[Illegal Online Casino Scandal] Exclusive Interview with “Reiwa Roman” Kuruma & “Toro Salmon” Kubota

About 50 comedians and employees of Yoshimoto Kogyo are targeted

The scandal involving the M-1 champion is causing a major stir.

On February 14, “Mainichi Shimbun” reported allegations of involvement in illegal online casinos against “Reiwa Roman”’s Kuruma Takahira (30) and “Toro Salmon”’s Kazunobu Kubota (45), among others. The following day, Kuruma admitted to the allegations and apologized on his YouTube channel. Since then, his appearances have been replaced in programs, and he has withdrawn from stage performances. Additionally, it was announced that Kubota’s regular program on the 18th would also be replaced.

“The Metropolitan Police Department’s investigation is still ongoing, and Yoshimoto Kogyo is believed to have about 50 people under scrutiny, including comedians and employees. Some comedians have reportedly undergone thorough interrogations lasting up to three hours.

On the other hand, despite reports of Kubota’s involvement, no concrete evidence has surfaced, making it difficult to charge him. His interrogation, conducted in the presence of a lawyer, reportedly lasted only about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, among those considered prime suspects by authorities, there is a well-known mid-career comedian who openly declares his love for gambling and frequently appears on television. He might be feeling more anxious than anyone else.” (National newspaper social affairs reporter)

Cases of illegal online casino crackdowns have surged in recent years. According to the National Police Agency, 279 people were prosecuted in 2024, a 2.6-fold increase from 107 in 2023, marking a record high. Many young people have been lured in by claims that “since the servers are overseas, gambling in Japan won’t get you arrested.” Kuruma reportedly made a similar statement in his testimony, but that does not change the fact that it is an illegal act.

Yoshimoto Kogyo’s accountability called into question

At Yoshimoto Kogyo, the company to which both comedians belong, cases of illegal casino use continue to surface. On February 5, some comedians, including Dai Yoshimoto (40) from “Daitaku” and Shun Nakamura (31) from “9th Street Retro,” recently suspended their activities due to suspected compliance violations.

What are the two thinking now?

When our magazine visited Kuruma, he appeared fully covered, wearing a black cap pulled low over his eyes and a mask.

— Could you tell us again how and why you started online gambling?

“……”

Without responding, Kuruma got into a taxi and left in silence.

On another day, we approached Kubota after his stage performance.

— We’d like to ask about the illegal casino issue.

“Sorry, which weekly magazine is this? Could I just get your business card?”

After receiving the business card, Kubota left without answering any questions.

Both remained silent in response to inquiries. Meanwhile, at the television networks where they work, voices are rising, demanding Yoshimoto Kogyo take responsibility and provide an explanation.

“Kuruma should have been interrogated by February 13, yet Yoshimoto didn’t inform the network before the recording of ‘The Iromonea’ (TBS) took place later. When the news broke during the recording, it caused some confusion on set. Why didn’t Yoshimoto notify us in advance?

Furthermore, Yoshimoto had reportedly received a tip about Kuruma’s illegal gambling at the beginning of the year. However, no explanation was given to the network until the news was published. Even if they conducted an internal investigation, their response was far too slow.” (Production company insider)

A staff member from another key network added, 

“Senior management has instructed us to prioritize casting comedians from other agencies unless Yoshimoto holds a press conference to explain the situation. There are concerns this could develop into another ‘black-market business scandal,’ so we are closely monitoring the situation.”

Why did it take so long for Yoshimoto to notify the networks?

When we sent an inquiry to Yoshimoto Kogyo for fact-checking, they responded as follows:

“We refrain from commenting on individual media inquiries. We are currently verifying the facts and will take appropriate measures once we have confirmed the details.”

Possibility of mass exposure

The ongoing investigations into Yoshimoto comedians continue. Journalist Tomohiko Suzuki, known for his extensive coverage of organized crime, also criticizes the company’s lack of crisis management awareness.

“Did they properly educate their performers through training sessions about the illegality of online casinos? Yoshimoto Kogyo was heavily criticized in the past for the black-market business scandal and should understand the importance of compliance. And yet, their approach remains too lax. The money from illegal casinos may ultimately be flowing to organized crime groups. Authorities will likely investigate the financial trail as well.”

The impact is not limited to Yoshimoto Kogyo alone. A manager from a talent agency with many mid-tier comedians revealed, “Our company has decided not to conduct a formal investigation, but on-site staff have begun questioning their assigned comedians.” Meanwhile, another manager from a long-established agency admitted, “We’re not investigating anything. Honestly, we’re too afraid to find out what might come up.”

As seen in the cases of Kuruma and Kubota, once involvement is uncovered, program cancellations and activity suspensions are inevitable. How will the investigation unfold as authorities aim to crack down on more users?

“The police are targeting so-called ‘intermediary operators,’ criminal groups responsible for everything from translating overseas online casino platforms to collecting money in Japan. If they obtain these operators’ customer lists, all users could be identified. If that happens, even more celebrities may be exposed.” (Law enforcement official)

The spread of illegal online casino involvement in the entertainment industry runs deep. Just how dark is this scandal?

From the March 7, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”