Hitoshi Matsumoto#Sexual assault allegations

Matsumoto was born in Amagasaki, Hyōgo, to a poor family. He has one older sister and one older brother, {{nihongo|Takahiro Matsumoto|松本 隆博|Matsumoto Takahiro}}, an established folk guitarist who released an autobiographical book titled {{nihongo|"Matsumoto's Older Brother"|松本の兄|Matsumoto no Ani}}.Matsumoto, Takahiro (1997). Matsumoto no Ani. Akita, Japan: Akita Shoten. {{ISBN|978-4-253-10255-1}}. He has expressed his feelings about growing up in a poor household in a poem titled {{nihongo|Chicken Rice|チキンライス|Chikin Raisu}} which Hamada turned into a song in 2004.[http://www.neowing.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=YRCN-10071 Neowing info on the "Chicken Rice" single.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231001208/http://www.neowing.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=YRCN-10071 |date=2013-12-31 }} Neowing.co.jp, 2004-11-17. Retrieved on 2008-1-10. In his poem, he wrote how laughter was the only way to get through those times.[http://daishoiuma.exblog.jp/1388612/ Lyrics to "Chicken Rice."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060313104011/http://daishoiuma.exblog.jp/1388612/ |date=2006-03-13 }} 2004-12-02. Retrieved on 2008-1-10. He credits his poverty for giving him a good imagination and sense of play, as it forced him to invent his own games to entertain himself.{{Cn|date=March 2024}}

His favorite manga as a child was Tensai Bakabon by Fujio Akatsuka. He aspired to become a manga artist.

He attended Ushio Elementary School, where he met Masatoshi Hamada. He graduated from Amagasaki Technical High School in 1982.

Although he secured a job at a printing office, to pursue his dream of becoming a comedian, he was invited by Hamada in 1982 to enter Yoshimoto Kōgyō. Together, they became Downtown, and made their major debut in 1983. The Downtown comedy duo loosely follow the manzai style of Japanese comedy, where Matsumoto plays the half-wit, and his partner plays the straight man.

Matsumoto remained single with no history of marriage for years after his comedy partner, Hamada, was married with children. He stated that he was not into romance, finding acts such as sharing a bed or bathing with someone else bothersome and unnecessary.LINCOLN Episode #5 aired on 2005-12-13.

It was revealed in July 2008 that Matsumoto was dating then 25-year-old tarento Ihara Rin.[http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2008/07/08/romantic_roundup.shtml Japan Zone: Romantic Roundup] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428161748/http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2008/07/08/romantic_roundup.shtml |date=2015-04-28 }} (2008-07-08). Retrieved on 2008-07-16. In the evening of May 17, 2009, it was announced that Matsumoto's official bachelorhood had ended with a secret marriage ceremony between himself and the aforementioned Ihara.[http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/090518/gnb0905180506002-n2.htm 松ちゃん電撃デキ婚！元お天気お姉さんと] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520011217/http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/090518/gnb0905180506002-n2.htm |date=2009-05-20 }} (2009-05-18). Retrieved on 2009-05-18. Ihara, a former weather announcer for the Japanese news program "ズームイン!! Super" (Zoom In!! Super) is nineteen years Matsumoto's junior, and apparently became pregnant by Matsumoto, prompting the marriage. The announcement of the marriage came via fax by Matsumoto's managing organization to several media outlets, including a personal message by Matsumoto himself: "My partner will quit her job and is currently pregnant. As this is a delicate time, I would like this to be dealt with as gently as possible. It would be best to hold a press conference, however I'm too embarrassed to, so I won't."

On October 6, 2009, Matsumoto and Ihara Rin became parents to a daughter. At the time, Matsumoto was in South Korea for the screening of the film "Symbol."{{cite web | url=http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-5349 | title=Owh联盟外投 | access-date=2009-10-12 | archive-date=2021-11-07 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107113434/http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-5349 | url-status=live }}

Matsumoto's hobbies include driving, billiards, and video games.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}

As an admirer of Vincent van Gogh, he has gone to Amsterdam to visit The Van Gogh Museum. These trips were filmed for {{nihongo|The True Hitoshi Matsumoto|松本人志の本当|Matsumoto Hitoshi no Hontō}}, a special NHK BS documentary series.NHK BS's Matsumoto Hitoshi no Hontō, first aired on 1999-1-29. Another figure he respects is the late comedian, Kanbi Fujiyama.Matsumoto, Hitoshi (1995). Matsumoto. Osaka, Japan: The Asahi Shimbun Company. p 22. "I still watch videos of his acts to this day, and no matter how many times I watch them, I never tire of them."

He enjoys tokusatsu shows and owns DVD box sets of series such as Kamen Rider and Giant Robo. He has parodied tokusatsu a number of times on his previous show, Downtown no Gottsu Ee Kanji (with characters such as the Go-Renjai, Miracle Ace and Aho Aho Man), and in his directorial film debut, Dainipponjin.

He has demonstrated good physical fitness on Gaki no Tsukai. He defeated his comedy partner Hamada in a high jump competition by clearing 1.40m on the first try.Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!! Episode aired on 1993-07-11. In 1999, he outran Hamada, Hōsei Yamasaki and both members of Cocorico in a 100-meter race (he ran the entire length while the other four ran a quarter of the length each in the form of a relay race).Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!! Episode aired on 1999-10-17. Three years later, he performed notably better than them in a long jump competition.Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!! Episode aired on 2002-05-05.

Although he claims to have no interest in sports,LINCOLN Episode #38 aired on 2006-09-12. he has occasionally dabbled in boxing as he is friends with former world boxing champion Joichiro Tatsuyoshi.

Once a heavy cigarette smoker, he quit in 2003.

On June 28, 2010, Yoshimoto Kogyo announced that Matsumoto would not be performing on any shows for two months due to an injury on his left hip, which required surgery.{{cite web |url=http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2010/06/27/03.html |title=松本人志が緊急入院 全番組をキャンセル（芸能） ― スポニチ Sponichi Annex ニュース |website=www.sponichi.co.jp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628160635/http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2010/06/27/03.html |archive-date=2010-06-28}} For two episodes, the remaining Gaki no Tsukai cast members discussed his condition,Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!! Episode aired on 2010-7-04.Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!! Episode aired on 2010-8-01 with Matsumoto returning to hosting on August 31, 2010.LINCOLN Episode aired on 2010-8-31 In subsequent segments of the show requiring rigorous physical activities, such as the annual New Year's Eve 24-Hour Batsu Games of recent years, he is exempted and instead given idle or captive roles, due to his previous injury.

During the 2011 Gaki no Tsukai batsu game involving the group becoming airline assistants, Matsumoto revealed he had suffered a stress fracture preparing for said batsu game, and despite doctor's orders, he still participated in the batsu game.

In December 2023, two women made anonymous allegations in an article published in the weekly Japanese celebrity magazine Shukan Bunshun that Matsumoto had sexually assaulted them in 2015 at "VIP parties".{{Cite news |last=Le Van |first=Quentin |date=2024-03-17 |title=Japan's king of humor is no longer making anyone laugh |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/m-le-mag/article/2024/03/17/japan-s-king-of-humor-is-no-longer-making-anyone-laugh_6629199_117.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322084212/https://www.lemonde.fr/en/m-le-mag/article/2024/03/17/japan-s-king-of-humor-is-no-longer-making-anyone-laugh_6629199_117.html |archive-date=2024-03-22 |access-date=2024-03-23 |work=Le Monde |location=France |language=en}} In response his talent agency strongly denied, saying that there "no facts whatsoever" to the allegations.{{Cite web |last=Staff writer |first= |date=2023-12-27 |title=Popular Japanese comedian denies sexual assault allegations |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/12/27/japan/crime-legal/matsumoto-sexual-assault-allegation/ |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=The Japan Times |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128105151/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/12/27/japan/crime-legal/matsumoto-sexual-assault-allegation/ |url-status=live }} Other anonymous allegations followed of other women with similar accounts. Matsumoto himself responded saying "I'll fight because (the allegations) are totally groundless," however he subsequently paused his comedic and hosting performances.{{Cite web |last=Staff writer |first= |date=2024-01-09 |title=Japan comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto halts activities amid sex scandal report |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2024/01/09/entertainment-news/comedian-hitoshi-matsumoto-sexual-assault/ |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=The Japan Times |language=en |archive-date=2024-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226131853/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2024/01/09/entertainment-news/comedian-hitoshi-matsumoto-sexual-assault/ |url-status=live }} Later accusations say that he requested specific types of women to be procured for him from his fellow comedians who he would then sexually harass or assault.

In January 2024, in response to the allegations Matsumoto sued Bungei Shunju which is the publisher of the magazine Shukan Bunshun alleging that it had engaged in defamation by publishing the story and was seeking damages of ¥550 million ($3.6 million USD).{{Cite web |last=Inoue |first=Yukana |date=2024-01-23 |title=Comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto sues publisher over sexual assault article |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/01/23/japan/crime-legal/hitoshi-matsumoto-sues-bunshun/ |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=The Japan Times |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128014121/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/01/23/japan/crime-legal/hitoshi-matsumoto-sues-bunshun/ |url-status=live }} The trial began in March, with Matsumoto's lawyers saying that they cannot respond to the accusations because the identity of the women remains hidden. In November Matsumoto withdrew his lawsuit against publisher Bungei Shunji.{{Cite news |last=Kaneko |first=Karin |date=November 8, 2024 |title=Comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto to withdraw Bungeishunju defamation suit |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/11/08/japan/crime-legal/hitoshi-matsumoto-trial-bunshun/}} There was no payment between either party as a result of the withdrawal of the lawsuit, according to lawyers for both sides.{{Cite web |title=Japan comedian Matsumoto Hitoshi withdraws libel suit against publisher {{!}} NHK WORLD-JAPAN News |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20241108_16/ |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=NHK WORLD |language=en}} In a statement Matsumoto said: "I would like to frankly apologize if any of the women who attended were offended or hurt."{{Cite web |last=NEWS |first=KYODO |title=Japanese comedian drops suit vs. publisher over sex scandal report |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/11/7c908cf9f21d-japanese-comedian-drops-suit-vs-publisher-over-sex-scandal-report.html |access-date=2024-11-22 |website=Kyodo News+}}

Comic shorts:

• Tōzu (頭頭) (1993)
• Sundome Kaikyō (寸止め海峡) (1995)
• Visualbum Vol. Apple – Promise (ビジュアルバム Vol. リンゴ – 約束) (1998)
• Visualbum Vol. Banana – Kindness (ビジュアルバム Vol. バナナ – 親切) (1998)
• Visualbum Vol. Grape – Relief (ビジュアルバム Vol. ブドウ – 安心) (1999)
• Sasuke (佐助) (2001)
• Zassā (ザッサー) (2006)

Full-length movies:

• Big Man Japan (2007)
• Symbol (2009)
• Saya Zamurai (2011)
• R100 (2013)
• Violence Voyager (2019), narrator

• Hitori gottsu (一人ごっつ) (1996–1997)
• Densetsu no kyōshi (伝説の教師) (2000)
• Ashita ga aru sa (明日があるさ) (2001)
• Hōsō-shitsu (放送室) (Since 2001)
• Hitoshi Matsumoto no suberanai hanashi (人志松本のすべらない話) (Since 2004)
• Ippon Grand Prix (IPPONグランプリ) (Since 2009)
• Matsumoto Hitoshi no Konto (MHK) (松本人志のコント) (2010)
• Hitoshi Matsumoto Presents Documental (Since 2016)

• Isho (遺書) (1994) {{ISBN|978-4-02-256809-0}}
• Matsumoto (松本) (1995) {{ISBN|978-4-02-256898-4}}
• Matsumoto Hitoshi Ai (松本人志 愛) (1998) {{ISBN|978-4-02-257300-1}}
• Matsumoto Bōzu (松本坊主) (1999) {{ISBN|978-4-947599-62-9}}
• Zukan (図鑑) (2000) {{ISBN|978-4-02-257550-0}}
• Matsumoto Cinema Bōzu (松本シネマ坊主) (2002) {{ISBN|978-4-8222-1733-4}}
• Matsumoto Saiban (松本裁判) (2002) {{ISBN|978-4-86052-002-1}}
• Teihon Hitorigottsu (定本一人ごっつ) {{ISBN|978-4-86052-024-3}}
• Sukika, Kiraika – Matsumoto Hitoshi no Nigenron (好きか、嫌いか – 松本人志の二元論) (2004) {{ISBN|978-4-08-780401-0}}
• Sukika, Kiraika 2 – Matsumoto Hitoshi no Saishuu Sanban (好きか、嫌いか2 – 松本人志の最終裁判) (2005) {{ISBN|978-4-08-780422-5}}
• Cinema Bōzu 2 (シネマ坊主2) (2005) {{ISBN|978-4-8222-1744-0}}
• Cinema Bōzu 3 (シネマ坊主3) (2008) {{ISBN|978-4-8222-6321-8}}
• Matsumoto Hitoshi No Ikari Akaban (松本人志の怒り 赤版) (2008) {{ISBN|978-4-08-780503-1}}
• Matsumoto Hitoshi No Ikari Aoban (松本人志の怒り 青版) (2008) {{ISBN|978-4-08-780504-8}}

• [http://www.ntv.co.jp/gaki/ Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!! (Nippon TV) official site]
• [http://www.tbs.co.jp/lincoln05/ Lincoln (TBS TV) official site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070406124451/http://www.tbs.co.jp/lincoln05/ |date=2007-04-06 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071006214407/http://wwwz.fujitv.co.jp/HEY/index.html Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ (Fuji TV) official site]
• [http://www.sarudama.com/japanese_movies/dainipponjin.shtml Dai-Nipponjin review] at [https://web.archive.org/web/20080420131144/http://www.sarudama.com/ SaruDama.com]
• {{IMDb name|1035719}}
• [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Hitoshi+Matsumoto Hitoshi Matsumoto] discography at Discogs.

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Category:1963 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century Japanese comedians

Category:21st-century Japanese comedians

Category:Japanese male comedians

Category:Japanese television personalities

Category:People from Amagasaki