Matsumoto Hitoshi’s BPO Complaint as a Form of Subtle Pressure on TV Networks

On July 31, Nikkan Gendai Digital reported that Hitoshi Matsumoto of the comedy duo “Downtown” had finally decided to file a complaint with the Broadcasting Ethics and Program Improvement Organization (BPO).

Matsumoto has a case pending against Bungei Shunju, the publisher of the weekly Bunshun, which reported the “sexual assault allegations. The battle between the two parties has taken a bizarre turn, as it was discovered that Matsumoto’s attorney, Masahiro Tashiro, had used a detective agency to conduct a background check on Ako, who had accused him of sexual assault.

In January of this year, Matsumoto suspended his entertainment activities, declaring, “I will fight it because it has no basis in fact. He remained silent for a while, but on July 12, he resumed tweeting on X (formerly Twitter).

Matsumoto’s anger was expressed on “Information Live Miyaneya” (Nippon Television Network Corporation), produced by Yomiuri Television.

When Bunshun published the aforementioned tailing of Ms. A and the story of Mr. X (lawyer Nobuo Nakamura), who had been consulted by Ms. A, the program devoted time to a feature story. The content of the report was “too biased toward the Bunshun side.

Matsumoto’s side sees two problems. The commentator on the program, Dr. Fumie Ohtawa, who is a doctor, said, “I’m going to use every trick in the book to get the Ako anyway.

Fumie Ohtawa, a doctor and commentator on the program, said, “I can clearly see that they are using every possible means to get Ms. A to give up her court appearance.

The other point is that “a major publishing company is trying to get Ms. A to give up her court appearance. Another comment was made by Kohei Nishiyama, an announcer appearing on behalf of Seiji Miyane, about the exchange between Mr. X and a “former editor-in-chief of a women’s weekly magazine at a major publishing company.

Kohei Nishiyama, an announcer appearing on behalf of Seiji Miyane, said, “Well, there is a recording, isn’t there, now?

and announcer Jitsuho Sawaguchi said, “It depends on the article.

“It only depends on the article.”

The recording was not mentioned in the Bunshun article. The TV station demanded a correction and declared that it would file a complaint with the BPO if necessary, claiming that the recording might mislead viewers even though it was not mentioned in the Bunshun article.

In response, Yozo Matsuda, president of Yomiuri Television, which produces “Miyaneya,” said at a regular press conference

I have read the contents of the protest letter, and I think there is a misunderstanding about the facts. I have decided that there is no need to correct it.

He also commented, “The station has long been a leader in the “Downtown D” business. The station has produced “Downtown DX” for many years, but has not lost its bullish stance.

Comparing what Tashiro’s lawyer claims with what was actually broadcast, Tashiro’s side of the story seems a bit aggressive. As to whether or not there was a recording, based on the flow of the conversation back and forth, he is not asserting that there was a recording, but rather saying, ‘Well, there is a recording, isn’t there?　If it were now, right?’ I get the impression that he is stating this with a question mark.

The BPO is not sure what to make of this. I wonder what the BPO will make of this ……” (sports newspaper reporter).

The program has pursued the issue of the former Unification Church and has received fierce protests from the denomination. According to a TV station official

According to a TV station official, “Miyaneya has always been an easy target among afternoon wide show programs. The staff is very careful about what they can prepare in advance, taking into account the risk of lawsuits. They are accustomed to temporary flames, and the staff does not seem to have been moved by the current incident.

The staff is used to temporary flames, and they do not seem to have been moved by the current incident.

It is also possible that the staff was trying to give other stations a hard time by naming “Miyaneya” in the first place.

“Lawyer Tashiro must have been very tense, since he was threatening to file a protest with the BPO over ‘that content. To me, it seemed as if he was saying, ‘I won’t forgive you if you report anything strange. Unfortunately, it is the current TV industry that shrinks away from such things.

When we report on Mr. Matsumoto’s case, it is a safe story that follows the “outer boundaries. The upper management seems to think, “We can’t afford a lawsuit. Well, it must have been a very effective TV countermeasure,” said a person involved in a wide-ranging TV show.

Even if a complaint is filed with the BPO, it remains to be seen whether the matter will be discussed. However, it seems certain that it has served as a certain “deterrent” to the TV industry.