Tearful Sawajiri confirms plan to divorce, promises to change attitude

Erika Sawajiri cries during a press conference on Sunday.
SANKEI

TOKYO — Actress Erika Sawajiri, 24, on Sunday confirmed her plan to divorce 46-year-old media creator Tsuyoshi Takashiro. After attending a publicity event for beauty clinic Takano Yuri as a special guest, Sawajiri, who has been hounded by the press following her erratic behavior, rumors of divorce and reconciliation attempts with her husband, held a press conference at which she said: “We have agreed to file for divorce.”

Sawajiri tearfully said that if the Japanese public could forgive her recent rebellious behavior, she planned to change her attitude and return to her celebrity lifestyle in Japan (she had spent much of the last 12 months in Spain). Sawajiri also explained that her sudden disappearance from public view last September was an attempt to maintain her privacy while she and Takashiro discussed divorce proceedings.

“It took three months to get to this point,” she explained. “I think my mental state has been affected by the strain. I would like to conclude this matter as quickly as possible and return my life to some sense of normality.

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Kumi Koda to release compilation album in March

Kumi Koda

TOKYO — Pop star Kumi Koda, 28, is set to release a CD and DVD set of the live concert she performed in Yokohama Stadium last July. The compilation album, titled “Dejavu,” will include previously released songs such as “Suki. Suki. Suki” and Koda’s forthcoming single “POP DIVA,” which is scheduled for release on Feb 2. The album will also include covers, such as Koda’s rendition of the theme song to TV Asahi’s Friday anime program “Crayon Shinchan.”

The album goes on sale in three configurations: the CD and double DVD set will cost 4,980 yen, the CD and DVD set for 3,990 yen and the CD only for 3,095 yen.

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Maki Goto releases mini-album

Maki Goto chats to fans in Kawasaki.
SANKEI

KAWASAKI — Singer Maki Goto, 25, held a talk show and sang three songs for 5,000 fans to promote her new mini-album, “Gloria” at Lazona Kawasaki Plaza this week.

Rumors had swirled that the former Morning Musume singer was involved with actor and comedian Junior Chihara. However, Goto told the media present: “I haven’t met any men in almost half a year!” She added, however, that she would like to marry by the age of 30.

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Maki Horikita happy to play villain for first time

Maki Horikita
SANKEI

TOKYO — Actress Maki Horikita, 22, will play a villain for the first time in her upcoming movie, an adaptation of Keigo Higashino’s popular novel “Byakuyako” (Into the White Night), which will co-star Kengo Kora, 23. “This year I’d like to try lots of new things,” Horikita said.

One such new challenge, she said, is playing a villain for the first time in her career. “The idea that people are going to watch it and think, ‘This girl’s really scary’ is a little unsettling,” she said. ” However, I hope as many people as possible will see the movie.”

“Into the White Night,” directed by Yoshihiro Fukagawa, will be released on Jan 29.

Ayumi Hamasaki 1st artist to achieve 13 consecutive years of No. 1 albums

Ayumi Hamasaki 1st artist to achieve 13 consecutive years of No. 1 albums
Friday 31st December, 03:12 AM JST

TOKYO —
Ayumi Hamasaki, 32, will soon become the first artist in Japan to achieve 13 consecutive years of No. 1 albums after Oricon Album Rankings announced that her new album “Love Songs” is set to hit the top of the charts on Jan 3. The new album is Hamasaki’s 17th No. 1 album in total since her debut was released in 1999.

A track by Naoya Urata featuring Hamasaki, titled “Dream On,” is also set to hit the No. 1 spot in the singles chart on the same day. She will be the first album and single No. 1 position holder since pop group Arashi managed the same feat in 2007, three years and one month ago. It will be nine years and three months since Hamasaki has topped both charts simultaneously.

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