Latest news with #ShukanBunshun
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Caster' actress Nagano Mei embroiled in controversy dropped from projects after alleged ‘two-timing' scandal: Report
Popular Japanese actress Nagano Mei has recently been embroiled in controversy. Known for her roles in 'Kimi ga Kokoro wo Kuretakara', 'Burn the House Down', and 'Super Salaryman Mr Saenai', the actress has been at the centre of controversy surrounding her co-stars. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Nagano Mei controversy causes her to lose out on projects? The popular Japanese actress has been the centre of attention in public recently, as it was reported that she was two-timing two of her co-stars. In recent reports by Allkpop, it was revealed that the actress was allegedly involved with two of her co-stars, Kim Moo Jun from 'Caster' and Japanese actor Tanaka Kei, who is married and has children as well. The initial report came from the magazine Shukan Bunshun, after which 'questionable' texts from Nagano Mei and Tanaka Kei surfaced online as well that sparked the controversy and started online debates as well. Due to this new revelation, the actress has been losing out on major projects one by one. Nagano Mei loses projects spanned over three years Mei, who was one of the considerably popular actresses in the Japanese entertainment industry, had a packed schedule for the next three years. After the rise of the controversy online, however, she has managed to lose out on all of her projects, ranging from films and dramas to ads and brand collaborations as well. She also withdrew from her latest project, 'Toyotomi Brothers!' amid the allegations. Her company issued a statement regarding her exit. They stated that 'In view of the great trouble and concern caused to the relevant units by this series of reports, [Mei Nagano] has decided to withdraw from the show. We deeply apologise to everyone who is looking forward to the broadcast, as well as the programme-related personnel and co-stars.' No official comments have been issued by any of the three parties involved in the controversy.
The Mainichi
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Hyogo Gov., ex-deputy likely directed whistleblower's personal info be leaked: panel
KOBE -- Officials including Hyogo Gov. Motohiko Saito highly likely ordered a leak of personal information on a whistleblower who accused him of power harassment, a third-party committee concluded May 27. The Hyogo Prefectural Government's third-party panel the same day released the results of an investigation which found that Chiaki Inomoto, former head of the prefectural government's general affairs department, leaked information on the late former director of the Hyogo Prefectural Government's Nishiharima District Administration Office, who accused Saito of misconduct, to three prefectural assembly members. It concluded, "There is a high possibility that the leak was directed by the governor and former Deputy Gov. Yasutaka Katayama." Inomoto was punished with a three-month suspension as of May 27 for disclosing confidential information obtained through his official duties. That same day, Saito offered a renewed apology over the leak, and stated "I feel responsible as the head of the organization. I will now consider specific disciplinary measures against myself, including the possibility of a pay cut." Regarding the third-party committee's conclusion that he was likely involved in directing the leak, he stated, "My understanding remains unchanged that I did not instruct the leak." According to the committee's report, it was discovered in March 2024 that the former bureau chief's private information was saved on his work computer. Inomoto was appointed general affairs department chief that April and was handed the printed-out file of the bureau chief's personal information. From mid-April, Inomoto visited the prefectural assembly waiting rooms and other locations where he leaked the bureau chief's information by showing the three assembly members a printed document and telling them about it directly. Inomoto had initially denied any involvement in the leak, but later submitted a written statement saying that his action of leaking the information was directed by his boss. He explained that when he told Saito about the existence of such information, the latter said something to the effect of "Why don't you share with assembly members that you have that kind of document?" A then senior prefectural official who was present at Inomoto and Saito's meeting gave a similar account to the former general affairs department chief. In addition, Katayama testified that he told Inomoto to arrange things accordingly after his subordinate told him that the governor had given such instructions. Based on these statements, the third-party committee concluded that it was highly likely the governor and deputy instructed the leak. After the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun reported in July 2024 that Inomoto was circulating the former bureau chief's personal information to prefectural assembly members and others, the prefectural government established a third-party committee consisting of three lawyers in October 2024 to investigate the matter. Japanese original by Akira Inoh, Mami Yamada and Toru Kurita, Kobe Bureau)
The Mainichi
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Editorial: Hyogo Pref.'s criminal complaint impedes media reporting in public interest
In the latest development in Gov. Motohiko Saito's alleged power harassment and other acts, the Hyogo Prefectural Government filed a criminal complaint with the prefectural police accusing an unspecified person of leaking information in violation of confidentiality obligations under the Local Public Service Act. What cannot be overlooked is that the act of providing information to the Shukan Bunshun weekly magazine was included in the subjects of the criminal complaint. The move could undermine media outlets' ability to check governments through reports based on whistleblowing. The Hyogo governor's alleged power abuse and other problems came to light through an anonymous document that was created by a former chief of the prefectural government's Nishiharima District Administration Office. Based on the prefectural government's audio recordings and documents, Shukan Bunshun reported in 2024 that then vice governor had grilled the former district chief, alleging that he was the whistleblower behind the anonymous missive. Searching for a whistleblower contravenes the Whistleblower Protection Act. Shukan Bunshun's reporting was of high public interest in providing society with a glimpse into improprieties of the prefectural government's conduct. This fact was brought to light because of the individual who, even at risk, supplied insider information. Protecting the confidentiality of the sources of information is a crucial principle of the press. The prefectural government's action is unacceptable as it attempted to identify and punish the informant who should be protected. The prefecture filed the criminal accusation in response to a report by a third-party committee that investigated the information leak. Their investigation was sparked by an incident in which Takashi Tachibana, head of the political group NHK Party, and others spread online private information of unknown authenticity that was left on the former bureau chief's work computer. The information had nothing to do with the whistleblowing and was degrading of the former bureau chief, who died in 2024. Regardless, the prefectural government added Shukan Bunshun's digital edition reporting to the targets of investigation by lumping it together as "online information." The implementation outline of the inquiry, including its purpose and targets, had initially been withheld, and the details were only made public on March 31 when the report was released. That's when the inclusion of the Shukan Bunshun coverage as a subject of the investigation was first disclosed. The prefectural government's decision to treat the exposure of privacy the same as information provision that serves the public interest is beyond comprehension. It was the governor himself who decided to set up the third-party panel. While he explained that the selection of investigation targets was at the discretion of the human affairs division, he cannot evade his responsibility as the head of the prefectural administration. The prefecture is urged to withdraw the criminal complaint that could silence its conscientious employees.
08-05-2025
- Politics
Ishiba Denies Money Scandal Report
News from Japan Politics May 8, 2025 21:03 (JST) Tokyo, May 8 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Thursday denied a magazine report accusing him of failing to report over 30 million yen in political donations. The Shukan Bunshun weekly magazine reports that "there were fictitious offices and party ticket purchases, but I don't remember such a thing at all," Ishiba told reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo. Ishiba's personal office said Thursday in a written response to Jiji Press that "it is not true that a man who was a supporter purchased tickets for political fundraising parties or made donations, as reported by the weekly magazine." "We handle (political funds) appropriately in accordance with law, and report incomes and expenditures," the office added. Parliamentary affairs chiefs from opposition parties on Thursday agreed to ask Ishiba to speak about the matter before the House of Representatives political ethics panel. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
07-05-2025
- Politics
Ishiba Faces Fresh Money Scandal
News from Japan Politics May 7, 2025 19:39 (JST) Tokyo, May 7 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had received funds totaling over 30 million yen from a supporter and had not disclosed them in his political fund reports, the Shukan Bunshun weekly magazine reported in its online edition Wednesday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, the prime minister's spokesman, told a press conference the same day that Ishiba's office has explained to the magazine that it "has been properly handling political funds in accordance with laws and regulations and making income and expenditure reports" on them. According to the magazine article, the supporter admitted that he paid millions of yen annually to buy fundraising party tickets between 2003 and 2014 and also gave the Ishiba campaign cash multiple times when he ran for the presidency of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The man also said the total amount of money he gave to the Ishiba side is estimated to top at least 30 billion yen. In the wake of the fresh money scandal hitting Ishiba, Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, expressed willingness to seek the prime minister's explanation before the House of Representatives' political ethics council. "We need to clarify it thoroughly," Noda said. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
