I know I've been missing out on a lot of Japanese entertainment news but I saw this yesterday and I knew I had to talk about it. On August 8, actress/singer Chieko Kawabe filed for marriage with television producer Masato Ochi. Now, this normally wouldn't be a big deal. However, Kawabe is 21 and Ochi is double her age at 42. My jaw dropped at this news. I've watched Kawabe when she was Sailor Mercury in the Sailor Moon stage musicals; I watched her when she was Naru in the live action Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon drama; I enjoy her music immensely and have been awaiting more from her. And now she married a man twice her age. Well, I still wish her happiness and I hope that there isn't something (read: pregnancy) that forced her into the marriage.
Kago too?
Yesterday, I posted about Gackt acting in a Hollywood movie. Well, today it has come out that former-Morning Musume/Mini Moni/W girl, Ai Kago, will be acting in a Hong Kong movie. For those of you that forget, Aibon was at the center of a lot of scandals a few years ago. First it was underage smoking then it was dating a man a lot older than her then it was smoking again. It got her booted out of the Hello!Project world and she's been very quiet since. Earlier this month, she reappeared with a new, more mature look saying that she wanted to return to show business, specifically acting. I've always really liked Aibon so I'm very hopeful that she will do well in her new path in life.
Japanese entertainment news 1/8/08
Popular singer Hamasaki Ayumi revealed this past weekend that she has gone deaf in her left ear. She has had problems with her ear for years and now it is too late for surgical intervention. Hamasaki has stated that she will continue to sing as long as she still has hearing in her right ear.
A third season of Gokusen!
I absolutely loved the first season of Gokusen. The second season wasn't nearly as good. Despite that, it has been announced that there will be a third season premiering in April. I hope that they don't make the same mistake they did with the second. Maybe they will change things up a little instead of making it a direct rehash of the first season. (Though it wouldn't hurt if they brought back MatsuJun!) Luckily, Nakama Yukie will be back in her role as Yankumi.
Nono is a Mama!
Way back in May, Tsuji Nozomi, a former member of Morning Musume, W and Mini Moni, announced her impending pregnancy. At the time, she also announced that she was getting married to actor Sugiura Taiyo. Well, Nono recently gave birth to a baby girl! Little Noa was born at 12:45AM on November 26. Though Nono is officially on hiatus, this is the first time that a current Hello!Project member has become a mother. (Previous Hello!Project members have given birth but they left the group first.)
Congratulations Nono!
Married Johnnys and Melty Bananas
On Friday, September 28, Inohara Yoshihiko of V6 announced his engagement to actress Seto Asaka. At a V6 concert the very next say, Inohara announced that they couldn't wait to get married and registered their marriage that day. Rumor has it that they had been carrying around a filled-in registration form and once they saw the reaction to the engagement announcement, they decided the time was right. Japanese rock band Melt Banana has announced their US tour. They will be performing just about every day from October 17 through December 8. You can find their schedule on their official website.
Arashi member Sakurai Sho has been chosen as the main announcer for Fuji TV's broadcast of the 2007 Volleyball World Cup. The competition will last from November 2 through December 2.
Japanese news - Musical group edition
It's been awhile since I've posted any news from the world of Japanese entertainment. Let's take a peek to see what's been going on. Luna Sea will be getting back together for a one-night concert on December 24 at the Tokyo Dome. This will be their first concert since their Christmas 2000 performance at the Tokyo Dome. The band has said they have no plans to perform together after the one-time event.
This six-girl ska-punk group Oreska Band have wrapped up their time on the US Warped Tour. They will be staying in California to work on an upcoming and yet-unnamed Hollywood film.
The brilliant green have announced their first concert since their reunion will take place at Namba Hatch in Osaka on October 6. They recently released a new single five years after the group's break up.
m.o.v.e. will be performing their first European concert at the Connichi anime convention in Germany. The con will be taking place in Kassel, Germany from September 7 - 9.
Akanishi Jin, a member of Johnny's group KAT-TUN, will be starring in the upcoming drama "Yukan Club." The show, based on the popular manga of the same name, revolves around a group of high school students who form a club and end up solving mysteries in their spare time. This will be the first show for Akanishi without any of his fellow KAT-TUN members.
More HanaDan on the way!
It has been announced that the movie for the Jdorama hit "Hana Yori Dango" will be released in the summer of 2008. The title of the movie will be "Hana Yori Dango Final." All of the main actors will be returning and the project is being described as the last chapter of this adaptation of the manga. Set one year after Makino's graduation, the film will focus on a major incident involving the main characters. Of course, we we also get to see some more ups and downs in the relationship between Makino and Tsukasa. Filming will begin overseas in January.
Another Johnny rumored to be dating
On Monday I reported the rumor that Arashi's Nino is dating. Well, another rumor of a Johnny dating has popped up. Nakai Masahiro of SMAP is rumored to be dating singer Koda Kumi. The pair met in September when Koda appeared on stage at a SMAP concert. Neither side has confirmed the rumor. However, it has been confirmed that Koda has broken up with her previous long-term boyfriend. She began dating him before she got her big break and revealed the relationship two years ago. Last year, he was transferred to Osaka. The couple decided to end the relationship due to the distance and her busy schedule.
Nino is dating?
Rumor has it that Ninomiya Kazunari, also known as Nino, of the Johnny's Jimusho group Arashi has been dating actress Nagasawa Masami for the past two years. Nikkan Sports reports that the couple met on the set of Fuji TV's 2005 drama "Yasashii Jikan." Neither side has officially confirmed the relastionship.