Kumi Koda Is Back

Just like I expected all along, the princess of Japan’s dirty pop Kumi Koda kicked off her national concert tour yesterday pretty much as originally planned at Ekoba Arena in Fukuroi, Shizuoka Prefecture (about 2.5 hr southwest of Tokyo). It has been about two and a half months since her off the cuff “rotten womb” radio show comment that landed her in hot water which ended in cancellation of all work related activities and self exile.

Before the show Kumi once again apologized and bowed to the fans. She then exclaimed, “I will give my best!”

According to reports, since the scandal blew up in the beginning of this past February Kumi had been hiding in hotels. And recently Japanese tabloid FLASH sighted the j-pop diva resurfacing, sporting huge sunglasses with her trademark brightly colored hair surrounded by several AVEX staff members while being discreetly shuttled around.

The 25 year old Miss Kumi Koda had reportedly wanted to delay the start of her national tour. But due to several complications decided to stick to the original schedule. The concert tour covers 8 locations and consists of 16 shows in total. The ones in the beginning such as Shizuoka, Kobe and Fukuoka have been completely sold out a long time ago before the rotten womb scandal took place and tickets for her performance in Tokyo which went on sale on the 15th of last month were also gone in an instant.

Although her advertising activities with major companies like Kirin, P&G Japan and Japanese cosmetic Kose are still on halt, I’m sure everything will be back to normal by early summer and you’ll start to see Kumi pimping all kinds of products everywhere you go again.

Things are looking good for Kumi Koda. Her latest DVD “Kumi Koda Live Tour 2007 ~Black Cherry~ Special Final in Tokyo Dome” that was released on the 31st of last month shot up to the No. 1 position for music DVD. As a matter of fact, this is the 4th consecutive number one ranking she’s received for her DVD, beginning with “secret ~First Class Limited Live~” in September of 2005.

Kumi is on track to surpass Hikaru Utada’s sales record of 6 consecutive No. 1 DVD 

This really shows you in Japan it doesn’t matter what kind of trouble you get yourself into,  a tearful apology followed by a short hiatus goes a long way!

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

Is Leah Dizon Quitting?

The always hot and sexy Leah Dizon

Despite her extreme popularity in Japan and appearance on NHK’s year end Kohaku Utagassen extravaganza, rumors have been flying around that super sexy gravure idol Leah Dizon will hang up her bikinis come this March. Shukan Gendai, one of Japan’s major tabloids has come out with an article saying that “The Black Ship of Gravure” (please refer to my previous blog for further explanation) is going to retire soon.

The softer side of Leah Dizon

Even though Leah received the high honor of performing at Kohaku, what has followed hasn’t exactly been what people are expecting. First of all, her blog hasn’t been updated since the first of last month. People have seen her being bullied by other gravure models and she cried backstage at Kohaku. And her latest photobook “Heaven” hasn’t been too well received. Some people on the set have criticized that her facial expression was plain and she gave the same look in every shot. Some have even gone as far to say “she’s got no talent to be a gravure model!”

From Leah’s latest photobook “Heaven” which was shot in Kenya

In addition, some of the videos and photos from her modeling days in America have come back to haunt her. Most people think Leah can’t show anymore skin to generate excitement unless she goes “hair nude”. There’s also report of her being standoffish and not mingling with other gravure idols in the dressing room, which leads to the inevitable trash talking behind her back.

Leah Dizon nipple flash…oh I’d love to lather up her pink nipples with my tongue!

Leah Dizon has always made it clear that she likes singing (although in my opinion her voice is weak and at best okay as an amateur) and has pushed her management company Sky Corporation hard to let her debut as a singer in Japan. But lots of people upstairs don’t see that as the planned future for her. Her handler had groomed her to be a gravure idol and now it seems like things have turned half assed.

For a petite slender girl, Leah’s got some pretty nice big tits

Finally, here’s the unconfirmed rumor that’s supposed to show Leah Dizon’s dislike for doing gravure modeling. During the taping of Fuji TV’s “Hey Hey Hey Music Champ” at the end of last year, the host and probably the most famous Japanese comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto kept pressing Leah asking her if she’d be willing to do some racier photoshoots. Upon hearing that Leah walked off the set crying.

Obviously when contacted for comment regarding the Shukan Gendai article Sky Corporation vehemently denied that Leah Dizon wants to quit. But it does seem like recently Leah has been feeling very homesick and has said, “I want to go back to the States.” I don’t know about you but I haven’t gotten enough of Leah Dizon’s sexiness. Let’s hope “The Black Ship of Gravure” isn’t sinking anytime soon.

Idol’s Nude Price

Does it pay for idols and celebrities to get naked? In Japan people love to see their favorite star release a “hair nude” pictorial and bare it all. A certain Japanese tabloid asked two experts for their professional opinion.

Regarding “hair nude” photobook (meaning the idol / model shows her bush, pants down), publisher / producer Motoji Takasu was contacted. He’s so famous for publishing celebrity nude photobooks that he’s nicknamed “the hair merchant”! And for the price of appearing in an AV (Japanese porn), they asked Mr. Kita, a casting producer in the industry to provide the estimate.

1. Miwa Asao

“The Fairy of Beach Volleyball”

Nude photobook – $2.6 million

AV – $1 million

This Japanese pro beach volleyball player is hot in the media right now, appearing on all kinds of TV shows, promotional events and endorsing various products. I guess the public likes to take a break from the usual “cute idol” style girls and shower their attention on a more “healthy” and athletic type girl.

“In the photobook she released last year she didn’t even have any racy shots yet that sold within the top 30! I wonder how much more she would sell if she take it off…”

2. Ai Kago

At the turn of this century nobody was cuter than Aibon

Nude photobook – $2 million

AV – $1 million

The disgraced former Morning Musume still pulls plenty of weight whenever her name is mentioned. “Aibon”, as she is called affectionately by her fans used be one of the most popular members of the Japanese super idol group and some might even argue was the cutest thing ever to come out of Japan besides Hello Kitty!

She had it all and she blew it all away

“Ever since the scandal of her getting caught smoking underage for the second time last year which led to her expulsion from Hello Project and her production company Up Front Agency, there’s been rumors of the possibility of Aibon taking her clothes off because she’s no longer an idol. But it’s probably unlikely that this will come to fruition.”

“Shhh…don’t tell anyone I smoke!”

3. Masami Nagasawa

A young Masami in swimsuit

Nude photobook – $1.8 million

AV – $1 million

The 20 year old Shizuoka native actress and sometimes gravure idol has really blossomed and become everyone’s darling since the beginning of last year. Personally I don’t think she’s that cute but she radiates kindness and that girl next door charm, which undoubtedly captured the heart of countless fans.

“I don’t think she’ll ever get nude, but Rie Miyazawa (a mega popular 90s Japanese actress) did take it off at the height of her success. The fee is a bit lower than what I’d expect her to receive, though. I think she’ll sell a lot.”

To be continued…