entertainment

NHK says 5 enka singers who played golf with gangsters won't be on Red & White Song Contest

14 Comments

Public broadcaster NHK reaffirmed this week that it will not invite five enka signers who participated in a golf competition with gangsters to take part in its year-end program Red & White Song Contest.

Speaking at a press conference, program production head Hyuga Hidemi said, “After discussions with their agents, we have decided not to invite the five enka singers for the program this year.”

The five singers are Takashi Hosokawa, Akira Kobayashi, Nobue Matsubara, Hiroshi Kadokawa and Kiyoshi Nakajo, all of whom have admitted playing golf with the gangsters. According to the weekly magazine Shukan Shincho, the five attended the golfing event in Shizuoka Prefecture in mid-September. The singers, except Nakajo, also attended a party after the competition, the report said.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

14 Comments
Login to comment

Ok, ok, but who won the competition? Or is that self explanitory...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

But they'll continue with interviews or whatever with LDP officials?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sucked in. Good to see there are consequences for associating with the heavy-handed no-good thugs. Now they will have to spend the evening watching the event on tv.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

On the bright side, 5 less enka performances on Kohaku might make it less on a snoozefest this year...might.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

How come they never name the gangsters in these stories?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Its amazing how they know these gangsters but dont take them in. The world of hipocracy at its best!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

this story only proves that, in addition to terrible fashion sense, yakuzas' musical appetites are dubious. was that Jero playin' b-ball with Fifty Cent? how come no ban for him?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Alright NHK standing up to corruption and the Yaks. What a bunch of idiots how about looking at your own crappy operations.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yeah I would say the guy coming to your door every month for the fee is about the same as a yak shake down.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Look who is calling the kettle black.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Now if NHK would ban itself from the airwaves, that would be justice.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

how do they know they are gangsters ? because the gold teeths or the way the walk....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Seriously, pot meet kettle, who was at my door threatening me to give them money after I moved in? "It's the law in Japan, you know, you HAVE to pay." My husband told me that they will be persistent, and even ask to come into your house to see if you have a TV. I haven't had any yakuza at my door threatening for money, so Yakuza 1, NHK 0. And who cares about these old enka farts? Where is JERO?!?!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I really like enka songs, but this news makes me a bit sad. Jero is cool but I like some of the old enka farts. Miyako Harumi is quite good! I am happy she was not involved in this mess.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites