Baba Ikuzo, better known as the bassist IKUZONE of the band Dragon Ash, has suddenly passed away at the age of 46. An announcement on the group’s official website on Tuesday night revealed that IKUZONE died of acute heart failure on the night of April 21st. IKUZONE had collapsed in his home studio and was [...]

According to the Sankei Sports newspaper, talento Inoue Waka (31) is getting married on her next birthday, May 13th. Her husband will be 33-year-old movie director Iizuka Ken (“SAI-REN,” “Summer Nude“), who recently worked on the live-action television and movie adaptations of “Arakawa Under the Bridge.” The two first met in March of last year [...]

On Wednesday, a press event was held for Morning Musume‘s next stage play, “Stacies Shoujo Saisatsu Kageki.” This will be the group’s first play after current leader Niigaki Risa graduates on May 18. Member Tanaka Reina will take on the starring role, supported by 8 other members of the group. “Stacies Shoujo Saisatsu Kageki” is [...]

On Tuesday, Fuji TV announced its plans to begin uploading several of its shows to its official channels on video site YouTube, allowing users to watch for free. According to the announcement, the network aims to spread its contents globally and to attract new viewers, while also increasing its online advertising revenue. Reports say that Fuji [...]

Talento Hoshino Aki (35) and jockey Miura Kosei (22) have just become parents. Hoshino wrote in her blog that she gave birth to the couple’s first child, a girl, at 4:06pm on April 12th. Both Hoshino and her newborn daughter are said to be in good health. According to someone at her management agency, Hoshino [...]

The NTV drama series “Muse no Kagami,” starring AKB48 member Sashihara Rino (19), is being turned into a movie this summer. Other than the AKB48 documentary films, this will be Sashihara’s first appearance in a movie. “Muse no Kagami” has been airing in a late-night time slot since January of this year. The 15-minute episodes [...]

More cast members have been unveiled for Kanjani8‘s movie “Eight Ranger,” which was first announced last month. The new additions include Higashiyama Noriyuki in his first villain role and Becky as the story’s heroine. “Eight Ranger,” also known as “Eito Ranger,” is based on a series of skits that Kanjani8 has performed during their concerts. [...]

DJ CHEMICAL (29), the DJ of hip-hop trio FUNKY MONKEY BABYS, revealed in the group’s blog that he is now married. On April 8th, he registered his marriage with a woman (30) whom he was dating for the past 5 years. His wife is not in show business, so no personal details about her have [...]

NHK has announced that popular screenwriter Kudo Kankuro (41) will be in charge of the network’s morning drama series during the spring and summer of 2013. This will be his first time ever writing an NHK drama. Details for the drama are currently being prepared. NHK plans to hold a press conference in June at [...]

CHEMISTRY announced on Sunday that they are putting their activities on hold in order to focus on their separate solo activities. They did not state how long they plan to be on hiatus. Composed of members Kawabata Kaname and Dochin Yoshikuni, CHEMISTRY was formed in 2001 through the music show “ASAYAN.”Since then, the duo has [...]

On Saturday, hip-hop artist SEEDA and singer EMI MARIA announced via their blogs that they are married and expecting a child. The two actually registered their marriage around the start of this year, but it they chose to wait until EMI MARIA was in the stable period of her pregnancy before making it public. Despite [...]

The #1 single on the charts this week was Fukuyama Masaharu‘s “Ikiteru Ikiteku,” which is being used as the theme song for the latest “Doraemon” movie. This is Fukuyama’s 5th consecutive #1 single, but the last “Doraemon” theme song to top the charts was 28 years ago. Fukuyama Masaharu – Ikiteru Ikiteku – 119,833 UVERworld [...]

Singer Haida Shoko (33) revealed in her blog that she recently got married. She and her husband, a 35-year-old man not in show business, tied the knot on March 25th, Haida’s birthday. According to Haida’s management agency, the couple are in the middle of preparations for living together. They plan to hold a private wedding [...]

Kimura Yoshino (35) will star in a drama series on NHK this spring, titled “Hatsukoi.” The last time she led an NHK drama series was 9 years ago, in the 2003 series “Nikoniko Nikki.” “Hatsukoi” is a love story written by screenwriter Nakazono Miho, who previously worked on shows such as “Yamato Nadeshiko” and “Haken [...]

Puffy announced on their official website that member Yoshimura Yumi (37) is expecting her first child. In the announcement, Yoshimura revealed that she will become a mother this summer. Yoshimura got married on December 31, 2009, to a businessman five years younger than her. This is her second marriage; she was previously married to musician [...]