Jun Komori makes televised apology for lying to fans about auction sites

People make mistakes but it's takes more than just an apology to make amends. I will reserve judgement by waiting to see if she follows through with real contrition or if she just tries to quickly put this behind her and act like it's all in the past.

@AtsushiExiledFeb. 06, 2013 - 05:01PM JST

Oh, Paulllleeeeezzzzeeee!!!! She is getting exactly what she deserves. If she does have the business sense to control her career and management company, then she needs to pack her kit and go back to the farm. I am waiting for the video of her standing on stage with someone twisting her arm up between her shoulder blades, forcing her to endorse a product.

I do feel bad for Komori. It should also be noted that a few others were implicated in the same scandal, namely Kumada Yoko and Hoshino Aki. Komori was the only one to issue a public apology. Though I don't know the back story, the reason I feel bad is that many of the sponsorship decisions come directly from the celebrity's management. It may have started innocuously, but by the time they realized the underhandedness of the operation, they're already involved and can only save face by sticking with it (and it wouldn't surprise me if they were pushed that way by the management team). If these stories were investigated further than the celebrity faces attached to them, we could know more about the extent to how deeply people were involved. I never hear about a celebrity's management group being implicated in these matters. It's usually just the celebrity who takes the fall and disappears. I guess that's just how it works. It seems like just another way to deflect accountability to the most convenient, rather than the ones most culpable.

This is what I know about Jun Komori's "talent"-

She has a fashion line/store that brings in over 1 Billion yen a year(from her mouth) She has a blog that has a semi-large following like thousands of other people She complains about her new husband as much as she can

How does this give her the "talent" to be on TV almost daily, brag about her good life, comment on World issues, judge other people, and become a comedian.

If we let her continue, she will soon be releasing albums, TV dramas and movies.

The best punishment would be not allowing these people to apologise. All that whingeing n weeping in front of cameras just strokes their egos that little bit more. Make them front page news if you must, Mr. Media..but do it in a way that drags their name through the mud and leaves them destitute and miserable. No pedestals, please. Thank you.

Japanese are taught not to be so prideful, as to hold onto a failed endeavour past its usefulness. And that personal pride can only be strengthened by (seemingly) humiliating acts of contrition. Westerners have nothing better to show, neither personally nor socially; everything suggested just perpetuates problems. Healing open wounds is the height of civility. This woman will find her way. Can't say the same for the rest...

"When asked what she thought of the reports that her career in the public eye had been jeopardized by the incident, Komori replied that she believed deleting her blog had been a sign of contrition, but that she later realized it had not been sufficient."

How about returning back the money?

I love how the Japanese music and movie industry paints itself as a prideful, ethical organizations that is immune to any kind of scrutiny. I also agree, this apology is nothing more than a "oops...you made me, take the hands out of the cookie jar!" People make mistakes, but in Japan making these kinds of mistakes ruining a so called perfect Tarento image, can damage your career beyond repair, if we held our western musicians to the same standard, half of the music industry would dominate the news to the point that it would shroud the other daily news headline. Sorry, humans are imperfect and I don't care from what society you're from, no one or no country, ethnic group, religious group is impervious from scandal. That's just part of life and once this society realizes it, the better off the whole entertainment industry will be.

I must agree with everyone. She is all fake. After she says sorry...she will go off air and be like "f***ing fools lol". Then back she will go to her shady business. So many people in Japan do this. Most of them are all linked to Yakuza. Who was that other lady? The drug addict? The one with the tatoo on her ankle? She gave a little cry cry and got forgiven too. Pathetic. I don't want to see lying scum on TV.

They should make an apology show in Japan, where washed up 'tarento'-turned-criminal can, after declaring that they've quit the biz, make their apologies and come-backs, and fans can applaud and shout 'Ganbatte!' in words or on placards, completely forgetting what the person in question has done and gotten away with.

Absolutely correct on the "I'm sorry (I got caught)" part -- it's in all facets of this and many other societies around the world, but it never is quite so quickly forgiven and forgetten as it is here.

Did anyone actually see it? I liked Komori up until this and it was just pathetic. Huge, fake crocodile tears. I don't recall the comments Nishikawa. Hard to believe she was once Miss Japan I believe it was.

And yes, only cry and be sad when you are caught. TIP of the iceberg in terms of what many are involved in.

Got it. I always thought her name was Junko Mori. You are saying it should be Junkie Mori?

Why do people on here think she looks like a drug addict?

Er...because she's emaciated. At the yleast she needs a cheeseburger. 5000 yen, do I hear 5000 yen?

shouldn't that be "an act of contrition"?

Ayako Nishikawa, 41, said, “I don’t understand how she has the nerve to appear on TV and I don’t want to see her face.”

Funny, that, Dr Nishikawa. I've felt the same way about your good self for quite a while now....

Why do people on here think she looks like a drug addict? Not that great looking maybe, but not sure how that means she is on drugs.

for all those people in Showbiz that get caught , Shaving their head should be the new norm!!

She would look even more like a drug addict if she shaved her head...

for all those people in Showbiz that get caught , Shaving their head should be the new norm!!

Shame on her!! I thought she exercised more discretion as a popular geinojin. I guess anything for money.

Think before you act folks..its what seperates adults from children

This is an interesting comment that must be alien to many Japanese. As an example, I often find myself in situations in the subway were people try to pass just in front of me without saying a word. It is only when a collision occurs that they squeeze out their almost inaudible, pathetic "sumimasen" and their little nod. I very much respect people who use a "sumimasen" or an "orimasu" in the subway beforehand so that people can be alerted to someone wanting to go out.

It would be nice to see that in society in general.

She is only 27 years old? She looks like 50 in the photo, so I assume she may be abusing amphetamines.

I feel sorry for her! Poor woman!

How do we know she isn't lying about how sorry she is?

cat fight!!

So many spot on comments about the whole crying thing. I dont get it either. We're supposed to feel sorry for them?? On the two occasions I have been hit by cars here the driver ultimately started crying. The police have even pointed this out when asking me if I wished to press charges..like it will soften my heart and see me forgive their rash and selfish actions..my answer on both occasions was an unwavering "Yes, throw the book at them." The police even looked taken aback. Think before you act folks..its what seperates adults from children.

perhaps she needs to shave her head - the bar has been raised...

LOL

Japan is a culture of do whatever you want, if you get caught, cry, bow and say sorry and continue on your way.

gaijinfo is spot on. If you don't get caught, you don't apologize. Hell, I'd like to put that phrase of yours on a t-shirt and walk around in Tokyo.

The tearful apologies in Japan are so disingenuous. What is with the crying in this culture? So childish and manipulative.

I don't know what it is with all this excessive apologizing here. I suppose in a society where people are scared of making mistakes or having anything out of the ordinary happening, apologizing is kinda like on of those blankets some kids carry with them everywhere. A safety blanket..

A friend of mine recently told me how, on a kids TV programme, they were getting primary school aged girls to cry and the hosts were judging which could do the best 'usonaki'.

Just shows that this kind of thing is encouraged, to help them in their future life of manipulation.

gaijinfo is spot on. If you don't get caught, you don't apologize. Hell, I'd like to put that phrase of yours on a t-shirt and walk around in Tokyo.

The tearful apologies in Japan are so disingenuous. What is with the crying in this culture? So childish and manipulative.

I don't know what it is with all this excessive apologizing here. I suppose in a society where people are scared of making mistakes or having anything out of the ordinary happening, apologizing is kinda like on of those blankets some kids carry with them everywhere. A safety blanket.

perhaps she needs to shave her head - the bar has been raised...

booooooooooooooo.

had she not been caught she would be laughing to the bank!

The tearful apologies in Japan are so disingenuous. What is with the crying in this culture? So childish and manipulative.

Go home please. You did it for the money and are only sorry you were busted.

Why would she think that removing a personal blog was enough to compensate for arguable criminal behaviour? Oh and that Nishikawa woman is one of the most odious talent-less people on TV. Can't stand her.

Japanese entertainment is sort of like yakuza enterprise.

What, no shaved head this time??

And "Dr." Nishikawa can just shut her pie-hole, sheesh... kettle kettle, black black...

Here's the meaning of pretty much of ALL Japanese apologies (from kindergarten on up):

"I'm sorry I got caught."

Bonus points if you can phrase it in the passive tense.

e.g.

"It is regrettable these actions took place. Any discomfort causes was not intended."