The latest romance rumor about actor Tsutsumi Shinichi (41) has him involved with actress Koyuki (29). The pair co-starred in the recent hit "Always - 3-chome no Yuhi" and the latest issue of women's magazine Shuukan Josei says that romance started on the set. Koyuki's management agency have said that the pair are "100% not having a relationship", but such official denials are standard. Koyuki, who made her Hollywood debut in the 2003 Tom Cruise hit "The Last Samurai", went to see Tsutsumi perform on stage last October, and the following month revealed that her relationship with actor Sakaguchi Kenji (30) had ended during the summer. Ironically, it was divorcee Matsuyuki Yasuko (33) Tsutsumi's co-star in that stage production, that was rumored to be his most recent love interest. They were spotted holding hands while on date in Kyoto and Osaka at the beginning of the year. In recent years, Tsutsumi - who bears a strong resemblance to Jet Li - has been romantically involved with actress Suzuki Kyoka (37), and after he broke up with her, was linked with actress Takeuchi Yuko (26), who married kabuki actor Nakamura Shido (33) last summer.
Koyuki was with Kenji???!?!?!?!?!!
ooh.. the degrees of separation between kimura and them.. hehehehehe
Popular idol singer Kago Ai has been suspended by her agency for underage smoking. The idol was not named in some media reports as she is still a minor, but was described as an 18-year-old represented by Upfront Agency, which handles Morning Musume among others. Kago is a former MM member who is now one half of the duo W. Her scheduled appearances in TV shows and concerts have been cancelled until further notice. The singer, who turned 18 on February 7, was spotted smoking in a restaurant in the Ebisu area of Tokyo by photographers from the weekly gossip magazine Friday. The agency issued an apology, saying the behavior was inexcusable. The legal age for smoking and drinking is 20.
• Rock band Glay recently performed live for the first time in almost a year. They played for 13,000 fans at the Nippon Budokan, which was surrounded by hundreds more fans without tickets. "Dafuya" ticket touts were selling arena tickets for up to \70,000. Vocalist Teru (34) told fans that they can expect some new material in the autumn.
Pop duo Pink Lady are to include their first single release, from all of 32 years ago, on a box-set to commemorate their 30th anniversary as pros. The song "Koi no Lessun" (Love Lesson) was recorded in 1974 when high school friends Mii and Kei called themselves "Cookie". The single was only sold in record stores in the Tokai region. It was another two years before the pair, now known as Pink Lady, won the NTV audition show "Sutaa Tanjo" (A Star is Born) and became overnight stars with the single "Peppaa Keibu" (Sergeant Pepper). They went on to spend several years at the top of the showbiz world, bringing in as much as \30 billion yen a year. They faded away in the mid-80s only to rsurface in a revival tour last year. The new Platinum Box, which goes on sale March 24, includes 22 a-sides, NHK TV appearances and a host of other rare material on 4 CDs and 2 DVDs.
• Popular freelance announcer Shindo Masako (34) has tied the knot with pro golfer Fukabori Keiichiro (37). The recent wedding of Fukabori, described as the "prince" of the Japanese golfing world, and the former TBS sportscaster was announced on their respective official websites on Friday. Fukabori left for California soon after the marriage had been registered to take part in the Nissan Open at the Riviera Country Club. The couple met during a magazine interview in 1998 and are said to have broken up twice before finally taking the plunge. In February of last year, Shindo had to deny media rumors of an impending marriage with the elder brother of popular actress Matsushima Nanako. Fukabori ranked third in last year's money rankings.
Anyone who enjoyed last year's popular school drama "Jo no Kyoshitsu" (Queen's Classroom) on NTV will want to catch a special coming up next month. Over two nights (March 18-19), the special will reveal how the main character, "demon" teacher Akutsu Maya (played by former Takarazuka star Amami Yuki, 38), developed her strict and cynical style. The drama and the teacher who almost terrorized her pupils became a talking point and achieved high audience ratings when it aired between July and September. The final episode pulled in a rating of 25.3% and the show's official website had almost 12 million hits over two days. The March special is at least in part a result of tens of thousands of posts on the website's BBS from fans wanting to know more about the story and its background.
• The father of iconic folk singer Matsutoya Yumi (52) died of multiple organ failure on February 2, it was revealed yesterday. He was 93. Always the consumate professional, "Yuming" completed her series of 10 shows at the ski resort of Naeba in Niigata Prefecture, which ran until February 13.
• Poster girl violinist Kawai Ikuko (38) is expecting her first child. She married a 40-year old university professor and graduate of Tokyo University medical school last November. She is expecting the baby in mid-June and plans to be back at work promoting a new album in September.
• Guitarist Hotei Tomoyasu (44) has published his autobiography. In it he reveals for the first time that his father is Korean, as well as talking about life with his wife, actress Imai Miki (42). In his 25th year in showbiz, he looks back at his career in the hugely popular 80s rock band Boowy, the divorce of his parents, and the death of his father-in-law. meanwhile, Imai has done her first anime character recording in 15 years for the fantasy movie "Brave Story". The movie features a stellar cast of voices, including Matsu Takako, Itoh Shiro, Tokiwa Takako and Takahashi Katsumi.
Two big names announced to play at the Nippon Budokan during the coming year. British band Coldplay, riding the global success of their latest album "X&Y", will have their first solo gigs in Japan in August. The band, whose three albums have sold over 25 million copies to date, played the SummerSonic festival shortly after their debut in 2000 and have also played the Fuji Rock festival twice. The dates confirmed for this year are July 18 & 19, but more may be announced later. Vocalist Chris Martin said, "Japanese fans are different than anywhere else. They're so polite that we can concentrate on the music and give our best. So we want to play more than two dates. I'd like to play Osaka." Tickets are due to go on sale on April 1 from Smash.
&#; Local boy Kondo Masahiko (photo, 41) played the Budokan yesterday for the first time in 22 years. Celebrating his 25th year in the business, the veteran Johnny's Jimusho star has been making something of a comeback recently after pursuing a career as a racing driver. He also announced yesterday that he will star in his first TV drama role in 8 years in the autumn, and play the Budokan again on Valentine's Day, 2007.
Popular actor Yamada Takayuki (photo, 22) is the father of an illegitimate child, it was revealed this week. The star of the current TBS drama "Byaku Yakou" and the 2003 Fuji TV hit "Waterboys" became a father last October. The 22-year-old mother of the "kakushigo" (hidden child) is said to be raising the baby at her family home. Yamada is providing full financial support for the child.
• The Johnny's Jimusho management agency is planning to sue women's weekly magazine Shuukan Josei for libel. The magazine published an article in its February 14 issue claiming that Kat-Tun member Kamenashi Kazuya (19) was photographed drinking beer though he is under the legal age of 20. Johnnys claim that the photo was taken by his uncle in 2003 at a relative's house, and that the beer was his grandfather's. The uncle took the photo with his mobile phone and sent it to a friend, who still has the original file. The magazine article comes at a sensitive time, as two young members of Johnnys group News have been in trouble for drinking in the past year.
• Talento Mister Chin (42) is to marry a beautiful 27-year-old company employee. The former member of comedy trio B-21 Special and his new bride, who is ten weeks pregnant, will hold a wedding ceremony in Tokyo on May 20. Real name Miyake Yasutoshi, Chin formed B-21 in 1986 with Hiromi (41) and David Itoh (39), both of whom are still active on the variety show circuit. Hiromi married former idol singer Matsumoto Iyo in 1993 and Itoh married in 2003.
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