Will the day come when all the members of “Gaki no Tsukasa” will appear together? Photo taken on location in 2018 (Photo by Osamu Ito)
“It’s baseless, so I’ll fight.”
It’s been about three weeks since Downtown’s Hitoshi Matsumoto made a “declaration of war” on X. The battleground shifted to the judiciary.
“On January 22nd, Hitoshi Matsumoto filed a lawsuit for 550 million yen in response to a series of sexual assault reports in Weekly Bunshun. For Matsumoto, this will be a legal case that will put the life of his talent on the line.” entertainment reporter )
[Erthygl gysylltiedig: Pam y cynghorodd Hiroyuki Ariyoshi ei blant, “Peidiwch â mynd i barti Kon Arimura”]
About 42 years have passed since I went to NSC Osaka School in 1982 as a first year student with Masatoshi Hamada. Matsumoto has continued to reign supreme over Yoshimoto, both in name and reality. Naturally, one would think that Yoshimoto Kogyo would have strong support for the cause, but a Yoshimoto Kogyo official said in a low voice, “Mr. Matsumoto may be stabbed in the back.”
“Mr. Matsumoto’s attorney is Masahiro Tashiro, a former member of the Special Investigations Department of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office, and is not the legal advisor contracted by Yoshimoto Kogyo. In fact, there is a possibility that Yoshimoto Kogyo will sue Hitoshi Matsumoto for compensation. There is already a deep rift between the two…” (ibid.)
Matsumoto announced a break from January 8th in order to focus on the trial. In addition to seven regular films, he has appeared in numerous commercials. Including penalties and other fees, the damages are said to reach several billion yen.
“TV stations and advertising agencies have contracts with Yoshimoto Kogyo, so they will ask the company to pay penalties, etc. big deal for the relationship to become so strained that it becomes a legal case…” (Entertainment reporter)
What happened between Matsumoto and Yoshimoto Kogyo? The beginnings of “relationship in decline” date back to the debut of Downtown. The key man is Yoshimoto’s former chairman, Hiroshi Osaki, the man who was called “the emperor.”
“After graduating from the NSC, Mr. Osaki the smoldering central district in Osaka and bought himself a manager, calmed down the two men who were fighting to the point of breaking up, and his popularity became a stepping stone. He promoted Downtown by serving as the producer of the program “4 Oki desu Yoda” (Mainichi Broadcasting). He was a true benefactor to Mr. Matsumoto. ‘ (executive Yoshimoto Kogyo).
However, Mr Osaki resigned as chairman of Yoshimoto Kogyo Holdings in April 2023 to become co-chairman of the Osaka-Kansai Expo Event Review Committee.”
“The current head of Yoshimoto Kogyo Holdings is President Akihiko Okamoto. President Okamoto also has experience as the manager of Downtown, starting in 1993. At that time, “Downtown no Gottsue Feel” (Fuji TV) was being broadcast . Matsumoto was already a great seller. The relationship meant that Mr. Matsumoto makes Mr. Okamoto an errand boy and says, “Go buy cigarettes.”Furthermore, he would say, “You’re a city kid. Don’t laugh!” Some of the current management team includes former Downtown managers, such as Mr. Hiroshi Fujiwara, known for “Don’t Do” (Nippon Television Network) , currently serving as sub -president of Yoshimoto Kogyo, a subsidiary of Yoshimoto Kogyo.Therefore, Mr. Matsumoto is clearly at the top of the hierarchy. The management team has no choice but to listen to what they are told.” (ibid. )
Matsumoto’s “management negligence” was evident even in the case of the underground sales scandal centered on Hiroyuki Miyasako, discovered in 2019.
“Mr Matsumoto reportedly complained to Chairman Osaki about President Okamoto, who was in question at the press conference, saying, “Okamoto, are you okay with that?” It is not something I have built up in my heart. . Matsumoto has a lump on his eye.” (ibid.)
And now, with the recent reports of sexual assault, a definite rift is appearing. Following the “groundless” statement at the beginning, Matsumoto’s statement to appear on “Wide Na Show” (Fuji TV) was “runaway” on Matsumoto’s part, ignoring the management team’s intentions.
“President Okamoto was amazed. The subsequent closure and lawsuits were also at the discretion of Mr. Matsumoto. This is the first time this has happened since Yoshimoto started. Yasushi Yokoyama, Shinsuke Shimada, Deputy Manager of Kawamoto, and many others have been part of the Bu scandal related to a related comedian, but the company has decided how to deal with it. First of all, we take the person on a pilgrimage to the relevant places to apologize. If the talent files a lawsuit or becomes a defendant, Yoshimoto Get a lawyer Then, work together to find a medium to long term return plan. This is the original situation. This time, the person who handles Mr. Matsumoto behind the scenes is Osaki’s former Chairman. , “Let’s go to court, you don’t have to listen to what Yoshimoto has to say.” even a lawyer.” (Official Yoshimoto Kogyo mentioned above). )
In fact, on January 24th, Yoshimoto Kogyo announced that the article “recognizes that this is an issue that should be dealt with seriously.” Immediately after the report, he retracted his comment, saying, “There is no truth to the matter.” In other words, it was a complete change in stance from endorsing Matsumoto’s claims.
Is it true that there is a conflict between Matsumoto and the management team? Yoshimoto Kogyo was contacted, but did not receive a response by deadline. Meanwhile, when I called former Chairman Osaki to confirm his “instructions” to Matsumoto, he responded by text, “Excuse me this time.”
Matsumoto parted ways not only with the company, but also with younger comedians Yoshimoto Kogyo.
“Among the comedians known as the “Matsumoto Corps,” there is no movement to save Matsumoto. On the other hand, young comedians I don’t know say, “She’s disgusting.” still on television, but who want to hone their comedy skills in theaters and at the awards show. After all, Mr Matsumoto is a “person from the past” (same as before)
The struggle begins with a “feeling of feeling alone”.
(FLASH weekly edition February 13, 2024)
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