Controversy Rekindled Over Apology from Adultery Victim in Japanese Entertainment Industry
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Ayaka Ogawa (35), the flagship announcer of Japan's TBS Broadcasting, has apologized for her husband's infidelity, reigniting controversy over why the victim of an affair should apologize.
On the 3rd (local time), the weekly current affairs magazine Shukan Bunshun reported on the infidelity of Ogawa's husband, Koichiro Toyota (36).
The affair partner of Toyota, who is the CEO of the medical venture company Medley, was a web designer of the same age as Ogawa.
It was reported that Toyota repeatedly visited the woman's home and committed infidelity even after a state of emergency was declared in Tokyo on the 8th of last month due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
Ogawa is the main anchor of TBS's wide news program "News 23." Her husband Toyota is an elite doctor and entrepreneur who graduated from the University of Tokyo Medical School. The two married in February 2019 after dating for about a year and welcomed their first child in July last year. Ogawa returned to broadcasting three months after giving birth and shared the hardships of being a working mom.
Upon the report of his infidelity, Toyota stated, "As a husband and as the CEO of the company, I deeply reflect on and apologize for disappointing many people with my foolish actions," and announced, "I will step down as CEO of Medley."
Ogawa also apologized for her husband's infidelity.
Ogawa said, "I deeply regret that my husband's actions were revealed despite the state of emergency declaration due to the COVID-19 situation," and added, "I feel very sorry as many medical workers and others are struggling."
Netizens responded with regret, saying things like, "Is infidelity the wife's fault?" "Why should the victim wife apologize?" "It seems like she thinks of her husband as a child. Oh my, sorry for raising him wrong," and "The wife looks exhausted from working and raising children, but the husband is cheating."
Recently, in Japan's entertainment and sports circles, there has been a trend of wives apologizing alongside their husbands for infidelity, which has sparked public criticism.
In September last year, national swimming athlete Daiya Seto (27) posted a handwritten apology together with his wife Yuka Seto (26, former national diving athlete) after an infidelity scandal broke out. Notably, the wife posted a longer apology than the husband, which caused controversy.
In June last year, when news of famous comedian Ken Watabe's (49) infidelity became known, his wife, actress Nozomi Sasaki (32), apologized via Instagram.
In January, when news broke that actor Masahiro Higashide (32) had an affair with a woman 10 years younger, his wife, actress Anne (33), appeared publicly to apologize.
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