Aya Takashima Crowned No.1 Announcer Again

For the 5th year in a row, “Princess of Fuji TV” Aya Takashima retains the title as the most popular Japanese female TV announcer!

Japanese music & entertainment ranking / data compiling authority Oricon (オリコン) released the latest finding last week on who commands the most viewership and the 29 year old still came out on top as the most want to be watched newscaster in Japan.  Nicknamed “Ayapan” (アヤパン), many people interviewed replied that they’re impressed with her wide range of specialties, stable reporting skills and quick thinking.

Emerging in second place was NTV’s Yukari Nishio who has been moving up in the top ten rank in the last 2 years.  Japanese viewers love the Chiba Prefecture native’s cheery smile in the morning, on spot comments and knowledge.  Not surprisingly, “Darling of Fuji TV” Minako Nakano who boasts legions of fans rounded out the top 3 spot with her warm smile and charming personality.

Without further adieu, here are the ten most desirable sexy lady announcers / reporters on the tube in Japan:

No.1  Aya Takashima (高島彩) - Fuji TV

No.2  Yukari Nishio (西尾由佳理) - NTV

No.3  Minako Nakano (中野美奈子) – Fuji TV

No.4  Maya Kobayashi (小林麻耶) – TBS

No.5  Christel Takigawa (滝川クリステル) - Fuji TV

No.6  Mariko Do (堂真理子) - TV Asahi

No.7  Emi Takeuchi (武内絵美) - TV Asahi

No.8  Kyoko Uchida (内田恭子) - freelance (formerly Fuji TV)

No.9  Yuki Maeda (前田有紀) - TV Asahi

No.10  Rio Hirai (平井理央) - Fuji TV

Mikie Hara DVD Release

Mikie Hara belongs to Japanese talent agency Oscar Promotion (オスカープロモーション)

Top Japanese gravure idol Mikie Hara (原幹恵) packs a dynamite G cup equipped body. Last Tuesday the Niigata Prefecture native held a media event for the release of her latest gravure DVD named “Beach Angel Mikie Hara in Maui” (ビーチ・エンジェルズ原幹恵ｉｎマウイ島) at Softmap in the popular Akihabara district of Tokyo. The bikini packed DVD is based on the popular TBS TV show “Beach Angels”.

Mikie claims her chest started developing when she was only in the 3rd grade!

Japanese Announcer Mio Nemoto x Up To Boy

Cute til it hurts Japanese freelance announcer Mio Nemoto (根本美緒) as featured in gravure magazine Up To Boy. The 29 year old with girl next door smile works mainly as the morning news weather girl for Japanese TV station TBS. Her job requires her to get up at 2:30am every day…ouch! Mio brings with her a good education background, having spent her entire schooling career from kindergarten to university within the Keio University (慶應義塾大学) system!

Mio Nemoto’s second photobook follows her as she takes a fun trip to Seoul

Sleepy John Hits Tokyo, Part 9

Here’s the last batch of my “random shots collection” from my recent trip to Japan. I hope you’ve enjoyed everything so far and rest assure I’ve got even more interesting photos from the Land of the Rising Sun coming your way soon so hang tight!

I was greeted by the hot and beautiful Japanese fashion model Yuri Ebihara (蛯原友里) aka “Ebi-chan” (エビちゃん) in the form of a McDonald’s poster soon after I arrived in Tokyo.

How could you not be in the mood for a Mac Chicken Wrap with black vinegar dressing after seeing this gorgeous Japanese specimen holding one?

The famous Akasaka Blitz, a medium sized live house venue similar to House of Blues in the States located in Akasaka (赤坂) in downtown Tokyo where so many famous Japanese musician have performed.

Spotted the latest single “Namida no Iro” (涙の色) from popular Hello!Project (ハロー!プロジェクト) unit C-ute on display in the local record store. I don’t know why but their earlier hit single “Tokaikko Junjo” (都会っ子 純情) kept playing in my head as I walked by the display.

Japanese AV promotional posters splashed the walls by the entrance to a store in Akihabara. Stay tuned because I’ve got a juicy special on that in the near future. Here’s a funny side note: As I was about to take these shots a young couple passed by. The girl told her man, “Go check it out. You want to go down there, don’t you?” The guy was actually a little hesitant at first but after being reassured he wouldn’t get into trouble he happily obliged and descended into happy land. How cool is that chick?!

This is the front entrance to the new TBS TV station headquarters in the posh district of Akasaka (赤坂). I was there to have lunch with a friend who works there (lucky bastard! He’s met his share of Japanese celebrities.) and to take in some good view of some fine Japanese girls. I can honestly say Akasaka is crawling with hot OL (office ladies) and other sexy females!

I could barely keep my dick in my pants as I took this stealth shot of some fine Japanese office ladies working at TBS leaving the building!

Tomoka Kurokawa

The 18 year old Japanese actress Tomoka Kurokawa (黒川智花) has stepped onto the media spotlight quite a bit lately since her performance in the popular 2007 TBS drama “Asakusa Fukumaru Ryokan 2″ (浅草ふくまる旅館).  This is her second gravure spread from Up To Boy.

Shoko Nakagawa Private Lesson

Shokotan, the princess of cosplay

The cute and sexy Japanese idol / singer Shoko Nakagawa aka “Shoko-tan” takes Japanese entertainment icon Akiko Wada to school with a short private lesson on the subculture of “otaku”, or “otakuology”. This is taken from the TBS show “Private Lesson – how to make a proper Akiko Wada”. For more information on Akiko Wada please check out my blog on Feb. 14th.

Say what? But you don’t speak Japanese? Well you’re in luck because the videos I’ve dug up are translated. And kudos to the people who worked on this piece…I think they did a fine job translating!

Part 1:

Part 2:

Saki Aibu

Saki Aibu and Tomoya Nagase are a hot item right now

It appears that popular Japanese actress Saki Aibu has been dating Japanese actor / singer / heartthrob Tomoya Nagase of the all boy band TOKIO. They have been spotted together at a video rental store rather intimately, among other places. The hot couple met while working together on the drama “Utahime” which aired on TBS last fall. According to report they started going out in the middle of November last year, around the same time filming for Utahime wrapped up.

Saki Aibu has charmed Japan with her honest character and pure personality

TOKIO, possibly the second most popular Japanese boy band after SMAP (Tomoya in center)

Tomoya Nagase in a Fuji Film commercial with Maki Horikita

The 22 year old girl next door from Takarazuka city in Hyogo Prefecture quickly shot to fame back in 2003 with the drama “Water Boys”. The 29 year old Tomoya, who is considered a hunk with his tall, athletic built and chiseled face is no stranger to the Japanese media, having dated Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki for over 7 years. As a matter of fact, he broke it off with the mega popular diva just only past summer.

It wouldn’t be far stretched to say the lead vocal of TOKIO is Japan’s version of a young Brad Pitt

Quoting source close to the couple, Saki Aibu had been a fan of the famous Japanese drama “Ikebukuro West Gate Park”, which Tomoya starred in 2000. When they finally got to work together last summer she approached him on the set and chatted often.

It looks like the young Saki is smitten by Tomoya’s good looks

Japanese Idol Ranking, Part I

The purpose of Japanese weekly TV show CDTV (Countdown TV) on TBS (no, it doesn’t belong to Ted Turner) is to compile rankings out of anything and everything from the most popular high school bags to body shampoos to crepes that are served in the trendy Tokyo district of Harajuku. And CDTV has just released their semi annual list of “girls you’d like to make your girlfriend”.

Okay, so not all of the fine ladies that made the list are idols. Without further adieu, here is the list of the top 20 girls that Japanese guys would like to make their chick:

No. 1 – YUI

For some reason, for the third time in a row, the often gloomy looking singer / songwriter from Fukuoka captured the top position

No. 2 – Kaori Mochida

The vocal for now disbanded Every Little Thing takes the 2nd spot for the second time in a row. I guess Kaori still has a lot of pull even though she’s not that active anymore.

No. 3 – Ai Otsuka

The funky singer / songwriter from Osaka has an infectious voice and has butted heads with Kumi Koda who’s also from the same record label Avex

No. 4 – Rika Ishikawa

The leader of Viyuden and former Morning Musume possesses a hot body and her ass has been known to make fanboys cream in their pants!

No. 5 – Ayumi Hamasaki

The 29 year old Japanese diva with a sultry voice needs no introduction. She’s also often known as “Ayu” to her fans.

No. 6 – Ai Takahashi

The leader of Japan’s most popular girl group Morning Musume has a beautiful voice and a cheery personality

No. 7 – Natsumi Abe

Everyone in Japan knows “Nacchi“. The former leader of Morning Musume holds the record with 6 consecutive number one positions. The 26 year old Hokkaido native still melts the heart of men everywhere with her soft voice and warm personality.

No. 8 – Namie Amura

I can’t believe this 90s mega j-pop icon is 30! The singer from Okinawa forever changed the culture, fashion and language for young people in Japan.

No. 9 – Hitomi Yoshizawa

Also known as “Yossie“, the former leader of Japanese super idol group Morning Musume with boyish charms has blossomed into a fine young lady

No. 10 – Kumi Koda

Sometimes referred to as “Japan’s Britney Spears“, the chart topping singer from Kyoto has been in hot water as of late over her careless “womb” comment. (please see my blog on 2/4, 2/6 & 2/14) It’s no wonder that the 25 year old queen of “dirty pop” listed Christina Aguilera as one of her favorite artists.

Obama Gets Love In Japan

That’s right, Barack Obama is big in Japan!

U.S. presidential hopeful and Democratic Party front runner Senator Barack Obama is getting support from the oddest place…in Japan! The city of Obama (小浜市), a small seaside town facing the Sea of Japan in Fukui Prefecture happens to share the same name with the charismatic candidate from Illinois and the residents there couldn’t be happier.

Lovely receptionists at Sekumi-ya Hotel in Obama, Fukui Prefecture show off a sign of well wishes to Barack Obama

The town which served as an important stop on the trade route to Japan’s ancient capital Kyoto in the old days first noticed the connection when Senator Obama appeared on Japanese TV TBS in 2006 recalling an immigration officer at Narita International Airport telling him that his home town is also called “Obama”. In case you haven’t noticed, in general it takes very little effort to get the Japanese excited about something and start a new craze since the society is very group oriented. And the small fishing town of 32,000 in western Japan has found their calling…to rally behind Barack Obama while selling all kinds of related souvenirs from t-shirts to chopsticks to cellphone straps.

“Thanks for pimpin’ my name…I’m gonna be rich, bitches!”

The people of the 1,500 year old town that used to be responsible for providing food to the emperor are taking this event quite seriously and have formed an official support group for Senator Obama. A representative in the lobby of Sekumi-ya Hotel where they have set up camp says, “I think our support base will keep growing. We wanted to do something because Mr. Obama doesn’t feel like a stranger to us. He’s like a relative to us.”

Seiji Fujihara (R), manager of Sekumiya Hotel in Obama, Japan points to a banner wishing good luck to presidential hopeful Barack Obama

Kumi Koda Apologizes

Kumi Koda in her glamorous form

Here’s more info regarding the aftermath of Japanese pop diva Kumi Koda’s careless radio comment at the end of last month that wombs after 35 turn to shit. (Technically, she said “amniotic fluid in the uterus will go bad” but it doesn’t sound very colloquial and smooth that’s why I’m sticking to my translated version) Last Thursday Fuji TV aired an exclusive interview with Kumi Koda on its FNN Super News which was taped the previous day. In the interview Kumi had completely transformed her appearance to show just how remorseful and contrite she was. Gone were the gaudy make up and hair and her trademark blinged out long nails. They were replaced by a solemn Kumi in black suit, plain hairdo speaking in a low voice and at times in tears.

Kumi Koda delivered her apology in an exclusive interview with Fuji TV

The FNN Super News interview generated a 10.1% viewer rating, which was only about 8% above the average. This shows me that contrary to what mass hysteria her innocent womb comment seem to have brought on, the majority of the country isn’t really up in arms coming to lynch her. It’s only the media and a few internet sites composed of mostly bitter people with no life of their own that are making a huge deal out of this. Unfortunately the Japanese entertainment world is still a very old fashioned one and they take immediate precaution against any scandals big or small.

It’s easy to see why there are bitter Japanese women who’d love to see Kumi Koda go down over something so trivial

Kumi has been a long time friend of Japanese showbiz veteran and respected senpai (senior, elder) Akiko Wada and Kumi often seeks her advice about things in her personal life too. On Akiko’s popular talk show “Akiko ni Omakase!” on TBS this past Sunday she revealed the development that’s happened so far.

Japanese showbiz veteran Akiko Wada (R) and her co-host Ryuta Mine

- The person who’s responsible for Kumi Koda’s radio show on Nippon Hoso has been greatly affected too. He used to come to work in jeans and sandals but these days he shows up in a suit and stays in the “self-reflection” room studying the broadcasting manual for 10 hours every day. (This is such a typical Japanese punishment…I bet he has to turn in a “self reflection” report at the end of each day too)

- Through her private conversation with Kumi, she felt Kumi really regrets making the comment and knows she has hurt the feelings of people with her words. Kumi told Akiko, “I’ve done something bad” and couldn’t stop crying.

Japanese showbiz icon and often feared singer Akiko Wada

- During her interview with Fuji TV, at one point the interviewer asked Kumi if she’d like to have children too someday. Only an incomplete part of her reply was used because they were deemed too heavy.

- Kumi’s record label Avex still plans on kicking off the concert tour of her new album “Kingdom” on April 12th. However Kumi doesn’t quite feel the same way. She has told Akiko Wada that she thought April was too early a date to resume working. She said something terrible and by returning so quickly she’s afraid she might be trampling on people’s feelings, especially since rehearsal must start at the beginning of March if the show is to go on according to schedule.

- Where Kumi’s coming from, she’s not sure if she’ll be able to sing her songs about love right after she’s said these hurtful things. But her record label Avex feels that she has many fans that support her and by coming out to perform it’s also one way to show her remorse.

- Kumi Koda feels she wasn’t able to fully express her apology during the interview, but Akiko Wada thinks she is genuinely sorry for making the remark. Also, at this time Kumi has no motivation to begin rehearsing.

Kumi Koda’s not ready to go back to work yet

Millions of dollars will be lost by postponing Kumi’s national concert tour. So Avex is working really hard trying to convince her to be back on schedule. But if her management agency doesn’t carefully consider the possible future outcome over money, things could backfire and ruin Kumi’s career.

But then again Kumi’s new album “Kingdom” has been selling well and captured the No. 1 position again on the latest Oricon chart (Japan’s Billboard Top 100) this past Monday. See, I told you a few haters mess up everything!

Don’t the fans exert any influence?

Kumi Koda’s latest album Kingdom is still occupying the No. 1 position on Oricon

Ex Morning Musume Caught Dating Ultraman

Mari Yaguchi, the 4′9″ fiesty little firecracker might be in trouble again

This just in! Well actually I got the scoop late in the afternoon yesterday but was too “busy” last night to do anything if you know what I mean.;)

Mari joined Morning Musume as a 2nd Generation member

Ex Morning Musume leader and member Mari Yaguchi has once again gotten herself in a scandal. This time she’s caught being romantically involved with Japanese actor Takuji Kawakubo. Takuji, who appears in TBS’s show “Ultraman Nexus” was caught leaving Mari’s home in the morning in the middle of this month, and the two have been spotted together on other occasions.

Ok, you got me!

Takuji Kawakubo, age 26

Mari trying to exude some of her “sexy beam”

The 25 year old idol / talent (a term the Japanese use to loosely describe entertainer) first got into trouble back in ‘05 when it was revealed that she was dating the handsome actor Shun Oguri, which resulted in her expulsion from Morning Musume (well, publicly she stepped down but we all knew what the real deal was). Regardless whether you agree or not, in Japan’s ultra conservative showbiz world it is forbidden for an idol to have any romantic relationship, at least in public. Once any scandal is revealed it usually means a career death sentence. And believe me every idol, major or minor, understands that. Like the saying goes, “you wanna play, you gotta pay.”

Japanese heartthrob Shun Oguri. He dumped Mari for some taller model chicks.

I don’t understand why Mari would be so careless to be caught again, especially now that she’s been enjoying pretty good success after getting a new lease on her career by being allowed to go “solo”.

Mari Yaguchi, back when she was the leader of Japan’s super idol group Morning Musume

According to reports Mari Yaguchi and Takuji Kawakubo first met at a party last summer. I wonder if it was at another one of Atsushi Tamura’s (of London Boots) mixer parties. Of course both of their agencies gave the typical reply, “they’re just friends.”