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Sexy female reporters mobilized to cover L&G chairman

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Kazutsugi Nami, 75, the chairman of Tokyo-based bedding supplier L&G KK, known for its own ‘‘Enten’’ currency, was arrested Feb 5 on suspicion of organizing a scheme to defraud investors. He allegedly collected 118 million yen in total from six clients between July and December 2006 despite knowing they could not pay the promised investment returns.

At the time of his arrest in a Japanese restaurant near his apartment, a weird scene was captured by TV cameras and photographers. Beautiful female reporters surrounded him like hostesses.

“This is a paid session! You must pay 10,000 yen to join in,” Nami told a Shukan Post journalist and photographer. Even the female reporters around him gazed at the Shukan Post staff with cold eyes. Those who didn't pay for the session had to leave the restaurant and wait for him outside until police appeared for his arrest.

A spokesperson for the TV station says their female reporters didn't pay 10,000 yen. An employee of the restaurant also recalls: “It was not actually our normal business hours at that time, but some TV station staff requested us to open the restaurant. Mr Nami paid for his meal by himself. But reporters paid about 1,000 yen each, just like a tip.”

As “X-Day” for Nami's arrest was leaked, TV stations started dispatching their female reporters to cover Nami, including his private life at pachinko parlors, the golf course and bars. He is also famous for creating the so-called “Cosmo Girls” group by hiring his favorite hostesses, paying them a 300,000 yen monthly salary and providing apartments to them.

Usually, reporters belonging to the press club located in the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) cover the police beat, such as the L&G case. Insiders say, however, that female reporters closely communicate with detectives and find out about high-profile arrests in advance.

A crime reporter for one major newspaper says, “To get insider information at the MPD, a sexy reporter can find out more than 10 male reporters. Every TV station arranges to have at least two female reporters keep in touch with detectives. They often have drinking sessions with them. They are like female ninja.”

An insider recalls that a female TV reporter once went back to Nami's apartment, saying, 'Oh! I've left my belongings,” and was seen there the next morning by other reporters. “There was a rumor that she stayed with Nami for the night,” he says. “I know some female reporters tried not to show any feelings even when Nami hugged them. Of course, others tried to make sure they were never alone with him. Who knows what was going on."

While such media behavior is virtually accepted to get scoops, some critics say it goes against journalists' code of conduct. Keichi Katsura, a media researcher at Rikkyo University, says, “Media may think they can get close to Nami if they mobilize female reporters to cover him. But from the viewpoint of victims in the L&G case, those female reporters have crossed the line. It's a matter of professional ethics.” Katsura adds, “These days, media coverage by TV stations simplify those cases as just good and evil, and fail to report the nature of issues.”

Fuji TV, TV Asahi and TV Tokyo told Shukan Post that their “reporting methods were appropriate,” while NTV and TBS declined to comment. (Translated by Taro Fujimoto)

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.


19 Comments
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people're concerned with women as role models and HOW MANY snack bars are there in every city in Japan? I guess it's OK to throw yourself at a man for money if you're in a dress and he's lonely and possibly carrying a supersweet katana, but if you're trying to extract information from him for a story it's bad news?

also, I resent the comment that they are like female ninjas. none of them were wearing supersweet stealth suiits, and none of them were throwing supersweet shurikens. also, everyone knows a female ninja is a くの一.

and 10,000円 seems like a small price to pay to be near a ballin @$$ mofo

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You can see a slightly larger image here:

http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/graph/enten/10.jpg

To me, it just looks like a group of (primarily but not exclusively) Japanese women, professional in appearance, doing media work. "Beautiful female reporters surrounded him like hostesses" seems like a bit of a stretch for anywhere but here.

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Japan is a very efficient country.

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this photo is too small to ascertain the sexiness of the reporters. please JT, post higher quality images or we may be forced to question the accuracy of your reporting!

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Female reporters are just doing their job for chasing interesting news. Some female reporters died in war zone for reporting war news for their TV stations. For me, they are heroes of the heroes.

Zenpun : Wahahaha !!!

In the USA or Europe, you may have a point (I mean it : "may"), but in Japan sex or rather the odor and presumption of sex and the money that goes with these are the driving forces in everything.

Nami and the reporters : a pimp and his herd.

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Imapc

Your comment was very harsh and offending. Female reporters are just doing their job for chasing interesting news. Some female reporters died in war zone for reporting war news for their TV stations. For me, they are heroes of the heroes.

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Female ninjas? Whatever! We know exactly what you think of these 'female reporters'. Prostitutes! there i've said it.

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Sexy reporters. This is the oldest ploy in the book and started about 15 minutes after the oldest profession, I'll bet. It's a standard espionage trick to get the mark set up with a sexy reporter. So what?

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Really sad. Even women who should be role models for younger women hoping to "make it" career-wise are nothing but glorified hostesses. Disgusting what this male-dominated culture continues to accept.

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sick. I say no to the 2016 bid after the stories ran today.

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So what, we can conclude that the value of interviewing this guy is less than ¥10,000 ? probably appropriate.

Weird

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Very understandable, even if its so very wrong. Beautiful girl shows an interest, its hard to say no. Even if you're married and have kids. Make that especially if you're married and have kids. A bit of information seems like nothing in comparison.

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What an @$$ backwards country

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I bet the reporters often come across things hard to find.

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It's also nice to know how cheaply a MPD detective can be bought off. A smile and a nice pair of ... legs and they'll shoot off their.. mouths about everything.

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A crime reporter for one major newspaper says, “To get insider information at the MPD, a sexy reporter can find out more than 10 male reporters. Every TV station arranges to have at least two female reporters keep in touch with detectives. They often have drinking sessions with them. They are like female ninja.”

I would tell them everything they wanted to hear!

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note to myself: become rich!

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As a bedding supplier I bet he's got a lot of choice lines to get them into bed.

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Hen na no

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