RIZIN representative blackmailed with voice data: “We will support you if you pay us 5 million yen”… “The true faces and reputations of the two suspects”.

Mr. Sakakibara, a victim of extortion, said, “I have audio data that should not be released to the public. We have been asked to spread its contents to the press.”

The two suspects allegedly threatened Nobuyuki Sakakibara, 59, the president of Dream Factory Worldwide, which operates the mixed martial arts organization RIZIN, at a restaurant in Tokyo. The two allegedly conspired to defraud him of the money.

On January 16, a joint task force of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Anti-Gang Division arrested Shota Suzuki, 34, of Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, and Hajime Minegishi, 59, of Suginami Ward, Tokyo, on suspicion of extortion. Between January and February last year, the suspects allegedly threatened Sakakibara and took 5 million yen in cash.

The trouble was triggered by a report in a weekly magazine. It caused such a stir that Fuji Television, which was scheduled to broadcast the “RIZIN” matches live last June, canceled the live broadcast.

Last April, Sakakibara consulted the Metropolitan Police Department about the threats he was receiving from the suspects. The Minegishi suspects told the police that they were only asked by an acquaintance and that they did not intend to blackmail him. The Suzuki suspect denied committing the crime, saying, “I just gave the money I received to the Minegishi suspect.

The two suspects were engaged in their own activities. The Minegishi suspect opened his own video channel. He was uploading revealing stories from his past jobs, such as corruption related to the Tokyo Olympics and behind-the-scenes of martial arts fights.

The suspect was an executive of a media company called Chuo Seikai-sha. It is a newspaper that reports on political and economic stories that are not reported by the major mass media. It not only publishes periodicals, but also engages in real estate sales and leasing,” said a reporter from the social affairs department of a national newspaper.

RIZIN” has realized many big matches for famous fighters such as Mayweather, Tenshin Nasukawa, and Takeru. The problems surrounding anti-sha may continue to linger in the future.