Financial Conflict Emerges Between Comedian Saito and Baumkuchen Sales Firm

We will file a damage report with the police

“When he was referred to prosecutors for non-consensual intercourse and non-consensual indecent acts, he came to us in tears, saying, ‘I’m struggling because I have no way to make a living.’ We felt sorry for him, and wanting to help—even just a little—we volunteers established Company T, a Baumkuchen sales business, so he could cover his living expenses. But he trampled on our goodwill. We can never forgive him.”

So says Mr. A, an active employee of Company T, trying to suppress his anger as he spoke to the reporter.

In October last year, former Jungle Pocket member Shinji Saitō (43) had his contract terminated by Yoshimoto Kogyo, making it effectively impossible for him to return to the entertainment world. It is widely known that since April this year, Saitō has been making a living by selling Baumkuchen.

However, the very company—his benefactor and lifeline—that was created to help him rebuild his life, was betrayed by Saitō, they claim.

Mr. A shows the business consignment contract and states:

“We agreed that profits from Baumkuchen sales would be split 50/50 between Company T and Saitō. Sales were actually good, but the approximately 1.6 million yen earned on October 8 and 9 in Fukuoka, plus the cash reserve kept in the register for making change, were never transferred to the company’s bank account.

The system was this: The Fukuoka sales revenue was first deposited into Saitō’s personal account, and from there he would transfer it to Company T’s account. Saitō was responsible for reporting sales; Company T handled the accounting. After subtracting expenses from sales, half of the profit would be paid to Saitō at the end of the following month.

But even after repeated reminders, we received no response. He still has the 1.6 million yen. From our perspective, it’s as if he ran off with the money.”

It’s a shocking claim—but Company T confirmed it to the magazine:

“It is true that we are experiencing a financial dispute with Mr. Saitō. We plan to file a damage report with the police for the crime of embezzlement in the course of business.”

When the magazine asked Saitō about the allegation of taking the money, he replied—through his attorney:

“It is true that I currently have about 1.6 million yen in Baumkuchen sales revenue from Fukuoka. However, that is because I have not been paid my compensation for August or September. I became increasingly worried that even if I sent this money to Company T, they would not pay me.

So I decided not to transfer the 1.6 million yen until the issue is resolved. I did not take the cash reserve from the register.”

The claims of both sides are in direct conflict.

The FRIDAY November 28 & December 5 combined issue (released November 14), as well as the paid FRIDAY GOLDedition, provides a detailed account of the financial dispute revealed by Mr. A and the full rebuttal submitted by Saitō’s side.