TV Industry Expected Shintaro Morimoto from Tontsukatan to Discipline Fuwachan During Their Trip

According to a television writer, Morimoto is considered someone who can speak to Fuwachan.

“His level of fame is lower than Fuwachan’s, but in terms of career experience, he is a senior and has a deep personal relationship with her. He understands Fuwachan’s personality well. That’s why, even though they were traveling together in private, it was precisely because of him that a certain role was expected.”

This role is said to be similar to Yabe Hiroyuki’s (52) role as a partner when Okamura Takashi (54) of Ninety-Nine was involved in a scandal in 2020.

At that time, many people were suffering from poverty due to job losses caused by the new coronavirus. In response, Okamura made offensive comments on his radio show All Night Nippon, leading to an apology.

＜Once (the coronavirus) is under control, cute people will work briefly as hostesses (prostitutes).> ＜You need to make money quickly because it’s tough.> ＜So let’s endure it for now.>

It was Yabe who rescued his partner from this predicament. After the slip-up, Yabe made an unexpected appearance on the first episode of All Night Nippon following the incident, giving a public reprimand. “You alone might cause more trouble,” Yabe said, and returned as the show’s host, transforming the program from Ninety-Nine Okamura Takashi’s All Night Nippon to Ninety-Nine’s All Night Nippon.

“There was a perfectly suited stage for this situation, named ‘Fuwachan’s All Night Nippon 0 (ZERO).’ “There were voices online saying, ＜Let’s have Morimoto come and give a serious scolding!! No matter what happens, it will be a broadcast accident, so if it’s just Fuwachan, things will really get out of control; someone needs to manage it.>＜For now, let Morimoto go and handle it, it’s really tough with just Fuwachan alone.>”

However—Fuwachan’s offensive comments became a scandal on the 4th. With All Night Nippon scheduled to air in the early hours of the 5th, the show was abruptly canceled, and on the 9th, it was announced that the program was being terminated and Fuwachan would be stepping down.

“In the ‘public reprimand’ incident, Yabe pointed out Okamura’s behavior, such as his arrogant attitude towards the staff, and criticized how his arrogance led to problematic remarks. If Morimoto, who knows Fuwachan well, had given her a proper scolding for her disrespectful attitude and habit of being late, public dissatisfaction would have likely been eased. Perhaps Fuwachan would not have been forced into suspension.”

What Morimoto should have done was not protect himself but give a loving reprimand to save his close friend. That is the honest opinion of those in the television industry.