UPDATE: Miyasako Hiroyuki and Tamura Ryo apologized to the public in a press conference

Ameagari Kesshitai comedian Miyasako Hiroyuki and London Boots Ichi-go Ni-go’s Tamura Ryo apologized in public at a press conference.

Miyasako said, “Please let me apologize to victims of fraud, and to the people who have supported me, to whom I have caused distress and hurt. This disturbance stemmed from my thoughtless, selfish lies to protect myself. I am responsible for everything that happened.”

Miyasako also denied he has intentions of retiring from the entertainment industry.

Tamura Ryo (47) said, “Due to my own weakness, I gave false explanations. To all of those who have come to distrust me for my words and actions, I am deeply sorry.”

When asked about the photo with the mastermind of the gold heist, Miyasako said he has nothing to do with the person.  “I take photos wheith people when they ask for a photo.  I have taken photos with thousands of people in my 30-years as an entertainer.  I went to Hawaii with my family and I took a photo with a tattooed person.  I didn’t turn it down”.

Media is reporting that Yoshimoto Kogyo decided to cancel the contract with Tamura on July 20th.  It was revealed in the press conference that Yoshimoto Kogyo gave Tamura two choices, to retire or a contract cancellation and he chose to cancel the contract.

UPDATE: A spokesman for Yoshimoto Kogyo has now said they will not respond to questions of the press conference but did say “We have not canceled the contract of Tamura Ryo”.

In addition, NHK has canceled the contract with  “London Boots Ichi-go Ni-go” Tamura Ryo’s who hosted the show “Ran x Sma” which aired on NHK BS1.  The show will continue again without Tamura who had been with the show for many years.

As for why the show is continuing without Tamura, an executive said, “It’s a long running popular show.  We recognize there are many fans and it is necessary for us to continue the broadcast for society”.

It was also revealed that the two wanted to have an apology press conference back in June but were forbidden by Yoshimoto Kogyo’s president.

What happened?

For over a month, the big entertainment news has been about the comedians who are part of the agency, Yoshimoto Kogyo, Co. (the largest comedy agency in Japan) being suspended or released by appearing at parties hosted by an antisocial organization.

One comedian, Irie Shinya of the comedy duo Karateka, has been released by Yoshimoto Kogyo, Co., for arranging the appearances that the parties without going through the agency.

Eleven celebrities have been suspended: Miyasako Hiroyuki, Tamura Ryo, Razor Ramon HG, Fukushima Yoshinari, Kumada Masashi, Hamasaki Punch, Kimura Takuhiro, Katsuyama Moody, Yasoshima Hiroyuki, Tsunemichi Hiroshi and Diego.

Many of the comedians admitted they attended but Miyasako and others denied that they knew the party was for an antisocial group and that they never received any payment for their appearance. Which proved to be false after an in-house probe, in which Miyasako and others admitted to it.

For Miyasako, the final straw that led to Yoshimoto Kogyo for canceling his management contract with the company was a phoyo of Miyasako having a drink with Noguchi Kazuki, the person who was one of the alleged mastermind of a gold heist in Fukuoka’s Hakata ward back in 2016.  A group of three men dressed in police uniforms and snatched gold bars worth roughly 760 million yen.  Noguchi and his brother are well-known underworld figures in Nagoya and leaders of the hangure gang.