“Travis Japan”: Jiro Sato & Ai Hashimoto’s Dispute Over Kaito Nakamura Getting a Light Tap on the Head—”An Unexpected Ripple Effect”

Another “Harassment Allegation”

Actor Jiro Sato (57) is facing a massive backlash over a “harassment scandal.” Far from being resolved, the issue is reportedly spreading to unexpected quarters.

It all began with the April drama series *Detectives with Different Surnames* (Fuji TV), in which Sato and actress Ai Hashimoto (30) co-starred.The two played “detectives who hide their marriage from those around them and work as partners while keeping their separate surnames,” but Hashimoto had previously been a victim of harassment by a co-star and had therefore set restrictions on “physical contact.”

Sato, who was informed of this after the fact, flew into a rage.He stormed into Hashimoto’s dressing room and made remarks such as, “You shouldn’t have accepted a role as a married couple”—that is the gist of the controversy. However, a sports newspaper entertainment reporter notes, “Some fans of STARTO ENTERTAINMENT (formerly Johnny’s) are watching this commotion with mixed feelings.”

“Kaito Nakamura (29) of ‘Travis Japan’ appeared in *The Detective with Separate Surnames*. He played Kizuna Ikeda, who harbors feelings for Asuka, played by Hashimoto. However, following the massive backlash against Sato, a promotional video featuring Sato and Nakamura—which had been posted by the drama’s official account on X (formerly Twitter)—went viral.Since the clip included a scene where Sato playfully pokes Nakamura’s face and head, fans directed a barrage of criticism at her, asking, ‘Isn’t this harassment?’ and ‘Don’t use Kaito to drag Sato down,’” said a sports newspaper entertainment reporter.

In light of this controversy, it’s inevitable that the DVD and Blu-ray release of *The Detective with Separate Surnames* will face difficulties. Fans who had been looking forward to bonus features like behind-the-scenes footage are voicing their frustration, saying things like, “Uminchu (Nakamura’s nickname) is getting caught in the crossfire… even though the drama was so enjoyable.”

“Nakamura himself mentioned the filming of *The Detective with Separate Surnames* on his blog for the members-only site FAMILY CLUB web.In a blog post dated April 7, she began by saying, ‘I’m having fun with every episode,’ and reported that she had watched Sato’s film *Bomb* (to be released in ’25), revealing that she also talks with the cast about their favorite foods during breaks.

Her work on TV dramas has increased over the past two years. She seemed to feel a sense of fulfillment with this project, noting that she was “able to act with a good sense of tension.” In a blog post dated June 6, she also wrote, “I’m really enjoying the filming itself. I’ve been given a great opportunity to learn a lot.” (Drama production staff)

Not only Sato and Hashimoto, but Fuji TV, as well as their co-stars and fans, have suffered immense damage from this scandal.