Tokyo’s new tour spot -- sightseers flock to site of Kusanagi’s arrest

Charges have been dropped against pop group SMAP member Tsuyoshi Kusanagi for public indecency and his comeback has been announced for May 28. But the park where Kusanagi was arrested, located behind Tokyo Midtown where he resides, has become a new Tokyo tour spot for curious visitors.

A housewife in her 40s who lives in a condominium facing Hinokimachi Park commented she’s never seen so many people there before. In the middle of the day, she’s seen young people take their shirts off and shout, obviously mocking Kusanagi.

Groups of youngsters are also taking videos of their friends reenacting the incident, posing as Kusanagi or policemen in the manner reported earlier by the media.

Shukan Post interviewed one such park visitor who said, “I just went to the izakaya (pub) where he was drinking that night and took some pictures. I’m now on my way to the Akasaka police department [which arrested Kusanagi], then the Harajuku police department [where he was detained], and lastly I’ll take a picture in front of Johnny’s Jimusho.”

During Golden Week, there seemed to be plenty of people from Tokyo and elsewhere with enough time on their hands to “tour” the same sightseeing spots and vicariously experience the Kusanagi incident.

Minato Ward’s Akasaka branch, which manages Hinokimachi Park, asked that tourists refrain from taking their shirts off out of courtesy to other users. On the other hand, entertainment reporter Masaru Nashimoto claims the strange phenomenon, in a way, attests to the singular popularity of the pop icon SMAP.

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Latest 15 of 18 Total Comments Show All

sean1blaze at 12:28 PM JST - 14th May

"Groups of youngsters are also taking videos of their friends reenacting the incident" Hahahaaaaaa
Beelzebub at 01:23 PM JST - 14th May

Yeah, well there was also quite a rush by couples who went to Gotanda to use the same love hotel that Mona Yamamoto and that player for the Giants got spotted leaving.
Coolasapool at 03:10 PM JST - 14th May

so what.. take the broomstick from your behind and let them have a laugh. its funny.
mrsynik at 03:18 PM JST - 14th May

Small things amuse small minds.
dennis0bauer at 03:28 PM JST - 14th May

Japanese never seize to amaze me
aikisako at 05:04 PM JST - 14th May

so now he's some sort of hero? Ironic.
sharky1 at 05:46 PM JST - 14th May

still trying to get a whiff of special K's dairy air, eh?
happyface at 06:45 PM JST - 14th May

Shukan Post interviewed one such park visitor who said, “I just went to the izakaya (pub) where he was drinking that night and took some pictures. I’m now on my way to the Akasaka police department [which arrested Kusanagi], then the Harajuku police department [where he was detained], and lastly I’ll take a picture in front of Johnny’s Jimusho.”

this person made a whole itenarary for this! omfg! what a trip!
PaulieWalnuts at 10:47 PM JST - 14th May

Japanese never seize to amaze me

but do they grab your attention and cease your boredom?
Den Den at 11:02 PM JST - 14th May

...Museums, shrines, historical sites, galleries, great restaurants, scenic vistas, cinema, shopping... Dude, this all sounds pretty boring. Maybe great for a 70 year old, but going to the actual park is a real buzz!
nigelboy at 11:04 PM JST - 14th May

Get a life people. In Tokyo, one of the world's.....

Some times I prefer just not to read the Japanese news because they make me really angry.

Japanese never seize to amaze me

It never seizes to amaze me that people on this site get all bent out shape from tabloid magazine like Shukan Post.
knackerz at 08:23 AM JST - 15th May

the expression is "it never ceases to amaze me" thanks
nigelboy at 12:14 PM JST - 15th May

Yes, Mr. knackerz. Can I go outside now?
realist at 10:49 AM JST - 16th May

Glad to see Japanese kids having a bit of fun. Lets face it, there is not much else to do in this country except work, so any diversion is welcome.
WilliB at 11:45 PM JST - 17th May

Embarrassing news. This sort of idiocy is what makes me think twice about staying in this in so many ways wonderful country.