Ai Hashimoto Rejoices Over Nono’s “Amachan” Co-Starring Role—But Still Suffers Serious Damage from the Jiro Sato Controversy

With the revival of “Memories of the Tide”

the reunion of the “Amachan Duo” is generating buzz.

It was announced that actress Ai Hashimoto (30) will make a guest appearance at actress Non (33)’s 20th-anniversary live tour, taking place on October 18 in Kuji City, Iwate Prefecture.

The pairing of Non—formerly known by her stage name “Rena Nonen”—and Hashimoto is familiar to viewers from the 2013 NHK morning drama *Amachan*. In the series, the two formed the idol unit “Shiosai no Memories,” which became a sensation and even appeared on the year-end NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen.

This will be their first time performing together in approximately 13 years. Hashimoto said:

“Rena-chan has always been, and will always be, a very special person to me,”

She added,

“I’m sure this will be a special, unforgettable moment. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity,”

.

Speaking of Hashimoto, the harassment scandal involving actor Jiro Sato (57), reported by *Shukan Bunshun* in July, is still fresh in people’s minds.During the April season of the Fuji TV drama series *Detective: Married Couples with Different Surnames*, in which they co-starred, Sato touched Hashimoto’s chin while ad-libbing. When Hashimoto expressed discomfort and asked him to be more considerate about physical contact, Sato stormed into her dressing room and

and told her, “You shouldn’t continue acting,”

and other remarks that disparaged her career. Later, Sato’s words and actions were deemed “harassment” by an outside attorney hired by Fuji TV.

It has been a little over two and a half months since then—

Although the controversy has largely died down, both Sato and Hashimoto have suffered damage to their reputations. In an interview with this website, a television network official stated

“Mr. Sato is an actor with many fans in the industry, but the number of times his name comes up in casting meetings for dramas and movies has clearly decreased. On the other hand, Ms. Hashimoto has also been labeled as a ‘difficult actress’ due to the series of news reports. This has also affected her career,”

.

At the casting meeting,

Hashimoto’s Instagram account has not been updated for more than two and a half months, excluding Stories that disappear after 24 hours. The comments section remains closed.

While there is anticipation for her collaboration with Non, no announcements have been made regarding her other schedule. According to a source at a talent agency familiar with Hashimoto:

“Even though she is supposed to be a victim of harassment, she was unilaterally labeled a feminist based on past comments, and was flooded with slander and abuse. I hear she was so shocked that she hasn’t been able to get back on her feet for a while.”

It wasn’t just the abusive language on social media. Within the industry as well, unverified information spread regarding the “aftermath” of the incident. It was claimed that Hashimoto’s side is demanding a large compensation payment from Fuji TV for failing to prevent the harassment in the first place.

When this site inquired about these “rumors,” Fuji TV denied them. When asked by some media outlets to confirm the facts, Hashimoto’s agency also

“There is no truth to that,”

.

The scary thing about this industry is how dubious information can spread as if it were an established fact. Even though the incident was an accidental trouble that occurred on the set of a TV drama series,

“Wasn’t Ms. Sato actually set up?”

—such “conspiracy theories” are now flying around.

“What this incident has made clear is that in the TV industry, mentioning the name ‘Ai Hashimoto’ elicits a reaction like, ‘Oh, I see.’ There’s no doubt that even issues unrelated to harassment are being linked to her and discussed in that context. I think she’s suffering as a result,” said a sports newspaper reporter covering the entertainment industry.

Hashimoto’s future career path remains unclear. Judging by past interview articles, it’s clear she has an interest in behind-the-scenes work, such as film directing, and is considering a career as an actress overseas. An executive at a talent agency puts it bluntly:

“Considering her personality and current situation, I think looking overseas is a viable option. Even though the Japanese entertainment industry has changed in recent years, some old-fashioned cultural practices still remain. Her immersion in her roles and her understanding of the works she’s in are extraordinary. I think she’s the type who could succeed overseas.”

After enjoying this “reunion” with Non for the first time in a while, what will Hashimoto do next?