Johnny’s Jr. group Uchuu Six disbanded after Yamamoto Ryota scandal

On October 2nd, Yamamoto Ryota (30) of the Johnny’s Jr. unit “Uchuu Six” was caught visiting an underground/unlicensed Pachinko Slot shop in Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo.

Unfortunately for Yamamoto, visiting an unlicensed slot shop (dark slots) is an illegal act and is a gambling crime.  Bunshun featured a photo of Yamamoto walking into the shop with a wad of yen in his hand

In Japan, gambling is illegal, so licensed pachiko slot shops use tokens and not real coins which they can trade in for prizes. Yami Slot is a term for slot shops that operate without a business license under the Fuei Law.

If a person is caught gambling at a Yami Slot shop, the punishment according to Article 185, Paragraph 1 of the Penal Code (first offense) is a fine of no more than Y500,000 yen or a lower fine.  If it is habitual, a person who is gambling can be punished by a prison sentence of no more than three years.

At the time of formation, there were six members until it dwindled down to four members including Yamamoto.  When news reached Johnny’s that Yamamoto was gambling, Takizawa Hideaki (Johnny’s Jimusho VP) contacted Yamamoto.  Yamamoto apologized for his actions and Takizawa was shocked that one of his seniors did something illegal.  Yamamoto was a veteran with 19 years of Johnny’s Junior experience and was looked at as a big brother to the junior members and praised by other high ranking senior members.

Johnny’s canceled his contract on October 1st leading to Uchuu Six becoming a three person group. Uchu Six is a unit formed by Kitagawa Johnny (who passed away in 2019) backed in November 11, 2016.

On the official Johnny’s website, it was stated, “As for Yamamoto, we have canceled the exclusive contract with Yamamoto yesterday because we have confirmed a serious contract violation that involved gambling at slot shops”.

Takizawa informed the three remaining members of what happened to Yamamoto and the cancellation of his contract.  When he asked them what to do with the group in the future, after four hours of discussion, the three remaining members felt that they were aware of the seriousness of what happened and felt it was a collective responsibility and each agreed it would be best to disband the group.  On October 3rd, Uchuu Six was disbanded.

The plan is the three members of the group will be working solo in the future.

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