ID :
57381
Sat, 04/25/2009 - 10:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/57381
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Kusanagi apologizes to Asian fans, admits drinking problem
TOKYO, April 24 Kyodo -
Disgraced pop star Tsuyoshi Kusanagi on Friday apologized in person to his fans
in Japan and other Asian countries for being arrested for stripping naked under
the influence of alcohol and said he does not know when he can resume his
activities as a celebrity.
The 34-year-old member of popular music group SMAP also admitted that he had
been warned by his fellow group members about his preference for drinking
before the incident took place a day before, as he appeared in a packed press
conference room in Tokyo hours after he was released from detention.
''I have been made very aware of the fact that I am a member of SMAP and have
to act properly, and that young children and elderly people support me, but I
drank too much and that was my weakness,'' Kusanagi, wearing a black suit,
said.
''I also caused concern to fans in countries other than Japan. I can only say
that I'm very sorry,'' he said in front of nearly 200 reporters.
The incident has caused ripples in Japan, with companies including Toyota Motor
Corp. hurriedly canceling TV commercials that feature Kusanagi and to remove
his image from TV programs. It also shocked South Korea, where the singer, who
is fluent in Korean, is popular.
His lawyer, who also attended the press conference, stressed that he has no
memory of the incident, but probably ''felt high for some reason'' after
drinking and stripped naked at a central Tokyo park in the early hours
Thursday.
He said Kusanagi may have been under the impression that he had already reached
his home, as his clothes were also found at the scene. The park is located
close to the apartment building where he lives.
Kusanagi said that he had once stripped down to his shorts at his home when he
was drinking with Shingo Katori, another SMAP member, but had not stripped
naked in public.
But he admitted that SMAP members had warned him earlier that ''too much
drinking would not be good for my health.''
''Maybe the members had been thinking this kind of incident could happen, but I
failed to respond (to their warnings) appropriately,'' Kusanagi said.
He also said ''it's hard'' for him to suspend his activities as a performer,
but added that he must reflect on what he did.
''I don't know when I can restart my activities,'' he said.
==Kyodo
Disgraced pop star Tsuyoshi Kusanagi on Friday apologized in person to his fans
in Japan and other Asian countries for being arrested for stripping naked under
the influence of alcohol and said he does not know when he can resume his
activities as a celebrity.
The 34-year-old member of popular music group SMAP also admitted that he had
been warned by his fellow group members about his preference for drinking
before the incident took place a day before, as he appeared in a packed press
conference room in Tokyo hours after he was released from detention.
''I have been made very aware of the fact that I am a member of SMAP and have
to act properly, and that young children and elderly people support me, but I
drank too much and that was my weakness,'' Kusanagi, wearing a black suit,
said.
''I also caused concern to fans in countries other than Japan. I can only say
that I'm very sorry,'' he said in front of nearly 200 reporters.
The incident has caused ripples in Japan, with companies including Toyota Motor
Corp. hurriedly canceling TV commercials that feature Kusanagi and to remove
his image from TV programs. It also shocked South Korea, where the singer, who
is fluent in Korean, is popular.
His lawyer, who also attended the press conference, stressed that he has no
memory of the incident, but probably ''felt high for some reason'' after
drinking and stripped naked at a central Tokyo park in the early hours
Thursday.
He said Kusanagi may have been under the impression that he had already reached
his home, as his clothes were also found at the scene. The park is located
close to the apartment building where he lives.
Kusanagi said that he had once stripped down to his shorts at his home when he
was drinking with Shingo Katori, another SMAP member, but had not stripped
naked in public.
But he admitted that SMAP members had warned him earlier that ''too much
drinking would not be good for my health.''
''Maybe the members had been thinking this kind of incident could happen, but I
failed to respond (to their warnings) appropriately,'' Kusanagi said.
He also said ''it's hard'' for him to suspend his activities as a performer,
but added that he must reflect on what he did.
''I don't know when I can restart my activities,'' he said.
==Kyodo
