The 10 Major Celebrity Scandals of the Heisei Era, Male Edition. SMAP Holds Four out of Ten in the List. Rifts, Disbandments, Shotgun Marriages, Arrests
｢Part 10 of the "10 Major XX of the Heisei era" series｣
Many scandals rocked the entertainment world in Heisei's 30 years. Let's look back on news that featured a man at its forefront, in "The 10 Major Celebrity Scandals of the Heisei Era, Male Edition". Those that stood out were SMAP related. Beginning with the division and breakup of the group, and then individual members, SMAP accounted for four out of ten in the list.
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| Sponichi's report on SMAP's breakup |
On January 13, Heisei 28 (2016), Sponichi presented a shocking headline to the world: "SMAP Dissolution Crisis". With news of the possibility of Heisei's representative top idol group's breakup surfacing, we chased after the truth and reported on it every day as the situation heated up. The scandal occupied the front page of Sponichi for 12 consecutive days. Since our newspaper's inception 70 years ago, this was the first time an entertainment related scandal had graced the front page for 12 consecutive days.
The problem started when SMAP's long-time manager resigned from Johnny & Associates and attempted to go independent. A gulf developed as four members: Nakai Masahiro (46), Inagaki Goro (45), Kusanagi Tsuyoshi (44), and Katori Shingo (42), indicated intentions to leave with her. They were faced by Kimura Takuya (46), who had decided to stay. At one point, it looked as though everything would return to normal, but they ultimately decided to break up. In August, they officially announced their dissolution. They disbanded at the end of December.
Heisei was an era where idols became multi-talented. It was SMAP, formed in Showa 63 (1988), who created this format. They had hits like "Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana" and "Yozora no Muko", while each member actively worked as actors, hosts, and talents. They built up a strong position in the entertainment industry. Even the individual members were the subject of conversation. At the peak of his career in 2000, Kimura Takuya and Kudo Shizuka (49) had a shotgun marriage. In 2001, Inagaki was arrested for violating traffic laws. In 2009, Kusanagi was arrested for public indecency.
Former TOKIO member Yamaguchi Tatsuya withdrew from the group after seאᴜαlly harassing a high school girl. Arashi's hiatus announcement shocked Japan. You could say that Heisei was "Johnny's era". In the latter half of Heisei, ASKA (61), Oshio Manabu (40), and Pierre Taki (52) were involved in successive dɾᴜg scandals. What scandals will break out in the new era? (End)
"The 10 Major Celebrity Scandals of the Heisei Era, Male Edition"
※ SMAP's rebellion (2016, Heisei 28): The scandal broke out in January. At one point, it looked as though everything would return to normal. The group disbanded at the end of the year. Inagaki Goro, Kusanagi Tsuyoshi, and Katori Shingo left the agency.
※ Kimura Takuya and Kudo Shizuka's shotgun marriage (2000, Heisei 12): Married at 28, at the peak of his career -- the period where each of his starring dramas became hits. This scoop was found by Sponichi. An emergency press conference was held after SMAP's concert.
※ Inagaki Goro arrested for violating traffic laws (2001, Heisei 13): Inagaki was asked to present his license when parking illegally on the street. He tried to escape and injured the police officer. Suspended from work for five months.
※ Kusanagi Tsuyoshi arrested for public indecency (2009, Heisei 21): Drunk and dancing naked in a park in Roppongi, Tokyo. Yelled "What's wrong with being naked?" at the police officer.
※ Arashi's hiatus at the end of 2020 (2019, Heisei 31): In January this year, the group announced they would be going on an indefinite hiatus at the end of 2020. They announced it two years ahead of time to show their gratitude to their fans.
※ Yamaguchi Tatsuya's forced obscenity (2018, Heisei 30): Forcibly kissed a high school girl at his home while drunk. Left TOKIO and Johnny's.
※ Ichikawa Ebizo, victim of assault (2010, Heisei 22): Got into a bar fight while out drinking in Tokyo's Nishi-Azabu area. Sustained serious injuries, including a depressed fracture to his left cheekbone. Went on a self-imposed suspension of activities for eight months. Returned to stage in July the following year.
※ Shimada Shinsuke, ties to organised crime (2011, Heisei 23): Was a variety show host as well as a music producer. Admitted to having ties to organised crime. Withdrew from all television programs and retired. Reportedly living in Okinawa.
※ Beat Takeshi's bike accident (1994, Heisei 6): Fractured his skull after he crashed his motorbike in Shinjuku while under the influence of alcohol. He was discharged from the hospital's intensive care unit two months later. The accident left his face partially paralysed.
※ Successive dɾᴜg scandals (2009–2019, Heisei 21–31): Oshio Manabu was arrested in 2009 for taking ⱮDⱮA. Since then, with ASKA and Pierre Taki, the celebrity dɾᴜg scandals have not stopped.
1. [+9384 / -489]
This is not how Heisei's representative group should have been conducting themselves.
Their end was awful.
[+133 / -387]
As expected of Heisei's representative group SMAP w
Rifts, disbandments, shotgun marriages, arrests ww
Brilliant ww
As expected of Heisei's representative group SMAP w
Rifts, disbandments, shotgun marriages, arrests ww
Brilliant ww
2. [+5383 / -440]
SMAP, Ichiro, Amuro Namie, Heisei was a good era.
Especially 90s music. I still listen to it every day.
3. [+4363 / -223]
The last part, with the dɾᴜg scandals, is way too condensed. Should've given more details.
Oshio Manabu took dɾᴜgs with a woman and left her to die when she became ill. He's on a completely different level of evil. Don't talk as if Pierre Taki and ASKA, who were just dɾᴜg-dependent, are the same as him.
4. [+2086 / -149]
Heisei is definitely SMAP
The second half was unfortunate though...
5. [+1872 / -86]
Personally, I had enough of Johnny's in Heisei. My honest thought is that I don't want to see the 48 groups in Reiwa.
6. [+2084 / -181]
SMAP contributed to the agency for several decades,
But in the end, they were destroyed by an old woman's hysteria
Even now, the three that left are unable to stand on center stage.
Why was there any need to go so far to heed an old woman's wishes?
We truly lost a precious group.
7. [+1841 / -109]
I still haven't gotten over SMAP's breakup. From where they stood, they splendidly influenced every single place. I honestly don't think TV is interesting anymore.
8. [+1797 / -146]
Heisei's top idols were SMAP.
Without SMAP, there's nothing to say. It's been two years since they disbanded but they're still a huge topic of discussion. I think they were really an amazing group.
9. [+1333 / -36]
SMAP and Amuro Namie were shocking. The Ichiro that spectators waited for in his final game, his silhouette when he moved around the field, it made me think, 'he's the representative athlete of Japan'.
10. [+1591 / -159]
Now that SMAP and Arashi are over
I hope Johnny's will no longer be cast as the leads for dramas or hosts for Kohaku in Reiwa.
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