Insights on Resigned Group and Drug Scandal of Famous Actor X in 2024 First Half Anonymous Entertainment Roundtable

The entertainment industry of 2024 began with the shocking news of Matsumoto Hitoshi (60) of “Downtown,” who has continued to reign at the top of the comedy world, announcing a hiatus. Recently, with a series of big news events, entertainment media have been extremely busy.

A roundtable discussion was held with key station director Mr. A, sports newspaper entertainment desk Mr. B, and veteran entertainment reporter Mr. C. They discussed the behind-the-scenes stories of the tumultuous first half of the year in the entertainment world and what lies ahead.

Following the first part, “Mid-Year 2024 Anonymous Entertainment Roundtable Reveals Matsumoto Hitoshi’s Insights and Behind-the-Scenes Stories of Marriages and Independence Rush,” here is the continuation. 

 

“Winning Groups” of the Resignation Rush

Mr. C: “The first half of 2024 has also been a year of resignation rush.”

Mr. A: “Talent from major agencies like Tabe Mikako (35) from ‘Hirata International,’ Sasaki Kuranosuke (56) from ‘K-Fact,’ and Yamamoto Maika (26) from ‘Incente’ have been announcing their independence one after another.”

Mr. B: “The reasons for resignations vary, but the most common issue seems to be financial disputes. With television production costs decreasing, salaries have dropped, leading to more conflicts over agency shares. Additionally, traditional talent agencies like ‘A-Team’ going bankrupt has made the notion of ‘being with an agency means security’ less certain. It’s not surprising that more talents are considering going solo and taking their chances.”

Mr. A: “Nevertheless, resignations come with high risks. If the transition or independence doesn’t go well, one can quickly find themselves in a difficult situation.”

Mr. C: “Among those who resigned, Sasaki is definitely a ‘winner.’ He’s in a good supporting role as the husband of the protagonist in ‘Hikaru-kun e,’ and his industry reputation has further improved with his award-winning role in ‘Godzilla-1.0.’ His participation in the Taiga drama was likely decided before he left his agency. It seems he planned his departure carefully, showing he’s quite a strategist.”

Mr. B: “On the other hand, it’s uncertain what will happen to Ryuta Sato (44), who also left ‘K-Fact.’ This year, he has only appeared in one drama, and his contract with ‘Big Motor’ was terminated due to an insurance fraud issue. There are significant concerns about whether he can truly succeed on his own.”

Mr. A: “Similar to those who have resigned, celebrities making a comeback from scandals are also experiencing varying degrees of success and failure.”

Mr. C: “Erika Sawajiri (38) has made a successful comeback. Her first acting role in four years, the stage play ‘Densha no Yoku-bo to Iu Na no Densha,’ had all 12 performances in Tokyo and all 6 performances in Osaka sell out. It ended in great success and was a strong showcase of her acting skills.”

Mr. B: “She wasn’t originally known for her pristine reputation, so the damage from her scandal was less severe. She might increase her exposure in the future through online streaming projects, much like Pierre Taki (57). In any case, she has undoubtedly raised her stock in the industry with that stage performance. I’m looking forward to her activities in the second half of the year.”

Mr. A: “Ryoko Hirosue (44) made her first public appearance since the scandal in April this year, but opinions are mixed.”

Mr. C: “Her courage to return after causing such a scandal is commendable. However, she faced malicious criticism at her first post-comeback event when she spoke about parenting, with comments like ‘Which mouth is she speaking from?’ There were also rumors that drama offers were flooding in during her hiatus, but it’s hard to believe. It’s not easy for her to make a comeback as an actress.”

Mr. A: “Toshifumi Fujimoto (53) of ‘FUJIWARA’ returned to the public eye less than six months after his hit-and-run incident, but the reception has been lukewarm. Being a favorite of TV Asahi’s well-known producer Rinzou Kaji, he appears frequently on TV Asahi variety shows, but his return without a formal apology has sparked criticism. Watching his shows, it’s evident that he has lost his previous style of relentlessly teasing other comedians and now seems to be on the receiving end of teasing himself. It’s unclear how he should respond. If he doesn’t quickly stop using his scandal as material and find a new style, he may face difficult times ahead.”

Mr. B: “What about Hiroyuki Miyasako (54)?”

Mr. C: “I think returning to terrestrial TV is no longer feasible for him. By not properly making amends and prioritizing immediate gains by turning to YouTube, he effectively closed off his path to a comeback. This year, he made headlines with a verbal altercation with Sosina (31), but many staff members were unhappy with Miyasako’s star-like attitude and condescending behavior. Since his interactions with fellow comedians have likely diminished, the chances of him returning to terrestrial TV are extremely low.”

Mr. A: “There’s no shortage of topics even in the first half of the year, but will there be any major scandals in the second half?”

Mr. B: “There are whispers about drug allegations involving famous actor X. There are even rumors that his favorite apparel shop is a drug dealing spot.”

Mr. A: “I think former Johnny’s will eventually face issues related to women. I’ve had drinks with him a few times, and his body language with women is quite aggressive. I’ve even seen him try to force a kiss. He needs to have a bit more awareness of his role as an idol.”

Mr. C: “Also, the lead singer of a popular rock band, Z, has an extraordinary drinking problem. He not only drinks excessively himself but also forces tequila on the girls around him. He even coerces those who can’t drink, leading to a terrible reputation among the hostesses around Roppongi.”

It looks like the entertainment media will remain busy in the second half of the year.

From the August 23 & 30, 2024 issue of ‘FRIDAY’.