Mona Nakanishi (formerly Yamamoto), who retired from show business for the second time in 2011, marked a return to the entertainment world this week at the opening event of her new smartphone project "Tellme! Mona's consultation tour," in which she chats on her smartphone with users on any topic through Saturday.
In the past, Nakanishi, 37, was forced to retire after two illicit love affairs came to light. "This is my third comeback," she said with self-deprecating humor at Wednesday night's event.
"I want to take on new challenges while balancing my time with my family," she said.
Nakanishi, who is the daughter of a Norwegian father and a Japanese mother, married her husband, the president of a real estate investment company, in 2010.
Nakanishi's troubles began in September 2006, when she was accused of having an affair with married DPJ bigwig Goshi Hosono and was forced to step down from her position on TBS’s “NEWS23” program, a job which she had only held for five days.
She was fired again in 2008 from her position as an anchor for Fuji TV after news broke of her affair with Yomiuri Giants player Tomohiro Nioka, who was married at the time. The alleged tryst took place on the eve of her comeback from the first scandal.
© Japan Today
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JeffLee
Nakanishi, 37, was forced to retire after two illicit love affairs came to light.
But the men, who were married and were public figures, were NOT forced to step down? Japan is such a progressive society, isn't it.
Yubaru
I guess you don't know about Uno then do you?
Moderator: Uno never had an affair with Nakanishi.
Tom Thompson
still cute, I volunteer for 3rd illicit love affair
papasmurfinjapan
Until her next affair is made public, when she will go into retirement again.
Wakarimasen
I like that she puts it about - she shouldn't have been victimised for her private life.
ballsahoy
JeffLee, you hit the nail on the head. It was a disgrace that the married men (she was single at the time) did not face any repercussions for their "illicit" actions, and yet SHE was essentially fired.
kansaifun
Some people are a glutton for punishment...
Others for a paycheck...
Mona seems to fit both bills.
kickboard
I happen to be a Giants fan and I know what happened to Nioka. He was sent down to the minors even though we was a solid starter for the team for several years. After that he was released and picked up by the Nippon Ham Fighters.
BurakuminDes
It's acceptable apparently for married men to have affairs - but not the un-married ladies they have a fling with. Hypocrisy at it's best - but I guess that's why the "water-trade" and prostitution is so big.
smithinjapan
Well, welcome back, I guess.
sensei258
4th time will be as an AV "idol" I'm sure
viking68
So, should we expect another retirement soon? The last two comebacks lasted no longer than five days.
Anyway, I hope she makes it without another retirement.
Agreed on the hypocrisy. Absurd, but common here.
Cos
Good, and she can retire again. I wouldn't have known she existed f she had not retired twice.
The hypocrisy is also in the comments about double standard. That's not the case. That's because her job is to do the celeb on Sazae-san TV. You don't have your shenanigans (flings, drunk nights, street fights...) getting public when you do that job.
Lowly
Oh, I know she exists and was disappointed when she had to retire for some dumb reason. She is effin hot and almost makes it worth watching stupid J tv. (almost).
Dennis711
Nothing makes watching JTV worth watching. She just ran out of money. At least she didn't have to shave her head.
nath
Waste of air time she is...
JeffLee
That's not the case. That's because her job is to do the celeb on Sazae-san TV.
Whereas an elected member of the national legislature belonging to a party pledging family values has less of an image to protect than a celeb on a cartoon show? LOL.
wtfjapan
I pity all the poor sods who actually find JTV entertaining, gamesshows & cooking shows with a few dramas with actors that cant act thrown in. LOL
wtfjapan
yeah she should just join the AV industry, probably make more money, before whe gets put in the too old basket
wtfjapan
I love how in japan when a scandle hits people get sacked stepped down, when the heat has gone its all back to normal as usual.
tmarie
Indeed. Pretty sure Hosono will be PM in the future and I frankly, won't support him because he sat around and let her take the fall for him not keeping it in his trousers.
That being said, not a fan of hers at all. You just don't go after married men and she has a habit of doing it. Perhaps karma in the future?
Nonubusiness
Based on the article it sounded like SHE was married while having an affair. Thanks to the commentators I now know better.
Nonubusiness
Sigh, no way to delete a post. I was going by the order in which the article flowed and the actual dates got glossed over.
mrmalice
how quaint, meanwhile here and in america, stars stay in the news by scandal alone sometimes to keep from falling into oblivion, strange, weird, brave new world rising