Pop star Ayumi Hamasaki is teaming up with mangaka Akira Toriyama for her upcoming single "Rule / Sparkle." Toriyama has drawn a likeness of Hamasaki that will be printed on the first press CDs and DVDs of the single. This is his first time doing an illustration for a music artist, as well as his first time drawing a real person for a commercial product.

The collaboration is a result of Hamasaki's "Rule" being used as the theme song for the worldwide release of the live-action "Dragonball" movie, which is based on Toriyama's popular manga. "Rule / Sparkle" goes on sale on February 25, ahead of the movie's March 13 release date.

Former Morning Musume member Nozomi Tsuji returned to the stage this past weekend for the Elder Club graduation concerts in Yokohama, her first performances since marrying actor Taiyo Sugiura in 2007. On Monday, she announced that she is starting work again - not as a singer, but as a clothing producer.

Tsuji is collaborating with the Osaka-based shop Akachan Honpo, which deals with baby products. She is involved in producing baby apparel and other goods, including T-shirts, under the brand name Baby & Ribbon. The items will go on sale in early March, available through Akachan Honpo and Ito-Yokado stores.

Tsuji has been a mother since November 2007. As a result, she became interested in designing children's clothes, and she accepted an offer from Akachan Honpo last summer.

Renowned director Hirokazu Koreeda has just finished filming for his new movie, "Kuuki Ningyou." The film is based on the manga of the same name by Yoshiie Goda, a romantic fantasy about a vinyl doll that begins to experience human emotions.

It has been known since last year that the starring actress is Korean talent Bae Doona, known for playing the lead in Nobuhiro Yamashita's "Linda Linda Linda" in 2004. The male lead is ARATA ("Ping Pong," "Hebi ni Piasu"), who plays a young man working at a video rental shop.

"Kuuki Ningyou" is expected to be released in theaters next fall.

A press conference was held on Monday for "Kagotsurube," the first stage play starring Kanjani8 member Shota Yasuda. Written and directed by Nobuhiro Mouri, the play recounts the Edo-era tale of Jirozaemon and the mystical sword Kagotsurube.

Ema Fujisawa, Shunsuke Kazama, and Tokuma Nishioka have also been cast in the play. Performances will run at the Aoyama Theatre in Tokyo from March 16 to March 31.

The popular Fuji TV drama series "Shibatora," which starred Teppei Koike as a baby-faced cop working in the juvenile division, will be returning to television. During a DVD release event on Monday, it was announced that a two-hour special is scheduled to air sometime this spring.

Filming started on Tuesday. Naohito Fujiki, Miki Maya, and Suzuka Ohgo are among the returning cast members.