Gravure Idol Exposes the Night She Was Nearly Offered to a TV Producer

The atmosphere completely changed at the after-party snack bar

Following the scandal that led to the retirement of former SMAP member Masahiro Nakai (52), commercial broadcasters launched internal investigations to determine whether announcers and talents were being offered to producers and high-profile entertainers.

I, the author, who refers to myself as a bottom-tier gravure idol, was also once nearly offered at a drinking party.

It was such a disgusting experience that I had erased it from my memory, but with the ongoing news coverage, I found myself recalling it—not quite a flashback, but enough to leave me feeling unpleasant. It happened about four or five years ago.

At the time, I wasn’t making enough as a writer to survive, nor was I earning enough through gravure modeling. I barely managed to get by working part-time at a bar in Kabukicho and attending paid drinking parties.

During that period, there was a girl named Y-chan who would occasionally take me to these paid drinking events. She was the type to hop from one paid drinking party to another in Minato Ward. Unlike the typical “Minato Ward girl” image, she had a rather plain appearance—one could call it demure in a positive sense or just plain dull in a negative sense. She claimed her family ran a medical practice and that she was studying for her medical license, but in reality, she was dedicating most of her time to attending paid drinking parties.

One day, she approached me, saying, “I’ll introduce you to a high-ranking producer from a major key station!” Just to clarify, it wasn’t Fuji TV. Back then, I would get the occasional appearance on a terrestrial variety show—maybe once a year—but I struggled to secure follow-up opportunities. Desperate for any chance, I eagerly replied, “I’m in!”

The drinking party was in Minato Ward. The high-ranking producer from the key station was a slightly overweight, somewhat greasy-looking man. He even wore a polo shirt with a cardigan draped over his shoulders—the classic producer look straight out of a manga. That was my first impression.

The other male participant had unnaturally tanned skin, wore a flashy cap, a flashy hoodie, and shorts. And for some reason, he carried a small bag—the kind that wealthy ladies use when walking their dogs—giving off the unmistakable vibe of a talent scout.

The group consisted of these two men, Y-chan, and myself, the so-called bottom-tier gravure idol.

First, they took us to a famous yakiniku restaurant known for being impossible to book. The food was truly delicious—perhaps the best I’d ever had. Even Y-chan, who was usually bossy, telling me what to do, was unusually kind, encouraging me to drink as much as I wanted. The two older men were also being friendly, and overall, I was enjoying myself.

We didn’t talk much about work, and after finishing the yakiniku, we moved on to a second party. The venue was a nearby snack bar.

This was where the atmosphere changed drastically.