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The incident happened behind the scenes of the music program “Music Station Special Super Live 2009” and the popular weekly “Music Station,” an annual Christmas event held at Makuhari Messe. Thirty of the most prominent artists including Ayumi Hamasaki, Ayaka, EXILE, Keisuke Kuwata performed on this live program, which had one of the best TV ratings of the day at 13.7%.
What happened behind all the glitz and glamour of this program? An insider explained, “The day before the airing of the show, the 40-something TV director ‘A’ got into a fight with another younger director ‘B.’ The two have worked together before – ‘B’ is the diligent kind and has always done his best to meet ‘A’s expectations. On that particular day, though, the two had some kind of disagreement over how to proceed with the program, and the matter went out of control.”
‘B’ showed up at work the day after the brawl with a swollen face. After completing the live broadcast of the show, he was taken to the hospital where it was found that he suffered a fractured nose and damage in the eardrum. The director took the matter to the company's human resources department, and a discussion was held with both parties who agreed to some form of settlement.
However, on Jan 12, the announcement was made to demote ‘A’ from department vice manager to sectional chief, and a total of six supervisors including the head of the production department were penalized with a one-month pay cut.
It appears that Tamori, emcee of the program, was also shocked by the incident. “He was at a loss for words when he heard what happened. Tamori is very attentive to the staff – he knows all of them by name and never forgets to exchange greetings with even the lowest assistants. He’s known ‘A’ for a long time but has worked with ‘B’ as well. I’m sure he has mixed feelings,” said one of the crew.
Shukan Post contacted TV Asahi for an interview, only to receive a statement acknowledging the incident without further details. “Music Station” is known as one of the last remaining "old-fashioned" music shows on air. Brawls and fist fighting behind the glitz and glamour of the show seems a little out of date too.
© Japan Today
30 Comments
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NeoJamal
I just want to thank these people for doing a better job for the show than the directors of the Top of the Pops.
DenDon
I reckon B had it coming, A's well known past as a bare knuckel street brawler should have been a warning to all. Anyone who takes B's side doesnt know what they are talking abouyt, look at the facts man. it's clear as day
tmarie
I reckon A is a jerk and since he's the older sempai thought he could treat B like crap. Why is A not being charged??
Altria
Apparently they were arguing over whether Gusto or Saizeriya is better.
I've gotta side with B on this one, Saizeriya hands down.
Badsey
You should never encourage negative behavior. Doesn't matter if it is [A+B], [B+A], [A•B], [B•A] = If the results are the same why encourage it.
DenDon
because B started it
LoveUSA
I am sure the men fought over a woman. Men can fight only for a woman, I like it.
LoveUSA
it is so good when men fight!!!!! I love watching it.
thepro
Go b!
borscht
Tamori would probably call them either the 'newest' assistants or the 'youngest' as 'lowest' implies they are worth less than others. Not nice.
LoveUSA
he needs some encouragement for his diligence but I do not see how B can win over A.
ronaldk
I hope B gots some good shots in. The article makes it seem like just B got his arse kicked.
goddog
Too funny!
ca1ic0cat
Let's put them on a special edition of a game show and let them duke it out in public. That would be good fun.
ca1ic0cat
You know, I'm surprised there isn't a Japanese game show where neighbors with a grudge can get physical in a controlled (but humiliating) environment. Might be good entertainment and solve a few social issues at the same time. Salaryman's Revenge? Neighborhood Natto Wars? Drunken Brawl Arena? I think this has possibilities.
johnnyreb
is this news? who is a? who is b? without this information, the story is totally useless.
DenDon
I can't believe all the B supporters, clearly he was in the wrong and needed to be dealt a good lesson. look at his track record, shameless. A was totally in the right and shouldn't have his good name sullied by this sordid affair.
NationalistRE
He wishes that his daytime show was just as exciting
Audience: "SOU-DESU-NE!"
hellhound
Music station: boring and crappy music.
lincolnman
Hate to be cynical but this sounds like a planted quote or a little slip of some cash from Asahi to Shukan to generate some buzz (bad or good) for the program......
LFRAgain
I'm inclined to agree with Lincolnman. This sounds like a wholly contrived article to generate a buzz for the show. And honestly, who really cares about two TV show producers getting into a creative differences tiff?
Now if it were Tamori throwing down with, say, Mino Monta or Shimada Shinsuke . . . Now THAT would be some news.
Ken Watanabe
I have no words to say. . .
murasaki132
One of my first memories of moving to Japan is turning on the T.V. to see Tamori grunt "uuuuuuuuuuuuuh" into the mic while looking at the girls from Morning Musume. Ha!
Junnama
Maybe the translation is bad, but I think A's violent tendencies are well known and B is a just a great big p*ssy for taking such abuse. Anyway, I'm not surprised by this at all.
XXXXX
like borscht said, not nice. It takes away the good things about Tamori that the 'writer' wanted to say.
lostrune2
My S.A.T. advisors always said, when in doubt, blame C.
nisegaijin
so who is who and what exactly happened?
DeepSpace
I heard A was out with B's woman. B has violent tendencies, but A has a drinking problem and could not keep his mouth shut. C instigated the situation by calling B a punk for letting a sloppy drunk like A go out with his girl. That guy C , he get away with everything!
flyingfish
i dont know why people are ignoring his role in it ,but D was the main instigator here. after getting away scot free he was observed dancing down the street singing A,B,C its easy as 1,2,3
JackDorff
So the guy with the swollen face was B? I thought he was A.