Kato Cha Reveals Young Bride

No, that isn't the father of the bride kissing his daughter, that's the groom! Veteran comedian Kato Cha (69) has revealed his bride Ayana for the first time, and no doubt he chose yesterday to do so as it was his 69th birthday, making her exactly one third of his age! The two actually tied the knot last June but waited until yesterday to hold a lavish wedding ceremony and reception for 230 guests at the BelleVie Gaza Hall in Koshigaya, north of Tokyo. Kato wore a pink tuxedo jacket while Ayana (23) wore a wedding dress designed by talento Kanda Uno.

A member of the legendary comedy group The Drifters, Kato is on his second marriage. Fellow members Takagi Boo (79) and Nakamoto Koji (70) were at yesterday's celebration, and Nakamoto hinted that he and his enka singer girlfriend Midai Junka might also get married within the year. Midai's age is not published in the media but she is said to be in her 30s. Shimura Ken (62) was the only surviving member not in attendance as his TV schedule kept him away. He recorded a message of congratulations on video that was shown at the reception.

NMB48 song tops Oricon chart

NMB48's new single "Junjo U-19"

The newest song by NMB48, a sister group of AKB48, has risen to the No. 1 spot in Oricon’s rankings for Feb 20. “Junjo U-19” is the third single in a row from NMB48 to occupy the No. 1 spot.

The group is based in Namba, Osaka. Members of the group said that it is like a dream.

The No. 1 ranked album is L’Arc~en~Ciel’s “BUTTERFLY.” The group hasn’t held the No. 1 spot since late 2007.

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Aya Ueto gets a 'sister' for Aoki ads

Aya Ueo, right, and Ayame GorikiAOKI

TOKYO — Actress Aya Ueto, 26, is happy to have a “sister” for the new ad campaign for clothing brand Aoki.

Ueo and Ayame Goriki, 19, who belongs to Ueto’s agency, will be appearing in the new TV commercial campaign, wearing suits.

“A lot of people have told me that Ayame looks like me,” Ueto said. “It’s like I’m looking at me a long time ago.” Goriki gushed: “I’m so happy that I look like Ueto. I feel like we are sisters.”

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Chinatsu Wakatsuki announces she's 5 months pregnant and married

Chinatsu Wakatsuki

TOKYO —

Model and “tarento” Chinatsu Wakatsuki, 27, is pregnant and married.

Wakatsuki said on her blog this week that she has married an older man, described as a company employee, and that she is five months pregnant.

She said she had submitted marriage registration papers to her ward office in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Wakatsuki said she intends to keep working after she gives birth.

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Ayumi Hamasaki to divorce husband of 1 year

Ayumi HamasakiIMAGE.NET

TOKYO —

Pop diva Ayumi Hamasaki, 33, has announced through her official fan club that she is to divorce Austrian actor Manuel Schwarz, 31. The couple who were wed in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day of 2011, are to file for a divorce after a year of marriage.

Hamasaki told fans that she had initiated the split, explaining that she felt unable to keep the promise she made to Schwarz, who lives in Los Angeles, that the pair would live together in America. “Since the Tohoku disaster, I have had the feeling that I don’t want to be apart from Japan,” she wrote. “As a result I have been spending more and more days away from him.”

“We spoke about this and we thought we could maintain our relationship by traveling to see each other, but at some point, physical distance becomes emotional distance,” she explained. “When I thought about our future, I realized I couldn’t see myself returning to the state of mind I was in when I agreed to live in America.”

It is reported that Hamasaki will file for divorce through a lawyer in the United States.

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Erika Sawajiri says there will be nude scene in new movie 'Helter Skelter'

Erika Sawajiri(C) "Helter Skelter" Production Co

TOKYO —

Erika Sawajiri, 25, returns to the big screen on July 14 when she stars as the main character in “Helter Skelter,” directed by Mika Ninagawa. The film is based on Kyoko Okazaki’s manga that includes many sexually graphic scenes and Sawajiri said there will be some nudity in the film.

Sawajiri plays Ririko, a model who has undergone extensive plastic surgery all over her body. When the clinic is investigated for its shady business practices, Ririko’s beauty to starts fade. Her mental condition also starts to deteriorate.

The film marks Sawajiri’s first movie starring role since “Closed Note” in 2007. That was the start of her troubles when she displayed a bad attitude during a stage appearance at the Japan premiere.

Sawajiri told reporters that she enjoyed making “Helter Skelter” and that she is happy to be back in business, Sankei Shimbun reported. She said the choice of Ririko is a good match for her own character. But she wouldn’t say how much skin she’ll reveal in the movie.

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Chiaki Kuriyama to advertise new platinum jewelry range

TOKYO —
Actress Chiaki Kuriyama, 26, has been chosen as the face of a new range of platinum jewelry by Ginza Tanaka, part of the Tanaka Kikinzoku Group. Kuriyama attended the product launch in Tokyo this week in a striking purple dress with a shining white platinum necklace and matching earrings. “You feel more confident when you put them on,” she said. “It makes me feel radiant.”

When asked if there were prospects of her putting a bauble on her ring finger, Kuriyama replied, “Not for a good while yet. I’m still a child. I’ve got a lot of growing up to do first.” Kuriyama has reportedly been dating actor Tetsuji Tamayaki, but the actress was tight-lipped on the subject.

TV commercials for the new jewelry range will air from Friday.

If you had a baby with an AKB48 member, what would your child look like?

© 2011 AKB OFFICIAL NET. All rights reserved.

TOKYO —AKB48’s Internet provider service, AKB Official Net, opened on Tuesday. If you register for membership on AKB Official Net, you can use the service AKBaby which synthesizes your photo with the image of your favorite AKB48 member to simulate how a baby would look if the two of you were to have a child.

Yes, you read that right.

The homepage shows Yuko Oshima asking “Would you have a baby with me?

The membership fee is 1,480 yen a month. Once you become a member, you can use an AKB48 email address (for example, @akb48.ne.jp, @atchan.akb48.ne.jp and so on), so you can communicate with other fans too.

Also, you can get advance tickets to the AKB48 theater and can register for the AKB48 Official fan club at the same time for free.

AKB48 Official Net says it will add more services for AKB48 fans.

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Meet the 'dirty girls' of Ayaman Japan

From left: Lu-Kitae, Ayaman Director and Fantasista-Sakurada

TOKYO —Ayaman Japan is a girls’ entertainment group performing mainly at party events around Roppongi and Nishi-Azabu. There are 100 members in Ayaman Japan, all of whom were scouted by the leader who is called “Ayaman Director.” But only three members, including “Ayaman Director,” do media appearances.

Ayaman Japan doesn’t belong to any talent agency. Rather, they are an amateur group that performs through connection with members. They don’t get paid.

Ayaman Japan started to become famous after appearing on the TV variety program “Tonneruzu no minasan no okage deshita” in 2010. They became famous with their first song “Poipoipoipopoipoipopii” (don’t ask us to translate the title).

After their first hit song, Ayaman Japan collaborated with the comedian Tanoshingo to release a new song “Dodosuko-poipoi” on June 15. Ayaman Japan also collaborated with comedian Shingo Fujimori from “Oriental Radio” to release a new song “Natsu age motion” on Aug 10.

Even though they are pretty, the girls tell dirty jokes and behave in a manner that Japanese women generally don’t do in public. Some people think they are fun, while others get offended by their actions.

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Satomi Ishihara to star in NHK medical drama

Satomi Ishihara appears as a doctor in NHK's new medical suspense drama.

TOKYO —Actress Satomi Ishihara will star in the two-part NHK medical drama “Shimei to Tamashi no Limit,” based on the novel by mystery writer Keigo Higashino.

Ishihara, 24, plays a resident intern at a university hospital who aspires to become a cardiac surgeon. However, she harbors suspicions about the death of her father during an operation. Finding the truth becomes her mission in life.

At a press conference to promote the drama, which airs from 9 p.m. on Nov 5 and 12, Ishihara said that her mission in real life is to be nice to her parents and work at something that will be good for people.

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Actress Yuko Takeuchi releases cookbook

TOKYO —Actress Yuko Takeuchi, 31, has released a cookbook titled “Takeuchi Marchais, presenting 102 delicious warm-hearted recipes” (1,350 yen). To mark the launch of her book, Takeuchi will attend a premium women’s only party next month and interview 15 women about their favorite recipes and what they like to cook most of all as a present for someone.

The 15 women will be chosen by lottery and organized by Crea magazine.

Takeuchi said she is looking forward to the talk show event with women who are passionate about cooking.

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Miliyah Kato, Mai Kuraki to perform at 'LOVE in Action Meeting' for Red Cross

Mai Kuraki

TOKYO — The Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) has announced the addition of two big names in Japanese entertainment - Miliyah Kato and Mai Kuraki – to its 2011 “LOVE in Action Meeting” event to be held in June this year at the Budokan in Tokyo.

The upcoming live performance in June is part of JRCS’s initiative “Love in Action Project,” launched first in 2009, to promote blood donation awareness among Japan’s young generation. In recent years, the number of young people donating blood has decreased.

JRCS officials, together with the cooperation of the government, have publicly begun to acknowledge the threat of possible future blood donation shortages. With the launch of “LOVE in Action Meeting,” organizers hope that more young Japanese will become aware of the importance of donating blood.

JRCS has announced that 8,000 people will receive free invitations to the concert, and winners will be selected via a drawing. Those who are interested can apply via JRCS’ website (see below).

Kato and Kuraki will be joined by other popular musicians and idol groups such as Shota Shimizu and all-girl group AKB48.

Application for free tickets can be made until Sunday May 8.

Website: http://ken-love.jp
http://ken-love.jp/m/ (Mobile website)

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Miniskirt Police recruit new members

The new members of the Miniskirt Police
SANKEI

TOKYO —
Popular glamor model group Miniskirt Police have recruited four new members into their ranks. The existing members of the force introduced the new members at a press event in Tokyo.
One of the new recruits, 20-year-old Chika Aikawa, actually spent six months in the Kanagawa police traffic division but is more optimistic about her career prospects in the Miniskirt Police, saying, “I’m hoping to become Chief of Police some day.”
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Katy Perry to perform in Japan next spring

Katy Perry

TOKYO — American pop singer Katy Perry, 26, will be coming to Japan in May for her first Japanese concerts since her marriage. So far, concerts on the May 23 and 24 have been announced at Tokyo’s Studio Coast live event space, with further dates expected in Osaka and Nagoya.

Perry married popular British comedian Russel Brand, 35, in India on Oct 23 this year. The sudden announcement of her forthcoming Japanese performances will delight fans, as the dates will mark her fourth visit to Japan since August of last year. The Japan performances are part of Perry’s second world tour.

Perry, who has been nominated in four categories for this year’s Grammy Awards, said in a statement to media: “It’s been an amazing year. I’m really grateful for all the support I’ve received from my Japanese fans.”

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Aya Ueto becomes Tomei Expressway PR spokeswoman

Friday 24th September, 03:19 AM JST
TOKYO —
Singer Aya Ueto has been named 2010 Tomei Expressway Maintenance PR character and will appear in TV commercials and on posters to inform the public about the maintenance work.
Child commercial star Seishiro Kato, 9, will act alongside Ueto in the campaign. “I was very excited to act with Seishiro. He’s my hero,” gushed Ueto.

Kumi Koda to represent Japan at 2011 Mnet Asian Music Awards

Kumi KodaJapan Today

TOKYO —Singer Kumi Koda, 29, will represent Japan at the 2011 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) in Singapore on Tuesday.

MAMA features talent from 45 Asian countries and typically draws a viewership of around 2 million. The 2011 show will mark the event’s 13th consecutive year.

The event’s organizers reportedly requested Koda specifically to perform at the event, citing her powerful stage presence, Sankei Shimbun reported.

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Angelica Michibata to bare all in magazine

TOKYO —Argentinian-Japanese model Angelica Michibata, 26, appears nude in the January issue of girls’ magazine S Cawaii!

Michibata is the subject of a 10-page special feature in the magazine, which includes a double page spread of nude photos.

“I’d done underwear shoots before, so I wasn’t embarrassed, but I was a little nervous before the shoot,” she told reporters.

The magazine goes on sale on Dec 7.

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Masuwaka, at Nail Queen Awards, says she isn't getting a divorce

This year's Nail Queens (and king) from left: Ai Haruna, Tsubasa Masuwaka, Pink Lady's Mii and Kei, Kana Nishino, Yusuke Yamamoto and LiLiCo.Japan Nailist Association

TOKYO —Model Tsubasa Masuwaka apologized for divorce rumors and emphasized that she is still happy during an appearance at the Nail Queen Awards this week.

The awards are an annual event at the Japan Nail Expo which attracted more than 50,000 people to Makuhari Messe on Sunday and Monday.

Reporters were more interested in the state of Masuwaka’s marriage to actor Naoki Umeda, 28, than in the state of her nails. Masuwaka admitted that she and Umeda were living separately but said there were no plans for a divorce. She said that he even helped prepare her nails.

Joining Masuwaka on the award podium this year were singing duo Pink Lady, “talent” Ai Haruna, actor Yusuke Yamamoto (as the Nail King), singer Kana Nishino and TV personality LiLiCo.

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KARA appear in fried chicken ad campaign for FamilyMart

KARA appear in a FamilyMart commercial.

TOKYO —Popular South Korean all-girl group KARA is appearing in a TV and poster ad campaign for convenience store chain FamilyMart’s fried chicken for the Christmas season.

In the “KARA Christmas version” ad, the five girls, known for their sexy dance style, perform an original “chicken dance.” The girls said the dance can only be seen in the ad.

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AKB48 singer Atsuko Maeda demonstrates 'snow karate' in g.u. commercial

TOKYO —AKB48 singer Atsuko Maeda, 20, shows a few karate moves in the new TV commercial for fashion brand “g.u.” In the commercial, which airs from Monday, Maeda—wearing the brand’s winter line—karate chops snowflakes and says “I, Atsuko Maeda, am going to warm the Japanese winter.”

Speaking to reporters at an event to launch the ad campaign, Maeda said: “When I become 20 years old, I would like to be g.u. (a pun on the Japanese word ‘jiyu’ which means free in English). I’ll be an adult and be able to do things at my pace without bothering other people and being thought of as naive.”

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