Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara Spark Local Paparazzi Frenzy in the Japanese Boom, Targeting Japanese

Former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, who has been charged with bank fraud for allegedly stealing over $16 million from Shohei Ohtani’s account, naturally draws significant interest from American media due to his involvement with the superstar. It’s evident from the news coverage in Japan that American media outlets are also swarming around Mizuhara following the developments in this case. 

The “Mizuhara Issue” has turned into a carnival atmosphere, with certain individuals playing a role in spicing up tabloid shows.

It was the paparazzi. They are the ones who follow celebrities to get private shots of them.

It goes without saying, but paparazzi are commonly known as photographers, often freelancers, who stalk and clandestinely photograph celebrities, including Hollywood actors.

“The photos they capture are distributed worldwide through agents. Japanese media frequently purchase these photos and videos taken by paparazzi, using them in magazines and TV programs. Whenever scandals involving Hollywood actors are discussed on tabloid shows, it’s almost guaranteed that photos taken by paparazzi will be used.” (according to a source related to tabloid shows)

In the coverage of Mizuhara’s case this time, many of the shots taken secretly by them were widely used.

“Target the Japanese!”

According to a writer based in America, 

“Recently, with more celebrities and public figures living in America, there’s been an increase in requests for interviews from magazines and TV shows. Since there aren’t always photographers available, we often have to take our own photos. In the past, we used cameras, but now smartphones suffice. With the significant improvement in smartphone camera quality, we can take photos that are comparable to those taken by professional photographers.

However, it’s quite challenging for us to locate and interview celebrities whose whereabouts are unknown. It’s a daunting task to find them in such a vast country like America and stakeout to capture their private moments.”