Gematsu: Sega halts sales of Judgement (JP) after actor Pierre Taki arrested on cocaine charges

[Jintor]

https://gematsu.com/2019/03/sega-ha...-in-japan-following-actor-pierre-takis-arrest

Sega has announced a voluntary halt on shipments and digital sales of Judgment (Judge Eyes: Shinigami no Yuigon) in Japan following news of actor Pierre Taki's arrest for allegedly using cocaine in violation of Japan's drug control law.

Taki plays the role of Kyohei Hamura in Judgment. Hamura is the captain of the Matsugane family, a subsidiary of the Tojo Clan based in Kamurocho.

In a press release, Sega said, "Sega has received the arrest reports and are currently confirming the facts, but for the time being, we will voluntarily refrain from shipments and digital sales of [Judgment], as well as from things like posting on the product's homepage. We apologize for any inconveniences this may cause for customers, as well as the parties involved."

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Sega statement https://sega-games.co.jp/release/190313_1.html (JPN)

No wordon any effect for the western release.

 

[sinonobu]

 

[Deleted member 45414]

Shit, this is worrying.

 

[vestan]

SEGA has some bad luck when it comes to working with actors that face cocaine allegations. First Narimiya now Taki...

 

[FluxWaveZ]

Funny to look back at some of the responses in this thread: https://www.resetera.com/threads/ac...for-cocaine-use-related-to-judge-eyes.104894/

It's so weird how very seriously this is taken in Japan.

 

[lemonade]

God damn it.

 

[mudai]

It should be noted that drugs are super illegal in Japan. So if a celebrity gets (allegedly) caught with them, all their work gets immediately removed from the public eye, which is why Sega is doing this. This is a pretty standard procedure. I'm sure Judge Eyes will eventually go on sale again, but it's still a pretty bad situation for now. I really, really hope this won't affect the western release.

 

[Viale]

I'm not sure it would, but I really hope this doesn't change localization/Western release plans. :/

I know it's a difference in culture at play, but scrubbing an actor's work for something like this seems really weird.

Spoiler

it's probably pretty bad my first thought was "neat, he's really trying to get into the character"

 

[DecoReturns]

Never realized how serious drugs are over there In Japan.

 

[Datajoy]

Seems like a non sequitur

 

[Aeana]

And yet Watsuki only got a minor fine for child porn possession and continues drawing manga.

 

[GrimGrinningGuy]

I'm really excited for the USA release so I hope this doesn't effect it

 

[--R]

I really, really hope this doesn't change localization plans.

 

[werezompire]

Wonder if this will affect Kingdom Hearts 3 (he was Olaf).

 

[Derachi]

Going to echo my own thoughts from the other thread

I sincerely hope someone from the American side of Sega can get on the phone with the Japanese side and say something to the effect of "hey listen, we know this is a big deal. But look: western movie star Tim Allen is basically 99% cocaine at this point and he does children's movies regularly. We Americans love cocaine. Please let us release the game as intended"

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[Deleted member 873]

And yet Watsuki only got a minor fine for child porn possession and continues drawing manga.

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Oop!

 

[Sandfox]

I'm guessing they'll release a patch to replace him assuming it's worth the effort.

I'm not sure it would, but I really hope this doesn't change localization/Western release plans. :/

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Them profiting off the guy's face would probably be a problem.

 

[BaconHat]

It should be noted that drugs are super illegal in Japan. So if a celebrity gets (allegedly) caught with them, all their work gets immediately removed from the public eye, which is why Sega is doing this. This is a pretty standard procedure. I'm sure Judge Eyes will eventually go on sale again, but it's still a big yikes for the time being.

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They seriously do damnatio memoriae on the person works every time for drugs? Dang. Is there any historic reason why drugs are treated THAT harshly in the public eye over there?

 

[rhandino]

They seriously do damnatio memoriae on the person works every time for drugs? Dang. Is there any historic reason why drugs are treated THAT harshly in the public eye over there?

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A little series of events about the Opium trade and wars over it.

Is not just a Japan thing...

 

[random_polymath]

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That nose looks like it is loaded with cocaine. Seems obvious in hindsight.

 

[Velocity:Design:Comfort]

Celebrities and the rich should get consequences for doing things other people would get in trouble for...but this is going way too far, Japan

 

[Wulfric]

That seems a little over dramatic.

Elsewhere, it seems like celebrities just go to rehab for a few months and then they show up on late night talk shows.

 

[NLCPRESIDENT]

I swear Sega has some bad ass luck. Pre ordering tomorrow in case it becomes rare.

 

[salromano]

It should be noted that when Sega re-released Yakuza 4 for PlayStation 4 in Japan this January, Masayoshi Tanimura (one of the game's four playable protagonists) was recast to be played by Toshiki Masuda due to original actor Hiroki Narimiya retiring in 2016 following allegations of cocaine abuse.

Edit: Also, Gematsu*

 

[J75]

Fuck, this isn't good.

 

[PlanetSmasher]

I really hope this doesn't affect the Western release. I would be shocked if SoA is willing to tank that big of a hit to their finances and release schedule over a cocaine charge, but the industry is weird.

 

[Deleted member 2793]

They seriously do damnatio memoriae on the person works every time for drugs? Dang. Is there any historic reason why drugs are treated THAT harshly in the public eye over there?

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Drug laws in many asian countries are old and very harsh because of the whole opium thing.

 

[DrArchon]

I really hope this doesn't affect the Western release. I would be shocked if SoA is willing to tank that big of a hit to their finances and release schedule over a cocaine charge, but the industry is weird.

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That assumes SoA has a say in the matter.

 

[Lord Vatek]

I really hope this doesn't affect the Western release. I would be shocked if SoA is willing to tank that big of a hit to their finances and release schedule over a cocaine charge, but the industry is weird.

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I'm not really sure how this works but they might not be given a choice.

 

[HaremKing]

I really hope this doesn't affect the Western release. I would be shocked if SoA is willing to tank that big of a hit to their finances and release schedule over a cocaine charge, but the industry is weird.

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I doubt it would be SoA's decision to make.

 

[FF Seraphim]

And yet Watsuki only got a minor fine for child porn possession and continues drawing manga.

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Businessmen here are kinda sick when it comes to underage girls. They don't even hide their leering looks.
Laws are less strict on certain things dealing with that but oh man get caught with drugs and you are fucked. People, you do not want to go to Japanese jail for drug charges.

 

[mudai]

Quite the synchronicity here by the way: With Pierre Taki disappearing from all forms of media, Noriko Sakai will make her first TV performance in 11 (!) years later this month on TV Tokyo. The reason why she vanished? Drugs. Another little side note: Japan (and other Asian countries like South Korea) have very strict slander laws. So once a celebrity returns to the public eye, reporting about their past's arrest can get you sued.

 

[Krvavi Abadas]

Holy shit, they completely wiped the game out of existence on the Japanese site. (Archived copy)

Japan doesn't fuck around when it comes to drug arrests.

 

[Kyrios]

Shit, hope this doesn't delay the Western version.

 

[Massicot]

Holy shit, they completely wiped the game out of existence on the Japanese site. (Archived copy)

Japan doesn't fuck around when it comes to drug arrests.

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And the official site url (http://ryu-ga-gotoku.com/judgeeyes/ ) just redirects to the statement now. Not messing around.

 

[Chessguy1]

hmm, not really sure the correct course of action for sega.

if they remove him, i'm assuming he is a pretty substantial role that will take months to fix.

if they don't, they look uncaring, and based on the history of other celebrities in similar positions, a disclaimer is not enough.

 

[Arthands]

They seriously do damnatio memoriae on the person works every time for drugs? Dang. Is there any historic reason why drugs are treated THAT harshly in the public eye over there?

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Yes. It cause unhealthy addiction and death, and drug addicts take extreme measures to obtain their drugs. It cause harm to their love ones etc

 

[Strings]

Thought it was going to be so much more serious based on the actions they took. Which sounds horrible, but cocaine and speed are just kind of a normalized thing in entertainment production.

 

[--R]

Holy shit, they completely wiped the game out of existence on the Japanese site. (Archived copy)

Japan doesn't fuck around when it comes to drug arrests.

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It's not on the game list from Sega's website either.

 

[ValKiryuSonicEX]

Yeeeep, drugs carry steep repercussions in Japan both legally and socially...even if they're false (poor Hiroki Narimiya).

Not surprising, and this is a serious matter, but I really hope this does not affect the release of Judgment in the west.

 

[Aters]

"Just realized how serious drug are in Japan"

Over 70 thousand Americans died in 2017 in drug abuse. Seems to me the US needs to get more serious.

 

[Cess007]

Edit: Also, Gematsu*

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Sorry, you are Gemetsu now :p

 

[GarthLordOfTheSith]

Better not fucking delay it here in the west

 

[Velocity:Design:Comfort]

Yes. It cause unhealthy addiction and death, and drug addicts take extreme measures to obtain their drugs. It cause harm to their love ones etc

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While I am not saying at all this dude or anyone should do them, come on man. What an exaggeration.

"Just realized how serious drug are in Japan"

Over 70 thousand Americans died in 2017 in drug abuse. Seems to me the US needs to get more serious.

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So we're doing whataboutism now?

 

[duckroll]

Japan morality chart:

War crime denial - A-okay
Child porn - Slap on the wrist
Idol has a boyfriend - Public apology now!
Took drugs - You are dead to the world

 

[Chessguy1]

man, it looks like they have no choice to remove/rework the game, which will certainly affect the western release.

 

[DrArchon]

"Just realized how serious drug are in Japan"

Over 70 thousand Americans died in 2017 in drug abuse. Seems to me the US needs to get more serious.

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The last thing this thread needs is a debate on the effectiveness of the War on Drugs.

 

[Soriku]

O...kay.

Cocaine is bad and all, but one dude taking drugs is enough to scrub a whole game? lol

 

[TheMadTitan]

man, it looks like they have no choice to remove/rework the game, which will certainly affect the western release.

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They have plenty of choice, they just refuse to exercise the common sense ones.

 

[Aters]

So we're doing whataboutism now?

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What about people bringing up child pornography and other crimes that have absolutely nothing to do with drug in this thread? Leave the fucked up child pornography aside, I see no issue with harsh drug law.