TOKYO (TR) – Hitoshi Matsumoto, a member of the comedy duo Downtown, announced on Friday that he was dropping a defamation suit against a publisher over articles claiming that he sexually assaulted multiple women.
Matsumoto released a statement saying, “I want to avoid causing any more burden or trouble to many people. So, I have decided to withdraw the lawsuit.”
He also acknowledged his attendance at a meeting with the women to apologize. “I sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended or hurt,” he said.
In January, Matsumoto filed a 550 million yen suit with the Tokyo District Court against publisher Bungeishunju Ltd. over reporting in its weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun that said he forced women to have sex with him.
Matsumoto also sought a published apology from the magazine.
In the article, published by Bunshun in December 2023, two women told the magazine that they had engaged in drinking parties at a hotel with Matsumoto in 2015. The women also said they had been coerced into having sex with Matsumoto.
In the suit, Matsumoto denied carrying out sex acts as claimed in the article. He further argued that nothing that would constitute sexual assault took place.
The trial began in March. At that first hearing, Bunshun defended its reporting. “The article reported the truth,” the magazine said.
According to a release posted on the website of Matsumoto’s agency, Yoshimoto Kogyo, and other companies, the comedian “withdrew the lawsuit” with the consent of Bunshun.
Also on Friday, the editorial department of Bunshun said, “Regarding the lawsuit we announced today, the plaintiff’s attorney contacted us to say that he wanted to make a public apology to those who were hurt. After discussing it with the women, we have agreed to withdraw our case as defendants. As previously announced, no monetary exchange took place at the time of this withdrawal.”
