TV and Newspaper “Discovery of the Major Media” that “Miyaneya” does not do “independent reporting” even though “Miyaneya” is exhilarated by the coverage of Hitoshi Matsumoto.

The media is in a state of confusion over “Downtown” star Matsumoto Hitoshi.

Late last year, “Weekly Bunshun” reported allegations of sexual coercion by Matsumoto. Matsumoto immediately declared legal action and filed a lawsuit against Bungei Shunju, the publisher of Bunshun, and others, seeking 550 million yen in damages. Matsumoto himself suspended his entertainment activities on January 8 to concentrate on the trial.

Mr. Matsumoto has virtually disappeared from the TV industry. The TV stations were in an uproar when he went on hiatus, but they are finally getting back to normal mode now that a replacement comedian and future programming have been finalized.

The first oral argument in the Matsumoto vs. Bunshun case is scheduled for March 28 at the Tokyo District Court.

However, in terms of excitement, it is not so good. Television and newspapers are only reporting what they can, leaving it up to the lawyers and commentators to make an assessment of the trial.

The only program that is showing some interest is “Information Live Miyaneya” (Nippon Television Network Corporation), which on its broadcast on March 15 featured the latest issue of Bunshun, and the following is an excerpt from the program

The article reports on Matsumoto’s relationships with women up to the time he became successful, using testimony from more than 40 years ago.

The article’s gist was as follows. The first was “not telling women that the drinking party was in a hotel room until just before the party,” the second was “not informing women that Matsumoto would be attending,” and the third was “confiscating cell phones or using them during the drinking party. The fourth itemized the following: “At the end of the party, some kind of ‘game’ will be played and one woman will be left in the bedroom while the other participants leave.