ORANGE RANGE vocalist HIROKI (26) has been married since last month, it was learned on Saturday. The band announced the news on their official website.

HIROKI registered his marriage in February. His wife is not in show business, and he chose not to reveal any personal details such as her age or the length of their relationship.

Of the band’s five current members, HIROKI is the third one to reveal that he is married. Bassist YOH (26) tied the knot in 2007, and vocalist RYO (24) got married in 2008.

Source: tokyograph

For the first time in her acting career Aya Ueto will be playing as a detective in Absolute Zero Point ~ Unsolved Cases Special Investigation. The new drama will begin airing in Japan Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. starting April 13.

Ueto said, “I hope I can show a totally new face to everyone.”

I’m sure Ueto fans will agree with me that it’s great enough to see her on a weekly basis. Well, if you live in Japan. Probably better to see her in person more often. Better than nothing.

Source: Japan Today

The best combination in Japanese female R&B is back for the first time in seven years, with singers AI, 28, and Namie Amuro, 32, set to release their single “FAKE feat. Namie Amuro.”

The sexy pair performed together as part of SUITE CHIC in 2003 and ZEEBRA in 2006, but this is the first time for a song to be released under AI’ s name. 2010 also marks AI’s 10th anniversary on the music scene, and word is that she sounded Amuro out for her participation both publicly and privately.

“FAKE” is about a girl who has just been dumped by her man, and her talking about it with one of her girl friends. AI said: “This kind of thing would never happen to a girl like Namie, right? For that reason I thought it’d be interesting to have her on it.”

Amuro flashed a wry smile and said “I got more nervous than during my own recordings.”

“FAKE feat. Namie Amuro” goes on sale March 31.

Source: Japan Today

Yes, that’s Ayaka Hirahara in a wedding dress. And yes, Hirahara is only modeling the dress at a bridal fashion show. Yumi Katsura is the designer and Hirahara was nice enough to model three designs as she performed three songs.

“This is the first time I’ve sung wearing a wedding dress and wedding kimono,” the songstress said, smiling, “and the tightness of the corset actually improves my posture and makes it easier to sing.”

Kawaii.

Source: Japan Today

Enka fans hoping to attend a performance from Jero will be happy to hear that the dream will be close to reality later this month.

The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC) has announced the U.S. West Coast debut of japan-based enka singer Jero. The tour will kick off with a performance on Sunday, March 28, at the Palace of Fine Arts.

Premium tickets, in the center of the first six rows include a private post-reception, are $250 each. The JCCCNC said tickets are going fast and can be purchased by visiting their website at
http://www.cityboxoffice.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=1465&c=9&pg=2.

Let’s just hope there enough fans in attendance to motive more JPop and JRock artists to debut here in the States.

Source: Japan Today

The newest issue of Josei Jishin reports that singer Hikaru Utada (26) has a new man in her life. He is said to be a 34-year-old artist whose works include “Nihonga,” or Japanese-style paintings.

According to the magazine, the man has frequently been seen visiting Utada’s apartment in Tokyo. The pair have also been spotted on various dates, such as a trip to the ongoing “Ancient Egypt in Torino” exhibit at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum.

Utada married filmmaker Kazuaki Kiriya at a young age in 2002, but they divorced in 2007.

 This is truly a sad day!    >_<

Source: Tokyograph