Heartbroken by a string of scandals involving junior comedians…Direct interview with Akashiya Sanma: “The truth behind the statement, ‘I will not carry Yoshimoto’s burden'”.

I cried raggedly when I saw the Ezo squirrel eating acorns. ……

In the mid-October broadcast of “Odoru, Sanma Goten! Sanma Goten! 3-hour special” (NTV) in mid-October, many co-stars and viewers expressed concern about his mental state.

Starting with the “black market problem by comedians” reported in 2007, Yoshimoto Kogyo has been rocked by many scandals in recent years, such as the alleged sexual assault of “Downtown” comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto (61) and the firing of “Jungle Pocket” comedian Shinji Saito (42). For Mr. Sanma, one of Yoshimoto’s most prominent figures, the scandals involving his junior comedians must be as painful as if they were his own. Perhaps it was against this background that he made a statement on “Young Town Saturday” (MBS Radio), a radio program on which he is a personality, regarding Saito’s dismissal announced on October 7, saying, “I will no longer carry Yoshimoto on my shoulders. It even made the Internet news the next day.

Sanma is a caring and considerate man who is admired by his junior comedians. What does he really think about Yoshimoto Kogyo and the comedy world today? To get a sense of his thoughts, we approached him after work.

Thoughts expressed in response to our questions

A little past 7:00 p.m. in late October, this magazine found a luxury car in Tokyo that Sanma had been using for many years. It was a misty light rain that day, and visibility was poor.

Noticing the reporter approaching, Sanma slowly rolled down the driver’s side window and answered our direct questions.

What are you doing?”

I’m sorry. Good evening. My name is “Friday.

Hi.

Last week, you said, “I don’t carry Yoshimoto on my back anymore. I don’t worry about my juniors anymore.

Oh, really!

No request to Yoshimoto

Sanma answered the reporter’s question without hesitation. When asked about his thoughts on Yoshimoto Kogyo, he answered in a matter-of-fact manner.

Do you have any requests for the company?

I don’t have any.

Q. Did the timing of your statement indicate that you were feeling a sense of bitterness because of the burden that you have been carrying?

I don’t feel any bitterness. It’s just something you have to carry on your back.

Mr. Sanma?

Oh, yes. So I’m just carrying it on my own, even though I wasn’t asked to do so. And I’m not with ‘Yoshimoto’ anymore. I’m still with ‘Yoshimoto,’ but I’m a freelancer. It’s a freelance agency.

Q: When you are as big as Sanma-san, don’t you think that President Okamoto (Akihiko Okamoto) of …… and the company would ask you for advice?

No, nothing.

Nothing?

Nothing. Then, please do me a favor! I’m going, already!　Work!”

He closed the car window again and drove off briskly to the next site.

I’m carrying on on my own, I’m hurting on my own, I’m doing things on my own– Sanma, who was burdened with many things, still seemed to be saying, “It’s my own fault. I wonder if any part of his sense of responsibility reached his younger colleagues and his office.