Sato Jiro Denies Workplace Bullying of Hashimoto Ai After Stern Warning from TV Station

(CNA Tokyo, July 2) - A dispute among cast members has emerged during the filming of Fuji TV's drama "Keiji to Kenji: Hakusai Kazoku." Actor Sato Jiro allegedly engaged in inappropriate behavior and speech towards co-star Hashimoto Ai on set. Fuji TV commissioned an external lawyer to investigate and issued a stern warning to Sato. Sato's side denies that the actions constituted workplace bullying, asserting that many facts remain undisclosed.

"Keiji to Kenji: Hakusai Kazoku" stars Sato Jiro and Hashimoto Ai and premiered on April 14, with its final episode airing on June 23. In the drama, they play a married couple who are both police detectives.

According to a report by "Bunshun Online," the incident stemmed from physical contact during filming. It is alleged that Sato spontaneously touched Hashimoto's chin with both hands while filming a scene where they were talking inside a police car. Hashimoto, having had past experiences with harassment, had informed the production team beforehand that physical contact might need to be limited during filming.

The producer informed Sato's agent about the incident, but the agent believed Sato was deeply invested in his performance and did not want to restrict him, thus not relaying the information to Sato himself. The producer agreed to this approach. After the "chin-touching" incident, Hashimoto's agency, through the producer, requested Sato to be mindful of boundaries.

The report claims that upon learning of this, Sato went to Hashimoto's dressing room to speak with her and expressed dissatisfaction with the restrictions on physical contact. The two parties eventually reached an agreement, stipulating that shoulders and arms could be touched spontaneously during scenes, but other body parts would require prior consent.

However, "Bunshun Online" reported that on April 8, after watching the completed first episode, Sato again visited Hashimoto's dressing room and stated in a strong tone that if there were restrictions on physical contact, she should not have taken on the role of a married couple, even saying, "You are not suited to be an actress."

The report states that Hashimoto was severely affected by this, crying multiple times during filming. Some staff members reportedly saw her weeping in the hallway. On the day of the premiere, Hashimoto canceled all promotional activities due to her deteriorating physical and mental condition.

Subsequently, accompanied by her agency president, Fuji TV producers, and others, a lawyer interviewed Sato. It is understood that the lawyer reminded him, "You should avoid making statements that negate Hashimoto's work," and advised him not to speak with Hashimoto alone. Sato reportedly nodded in agreement.

However, on April 22, it was Sato who took leave and was absent from filming. Sato also posted on social media platform X, stating, "As an actor, there are things one cannot compromise on. As a performer, I should have protected what I absolutely must protect. Even if I die, I cannot apologize to the god of drama."

Although this post was quickly deleted, discussions immediately began in the entertainment industry and among related individuals, speculating that it was an allusion to his dispute with Hashimoto.

After this, Sato's attitude towards Hashimoto changed, such as ignoring her greetings and complaining about her in a volume audible to those around him. Fuji TV considered the situation serious and began having senior executives take turns supervising on set.

Fuji TV also continued interviews with the lawyer and informed Sato's agency that his remarks to Hashimoto, such as "You shouldn't continue to be an actress," had been deemed "serious workplace bullying," and a formal warning was issued.

However, the harm to Hashimoto did not heal. Due to her physical and mental stress exceeding her capacity, she had to miss filming on June 2 and 3, and the entire drama concluded filming in this manner.

Following the release of the "Bunshun Online" report, Sato Jiro's agency refuted the claims, stating that Sato's hand did indeed touch Hashimoto's chin momentarily during filming but did not believe it constituted harassment. Regarding the visit to Hashimoto's dressing room, the agency explained that Sato went to talk after watching the first episode, believing Hashimoto's performance was excellent and hoping to resolve any distance between them.

Sato's side also stated that his remarks at the time were based on discussions between actors regarding performance methods and were not intended to negate Hashimoto's personality or acting career.

Sato himself also issued a statement through his agency, expressing his deep regret that the situation had escalated to such reports, given that he, the Fuji TV staff, and all co-stars had completed the performance with sincerity. He stated, "My only wish is that all the 'facts' can be made public."

Fuji TV issued a statement acknowledging that a stern warning had been issued regarding the male actor's words and actions and that measures to prevent recurrence had been requested. However, Fuji emphasized that the company did not view the act of the male actor touching the female actress's face during filming as the issue itself. What the external lawyer's investigation found problematic was the male actor's remarks made while knowing that the female actress had certain limitations in her performance for specific reasons.

Fuji stated, "Making such remarks is itself a form of secondary harm and slander. As a company that values human rights, we absolutely do not tolerate such behavior." (Editor: Tian Ruihua) 1150702)