend off Nioka's drunken advances throughout the night, and she finally left him behind at the hotel.
Sunday's episode of "Sakiyomi" was Yamamoto's first job as a newscaster in almost two years. During an interview last month, she had declared that she would never be involved in an affair again. However, Fuji TV stated that while they are currently investigating the matter, they have no choice but to remove Yamamoto from the show.
The newest issue of Josei Seven reported that Yamamoto was seen at a love hotel this past weekend with Yomiuri Giants shortstop Tomohiro Nioka, who has a wife and a 1-year-old son.
Yamamoto had appeared on Sunday's premiere of the live news program "Sakiyomi" (Fuji TV). After the broadcast, she and some female staffers went to one of the many gay bars in Shinjuku's Ni-chome district. Many other celebrities, including Oriental Radio's Shingo Fujimori, were there at the bar, and Nioka showed up about half an hour later with some of his younger teammates.
The groups left the bar past 4:30am, but Nioka and Yamamoto got into a taxi together. They were seen kissing in the car, and they ended up at a love hotel in the Gotanda district.
On Wednesday night, Yamamoto issued a public statement on her own, acknowledging that she and Nioka had entered the hotel. However, she swore that all they did was drink. According to her, she had repeatedly tried to fend off Nioka's drunken advances throughout the night, and she finally left him behind at the hotel.
Sunday's episode of "Sakiyomi" was Yamamoto's first job as a newscaster in almost two years. During an interview last month, she had declared that she would never be involved in an affair again. However, Fuji TV stated that while they are currently investigating the matter, they have no choice but to remove Yamamoto from the show.
Thu, July 10, 2008 (1:45am EDT)
With Sho Sakurai having been appointed as the main caster for NTV's broadcast of the Olympic Games, it comes as no surprise that Arashi has been chosen to provide the theme song for the network's Olympic coverage. This will actually be their second Olympic song, as "Hero" was used by NTV for the 2004 Games in Athens.
Their new tune is titled "Kaze no Mukou e" and will be released on August 20.
Their new tune is titled "Kaze no Mukou e" and will be released on August 20.
Thu, July 10, 2008 (1:30am EDT)
The reputation of actor/singer Naohito Fujiki has taken a serious blow due to allegations of an affair. Fujiki, 35, has been married since December 2005 and had his first child one year later. But now an article in the latest issue of Shukan Bunshun says that he's been fooling around.
According to the magazine, Fujiki's lover is a cabaret club hostess in her late twenties. They apparently met last October while Fujiki was on tour. The woman says they hit it off immediately, and they carried on their affair. After learning that she was pregnant a month later, she says she was urged by Fujiki to have an abortion, and was even given several million yen.
When asked about the matter, Fujiki's agency said they were unable to comment for now due to the absence of his manager.
According to the magazine, Fujiki's lover is a cabaret club hostess in her late twenties. They apparently met last October while Fujiki was on tour. The woman says they hit it off immediately, and they carried on their affair. After learning that she was pregnant a month later, she says she was urged by Fujiki to have an abortion, and was even given several million yen.
When asked about the matter, Fujiki's agency said they were unable to comment for now due to the absence of his manager.
Thu, July 10, 2008 (1:06am EDT)
The popular detective drama "Aibou" is getting a spinoff movie. The news comes only a couple months after the first film opened in theaters, though it has been so successful that it is still currently playing on screens nationwide. Titled "Kanshiki: Yonezawa Mamoru no Jikenbo," the spinoff revolves around supporting actor Seiji Rokkaku rather than the drama's leads, Yutaka Mizutani and Yasufumi Terawaki. This is Rokkaku's first starring role.
Rokkaku plays the forensic analyst Mamoru Yonezawa, a role that started out with only two lines of dialogue back when "Aibou" first aired in 2000. Over the years, he has arguably become the most popular supporting character in the drama, based on popularity polls, an appearance in a Lipovitan D commercial, and a novel published in April that is serving as the basis for the spinoff. As the main character, he will be teaming up with a detective played by actor Masato Hagiwara, who is making his first appearance in the "Aibou" universe.
The project is being directed by Yasuharu Hasebe, better known as the pioneer of the "violent pink" genre of the 1970s. The movie began filming on July 3 and is scheduled to finish early next month. TV Asahi and Toei hope to release the film next spring.
Meanwhile, "Aibou" continues to bring in audiences across Japan. As of Sunday, the film has taken in close to 4.4 billion yen, making it the #1 picture for the first half of 2008.
Rokkaku plays the forensic analyst Mamoru Yonezawa, a role that started out with only two lines of dialogue back when "Aibou" first aired in 2000. Over the years, he has arguably become the most popular supporting character in the drama, based on popularity polls, an appearance in a Lipovitan D commercial, and a novel published in April that is serving as the basis for the spinoff. As the main character, he will be teaming up with a detective played by actor Masato Hagiwara, who is making his first appearance in the "Aibou" universe.
The project is being directed by Yasuharu Hasebe, better known as the pioneer of the "violent pink" genre of the 1970s. The movie began filming on July 3 and is scheduled to finish early next month. TV Asahi and Toei hope to release the film next spring.
Meanwhile, "Aibou" continues to bring in audiences across Japan. As of Sunday, the film has taken in close to 4.4 billion yen, making it the #1 picture for the first half of 2008.
Thu, July 10, 2008 (12:35am EDT)
The reunited rock band X Japan announced on Wednesday that it has rescheduled its Paris concert, which was originally set for July 5 before Yoshiki's health forced the group to suspend their plans. The new date is November 22, and the show will be held at the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy.
The Paris concert will be the start of their "world tour," with the New York and Taiwan concerts expected to take place after that. An additional show is also being planned for Korea.
The Paris concert will be the start of their "world tour," with the New York and Taiwan concerts expected to take place after that. An additional show is also being planned for Korea.
