Mona Yamamoto

Mona takes the fall, while Nioka gets off

Hardly a day has gone by over the last week that the tabloid media hasn’t put the boot into Mona Yamamoto, 32, after she was forced to quit her job as a news program anchor due to a scandal surrounding her visit to a love hotel with a married Yomiuri Giants baseball player. Since Yamamoto had to leave another news program in October, 2006 in similar circumstances, the media have been calling her all sorts of names.

But those who were at the party on the night of the latest scandal say that baseball player Tomohiro Nioka, 32, was hitting on Yamamoto much more eagerly than she was hitting on him. Yet he barely received a slap on the wrist.

“As Nioka got drunk, he started to approach a group of girls who were drinking together. But these girls ignored him, so he started to hit on Yamamoto,” said one of Nioka’s friends who was at the party. “He talked to her, and was whispering in her ear. The distance between them got closer.”

After the party, Nioka left with Yamamoto and looked as if he was pushing her into a taxi around 4:30 a.m. “While he was drunk, he tried to kiss me,” Yamamaoto said in an official statement to media. “Mr Nioka asked me to go to another bar on the street, but I refused that offer. Because I didn’t want to make it a big deal in public, I reluctantly went to a love hotel nearby to talk with him until he could sober up. We just had a drink there but didn’t do anything more.”

Nioka married a freelance announcer in 2005, and has a son who was born in June, 2007. He is currently president of the Players’ Union. Nioka’s wife told Shukan Post: “I heard everything from my husband and I am sorry that he has caused so much trouble for many people.”

One Yomiuri Giants fans says, “He hasn’t been in good form these days. If Mona is forced to suspend all activities, Nioka should do the same.”

However, a spokesperson for the Yomiuri Giants says, “His behavior was very senseless. We apologize to our fans. He is sorry for his own actions now. Since he is one of our key players, we decided to let him off with just a verbal warning this time.” (Translated by Taro Fujimoto)

Latest 15 of 23 Total Comments Show All

timorborder at 12:55 PM JST - 15th July

Me thinks that Nioka is on the slide, too much booze and not enough batting practice. As a high profile player (unfortunately adored by lots of younger children as their "hero), what was this goofball doing? She also seems rather DFS, however, it is not right that she solely take the fall.

Advice to Mrs. Nioka - Divorce your husband and make him destitute. Moreover, approach every non-Yomiuri media outlet you can find and PUT IN THE BOOT.
aintgottimetobl at 01:03 PM JST - 15th July

she says,"go away youre married ..you think I'm that stupid !!" there's no story..Shes a silly girl.. a moral thunderbolt,huh ??This is Mona's second public display of adultery,in my view shes sinned as equally as Nioka
sabinuki at 01:14 PM JST - 15th July

Nioka gotten off? His wife however has a guilt-free ticket to return the favor, probably a multiple-pass. Avenge yourself Mrs. Nioka!!
presto345 at 01:28 PM JST - 15th July

Nioka is sure to set a new standard for the all time favorite great Tokyo Giants. Congratulations, Giants.
chardk1 at 03:43 PM JST - 15th July

I heard the Giants only lectured Nioka for creating a scandal with an announcer from a rival media conglomerate. "If you must cheat, cheat Yomiuri TV" was the exact quote I think.
isthistheend at 08:25 PM JST - 15th July

Let's elevate Nioka to the commissioner when the newly appointed 70-something comish resigns. Nioka has all that it takes. He can pursuade the next SMAP group to join Ch. 4 for broadcasts, and we all know he knows how to whisper sweet nothings into a horses ear. The expressioni Uma no mimi ni Nenbutsu means, "Its like praying in a horses ear". That's what its like to expect Ch. 4 to take more strident action in this case.
Betting at 10:03 PM JST - 15th July

Before I thought Mona was an idiot for getting into this situation, but after what is happening here ... I feel exceptionally sorry for her and Nioka is a complete jerk (would like to use stronger language though). I don't think much of the Giants either.
GW at 01:42 AM JST - 16th July

giants shud fire this scumbag, if not Mona shud sue him.

In any case as I told you all in the other thread, she wud be fired & he wud be back in the line up, told ya!
KitsuneYoukai at 02:06 AM JST - 16th July

She leaves with him to a "love hotel" to talk???? She's absolutely insane. Either that's an exptemely poor decision or she's lieing about the intention and now is trying to make excuses. No married woman would do that unless she actually wanted to sleep with him.

As for the guy, he's a pig!!!
Hun at 03:02 AM JST - 16th July

Well, she is a single woman and has no moral obligations for her sexual adventures. Punishing someone's professional career based on private life achievements/failures is kind of saudi-arabic. If the society is so intolerant towards adultery, those who cheat should be stoned to death.
tokyotom at 07:37 AM JST - 16th July

i think they both got off, that is why they are in trouble!
isthistheend at 08:56 PM JST - 16th July

Did you see the latest in the Japanese Bunshun something something magazine? The title is something like "Yamamoto Mona wa saitei na onna desu". Y.M. is the worst kind of woman. Apparently it covers many of her flings. Again, no word of criticism about the slumping 2-Oka-san.
presto345 at 09:29 PM JST - 16th July

Did you see the latest in the Japanese Bunshun something something magazine? The title is something like "Yamamoto Mona wa saitei na onna desu". Y.M. is the worst kind of woman. Apparently it covers many of her flings. Again, no word of criticism about the slumping 2-Oka-san.

Didn't see the article, don't need to, but what is very clear is that the 'saitei' is on the side of the magazine article.
GUNOT at 08:27 AM JST - 17th July

whoh dis? im the sun and the air -Morrissey
Blue_Tiger at 08:44 PM JST - 29th July

Nioka should be kicked off of the Giants. His suspension is a mere slap on the writs. He's still hauling in the $$$$...