Tokyo police to investigate talent agency over Shimada’s ties to gangsters

TOKYO (TR) – Shinsuke Shimada’s admitted ties with members of organized crime via former boxer Jiro Watanabe have prompted the Tokyo Metropolitan Police to investigate Yoshimoto Kogyo, the television personality’s agency announced, reports daily tabloid Sponichi (Aug. 30).

The 55-year-old Shimada last week abruptly announced his retirement, citing an exchange of emails with an upper member of the Yamaguchi-gumi, Japan’s largest crime syndicate, as the reason.

The anti-organized crime division of the metropolitan police plans to discuss the details of Shimada’s correspondence as a part of its ongoing initiative to eradicate gang groups.