Former Yoshimoto Chairman Osaki on Matsumoto’s Expo Ambassador Role: “Difficult”

On the 10th, Hiroshi Osaki (71), former chairman of Yoshimoto Kogyo, visited the Osaka-Kansai Expo site, where he serves as co-chair of the event planning committee, and inspected the Expo Arena and Expo Hall. He mentioned Downtown’s Hitoshi Matsumoto (61), who is currently on hiatus and is the Expo ambassador. “It’s a very difficult issue, and there’s nothing I can say from my position at the moment, but as for Matsumoto-kun, he is currently on hiatus, so I think it will be difficult (for him to resume his activities as an ambassador),” he said. Matsumoto was accused of forcing a woman into sexual acts after an article in the weekly magazine Bunshun late last year reported that he had done so, and filed a civil lawsuit for defamation against Bungeishunju and others. However, he withdrew the lawsuit on the 8th of last month, and attention is now focused on when he will resume his activities. Osaki said that even after the lawsuit was dropped, “I basically haven’t been in contact with him,” and added, “I left Yoshimoto after all.” When I see the news (related to Matsumoto), I have some thoughts and it makes me feel a bit down, but basically it’s something Yoshimoto has to decide.”

吉本興業前会長・大﨑洋氏が松本人志に言及　万博アンバサダー活動再開「悩ましい問題。難しいんじゃ…」（スポニチアネックス） - Yahoo!ニュース

吉本興業前会長の大﨑洋氏（71）が10日、催事検討委員共同座長を務める大阪・関西万博の会場を訪れEXPOアリーナ、EXPOホールを視察。同万博アンバサダーで、活動休止中のダウンタウン松本人志（61

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