SMAP Blackout Controversy: The Hidden Story Behind Goro Inagaki’s Image on 13 Assassins Packaging
“In the 2010 film, Goro Inagaki portrayed a heinous daimyo and received widespread acclaim. It is extremely rare for Johnny’s talents to play villains, and even if they do, they are typically portrayed as either noble thieves or redeemable characters. Inagaki was the first to take on a role as a purely irredeemable villain.
Moreover, his character’s demise, which involves having his head severed and rolling into a latrine, concluded the film in a scene that seemed to elicit screams from his fans. The intensity of his performance was so extreme that even those outside Johnny’s fandom questioned if it was acceptable. Inagaki’s acting skills received a significant boost in reputation as a result.” (film magazine editor)
The film was released on DVD a year later, with a cover featuring the main cast, including Inagaki, who appears in a white nightgown with a somewhat possessed expression.
The Blu-ray version was also released and has seen several reprints. Despite this, used copies are still available online, but for some reason, Inagaki’s part is blacked out on major e-commerce sites. When contacted, the distributor, Cedric International Co., Ltd., stated:
“Since the initial release to the present, the design of the package has not changed at all. Inagaki-san’s image remains as it was.”
The distributor responded.
In response to an inquiry made to the major e-commerce site, the site stated.
“We do not process or alter images of products listed by sellers based on our judgement.”
This raises the question of what might be causing the discrepancy.