Livedoor CEO Horie Takafumi (33) was arrested yesterday evening along with three other company executives. The golden boy of the Japanese IT industry had been denying any knowledge of his company's financial misdeeds right up until the end. Investigators from the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office have been looking into the firm's creative bookkeeping for the last few months, but a drastic slide in Livedoor's shares in the last week, accompanied by a big drop in the Nikkei Stock Average, led them to go straight to the top and question Horie yesterday. His arrest and transportation to the Tokyo Detention House was covered live on several TV channels. The whole affair has happened so quickly - less than two weeks ago Horie was still a regular on TV and talking about his planned space tourism business - that it has been labeled the "Livedoor Shock". The company was started up as Livin' On The Edge Inc. in 1996 by then Tokyo University student Horie with just \6 million in capital. Through a series of aggressive M&A's and Horiemon's self-promotion, that valuation rose to over \730 billion just a week ago. The firm's stock price has fallen from \696 on January 16 to \256 when the market closed yesterday. Also arrested yesterday were Horie's right-hand man and Livedoor CFO Miyauchi Ryoji, Livedoor Marketing President Okamoto Fumito, and Livedoor Finance President Nakamura Osanari. Another top executive, Noguchi Hideaki, commited suicide in Okinawa last Wednesday.
Sanada Hiroyuki (45) has become only the second actor to win three times at the 48th Blue Ribbon awards. With the latest award for his role in "Bokoku no Iijisu" (Aegis), he follows in the big footsteps of the legendary Mifune Toshiro. Sanada won in 1994 and 1996. He was in Tokyo yesterday for the local premiere of his latest movie, the Japanese-Korean-Chinese production, "Promise". The Best Actress award went to Koizumi Kyoko (39) for her role in "Kuuchuu Teien", whose director was arrested for drug possession two months before it opened. "Pacchigi!", directed by Izutsu Kazuyuki, won the Best Film award.
• Former Luna Sea vocalist Kawamura Ryuichi (35) has married 2002 Miss Japan, Sano Kumi (26). According to his agency, a representative visited the local city office on Monday to register their marriage. The couple were first introduced through a mutual friend last spring and starting dating in the autumn. They are said to have no plans for a wedding ceremony or reception. Kawamura will be touring the country with his latest band, Tourbillon, from April 14.
• The Tokyo home of actress Matsuda Miyuki (44) was recently burglarized, she revealed this week. The widow of legendary actor Matsuda Yusaku said that about \2 million worth of valuables were stolen, including her wedding ring, a rolex watch and a plasma screen TV. The burglary was discovered by son, actor Matsuda Shota (20), last Thursday night. The house is next to Zenpukuji-koen park, just down the road from Japan Zone! We'll be keeping our doors locked...
• The Tokyo home of actress Matsuda Miyuki (44) was recently burglarized, she revealed this week. The widow of legendary actor Matsuda Yusaku said that about \2 million worth of valuables were stolen, including her wedding ring, a rolex watch and a plasma screen TV. The burglary was discovered by son, actor Matsuda Shota (20), last Thursday night. The house is next to Zenpukuji-koen park, just down the road from Japan Zone! We'll be keeping our doors locked...
Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 3125 Location: S.F. Bay Area Country:
Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 4:33 am Post subject:
Quote:
January 20, 2006
Actress Kimura Yoshino (29) donned a striking red kimono yesterday at the famous Sensoji temple, a popular tourist spot in downtown Asakusa. She was dressed up to take part in an event to encourage foreign tourists to visit Japan, in her role as an "amabassador" for the government's ongoing "Yokoso!" campaign. The current event, "Yokoso! Japan Weeks 2006" will take place from January 20 to February 20. She and Transport Minister Kitagawa Kazuo joined visiting Chinese and Korean students in making origami cranes. The "Yokoso!" campaign aims to increase the number of foreign visitors to 10 million a year by 2010. How come they've never contacted Japan Zone!
Chinese and Korean students? Heck, she speaks English! Send her to California. Set her up on the steps of S.F.'s City Hall and tell her to say, "Come visit me in Japan."
Nigerian talento Bobby Ologun (39) got front page headlines in today's sports papers following a brawl at his management agency yesterday. The K-1 fighter visited the agency yesterday afternoon with questions about his monthly salary, and became violent after the president of the company refused to see him. He got into a fight with the 2.1m tall John Muwete Muluaka (44), a fellow talento from Congo and former assistant to politician Suzuki Muneo. Muluaka and R&A Promotions boss Ito Kazuyuki (55) claim that Ologun and his Bangladeshi manager have been pocketing appearance fees to the tune of \10-15 million, in breach of a contract that splits fees 50-50 between the agency and employees. The incident also led to the revelation that Ologun is seven years older than he had previously claimed.
• Actor Fujiwara Tatsuya (23) is to take on the lead role in a movie adaptation of best-selling manga "Death Note". The 9-volume manga, which has sold over 12 million copies, first appeared in the Shukan Shonen Jump manga in December 2003. The first volume became the fastest ever to sell a million copies. The story centers around the smart and cool high schooler Yagami Raito, into whose hands falls the Death Note, a list of names of people due to die, lost by the God of Death. His nemesis is the investigator known simply as L. At a cost of \2 billion, the movie will be in two parts, the first scheduled for release in June of this year, the second in October.
• "Tetsuko no Heya", will be celebrating its 30th year on the air with the February 2 edition. The TV Asahi afternoon talk show is hosted by Kuroyanagi Tetsuko (72), who has welcomed a vast range of guests - over 3,900 of them - to her "room". She has interviewed many foreign guests, including Queen Elizabeth II, and says she would most like to meet Sean Connery.
Comedian Okamura Takashi (35) has promised to tell all about his reported romance with pin-up girl Kumada Yoko (23) next week. The romance between the two was revealed in the latest issue of the weekly magazine Friday. Okamura, one half of the comedy duo Ninety-Nine, was quizzed about it on their late night radio show yesterday. He said he had been caught completely by surprise by paparazzi who photograhed him and Kumada leaving his Tokyo apartment by car. He was most disappointed that in the heat of the moment, he hadn't been able to produce a good quote for the reporters.
• The 1976 hit movie "Inugamike no Ichizoku" is to be remade, with the same lead actor and director. Ishizaka Koji (64) will again play Yokomizo Seishi's famous detective creation Kindaichi Kosuke, and veteran director Ichikawa Kon (90) will be behind the camera once more.
• Singer Arashiro Beni (19) recently became the first Japanese artist to appear on a famous Chinese New Year song contest. The show on Guangxi TV is described as the Chinese equivalent of Japan's Kohaku Uta Gassen. Arashiro sang "miracle" and "here Alone" as well as a song in Chinese. Her second album, "Girl 2 Lady," is scheduled for release on February 22.
• SMAP member Kusanagi Tsuyoshi (31) has cancelled his regular appearances on several shows after coming down with a bout of influenza. He missed his regular Friday sot on "Waratte Ii Tomo", the first time he's failed to make the live afternoon variety show since he started on it in 1995. There haven't been any reported cases of people catching the so-called "bird flu" in Japan, but the regular variety seems to be spreading at the moment.
Comedian Shimura Ken (55) is celebrating 20 years of his Baka Tono character with the release of a 3-DVD box set. He held a launch event in Tokyo's Ginza district, along with his most recent sidekicks, comedians Dacho Kurabu. Shimura wryly remarked that the release came "a bit too late for some", referring to Tashiro Masashi, his very first sidekick from the 1970s who was arrested for the fourth time in 2004 for drug possession. Shimura first got his own variety show in 1976 after he and the Drifters comedy group had become a national TV sensation. Baka Tono, which has been shown on TV networks in the US, is one of Japan's most recognizable comic creations.
• The female stars who make up the Hello! Project turned out in force at the Yokohama Arena yesterday to finsih off their national tour. Morning Musume may be the most famous incarnation, but the show included a total of 67 singers who make up 15 different groups. The show also saw the first performance in over three years by Petit Morni, made up of former MM members Yasuda Kei (25), Goto Maki (20) and Yoshizawa Hitomi (20). All 67 young ladies were on stage for the grand finale, a lively rendition of MM's mega-hit "Love Machine".
• Also getting back together, though for the first time in 17 years, were the members of the Sadistic Mika Band. The four musicians, all in their 50s, teamed up with young vocalist Kimura Kaera (25) to record a live version of their 1973 hit "Taimu Mashiin ni Onegai" for a Kirin beer commercial to be aired in February.
There's been a wave of sports wedding announcements in the last couple of days. Yomiuri Giants star outfielder Takahashi Yoshinobu (30) and NTV announcer Onodera Mai (30) held a press conference at a Tokyo hotel yesterday to announce that they got married on January 29. They have known each other for six years and took the plunge before Takahashi starts spring training. Onodera talked happily about how her fiancee had proposed to her in December, but Takahashi was red-faced and flustered throughout.
• Toritani Takashi (24), an infielder for the Hanshin Tigers, appeared with his new bride Yuko (24) at a press conference at the team's training camp in Okinawa yesterday. He revealed that they have been married since December 20. They have known each other since high school and started dating in college.
• Also recently married were NHK sports announcer Izumi Koji (34) and shogi player Iwane Shinobu (23). The two met when they appeared together on a shogi show on NHK's educational channel. Iwane plays shogi, the Japanese version of chess, at the shoudan or first-grade level, and plans to continue playing under her maiden name.
Miyazaki Hayao's animated feature "Hauru no Ugoku Shiro" (Howl's Moving Castle) has been nominated for an Academy Award. Miyazaki (65) previously won an Oscar in 2003 for "Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi" (Spirited Away). Howl is a love story that tells of a 90-year old woman who is transformed into an 18-year old girl. The movie took in almost \20 billion at the box office and has been an international success, seen by over 9 million people in some 50 countries worldwide. It won an award at the Venice International Film Festival in 2004.
• Also nominated in six categories, including nominations for costume design and music, is "Memoirs of a Geisha" (Sayuri), the Hollywood adaptation of Arthur Golden's bestseller. Though set in Japan, the movie has an international cast that includes local stars Watanabe Ken, Yakusho Koji and Momoi Kaoru.
Actor Ishida Issei (31) and former talento wife Miyake Emi (27) filed for divorce on January 30, it was revealed yesterday. They have one child, a son born in December 2003, who will remain with his mother.
A 17-year old member of popular Johnny's band News has been suspended after his underage drinking was revealed in a monthly magazine. The magazine published photos of the singer, named only as B, with a young woman at a karaoke box last autumn, in what appear to be stills from a concealed camera. The singer has denied that he drank alcohol and says he plans to atend the prestigious Tokyo university that he gained entry to recently. Another of the 8-member group was suspended last summer for exactly the same reason. His suspension is still in effect and he was simply replaced with a member from a different Johnny's group.
• Actor Funakoshi Eiichiro (45) is to have his first starring role in a movie in 17 years. Known as the "emperor of 2-hour TV dramas", he will star in "Bochan Chips" which is due for release in the autumn. His love interest will be played by 21-year old Misono, former vocalist of the band Day After Tomorrow and younger sister of club queen Koda Kumi (23), in her movie debut.
Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 2652 Location: The OC Country:
Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 11:33 am Post subject:
Quote:
A 17-year old member of popular Johnny's band News has been suspended after his underage drinking was revealed in a monthly magazine. The magazine published photos of the singer, named only as B, with a young woman at a karaoke box last autumn, in what appear to be stills from a concealed camera. The singer has denied that he drank alcohol and says he plans to atend the prestigious Tokyo university that he gained entry to recently. Another of the 8-member group was suspended last summer for exactly the same reason. His suspension is still in effect and he was simply replaced with a member from a different Johnny's group.
i'm assuming that this is Kusano from NewS since it's a hot topic in the NewS thread. deng, they've been having bad luck with this kinda thing. First Uchi, now this. _________________
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 46182 Location: Los Skandolous, California Country:
Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 11:39 am Post subject:
MissMonika wrote:
Quote:
A 17-year old member of popular Johnny's band News has been suspended after his underage drinking was revealed in a monthly magazine. The magazine published photos of the singer, named only as B, with a young woman at a karaoke box last autumn, in what appear to be stills from a concealed camera. The singer has denied that he drank alcohol and says he plans to atend the prestigious Tokyo university that he gained entry to recently. Another of the 8-member group was suspended last summer for exactly the same reason. His suspension is still in effect and he was simply replaced with a member from a different Johnny's group.
i'm assuming that this is Kusano from NewS since it's a hot topic in the NewS thread. deng, they've been having bad luck with this kinda thing. First Uchi, now this.
what a lot of tabloid crap....who gives a shiet...he's 17 going to Todai - the most prestigious university in all of japan....he's a celeb....gosh the tabloids just love to f*ck ppl over...you know how many drunk ass muthaf*ckin' salary men yack their way home every night after work...total hypocrites man...
About 500 reporters turned out yesterday to hear about a movie that has barely started filming. Director Yamada Yoji's latest venture into the world of samurai drama stars SMAP heart-throb Kimura Takuya (33). And at yesterday's pre-production announcement, they made it clear that they're aiming to make a movie that is Oscar material. "Bushi no Ichibun" is Kimutaku's first venture into period drama, but Yamada is already comparing him with that most stoic of actors, Takakura Ken. He has grown a bit of a beard for his role as a low-level samurai, blinded by his job as a poison tester, who seeks revenge against the man who steals his wife. The movie, not due for general release until next year, has had an offer from the Berlin Film Festival, where Yamada's "Tasogare Seibei" (Twilight Samurai) was nominated for the Golden Bear award in 2003.
• The debut solo album by Bernard Fowler (47), backup singer for the Rolling Stones, will be released first in Japan on March 8. The Stones will be playing in Japan later in the month. Fowler has a long history of connections with Japan - his wife is Japanese and he worked on a Sakamoto Ryuichi solo album as far back as 1986. He's been working with the Stones since 1989. The only band member appearing on his album is guitarist Ronnie Wood.
• The daughter of Academy Award nominated actor Watanabe Ken (46) has been named as a tourism ambassador for the Philippines. The tall and slender Anne (19) appeared at a PR event at the Ebisu Westin hotel in Tokyo yesterday. After greeting the gathered reporters in fluent English, she told them of her location work on the islands of Cebu and Bohol. She refused to comment when asked about her father's recent re-marriage to actress Minami Kaho (41). A fashion model who has worked on the international circuit, she now lives with her mother.
poor Kusano..
he has denied it.. but why he still be suspended?
not fairr.....
and some1 will replace him?? come on......
it cant happen _________________
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