The Real Problem Behind Entertainment Industry Bullying, Highlighted by Kenji Takahashi

The boundary between banter and bullying

The bullying issue involving Savannah’s Shigeo Takahashi (50), which came to light through Kota Nakayama’s (45) confession, took a turn when Takahashi reported on X:

“I apologized because, during recordings of programs we appeared on together in Osaka at the time, the way I spoke and the way I interacted with him caused him unpleasant feelings.”

Nakayama also posted on X:

“The expression ‘I was being bullied,’ which I used on the program, was completely inappropriate. I sincerely apologize.”

He apologized and retracted the statement.

As a result, it is fair to say the controversy has largely settled down, but many people are probably still left with a lingering sense of unease.

That may be because Nakayama, who had been regarded as the victim, was the one who apologized.

A former executive at a production company representing many comedians said:

“Unlike the obvious power harassment by TKO’s Takayuki Kinoshita, who threw plastic bottles at junior comedians, what sticks with me is whether Takahashi’s remarks toward Kota were really bullying in the first place. In the comedy world, banter and teasing are common. The line between them and bullying isn’t clearly defined. Some people engage or tease out of malice, while others dish out harsh teasing without any ill intent. It also depends on how the recipient interprets it. In the comedy world, people often talk about ‘teasing with affection.’ In other words, if there had been even a slightly humorous element in the banter or teasing, I don’t think it would have been taken that way.”

Although this bullying controversy arose because it happened in the comedy world, an executive at a major talent agency says that in the entertainment industry, where strict hierarchies prevail, bullying and power harassment are everyday occurrences.

“There are still places that retain an apprenticeship system like the traditional craftsman’s world, and there’s also the personal attendant system. It’s difficult to judge whether something is guidance or bullying. Even if celebrities experience power harassment or bullying, the people involved almost never come forward to expose it.”

Power harassment and bullying directed at staff members are more likely to come to light because the victims often file complaints. However, when it involves celebrities themselves, it rarely becomes public, even if rumors circulate.

Among the few cases that did become public, one occurred on the October 3, 2009 broadcast of “All-Star Thanksgiving” (TBS), when viewers saw host Shinsuke Shimada angrily confront the comedy group Tokyo 03 in an unusually intense manner, causing a stir. It was said that Shimada lost his temper because Tokyo 03 had not gone to greet him before the live broadcast.

Even today, on programs hosted by entertainers known as big-name hosts, it remains customary for performers to greet the host before filming begins, and stories of entertainers being furiously scolded for failing to do so are commonly heard in the entertainment industry. It’s not only entertainers who are subjected to such outbursts—even network announcers serving as assistants on these programs have sometimes found themselves on the receiving end.

Bullying episodes that never became public

Some cases of bullying even escalated into criminal incidents.

On June 27, 2016, during a live broadcast of the Nagoya radio program “Miyaji Yukio no Kiite Miyāchi” (Tokai Radio), host Yukio Miyaji assaulted his co-host Mie Kanno, and Miyaji was arrested on suspicion of assault causing injury.

Bullying that develops into a criminal case is extremely rare. However, according to television staff and entertainers, there are countless bullying episodes that have never come to light.

More than 30 years ago, Bunta Sugawara spoke on a talk show about a senior actor with whom he had co-starred many times in films. While appearing together in a yakuza movie, the senior actor would actually punch him in the stomach during their fight scenes—and with full force.

Sugawara said that even after returning home, his stomach hurt so much that he could not eat. Even so, he never spoke ill of the senior actor, saying:

“It makes it look more real, and I suppose the people watching the movie are more satisfied that way.”

It was an era before the internet and social media, and the story never became the subject of a weekly magazine article.

Another celebrity entertainer, known for having a fiery temper, reportedly became angry when a female entertainer seated beside them voiced an opinion during a variety show. Throughout the broadcast, the celebrity allegedly kept kicking the woman’s leg. As if that were not enough, the celebrity later posted on social media mocking the woman’s facial appearance.

A former Takarazuka actress who now frequently appears on TV shopping programs also became the subject of industry gossip after reportedly treating a young male local TV announcer harshly while appearing together on a regional information program. The actress later left the show.

According to a younger actress from Takarazuka, even while they were both members of the troupe, she had her lines taken away. On another occasion, while waiting in the wings for her entrance, she was pushed from behind before it was her cue, causing her to stumble onto the stage prematurely.

The entertainment industry is said to have more bullying than ordinary society. One reason may be that many entertainers have stronger desires for self-expression, recognition, and success than the average person.

People often say that the entertainment industry is a place where only the strongest survive. Competition is fierce, and without strong determination, it is impossible to stay in the business. In such an environment, some people come to believe that they should eliminate any budding threats to their own position.

Furthermore, once someone becomes popular and television stations or talent agencies begin treating them like a cash cow, showering them with attention and handling them as delicately as if they were fragile, some begin to mistakenly believe they have become important. While this is ultimately an individual problem, there are also structural issues underlying it. Unless those are addressed, eradicating bullying will remain a distant goal.

Just as bullying is unlikely to disappear from society at large, it is difficult to imagine it disappearing from the entertainment industry. Still, if Nakayama’s confession can play even a small part in helping to eradicate bullying, that would surely be a welcome outcome.