Here
and
Now

kuchikomi

Mona takes the fall, while Nioka gets off

23 Comments

Hardly a day has gone by over the last week that the tabloid media hasn't put the boot into Mona Yamamoto, 32, after she was forced to quit her job as a news program anchor due to a scandal surrounding her visit to a love hotel with a married Yomiuri Giants baseball player. Since Yamamoto had to leave another news program in October, 2006 in similar circumstances, the media have been calling her all sorts of names.

But those who were at the party on the night of the latest scandal say that baseball player Tomohiro Nioka, 32, was hitting on Yamamoto much more eagerly than she was hitting on him. Yet he barely received a slap on the wrist.

“As Nioka got drunk, he started to approach a group of girls who were drinking together. But these girls ignored him, so he started to hit on Yamamoto,” said one of Nioka's friends who was at the party. “He talked to her, and was whispering in her ear. The distance between them got closer.”

After the party, Nioka left with Yamamoto and looked as if he was pushing her into a taxi around 4:30 a.m. “While he was drunk, he tried to kiss me,” Yamamaoto said in an official statement to media. “Mr Nioka asked me to go to another bar on the street, but I refused that offer. Because I didn't want to make it a big deal in public, I reluctantly went to a love hotel nearby to talk with him until he could sober up. We just had a drink there but didn’t do anything more.”

Nioka married a freelance announcer in 2005, and has a son who was born in June, 2007. He is currently president of the Players' Union. Nioka's wife told Shukan Post: “I heard everything from my husband and I am sorry that he has caused so much trouble for many people.”

One Yomiuri Giants fans says, “He hasn't been in good form these days. If Mona is forced to suspend all activities, Nioka should do the same.”

However, a spokesperson for the Yomiuri Giants says, “His behavior was very senseless. We apologize to our fans. He is sorry for his own actions now. Since he is one of our key players, we decided to let him off with just a verbal warning this time.” (Translated by Taro Fujimoto)

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.


23 Comments
Login to comment

Hope his wife leaves him. Doubt it though.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Since he is one of our key players, we decided to let him off with just a verbal warning this time.” Incredible...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

They went to a love hotel just for a drink, yeah right. Nioka approached a group of girls but they ignored him, ha ha ha, eat the proverbal! Looks like he had to settle for some low hanging fruit then. BTW He shouldnt get in trouble for his behaviour, it wasnt his fault, he was drunk.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'm looking forward to the reception Nioka gets when he comes up to bat against the Tigers at Koshien.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Totally unfair! She gets slammed and he gets off. The media has really made her look bad and don't seem to show much light on Nioka (Oh, but of course he's a good guy.....I almost forgot he plays for The Tokyo Yomiuri Giants). Regardless, for both of them to go into a love hotel; she should've known better. Nioka being drunk or not...it takes two to tango.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

In a mysoginist society like Japan, what reaction would you expect? Obviously it's the woman's fault, even though she's unmarried and he is the one far more in the wrong.

We all know from the past that Fuji TV is run by a bunch of dinosaurs, so this latest moral thunderbolt is sadly predictable.

Does Nioka keep his job as chief players' rep? I suppose that he does...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Mr Nioka asked me to go to another bar on the street, but I refused that offer. Because I didn’t want to make it a big deal in public.

here`s a crazy idea.. Leave in your own taxi!!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Nioka is a bum, there is no doubt. Wife and little baby waiting at home and he's boozing and hitting on everything that walks into the bar. You know it's not like this was an atypical Saturday night for him. However, you have question Mona's judgment. It's all well and good to say Japanese press are too nosy or whatever, but it's not like she's nineteen years old, she should have more sense than to agree to split off and have a little private nijikai with a married man even if she didn't intend that it lead to sex.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Me thinks that Nioka is on the slide, too much booze and not enough batting practice. As a high profile player (unfortunately adored by lots of younger children as their "hero), what was this goofball doing? She also seems rather DFS, however, it is not right that she solely take the fall.

Advice to Mrs. Nioka - Divorce your husband and make him destitute. Moreover, approach every non-Yomiuri media outlet you can find and PUT IN THE BOOT.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

she says,"go away youre married ..you think I'm that stupid !!" there's no story..Shes a silly girl.. a moral thunderbolt,huh ??This is Mona's second public display of adultery,in my view shes sinned as equally as Nioka

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Nioka gotten off? His wife however has a guilt-free ticket to return the favor, probably a multiple-pass. Avenge yourself Mrs. Nioka!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Nioka is sure to set a new standard for the all time favorite great Tokyo Giants. Congratulations, Giants.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I heard the Giants only lectured Nioka for creating a scandal with an announcer from a rival media conglomerate. "If you must cheat, cheat Yomiuri TV" was the exact quote I think.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Let's elevate Nioka to the commissioner when the newly appointed 70-something comish resigns. Nioka has all that it takes. He can pursuade the next SMAP group to join Ch. 4 for broadcasts, and we all know he knows how to whisper sweet nothings into a horses ear. The expressioni Uma no mimi ni Nenbutsu means, "Its like praying in a horses ear". That's what its like to expect Ch. 4 to take more strident action in this case.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Before I thought Mona was an idiot for getting into this situation, but after what is happening here ... I feel exceptionally sorry for her and Nioka is a complete jerk (would like to use stronger language though). I don't think much of the Giants either.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

giants shud fire this scumbag, if not Mona shud sue him.

In any case as I told you all in the other thread, she wud be fired & he wud be back in the line up, told ya!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

She leaves with him to a "love hotel" to talk???? She's absolutely insane. Either that's an exptemely poor decision or she's lieing about the intention and now is trying to make excuses. No married woman would do that unless she actually wanted to sleep with him.

As for the guy, he's a pig!!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Well, she is a single woman and has no moral obligations for her sexual adventures. Punishing someone's professional career based on private life achievements/failures is kind of saudi-arabic. If the society is so intolerant towards adultery, those who cheat should be stoned to death.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

i think they both got off, that is why they are in trouble!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Did you see the latest in the Japanese Bunshun something something magazine? The title is something like "Yamamoto Mona wa saitei na onna desu". Y.M. is the worst kind of woman. Apparently it covers many of her flings. Again, no word of criticism about the slumping 2-Oka-san.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Did you see the latest in the Japanese Bunshun something something magazine? The title is something like "Yamamoto Mona wa saitei na onna desu". Y.M. is the worst kind of woman. Apparently it covers many of her flings. Again, no word of criticism about the slumping 2-Oka-san.

Didn't see the article, don't need to, but what is very clear is that the 'saitei' is on the side of the magazine article.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

whoh dis? im the sun and the air -Morrissey

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Nioka should be kicked off of the Giants. His suspension is a mere slap on the writs. He's still hauling in the $$$$...

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