From left: Kurara Chibana, SHELLY, Misako Konno and Yoon Sang Hyeon

Kurara Chibana to re-learn French on NHK

Wednesday 03rd February, 01:00 PM JST

TOKYO —

Kurara Chibana, 27,, who was 2006 Miss Universe first runner-up, will star in one of national broadcaster NHK’s new language programs to start in spring, with the beauty to brush up her French skills while hosting “Terebi de furansugo.”

Chibana said that she had plenty of opportunities to use English in recent years, and she would now like to improve her French. She said she had spent nine months in France during her university days but that she had forgotten most of what she learned, so she would like to start from scratch along with viewers. The program will air at midnight on Wednesdays starting March 31.

Chibana was joined on stage by model and TV host SHELLY, 25, actress Misako Konno, 49, and actor Yoon Sang Hyeon, 36, at NHK studios in Shibuya to announce in total about 20 new language programs.

Konno will host a program that introduces famous quotes in English, which will air on Monday nights at 11.10 p.m. Konno said that not being able to speak English had been the bane of her life, and that she considered the show her last chance to improve her ability.

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Latest 15 of 31 Total Comments Show All

animallover at 09:29 PM JST - 3rd February

Bonne chance Kurara!!!
Pukey2 at 09:48 PM JST - 3rd February

Here are a few French phrases to get Chibana started:

Comme ca ism (cedilla optional)

Vie de France (real French bread optional)

Konno will host a program that introduces famous quotes in English

No more Obama quotes, PLEASE!

Chibana was joined on stage by model and TV host SHELLY, 25

Aren't small letters good enough for SHELLY? Would she like an exclamation mark or a ♪ with that?

With the exception of the Chinese and Arabic programmes, I have never seen any of the programmes with a native speaker as the teacher. It's as if the Japanese viewers have to be put at ease with a Japanese teacher.
Cliffy at 09:54 PM JST - 3rd February

Nine months in France is not going to help much unless you keep using it afterward especially in French when everything has masculine and feminine.
Sarge at 09:59 PM JST - 3rd February

Kurara Chibana is a total babe with brains.
marushka at 09:59 PM JST - 3rd February

Cliffy: well, nine month in France are enough to get a good basis in order to use it in further. All depends on wiliness to learn.
XXXXX at 01:39 AM JST - 4th February

well if you know the basics of the languages being taught on tv, it can be fun. I don't know, I haven't watched much tv lately, but these programs are not meant to substitute real language classes, obviously. Some funny ppl appear on them (both J and foreign)and maybe they don't put very proficient Japanese on purpose, to not discourage beginners. For what it's worth...
jerseyboy at 10:04 AM JST - 4th February

Apsara -- thanks for stating the obvious. I know what "de" is in Japanese. What I was referring to was its silly use here in Japan in many names of shops, restaurants, etc. to give it a phony French sound -- like "Salon de Nails". But, I guess you missed that.
fleetwood77 at 11:44 AM JST - 4th February

Je t'aime
LoveUSA at 02:05 PM JST - 4th February

only italian i worth watching
bdaniel08 at 08:00 AM JST - 5th February

Cliffy especially in French when everything has masculine and feminine.

Only noun Cliffy !
Rugbyfan at 10:36 AM JST - 5th February

Kurara is beautiful but I don't believe her vital statistics on "Wikipedia" as 90cm - 60cm - 90cm!!!!
Goya-Champuru at 11:36 AM JST - 5th February

Kurara is the perfect woman. Churasaaaan!
apecNetworks at 11:38 AM JST - 5th February

I've always thought that if Kurara Chibana had a more pronounced cleavage, she would be more attractive for movies given her fame. Look where cleavage helped the Kano Sisters to international notoriety. Implants?

However, I read somewhere she would like to go into politics - a stunning body is almost a political dead end.
kirakira25 at 12:07 PM JST - 5th February

You know, I am all for trashing brainless tarento`s, but Kurara Chibana is DEFINITELY not one of those! I believe (correct me if I am wrong) that she went to Sophia Daigaku - a pretty high-grade university, plays piano, and speaks 3 or 4 languages. She is (IMHO)beautiful, accomplished, and absolutely the role model I would select for my own daughter any day above the other idiots on TV here. Hell, I would select her as a role model for Japan itself in an instant.

Every time I hear her speak or read an interview with her she has intelligent, educated opinions on things she knows about, and also seems to know when to admit she is not an expert on something - sadly lacking with many "tarentos". I for one would be delighted to see more of her on TV.
techall at 12:26 PM JST - 5th February

Hey Pukey,

I've known Shelly Eilers almost her entire live. Her dad (a retierd U.S. Navy Master Chief) is an old friend and golfing buddy. If a producetion company was going to pay me what they pay her, they can spell my name anyway they want.