A Single Remark Overshadows Jiro Sato’s Official Statement

Fuji TV’s outside lawyers ruled it to be harassment

The harassment controversy involving actor Jiro Sato (57) and actress Ai Hashimoto (30) continues to linger.

The issue was first reported by Shukan Bunshun in its July 2 issue. During the filming of the Fuji TV drama “Fūfu Bessei Keiji (Married Couple with Different Surnames Detective),” in which the two actors starred together, Sato allegedly improvised by touching Hashimoto’s chin, leading to the dispute. Hashimoto had previously experienced harassment and had restrictions regarding physical contact.

After learning of this later, Sato reportedly went to Hashimoto’s dressing room and, while acknowledging her past trauma, told her that if she intended to continue requesting restrictions on physical contact:

“You shouldn’t have accepted the role of a married couple.”

“You shouldn’t continue being an actor.”

Fuji TV’s outside legal counsel subsequently judged the incident to constitute harassment.

In response to the ‘Bunshun’ article, Sato’s agency stated:

“The report presents a one-sided account, and we find it extremely regrettable.”

Sato himself also spoke to “Weekly Shincho,” criticizing requests made by Hashimoto’s side and what he described as mistakes made by Fuji TV’s outside lawyers.

Meanwhile, a media insider who has been closely covering the controversy said:

“Immediately after the ‘Bunshun’ report came out, I found myself thinking, ‘Wait a minute,’ about the way Jiro Sato’s side handled the situation.”

Advance copies of the magazine reached media organizations on July 1, throwing the entertainment industry into turmoil. Soon afterward, people associated with Sato announced:

“We will issue a statement of rebuttal today.”

“Was this sentence really necessary?”

The statement distributed to the media explained in detail how Sato learned of Hashimoto’s request to limit physical contact and how he came to visit her dressing room.

Two points in particular drew attention.

The first was the categorical statement:

“Experts have confirmed that Mr. Sato’s conduct does not constitute harassment.”

However, the names of the lawyers or specialists who had supposedly reached this conclusion were not disclosed, leaving the statement with little supporting evidence.

The second point concerned the following passage describing the moment when Sato left Hashimoto’s dressing room:

“Ms. Hashimoto was smiling even as Mr. Sato left the room.”

A sports newspaper reporter quoted earlier commented:

“My honest reaction was, ‘Was that sentence really necessary?’ Sato’s side may have wanted to emphasize that the conversation in the dressing room ended amicably. In other words, they may have wished to argue that she did not appear shocked. However, in recent harassment cases, people often appear to accept the situation at the time even though they actually do not. Rather, including that sentence only raised suspicions that Sato’s side might not truly understand the essence of the issue.”

A smile does not necessarily mean consent or acceptance. It is entirely possible that Hashimoto simply behaved normally to get through the situation.

Indeed, in a statement released by Fuji TV on July 7, the company specifically addressed Hashimoto’s condition after Sato’s visit:

“The actress was deeply shaken both by the suddenness of the actor’s visit and by the content and forcefulness of his remarks, and she remained unable to stop crying for some time.”

A television industry insider also told “FRIDAY Digital:”

“Fundamentally, both Mr. Sato and his agency may have had an insufficient understanding of compliance issues and harassment. The agency’s statement didn’t appear to have undergone a proper legal review beforehand.”

The controversy has become increasingly complicated, and many can only hope that it will eventually come to an end.

On FRIDAY Digital’s YouTube channel, entertainment reporters discuss the case in depth in a segment titled “Jiro Sato vs. Ai Hashimoto vs. Fuji TV: The Shocking Story Behind the Scenes Known Only to Active Reporters,” explaining what has been happening behind the scenes.