Amid Affair Scandal Former Jungle Pocket Saito Still Appears TV Staff Disappointment

However, even after Friday magazine reported infidelity allegations against him twice last year, Saito continued to be regularly featured on Winning Keiba (TV Tokyo) and ZIP! (Nippon TV). Given the current strict stance against infidelity, this is an unusual decision. It wasn’t merely a matter of good luck.

“When the infidelity reports surfaced, JRA, the main sponsor of Winning Keiba, reportedly worked behind the scenes to have Saito removed from the show. However, the program staff resisted, insisting they wanted to keep Saito at all costs and fought to protect him. The name of his trio is derived from a Derby-winning horse, and Saito’s knowledge and passion for horse racing are exceptional. He has a friendly demeanor and was extremely well-liked by those in the horse racing industry. It’s truly unfortunate, as he was genuinely a beloved figure,” commented a horse racing insider.

ZIP!, which values its F2 demographic, also did not remove Saito from its lineup.

 

A source from Nippon TV, which broadcasts ZIP!, expressed disappointment, saying:

“ZIP! is known for being quite dry with its cast; if a talent isn’t well-received by viewers, they’ll replace even important positions. They place significant value on the F2 demographic (women aged 35 to 49), so I genuinely thought Saito would be dropped after being involved in two infidelity report, yet he remained. It wasn’t due to pressure from the agency—it was simply because the program staff wanted to keep Saito on. When the announcement was made on September 25 that he would be leaving due to health issues, the host, Anna Mito (37), expressed on air, ‘Saito-san, it was so much fun every Wednesday. Thank you very much,’ showing how much he was appreciated. Because of that, there’s a strong feeling of being ‘betrayed’ among the staff.”

In Aiseki Shokudo (Asahi Broadcasting), a purification location shoot was conducted in light of Saito’s infidelity allegations, which had the two hosts, Chidori, laughing, and a photo capturing a moment from the shoot was displayed on the set. However, this too will likely be removed soon.

Saito has trampled on the goodwill of the staff, co-stars, and fellow comedians who protected him during the infidelity scandal.