Speculating on Hitoshi Matsumoto’s Return: Osaka TV Stations Dare to Make Ambiguous Comments Amid Scandal

I would like to ask Yoshimoto Kogyo and Mr. Matsumoto Hitoshi if they are communicating with each other properly.

On January 21, Aika Kanda, who regularly appears on “Wide Nah Show” (Fuji Television Network), sharply questioned commentator Koji Imada, who was sitting next to her. In response, Imada said, “We don’t know that either,

I wonder if they are communicating with each other. 

On the January 14 broadcast of Akko ni Omakase (TBS), Akiko Wada, a celebrity affiliated with HORIPRO, apologized for Kazutaka Ozawa of Speed Wagon, an affiliate of HORIPRO. Matsumoto and Masahiro Nakai’s crown program, “Matsumoto to Nakai” (Fuji TV), was announced on January 21 that Nakai will be in charge of the program alone from the next episode onward. 7 TV stations in Tokyo are still floundering due to Matsumoto’s absence, who has 7 regular programs, but even more chaotic are those in Osaka.

 

In fact, many of the regular programs featuring Hitoshi Matsumoto are on national networks produced by local stations in Osaka. It is said that it is the TV stations in Osaka, which have a strong relationship with Yoshimoto Kogyo, that are in serious trouble, including the future of the show.

Speaking of TV stations in Osaka, entertainment reporter Kaoru Shimada’s comments on ABC TV’s “News Welcome” broadcast on January 12 became a major topic of conversation.

 

He said, “There are no facts” but there was some wavering as to what he meant by that. There was a part of me that wondered if there was really no drinking session or anything, and whether it was really factual or not, but I confirmed this with the office, and they said that there was a drinking session itself. And it also seems that such behavior also took place.

Confirmed this with the office, and they said that there was a drinking session. It doesn’t mean that he did anything by force, so I think that will be the subject of discussion in the future in court.”

It was not forced, but with so-called consent.I pointed this out. ABC Television (Asahi Broadcasting Corporation Television) updated its official website by January 14. Regarding the contents of Mr. Shimada’s comment,

The company reported, We have not been able to confirm that Mr. Shimada’s comment is true at this time.

Asahi TV had to thoroughly confirm the contents of Mr. Shimada’s comment before broadcasting such a sensitive matter, but at this point we have not received any confirmation that what we have reported is true. Asahi Broadcasting Corporation will do its utmost to ensure that its reports are accurate and sincere.

The statement went on to say, We were not comfortable with the sequence of events.

 

We are committed to reporting with even greater accuracy and sincerity, he added. Today, there are fewer entertainment reporters appearing in wide shows and news programs produced by Tokyo TV stations, but local programs have an entertainment corner every day, and it is the entertainment reporters who are in charge of this corner. Of course, the director participates in the selection and composition of the stories, and the final judgment is made by the program producer.

It is not known who Shimada interviewed at Yoshimoto, but it is hard to imagine it was a low-level employee. It is not possible for a single reporter to make a comment on such a sensitive matter. The fact that the program made such a comment suggests either a warning from Yoshimoto Kogyo or a discovery by the station’s upper management.

 

Speaking of ABC, it produces the “M-1 Grand Prix” and Matsumoto is the head of the judging committee. Furthermore, “Detective, Night Scoop,” for which Matsumoto serves as director of the program, is also produced by ABC Television. It is not surprising that a discovery might have been made.

Even more problematic is a comment made by Yoshimitsu Ohashi, president of Yomiuri Television.

At a press conference held on January 17, he commented that if Matsumoto and the woman who had accused him in the “Weekly Bunshun” were to confront each other in a news program, the show could go on the air right now, which naturally caused a firestorm.

At a press conference held on January 17, he commented that if Matsumoto and the woman who had accused him in the “Weekly Bunshun” were to confront each other in a news program, the show could go on the air right now, which naturally caused a firestorm.

Downtown DX is one of the few nationally broadcast programs produced by the station, so it is understandable that the president has strong feelings about it. However, it is undeniable that his comments were out of step with the current trends of the day.

There have been criticisms such as, “Is it enough if it gets ratings? On the other hand, among us TV people, it has become a popular topic of conversation that the inseparable relationship between the TV stations in Osaka, Yoshimoto Kogyo, and Mr. Matsumoto is being expressed.

 

Why would they all make such ambiguous statements?

There is no possibility that Mr. Matsumoto, who has taken a stance to fight against the media including the “Weekly Bunshun,” will sue the TV program. In case Mr. Matsumoto returns to the field sooner than expected, they may want to show that our station believed in Mr. Matsumoto and waited for him.

That said, there is a risk of digging a grave if they speak in Ms. Matsumoto’s favor, so all stations are likely to use such ambiguous phrases. The relationship between local TV stations in Osaka and Yoshimoto is deeper than that between Tokyo TV stations and the former Johnny’s. (Staff member of a local TV station)

 

On January 22, at the Asahi Broadcasting Corporation Group’s New Year president’s press conference, Shinya Yamamoto, president of ABC, said there may be pros and cons from viewers,  but it’s not like we’re getting a huge number of viewers. The trial has not even started.We need to consider the response while looking at the situation.

For several decades, the programs have been impossible without Matsumoto and  Yoshimoto Kogyo. These circumstances are seriously shaking up TV stations in Osaka.