Re: Re: [sumo] {spoiler] cheap Sumo gossip, and other stuff.

["Josh Reyer" <reyer@benchsumo.zzn.com>]

In steps Hananotaka, master of Japanese pop culture of the period 
1998-2001...

Hikaru Kawamura began her career when she was about "16" as what's 
known as a "gravure idol".  This means she would do a number of (non-
nude) pictorials in various weekly magazines and tabloids.  Kawamura 
was also known to be a "bikini idol", which means most of her 
pictorials were obviously in a bikini.  In order to increase her 
fanbase, a gravure idol also puts out "image videos", which are 
basically just like the pictorials only moving.  Also necessary are 
the "shashinshuu", the picture books.  The webpage Jezz found was an 
advertisement for just such a book.  Of course, after a while the 
idol gets a bit older, new blood comes in, and the still pretty young 
idol finds herself trying to make the transition to "tarento", or 
even better, to actress.  So they "retire" from gravure modeling 
(sometimes just the "bikini" part) and appear on a large variety of 
variety shows, trying to increase exposure to the mainstream 
audience.  If all goes well and her face recognition goes up (which 
it did for young Hikaru), then some supporting roles on weekly dramas 
on TV might come her way (dramatic series in Japan always have 
limited runs of 10-12 episodes, with new shows for spring, summer, 
fall, winter).  Then some (typically B) movie opportunities might 
arrive.  If all goes well then she can keep her career going until 
her mid-30s, by which she'll be considered too old by the industry 
and her choices will become quiet retirement to raise a family, or 
doing a nude picture book in order to jump start her flagging career 
(a tactic exemplified by former idol Naomi Kawashima).

At any rate, Hikaru Kawashima seems to be in the midpoint of her 
career: the latest thing she's done is a drama and a regular 
appearance on a show about horse racing, and she hasn't put out a 
picture book since 2001.  No doubt the magazine pictorials are few 
and far between.  Looking at her profile at the website of her talent 
agency (http://www.ki-stepclub.com/artist/h_kawamura.html), it seems 
as if things are slowing down a bit.  Perhaps she is considering 
getting out of the business?

It does not surprise me at all that Chiyotaikai is getting involved 
with a former bikini idol.  I remember him saying a few years back 
how he enjoyed being able to meet all these attractive celebrity 
women.

For what it's worth,
Josh Reyer

---- Begin Original Message ----

From: "Jezz S" <jejima@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tue, 03 Jun 2003 13:26:58 +0000
To: sumo@sun01pt2-1523.statgen.ncsu.edu
Subject: Re: [sumo] {spoiler] cheap Sumo gossip, and other stuff.


Well, a quick search on Google Images finds that Kawamura Hikaru is 
not 
adverse to having her photo taken whilst wearing a bikini.  I think 
she's 
right up there with Asashoryu's sister ;-)

Here is one such web-page of her, with her biog, and some (bikini-
wearing) 
photos.

http://www.shueisha.co.jp/photoalbum/kawamura.html

Anyone up to translating what she says?

Jejima


 From: moti <sumo@dichne.com>
To: "'Sumo mail list'" <sumo@sun01pt2-1523.statgen.ncsu.edu>
Subject: [sumo] {spoiler] cheap Sumo gossip, and other stuff.
Date: Tue, 03 Jun 2003 11:22:12 +0300

Hi!
Non- Yokozuna Chiyotaikai is involved in an affair with TV celebrity 
Kawamura Hikaru.I have no idea who she is, except that she has a 
travel show 
on TV and is currently filming in Bali, Indonesia. Gossip papers say 
he 
stayed at her "mansion" for three nights, and has proposed. Kokonoe 
Oyakata 
denied that, though he acknowledged the relationship. He said he 
asked the 
man himself, who denied . "He has no reason to lie about this. If he 
says 
it's not true, it's not. He has been warned not to say careless (???) 
things". They (Chiyo and Hikaru, not Chiyo and Kokonoe..) have been 
seen 
together playing golf and at the races, which are their mutual 
hobbies, 
other than their "other" mutual hobbies.
The papers are saying that "27 years of age is the right time for him 
to tie 
the knot".
Her staff is also acknowledging the relationship, but won't say 
anymore. 
She's due back on the 6th.

Dejima had surgery on his right knee meniscus. Oyakata said it 
was "light" 
surgery, two weeks to heal, after which, hopefully, he will resume 
keiko. 
Then again, said Oyakata also said Musashimaru will be back in no 
time back 
in the late fifties.

Asashouryuu is in Mongolia visiting family etc., and will return on 
the 7th.

Takanohana did the rounds yesterday thanking other Oyakatas for 
coming to 
his dampatushiki and stuff. He is expected to preside over Futagoyama 
beya's 
keiko this morning. Futagoyama Oyakata has voiced his wish to devote 
more 
time to his other chores in the Kyokai, so my wild guess is that 
Takanohana 
beya will emerge much sooner than expected.

I'm eating an olives and mayonnaise toast for breakfast. 25 degrees C 
and 
heating up at 11:20 am.

Kintamayama
Keeper of a quaint lyrics index
http://got.to/lyrics/

Download my Sumo  glossary for "Babylon" at:
http://info.babylon.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?
layout=results.html&cat=259&sort=s&nc=2&n=10

[EndPost by moti <sumo@dichne.com>]

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[EndPost by "Jezz S" <jejima@hotmail.com>]


---- End Original Message ----




If a first you don't know what to do... henka
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[EndPost by "Josh Reyer" <reyer@benchsumo.zzn.com>]