On Thursday, it was announced that Ayaka Kikuchi, a member of AKB48's Team B, has been dismissed from the group. According to a post made by management on the group's official blog, Kikuchi was "lacking in self-consciousness as a member of AKB48 and was careless in her behavior."

Although the announcement did not reveal Kikuchi's specific behavior, the decision seems to clearly be the result of Kikuchi having a boyfriend, which was recently discovered after a picture of the two surfaced on the internet. Details can be read at the Aitakatta! blog on International Wota.

Folk singer Chiharu Matsuyama has recruited ex-Morning Musume member Natsumi Abe to star in the music video for a new song. This is apparently the first time that a Morning Musume graduate has appeared in a PV for another artist.

The song, titled "Omohi," goes on sale next week. Matsuyama and Abe first met during the spring of last year, as they both hail from Hokkaido, and they decided to work together for this PV. However, the collaboration plans were almost canceled due to Matsuyama's sudden hospitalization in June, but after he returned to work last month, he decided to proceed with the music video.

"Omohi" is being used as the theme song of an NTV drama special called "Kiri no Hi: Karafuto Maoka Yubinkyoku ni Chitta 9 Nin no Otometachi" that is scheduled to air on August 25.

Popular talento Yusuke Kamiji will be joining the Hey! Say! JUMP boys on NTV's upcoming drama series "Scrap Teacher." He will play the role of a teacher for the first time.

The series was first announced earlier this month. The show stars Yuto Nakajima, Ryosuke Yamada, Yuri Chinen, and Daiki Arioka as four junior high students who take on the task of reforming their unreliable teachers.

"Scrap Teacher" premieres in October.