Mei Nagano's reported two-timing could impact commercial endorsements
TOKYO (TR) – This week, tabloid Shukan Bunshun reported that popular actress Mei Nagano is not only dating Korean actor Kim Mu-jun but also involved in an affair with former co-star Kei Tanaka.
Nagano, 25, is currently one of Japan's most in-demand talents for commercial endorsements due to her perceived clean image. But evening tabloid Nikkan Gendai suggests that her revealed carnivorous ways will impede such prospects in the future.
In revealing her relationship with Tanaka, who is 15 years her senior and married with two children, a reporter for Bunshun found Nagano inviting an apparently drunk Tanaka into her apartment in Minato Ward late at night on April 19.
The pair met when they co-starred in the film 'And the Baton Was Passed' in 2021. Their roles were of father and daughter.
'Some people commented that they were like a real father and daughter, though they were not related by blood,' a film reporter tells Gendai . 'The depiction of a family bond that goes beyond blood ties brought tears to many audience members. Although it was known that they got along well [during the filming], she was caught crossing the line by becoming involved with the 'father.' So the difference is huge. Fans of the movie are expressing their dismay via comments on the internet.'
In fact, this was not the first time that she had invited Tanaka to her home. By October of last year, they had already become so close that she had given him a spare key.
That's not all. Nagano plays the heroine in the TBS drama series 'Caster' alongside 26-year-old Kim. Apparently, she spent the night with the Korean actor the day before inviting Tanaka to her home.
'If she was playing around with an older actor and cheating on [Kim], that's going to damage her clean image,' an ad agency source says. 'If this is her true nature, her sponsors will be shocked.'
Mei Nagano (X) 'We are checking the facts'
The big problem will be the huge compensation that might need to be paid as a result. Nagano has 11 commercial contracts. And they are all with big, well-known companies, like Suntory Holdings Limited, NTT Docomo, Inc., JCB Co., Ltd. and Kao Corporation.
'We are checking the facts,' a representative of Kao, which sponsors 'Caster,' told Gendai regarding the reports.
'At this point, no official announcement has been made by any company, but Nagano may be charged more than 100 million yen in penalty fees for each commercial,' the aforementioned ad agency source assures. 'Based on similar cases in the past, such as those involving Masahiro Higashide and Becky, the penalty fee for each commercial is often two to three times the contract fee.'
When contacted, Stardust Promotion, which represents Nagano, denied the allegations. 'Tanaka and Kim Mu-jun are senior performers and colleagues. There is no truth to the fact that they are dating,' the agency said. 'However, we have sternly told Nagano to be aware that her actions have led to misunderstandings. We also deeply apologize for the great concern and inconvenience caused by this report to all those involved, the clients and staff involved in advertising and productions, and the fans who support her.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yomiuri Shimbun
26-05-2025
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Song Written by Japanese POW in Mongolia Transcribed to Sheet Music for First Time
The Yomiuri Shimbun Toshiyuki Tanaka, left, sings 'Toraware no tabibito' in Gyoda, Saitama Prefecture, on March 7. A song created by Japanese prisoners of war interned in Mongolia following the end of World War II has been transcribed to sheet music by a singer in Saitama Prefecture. The singer, Toshiyuki Tanaka, made the transcription at the request of the internees' bereaved families. The transcription is a precious document of the internment in Mongolia. The families are hoping that it will become a symbol of friendship between Japan and Mongolia. The Yomiuri Shimbun The completed sheet music of 'Toraware no tabibito' Gin no koya o kyo mo yuku Rakuda no mure wa oraka ni (We go to the silver wilderness again today A herd of camels look easygoing) Thus starts the song, 'Toraware no tabibito' (Travelers in captivity). In February, the song was performed at a recital in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, by Tanaka, 68. He sang in his deep baritone voice while accompanied by pensive piano-playing in front of an audience of about 40 people. 'I began to be overwhelmed by the sentiments of the internees,' said a teary 62-year-old woman who listened intently to the performance. The catalyst for the transcription came in autumn 2017, when Kobe-based former internee Masao Tomohiro, 100, sang the song at a meeting of a group comprised of former Mongolia internees and their families. Fusae Suzuki, 88, from Tokyo, who lost her father in Mongolia, was at the meeting that day. Suzuki thought she must do something to pass the song down for posterity. Her determination grew stronger when the group dissolved due mainly to the members' aging. The Yomiuri Shimbun Fusae Suzuki Last August, she asked for help from Tanaka, whom she met at a private study group. Through listening to a video recording of Tomohiro's singing, Tanaka transcribed the song note by note, completing the melody in February. Sakura ka kiku ka aoba ka to Kaeritsuku hi no yorokobi o Katatta tomo wa sudeni naku Ihatsu mo koru ro no yoru (Cherry blossoms, chrysanthemums or green leaves The joy of returning home A friend who spoke about it is already gone The hair he left freezes at night in jail) The song's lyrics describe the severity of internment and the homesickness of the internees. Suzuki's father, Jun Arai, who lived in Manchuria (in northeastern China) as a trade company employee, was conscripted into the army shortly before the end of the war. As soon as the war ended, he was forcibly sent to Mongolia. He died about six months before internees were allowed to return to Japan. 'I think the only thing that helped him hang on was his longing for home,' she said about her father's suffering. Internment in Mongolia Most of the approximately 575,000 Japanese prisoners of war in the Soviet Union during World War II were sent to Siberia. However, about 14,000 of them were taken to Mongolia, which was fighting in the war against Japan alongside the Soviet Union. The prisoners of war were forced to do construction work for the Mongolian government building, a state university and other structures in Ulaanbaatar. About 1,700 of the internees are believed to have died due to severe cold and hard labor. A supplement of 'Horyo Taikenki 1' — the first volume of a record of the internment in Siberia and Mongolia published in Japan in 1998 — states the names of the lyricist and the composer of the song. Although it cannot be definitely confirmed, their names' characters were likely read as Toshie Yamada and Ryoichi (or Yoshikazu) Takahashi, respectively. Yamada was a medical officer, and Takahashi was a graduate of a music college, according to journalist Hirohiko Ide, 69, a former Yomiuri Shimbun staff writer who has reported on the internment in Mongolia. Other details about the song remain unknown, however, and no sheet music has been discovered. Unlike the cases in Siberia, where there were many internees, there are hardly any records about the songs written during the internment of Japanese in Mongolia. Of the 252 songs recorded in the 1998 book, only five are about internment in Mongolia. 'I suspect 'Toraware no tabibito' is the only song that has been transcribed,' Ide said. While the internees focused on their days of hardship and pain in the songs, they also found some peace of mind. The Yomiuri Shimbun Masao Saito Masao Saito, 99, who now lives in Sapporo, was one of the internees. The severe cold would freeze even their eyelashes. At night, they had to endure icy cold and hunger in the drafty camps. 'We didn't have anything to enjoy, so we eased our souls with the songs,' he recalled. The score for 'Toraware no tabibito' ends optimistically with the piano accompaniment ending in a major key. '[It's] because I want this song to help nurture friendship and peace between the two countries,' Tanaka said. In July, the Emperor and the Empress will make an official visit to Mongolia. A visit to a memorial monument for the Japanese internees during the trip is under consideration. 'I hope many people will learn about the hardships of the internment as well as the fact that Japanese were involved in the modernization of Mongolia,' Suzuki said. 1,522 internees identified Starting in 1991, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry started receiving lists from Mongolia of the names of internees who died in captivity. The ministry is working on identifying the internees through the lists as well as relevant Japanese documents. So far 1,522 internees have been identified. Meanwhile, the recovery of the internees' remains in Mongolia started in 1994 and more or less ended in 1999. The possible resumption of the bone collection work will be discussed if there is new information about a burial place of the deceased internees. The government used to organize memorial trips to Mongolia for members of bereaved families, but a trip has not taken place since 2019 due to the decline in the number of participants, among other reasons.
Japan Today
24-05-2025
- Japan Today
Hugh Mangum's book of barbecue recipes brings international flair to the grill
This combination photo shows cookbook author Hugh Mangum and the cover of his book "Barbecue: Smoked & Grilled Recipes From Across the Globe." By ALBERT STUMM When Hugh Mangum was growing up in Los Angeles, his Texan father showed off his barbecue skills in their backyard nearly every weekend. It became a ritual for the family to patiently tend to the fire. After his father's death more than 20 years ago, Mangum carried on the tradition, first experimenting with a little smoker after he moved to Bucks County, Pennsylvania. 'Whenever I start a fire, there's just this kind of presence,' he said. 'I feel it in the soul of my belly, my heart, like he's there.' Now he is more steeped than ever in the barbecue world, with in-laws from barbecue-loving North Carolina and a 7,000-pound smoker. Not to mention his nine locations of Mighty Quinn's barbecue restaurants in the New York area, plus franchises in Florida and Maryland. His father's recipes formed the base of the menu at Mighty Quinn's and now of Mangum's new book, 'Barbecue: Smoked & Grilled Recipes From Across the Globe.' Where the book differs from the restaurants is its international outlook, and that was inspired by his father too. The elder Mangum had traveled the world for work, bringing back influences from Peru, Japan, Spain and elsewhere. 'He so celebrated food all over the world, ' Mangum said. 'So, I think that there was a seed planted.' In the book, the seed translates into using a meat grinder for homemade sausages spiced as they are in Bulgaria, Panama or Alsace, France. Or making skewers in the style of the Philippines, Bali, Lebanon or Croatia, for starters. Short ribs can be simply smoked with only salt and black pepper. Or other recipes call for grilling and slathering ribs with Colombian chimichurri or marinating them in Korean seasonings and serving the meat in lettuce wraps. He calls beef brisket the 'holy grail of Texas barbecue but also the most daunting cut of meat to smoke.' It requires 12 hours of consistently tending the fire, but he promises incredibly juicy meat 'with a bark that is equal parts smoky and salty with a hint of sweetness.' For beginners, Mangum recommended smoking chicken, starting with wings to get used to a new smoker before trying a half chicken. Despite all the variations on grilled red meat in the book, he said one of his favorite recipes is gai yang, whole grilled chicken from northeastern Thailand. Marinated for 12 hours with a puree of lemongrass, garlic, fish sauce, turmeric and more, the chicken is grilled first on the cool side of the grill skin side up. Just before it finishes cooking, he flips it over the high heat to crisp the skin. Served with two dipping sauces, it's smoky and lightly charred, and bursting with flavor. 'It's this incredibly flavorful, bombastic version of chicken that people will be like, 'Holy crap,'' he said. 'It's just so good.' From 'Barbecue: Smoked & Grilled Recipes From Across the Globe,' by Hugh Mangum Preparation time: 20 minutes, plus overnight marinating and at least 1 hour standing Cooking time: 50 minutes Serves: 4-6 Ingredients For the marinated chicken: 8 cloves garlic, minced 2 shallots, chopped 1 stalk lemongrass, outer leaves removed and chopped ½ cup (25 grams) cilantro (coriander) with stems, chopped 4 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 teaspoons sweet soy sauce or dark soy sauce 2 teaspoons fish sauce 2 tablespoons palm sugar or light brown sugar 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper ½ teaspoon ground turmeric 1 (2–3-kg) chicken, butterflied For the dipping sauce (Nam Jim Jaew): 1 tablespoon palm sugar or light brown sugar 2 tablespoons fish sauce 1 tablespoon tamarind paste 1 tablespoon toasted sticky rice (kao khua), ground (optional) 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro 1 tablespoon chopped scallions 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes For serving: Sticky rice Lime wedges Directions For the chicken: In a food processor, combine the garlic, shallots, lemongrass and cilantro and blend to a paste. Add the remaining ingredients except the chicken and blend well. Rub the marinade over the chicken. Cover and refrigerate overnight or, preferably, 12 hours. For the dipping sauce: Combine the sugar and 1 tablespoon hot water in a large bowl and stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the remaining ingredients; set aside. One to 2 hours before cooking, bring the chicken to room temperature. Preheat a grill to high for indirect grilling (hot coals grouped on on side, or just half the burners turned on a gas grill). Place the chicken, skin side up, on the cooler side and cook for 45 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the breast reaches 140°F (use a meat thermometer). Flip the chicken and place it on the hot side of the grill. Cook for another 3 minutes, until the skin is crispy. Set aside to rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Serve warm with sticky rice, the dipping sauce and lime. Albert Stumm lives in Barcelona and writes about food, travel and wellness. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Japan Times
21-05-2025
- Japan Times
‘Crosspoint' can't quite find its target
Japan isn't known for being friendly to foreign film productions: Even big-budget Hollywood projects with Japan-centric stories are often shot elsewhere due to red tape, among other reasons. Donie Ordiales, a Filipino director and long-time resident in Japan, nonetheless found the ways and means to film his patchily plotted thriller 'Crosspoint' here and release it in the Philippines late last year. The film was a box-office hit, with the casting of local TV star Carlo Aquino drawing fans. The story — a washed-up Filipino actor and a broke Japanese businessman team up to capture a creepy serial killer — would seem to lend itself to buddy-movie comedy, but everyone plays it totally straight to occasionally ludicrous effect. Aquino is Manuel Hidalgo, an actor who was once big in the 1990s but is now hard up for roles and in need of money for the medical bills of his pregnant wife. (Given his boyish looks, he must have been barely out of the cradle when he first rose to stardom a quarter century ago.) Arriving in Japan, Manuel finds employment as a singer in a Filipino club where his Japanese audience is unaware of his one-time fame. Facing deportation because he is not working with a proper visa, he journeys to a small pub in rural Nagano Prefecture but finds it locked and its Pinoy proprietor nowhere to be found. She is, we already know, dead inside the pub at the hands of a killer (Sho Ikushima), whom Manuel catches a glimpse of as he skulks away. The actor has no idea, however, that this stranger is responsible for the crime. Later that night, without money for a hotel, he seeks shelter in an izakaya (Japanese pub), where he strikes up a conversation with a businessman, Shigeru Yamaguchi ('Shogun' star Takehiro Hira). Fluent in English, Shigeru commiserates with Manuel's problems and confesses his own: His business is bankrupt and he is deep in debt. Then, Manuel catches a glimpse of a news broadcast about a local murder and realizes he has seen the suspect. Hearing this, Shigeru has a light bulb moment and suggests he and Manuel team up to catch the killer and claim the substantial reward. Seeing this, rightly, as a harebrained idea, Manuel suggests that they go to the cops instead. But Shigeru is both persistent and persuasive and they embark on their big adventure, the trembly Manuel armed with a baseball bat and the grimly determined Shigeru with a bow and arrows. We're told he's an expert archer, but seeing these two flailing through the woods in the dark, I couldn't help but think of Harry and Lloyd, the bumbling duo from the classic Farrelly brothers' comedy 'Dumb and Dumber.' When the heroes encounter the killer, the ensuing action scenes generate a dark, chaotic impact, if with the obvious assistance of stunt actors and quick cuts that blur who is doing what to whom. Action aside, the film is realistic about both the vagaries of show business in the Philippines and the hardscrabble lives many Filipino entertainers lead in Japan, where clubs run by their compatriots often close without warning, leaving their hapless employees in the lurch. But the story drags in plot developments, such as Shigeru's opposition to the singing career of his talented daughter Mayuko (Kei Kurosawa), reminiscent of a standard-issue family melodrama. For all its entertaining and insightful moments, 'Crosspoint' is finally at cross purposes to itself.
