Oricon recently surveyed 2,000 people for its "Fresh Star Ranking" for the first half of 2007.

In first place among the men was 15-year-old amateur golfer Ryo Ishikawa, who won the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup in May to become the youngest winner of a Japan Golf Tour event. Right behind him in the rankings was another teen athlete, Waseda's star pitcher Yuki Saito. The two were followed by comedian Moody Katsuyama, Rakuten Eagles pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (who lost to Saito in last summer's Koshien tournament), actor Kenichi Matsuyama, Arashi member Jun Matsumoto, actor Shota Matsuda, comedy duo Taka and Toshi, actor Shun Oguri, and NEWS member Tomohisa Yamashita.

Meanwhile, actress Masami Nagasawa was #1 in the female category with almost twice as many votes as the #2 choice, singer YUI. The rest of the top ten contained idol Leah Dizon, actresses Erika Sawajiri, Yu Aoi, Yui Aragaki, and Erika Toda, beach volleyball star Miwa Asao, former Morning Musume member Nozomi Tsuji, and comedian Sumiko Nishioka.