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Kintaro Kanemura sexual harassment scandal
By Zach Arnold | February 19, 2008
Update: Here’s a scan of Tokyo Sports today that Kakutolog has posted. The big question raised now is whether or not Big Japan tried to cover-up the incident. The newspaper speculates on whether criminal charges will be filed.
Update II: Kanemura’s bookings on two upcoming LOCK-UP shows (2/24 Korakuen Hall & 2/29 Osaka, IMP Hall) have been canceled.
If there is one guarantee that you can count on in the world of Japanese professional wrestling and Mixed Martial Arts, it’s that there always seems to be a scandal right around the corner.
A quick summary of what is already starting to erupt into a big story…
Veteran pro-wrestler and long-time hardcore icon Yukihiro “Kintaro” Kanemura has been accused of sexually harassing a female employee of Big Japan Pro-Wrestling last January. The employee in question is the editor of Big Japan’s e-mail magazine.
Big Japan’s ring announcer, on his own personal blog, started whistle-blowing about the incident.
A couple of days later, the victim publicly thanked the ring announcer for shining the spotlight on the incident.
The story has gained traction in the Japanese media and a new wave of fallout is expected to come later this week. Based on various articles that I have read today, it seems the following has happened:
Kanemura won’t be working for Big Japan or Apache Pro-Wrestling any time soon and the ring announcer who decided to become a whistle-blower is likely a goner as well.
Tetsuhiro Kuroda, Kanemura’s long-time tag-team partner, claims that there will be “an apology interview” tomorrow in Japan.
It’s been a hell of a year for Kanemura, as he finished 2007 by getting kicked upside the head by Mirko Cro Cop at the Hustle Saitama Super Arena event. Kanemura allegedly was legitimately hurt by Mirko’s kick.
Topics: Japan, Media, Pro-Wrestling, Zach Arnold | 2 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback | Share This
Good lord! One of my favorite chubby-boy wrestlers is a sexual predator, eh? Jesus, I am NOT surprised by this. Good thing he decided not to go about further on this girl. I know this girl isn’t reading this, but the off chance she is (and can read English) then heed my words:
GET SOME MASE AND/OR PEPPER SPRAY, LEARN SOME JUDO AND WHATEVER USEFUL STRIKING ART (KYOKUSHIN KAI KARATE IS FANTASTIC, MUAY THAI AS WELL, MAYBE EVEN SAVATE) AND PROTECT YOURSELF!!!!!!
There, got it out of my system.
it goes to show you why Kanemura can’t keep a job with any of the bigger companies
KZ
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