Tomio Umezawa’s “Extraterritorial” and “Invincible” Defense Tactics Stun TV Professionals

Extraterritoriality of adultery

“KAT-TUN” member Yuichi Nakamaru (41) and the leader of the Democratic Party for the People, Yuichiro Tamaki (55), along with reports of affair rumors that stirred up the media again this year.

In the case of Sarina Suzuki (47), she was unaware that the man she was having an affair with was married, making her the victim in the situation. However, she was forced to apologize on a live broadcast, as society is particularly harsh on the terms affair and cheating. For celebrities, such scandals can be a one-strike and you’re out situation.

However, there is one person in the TV industry who seems immune to such risks of affair and cheating scandals. That person is Tomio Umezawa (74).

As a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, Umezawa is a popular actor who is seen regularly on television, and his public image has been improving, making him a frequent face in commercials. If Umezawa were ever involved in an affair, it would be expected to have a significant impact. However, a certain television writer who worked on Umezawa’s shows says, 

“Umezawa-san is in a state of ‘extraterritoriality,’ where even if he had an affair, it wouldn’t be an issue.”

A television producer who worked with Umezawa told me, 

“He talks about his own affairs and cheating stories as ‘delicious self-deprecating episodes’ without hiding anything on the show. And instead of telling them in the way that veterans often do with grandiose stories, he makes them sound ‘kind of uncool!’ and presents them in a way that’s laughable. It doesn’t make it sound like he’s done anything wrong. Of course, at the core, it’s based on the trust he has with his wife. His wife, Akiko Ikeda, revealed in a past magazine interview that ‘Even if he cheated 80 times, if you focus on the good points, you can trust him.’ Because they have such a good relationship, he can casually talk about his affairs like that.”

Even though he has been linked to other women, there is always a punchline in the end. This subtle storytelling technique makes Umezawa’s affairs not feel like wrongdoing.

Sublimation into Slippery Tales

Among them, the two main staple topics of Tomio Umezawa are said to be the “Okinawa affair trip” and the “Michael Jackson” story. The aforementioned television writer continued:

“Umezawa went on a trip to Okinawa with his girlfriend, but he found out that a large typhoon was approaching and there was a possibility that he wouldn’t be able to return to Tokyo. Realizing this was a problem, Umezawa desperately negotiated to change the ticket date at Naha Airport. However, his efforts were caught on the news channel’s live typhoon coverage, which led to his wife finding out about the affair… This is the powerful anecdote behind the ‘Okinawa affair trip.’

The ‘Michael Jackson’ story is a real classic. When Michael Jackson made his first visit to Japan and performed at Yokohama Stadium, Umezawa went to the concert with his girlfriend. However, it turned out that his wife and sister had also come to the concert, and they ran into each other at the venue! His sister called him ‘an idiot!’ This story is always a hit, no matter when or where it’s told,” said the television writer.

Umezawa has elevated his personal experiences with affairs and cheating into comedic stories, making them widely recognized as unmissable tales. It is said that he still occasionally flirts with women, but without a doubt, it becomes delicious material for him, showcasing his defense tactics that impress TV professionals.

“When hosts or commentators have affairs or cheating scandals, the program might have to be re-edited, and at worst, it could be canceled. But Umezawa has no such risks. From a production standpoint, he’s incredibly reassuring. That’s why he’s in high demand!” said the television writer.

Recently, Higashi Bukuro (39) of “Saraba Seishun no Hikari” has successfully turned several women-related scandals into humorous stories, increasing his appearances. He can be said to be embodying the “Umezawa method.” To avoid self-destruction due to love affairs, it’s likely that more entertainers will start using the “Umezawa method” in the future.