“The frustration of not being able to say what I want to say…” Jiro Sato’s “regret” over his insistence on “the truth” even at the time of his mother’s death

He had been feeling quite frustrated

Actor Jiro Sato (57), whose recent dispute with actress Ai Hashimoto (30) is still fresh in people’s minds, posted an update on X on August 13, revealing that his mother had passed away.

Sato reported that his 88-year-old mother had passed away on July 11, and continued:

“As I was in the midst of recent events, I had decided on my own to refrain from announcing my mother’s passing,”

he explained.

“This recent incident” refers to the harassment scandal surrounding the Fuji TV drama *Detective: Different Surnames for Married Couples*, which was reported by Bunshun Online on July 1.

In the drama, Sato touched Hashimoto’s chin during an ad-libbed scene, which escalated into a major controversy. Sato—who had not been informed that Hashimoto had restrictions on physical contact—reportedly stormed into her dressing room and made remarks that disparaged her acting career.

This was deemed “harassment” by Fuji TV’s outside attorney. Unconvinced by the ruling, Sato has expressed dissatisfaction with the responses from Hashimoto’s side and Fuji TV in *Shukan Shincho* and on his own X account.

Sato has repeatedly insisted that “this is the truth.” On August 9,

“4 Masterpieces Featuring Actor Jiro Sato’s ‘Stunning Performances’—Perfect for Watching While Recovering”

—a list of films in which he starred featured in an online news article—he expressed his delight on X,

he wrote: “I can’t say a single thing about ‘the truth’ with my own mouth, and I feel the frustration of being unable to put it into words every day, but please do enjoy these four gems on a summer night,”

he wrote.

Also, in an X post announcing his mother’s passing,

“It’s true that since then, I’ve been unable to tweet about various aspects of my daily life, and I’ve been feeling quite a bit of pent-up frustration. I deeply regret that my tweet expressing the frustration of not being able to say what I wanted took on a life of its own, and I’m reflecting on it deeply,”

he commented. The phrase “frustration at not being able to say what I want”—in other words, it suggests there is a “true story” separate from what was said. In response to an inquiry from this site, an entertainment agency insider familiar with the situation said,

“It all blew up into such a big deal because of that ‘touched the chin’ comment. While Mr. Sato’s words and actions were wrong, it hasn’t really come to light how Ms. Hashimoto’s side lobbied Fuji TV after she was victimized. I think there are ‘things he wants to say’ based on those circumstances,”

they said.

Spin-off Plans Scrapped

Online, even Sato’s “supporters” are calling for the truth to be uncovered. However, despite these calls, the situation surrounding Sato is reportedly worsening. An executive at a talent agency who frequents major network studios speaks in hushed tones.

“Sato has been in the industry for a long time and has a wide circle of friends. There was some optimism that someone might extend a helping hand, but the reality isn’t that simple. The damage from the scandal is definitely there. July is also the programming lineup change period, when information about upcoming dramas and casting tends to surface.I’ve been making the rounds at various networks, but I haven’t heard Mr. Sato’s name mentioned—a name that used to come up regularly.”

If television isn’t an option, one might look to “foreign” platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, but they, too, have compliance requirements. According to a television industry insider,

“For a while, there was talk that Netflix, being a paid subscription service, was ‘more lenient than TV,’ but that’s absolutely not the case. In fact, their awareness of human rights issues has been growing year by year. Mr. Sato is known as one of the entertainment industry’s premier supporting actors, but as long as rumors of romantic entanglements—which raise questions about his respect for human rights—are circulating, it will likely have a negative impact on him.”

he said.

Sato was set to appear in the movie *Bayside Shakedown: N.E.W.—Run Through Metropolis!*, scheduled for release in September. He was slated to begin filming a spin-off in July, but the project was scrapped due to the controversy. Although director Katsuyuki Motohiro and others scrambled to resolve the situation, the decision ultimately stood, and the production was called off.

“Mr. Sato also announced his split from Fuji on X, but it appears Fuji has effectively banned him as well. It seems Masahiro Nakai’s scandal has indeed become a significant trauma for Fuji,” said the same TV network insider.

Sato is in despair following his mother’s death. Will he be able to make a comeback from here?