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Popular Japanese actress Yui Aragaki, 32, and singer-songwriter Gen Hoshino, 40, are set to marry, their agencies said Wednesday, after co-starring in a 2016 TV drama in which they played a couple that entered into a contract marriage. “We hope that we can support each other and accumulate prosperous time together,” the couple said a joint statement. More recently, the two again co-starred in a sequel of the drama series “Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu” (known as “We Married as a Job” in English), which aired in January. The theme song by Hoshino featuring the cast dancing the “Koi Dance,” meaning love dance, became a craze in Japan, with its official video on YouTube having been watched 231 million times as of Wednesday evening. Born in Okinawa, Aragaki, 32, started her career as a teen model and quickly rose to stardom after appearing in a TV commercial for Ezaki Glico Co.’s Pocky chocolate-covered biscuit sticks. Known by fans as “Gakki,” she appeared in a number of popular film...

Kasumi Arimura is a Japanese actress born in Fukuoka, Japan. She has appeared in numerous films and television dramas since her debut in 2007, quickly becoming one of the most well-known young actresses in the country. Her unique look and delicate acting style have earned her roles in critically acclaimed works such as The Cranes Are Flying (2007), Nobody to Watch Over Me (2009), When Marnie Was There (2014) and A Boy Called H (2019). Kasumi first started her career as a model and gravitated towards acting after appearing in several commercials. She made her feature film debut with the movie Pure Soul, which was released in 2007. From then on, she went on to star in several award-winning productions such as All About My Dog (2009) and Kasane (2018). Her performance in the latter was particularly praised by critics and gained her multiple awards at festivals all over the world. Kasumi has also been featured in many popular television dramas, including Gakko no Kaidan (2011) and Saka no ...

Actress Kyoko Fukada has been diagnosed with adjustment disorder and will take a break from work to focus on her treatment for the time being, her agency said Wednesday. Fukada, 38, who has appeared in hit dramas and movies, including the 2004 comedy film “Kamikaze Girls,” was diagnosed with the condition this month, according to talent agency HoriPro Inc. Since making her debut after winning the grand prix of a scout competition hosted by HoriPro in 1996, Fukada went on to become a familiar face in showbusiness and is fondly called “Fukakyon.” She is known for taking on various roles, from comedy to drama. In “Kamikaze Girls,” also aired on Netflix, she played a girl in “Lolita” style, a street fashion that draws inspiration from clothing of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Among her serious roles, she starred opposite the Taiwan-born actor Takeshi Kaneshiro in the 1998 drama “Kamisama Mou Sukoshi Dake” (“God, Please Give Me More Time”), which depicts a love story between a music pro...

Actress Sasaki Nozomi (34) and Watabe Ken (50) of comedian duo Unjash are expecting their second child. Sasaki updated her Instagram account saying, "At this time, we have been blessed with our second child. The whole family is looking forward to welcoming this new life. Both myself and baby are doing well. While being grateful for this irreplaceable and precious life, I hope to make preparations for childbirth, so that I can welcome it peacefully with a smile." She concluded, "I will give you another update when I have given birth. This picture was unknowingly taken by my son. I wonder what it is... lol."  After Sasaki's post, Watabe also wrote on his Instagram, "At this time, we have been blessed with our second child. Both mom and baby are doing well. My heart is filled with excitement, and I am already working harder. I appreciate your continued support." statuspage statuspage statuspage statuspage statuspage statuspage statuspage statuspa...

Manchester United travel to the Camp Nou this evening to take on Barcelona in the headline match of the Europa League play-off round. To reach this stage Erik ten Hag’s side finished second on goal difference to Real Sociedad in Group E while Barcelona fell out of the Champions League after a disappointing campaign saw them finish third in Group C. The winner of this two-legged affair will progress to the last-16 where the Europa League group stage winners re-enter the competition. This eagerly awaited clash comes at a good time for both teams. When this draw was announced the odds of a United victory seemed slim but the Red Devils have been in fantastic form – mainly thanks to Marcus Rashford – and are unbeaten in their last six games across all competitions. They’ll come into the match with confidence following a 2-0 victory over Leeds last time out and will hope to upset the currently La Liga leaders. For their part, Barcelona have been revived under boss, Xavi. They’re on a six lea...

Arsenal and Manchester City go head to head for the first time in the Premier League this season as the title race heats up. The Gunners are three points clear of City in second, with Mikel Arteta's men also boasting a game in hand. While Arsenal have an advantage, they've suffered a dip in form recently, with the Gunners drawing against Brentford and Newcastle, while also losing at Everton. City suffered a defeat at Tottenham earlier this month, however Pep Guardiola's side bounced back on Sunday, beating Aston Villa 3-1 to put the pressure back on Arsenal. It's another reunion between former colleagues Arteta and Guardiola, with the City boss coming out on top in their FA Cup showdown last month at the Emirates. RadioTimes brings you our predictions and team news for Arsenal v Man City. It will likely be a close affair between the Premier League's two best sides on Wednesday night. City may feel the pressure has shifted onto Arsenal in the title race, however Mike...

The most powerful earthquake in nearly a century struck Turkey and Syria early Monday, killing over 1,400 people in their sleep, levelling buildings and causing tremors felt as far away as Greenland. The 7.8-magnitude night-time tremor, followed hours later by a slightly smaller one, wiped out entire sections of major Turkish cities in a region filled with millions of people who have fled the civil war in Syria and other conflicts. The head of Syria's National Earthquake Centre, Raed Ahmed, called it "the biggest earthquake recorded in the history of the centre". At least 560 people died in rebel and government-controlled parts of Syria, state media and medical sources said. Another 912 people died in Turkey, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose handling of one of the biggest disasters of his two decades in power could prove consequential to his re-election chances in polls due in May. The initial quake was followed by more than 50 aftershocks, including a 7...

There had been rumblings and whispers of something big coming from Kensington Palace. This week we finally found out exactly what’s been in the works when Catherine, Princess of Wales unveiled a major new public awareness campaign centered around the importance of early childhood. Called “Shaping Us,” the princess’ new initiative is intended to improve our collective understanding of how critical the first five years of life are in shaping the adults we grow up to be. The aim is to move the subject out of the realm of scientific research and recast it as “one of the most strategically important topics of our time.” “The way we develop, through our experiences, relationships, and surroundings during our early childhood, fundamentally shapes our whole lives. It affects everything from our ability to form relationships and thrive at work, to our mental and physical well-being as adults and the way we parent our own children,” Kate said as the campaign launched on Tuesday. “By focusing our...

Maria Ozawa was in town on the penultimate day of 2022 as an ambassador for Mansion Sports Bar, a noisy new club in Makati that seemed to shake up one of the quieter streets in Makati’s Legaspi Village. Ms. Ozawa isn’t new to the club scene: according to her, she has two lounges in Manila; one in Makati, and another in Manila’s Port Area. She also owns a bar in her native Japan. In 2005, Maria Ozawa began her journey as the queen of smaller screens: watched in secret by boys of all ages. The Canadian-Japanese star awakened their sexuality as she performed stunt after stunt on camera. She left the industry around 2009, having performed also in some mainstream Japanese films. She appeared in some mainstream films in Southeast Asia at the beginning of the 2010s. To her recollection, she entered the Philippines in 2015, dipping her fingers in the Manila showbiz scene, shooting films with action stars Cesar Montano and now-Senator Robin Padilla. Up until 2022, she had been dating Filipino a...