Actress’ Secret List Leaked? Surprising Reputation of Producer

“Annual appearance fee of 40 million yen.”

“No variety show appearances.”

The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Kazuyoshi Yamamoto from Yokohama, Kanagawa, was arrested on February 2 by the Tsukiji police for violating the Unfair Competition Prevention Act (for illegally acquiring trade secrets). Yamamoto, a former employee of the talent casting company G, is accused of attempting to take confidential information from the company.

“The incident in question occurred on October 30, 2023, when Yamamoto allegedly brought a company-issued laptop to an internet cafe in Adachi, Tokyo. He accessed G’s system and saved hundreds of talent contracts and other sensitive information onto a USB memory stick. Among the files, there was a list containing basic details such as the ages and fees of leading actresses in TV dramas, as well as secret information such as no variety show appearances allowed.

Two days after extracting the information, Yamamoto switched to a competing company in the same industry, where he likely intended to use the stolen data. When G realized the leak, they reported it to the police, leading to the discovery of the crime.”

Manager at a major talent agency for about five years

On February 4th, a photographer from Friday Digital captured the moment when Yamamoto was sent for detention. When he emerged from the police station, he was facing forward, but when he noticed the press, he lowered his face.

Yamamoto was a well-known producer in the entertainment industry.

“After graduating from university, he joined a major talent agency. He worked as a manager for about five years and at G company, he was responsible for mediating television appearance contracts as a producer. His work attitude was very serious. He was a considerate person, and his reputation both inside and outside the company was quite good,” said a source from the talent agency.

Former Kanagawa Prefectural Police detective and crime journalist, Taihei Ogawa, provided an explanation:

“For television stations and casting companies, information about talents is very important. If casting is done without knowing the ‘NG’ items or necessary conditions for co-stars or programs, it can lead to unexpected problems. Yamamoto might have taken the confidential information from G company to move to another company in the same industry. It’s also possible he intended to use the illegally obtained information to promote himself.”

The police have not revealed whether Yamamoto has admitted to the charges, as it could affect the investigation.