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The blurb of 2023 Japanese Netflix Original film Call Me Chihiro describes the titular Chihiro (Kasumi Arimura) as an unapologetic former sex worker. Unapologetic is possibly too strong of a term for the passive protagonist of prolific filmmaker Rikiya Imaizumi’s latest film. Based on the manga of the same name, by Hiyoyuki Yasuda, we follow Chihiro (Kasumi Arimura) as she leaves her old life behind and serves bento to a welcoming town of friendly faces. While it’s true that Chihiro (Arimura) displays no shame or remorse for her life choices, in this sedentary seaside town she doesn’t need to, the stigma of sex work isn’t really present. There is an allusion to the hardship she has faced, but this is definitely a more sanitized portrayal of that world. It’s an interesting choice of past life for the main character, but it’s almost irrelevant; it’s as if Chihiro would be equally lost if she was an architect or a doctor. The very adult nature of her previous life does, however, provide a...

In a survey held by Oricon Japan last month, some 500 Japanese females aged 10 to 50-plus chose the face of the Japanese female celebrity that they want to have the most. Topping the ranking is actress Keiko Kitagawa, who was also the first in last year’s ranking. Here are the top 10 Japanese celebrities whose beauty is most envied among women in Japan. This consecutive win not only marks Kitagawa’s sixth No. 1 place in this ranking that has been running for the 14th time, it is also the first time since 2009 when an actress who is also a mum topped the ranking. That winner 11 years ago was none other than Nanako Matsushima, who is known for starring in the 1998 horror film Ring. Although Kitagawa had just given birth to a girl last September, her beauty remains dazzling as she attended a movie promotion event earlier this month, after her maternity leave. The survey participants have described her looks as “perfect” and “gorgeous”, and even wanted to “live a day with this face”. Had...

Shukan Bunshun has revealed that Suzu Hirose and Kento Yamazaki are dating! The tabloid spotted Suzu returning home from work on June 18 around 10:30 PM, minutes before her 24th birthday. Kento was seen waiting for her to arrive. Around 11:20 PM, the two left Suzu’s condo separately, and headed for a parking lot, where they got into a luxury card together, with Kento at the wheel. Around 12:20 AM, the two returned to Suzu’s home. According to an entertainment industry official, Suzu recently moved into her current condo and has still yet to fully unpack. Her inviting of Kento over to her still unfinished home shows their level of closeness. The couple starred together in the live action version of “Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso” in 2016. The entertainment industry official continues, saying that the two were friendly during filming and it was rumored that they were dating, a common rumor when a man and woman are filming together. When filming finished, it was reported that the two were both ...