Miu Nakamura Quits the Game

Japanese teen gravure idol Miu Nakamura (仲村みう) surprised everyone yesterday on her blog with the announcement that she’s quitting as a gravure model effective immediately.  She also has an exclusive interview inside the latest issue of Japanese tabloid FRIDAY (フライデー) which hit the newstand today.

A part of  the Iwate Prefecture native’s blog titled “I’m really sorry” read, “I apologize for the sudden announcement.  Even after I quit, I will still be the same Miu Nakamura.  This is probably selfish, but I’d be happy if you can continue to give me your support.”

With Miu Nakamura’s unexpected announcement Japanese media can’t help but speculate whether it’s a pending marriage or pregnancy that’s the reason behind her decision to retire.  She hasn’t exactly gone through her career without any controversy.  From the end of 2007 Miu stopped her gravure idol activities indefinitely for a few months citing health problems.  And later she also claimed that she was held against her will and threatened by a female relative before.

Miu Nakamura, an U-19 gravure idol got noticed after she entered Miss Young Magazine (ミスヤングマガジン) gravure contest in 2006.  Since her debut at only 14 years of age she’s been known to pose in a variety of cosplay and some very risque spreads.

I personally think she simply couldn’t take the day to day pressure of being a gravure idol anymore and sought an easy way out.  it’s a very demanding business and every year several girls don’t make the cut and go down the same route.  As far as Miu hoping to keep her fan base…good luck.  For every burned out gravure idol there are 100 girls in line waiting to take her place, willing to do what she’s done and more!

The following is an excerpt from the FRIDAY interview.

Fri: Why have you decided to quit as a gravure idol?

Miu: I no longer feel like I want to do gravure work.  I don’t want to continue doing gravure modeling if my heart’s not in it, so I thought now it’s a good time to quit.  I don’t feel any regret.

Fri: Isn’t it kind of early for a gravure idol to quit when she’s only 18?

Miu: It seems like I’m always one step of others.  That’s the story of my life…just like when I made my gravure debut when I was only 14.

Fri: Did you make up your mind a while ago?

Miu: I never had an exact date.  But I thought about retiring before I turn 20, and this was when I first started gravure modeling. 

Fri: We think there are still plenty of people who want to see you do gravure work.

Miu: Does that mean they can only see me as a gravue idol?  I think it’s also possible to be seen outside of my gravure work.  Personally, I think my best gravure days are before I turn 20.  I’d like my fans to remember me this way.

Fri: Perhaps you’re using this opportunity to get married?

Miu: (laughing) No.  I’ve been asked, “Are you pregnant?”  I wanted to say, “Sure, I’m already married with 2 kids!”  People talk, don’t they?  I’ve already gotten used to it.

Fri: There’s also rumors that you’ll do AV.

Miu: (laughing) No way! 

Japanese Gravure Idol Miu Nakamura Retires Suddenly

Perfume’s Nocchi In Love Too

Not to be outdone, Japanese techno pop unit Perfume member Nocchi (のっち) is also rumored to be in a relationship.  Japanese tabloid authority FRIDAY (フライデー), the same magazine that first reported on Kashiyuka’s love interest got the scoop that the Fukuyama dialect speaking cutie possibly spent the night at her boyfriend’s.

Nocchi says, “If this room’s rocking, don’t come knocking!”

Perfume’s Nocchi Caught Spending the Night

The 20 year old Ayano Omoto (大本彩乃) aka Nocchi has been hanging out with the lead vocal of Japanese rock band “Straightener” (ストレイテナー) Atsushi Horie (ホリエアツシ), who is 10 years her senior.  Nocchi was recently spotted going back to Atsushi’s apartment alone after having dinner.  When Nocchi / Perfume’s management agency Amuse Inc. (アミューズ) was contacted for comment the handler replied, “We’re only aware that he is one of Nocchi’s good friends in the music circle.”  What a typical response…I couldn’t have expected anything else!

I guess now we’ll have to wait and see if FRIDAY also have some dirt on A~chan (あ～ちゃん), the last member who’s still scandal free.

From L to R: Kashiyuka, A~chan and Nocchi

Perfume’s Kashiyuka Dating

This past Friday Japanese entertainment & gossip magazine FRIDAY (フライデー) revealed that Japanese techno pop unit Perfume member Kashiyuka (かしゆか) has been spotted with a love interest.

Has Perfume’s Kashiyuka found true love?

Perfume’s Kashiyuka Caught Dating

The 3 girl unit, produced by Japanese musical genius Yasutaka Nakata (中田ヤスタカ) originated from Hiroshima.  With its unique “picopop” techno sound, Perfume hit it big in 2008 and received the top honor of performing at NHK’s year end “Kohaku Utagassen” extravaganza.

Perfume performing live on NHK’s annual Kohaku Utagassen music show on December 31, 2008

From L to R: A~chan, Nocchi and Kashiyuka

According to Friday, 20 year old Yuka Kashino (樫野有香) aka Kashiyuka was spotted having a private rendezvous at night with photographer Yoshiharu Ota (太田好治), also age 20 at a trendy cafe in the Sangenjaya district of Tokyo in the middle of May.  The couple went their separate ways afterward but just a week before there was a sighting of Kashiyuka entering the handsome young photographer’s apartment.

Unlike j-pop units such as Morning Musume or AKB48, Perfume is not exactly an idol group.  Thus I don’t foresee any problems or conflicts work wise for the lovely young cutie who loves to devour carbs.  You never know, her horny young beau might just slip and show us some “not so proper” pictures of Kashiyuka later down the line!

Yu Aoi Dating V6 Boy

Yu Aoi and Junichi Okada, both have a squeaky clean image and are considered the model for Japanese wholesomeness

Popular Japanese model and actress Yu Aoi (蒼井優) has been caught dating Junichi Okada (岡田准一), member of Japanese boy band V6. Photos of the couple walking intimately together are splashed across the pages inside Japanese weekly tabloid magazine FRIDAY (フライデー) which went on the stand today.

Yu and Junichi have been rumored to be romantically linked since they both starred in the TBS drama “Tiger & Dragon” (タイガー＆ドラゴン) back in ‘05. They reportedly became friends after working together and according to people close to them their relationship have turned intense within the last few months.

The well known Japanese tabloid that’s also responsible for breaking the news on other secret celebrity relationships shows the couple intimately holding the same umbrella after doing some grocery shopping. FRIDAY’s paparrazi then witnessed Johnny’s Entertainment idol enter the condo of the homey looking 23 year old….apparently spending the night together (trust me, although this is nothing to bat an eyelid about in Western countries, it’s enough for a scandal in Japanese society).

Yu Aoi at the press conference earlier this spring of her hit TV drama “Osen” (おせん) on NTV

When contacted for a response, Junichi and V6’s management replied, “We leave all the private matters up to him so we shall refrain from commenting.” Yu’s handler Itoh Company Group provided a vague statement that says, “We have been told that they have become close since working together. Since she is already an adult we’ll leave her private affairs up to her.”

Left: Yu Aoi at her DoCoMo commercial shoot back in May of this year; Right: Heartthrob Junichi Okada is undoubtedly the fingering session subject for countless number of Japanese girls

Chiaki Kuriyama Caught Smooching

Chiaki Kuriyama shot to stardom in Japan after appearing in the cult classic Battle Royale

Japanese actress and former model Chiaki Kuriyama of Kill Bill fame (I’m sure you remember that psychotic high school girl) was recently exposed by Japanese tabloid FRIDAY. The magazine that has given us so much insights on the private lives of Japanese celebrities claims that she has been dating Japanese singer / actor Makoto Koshinaka.

The 27 year old pretty boy was the lead vocal of now disbanded Japanese visual / glam rock band Λucifer (Lucifer)

Λucifer (Lucifer), with Makoto in the middle

When the internationally recognized actress’s agency was contacted for comment the reply was, “He is one of her close friends but according to Chiaki they’re neither seeing each other nor living together.”

“Cool Beauty” Gogo Yubari is 23 and all grown up now