Hiroshi Fuse's talent agency Barikiya declared bankrupt

The Tokyo District Court Tachikawa Branch has issued a bankruptcy decision for Barikiya, a talent agency managed by veteran Japanese actor Hiroshi Fuse. The agency, established in 1990, had been heavily reliant on Fuse's personal fame.

Reports indicate that Fuse's professional opportunities declined significantly in recent years. This decline is attributed to a shift in television industry trends toward younger talent, as well as Fuse's own selective approach to work; in a 2022 interview, he stated he had declined television offers because he did not find the projects “interesting.”

Personal challenges have also reportedly impacted the agency's stability. Fuse has faced health issues, including spinal canal stenosis, and has been managing “double caregiving” responsibilities for both his biological mother and his wife Kazuko Inoue's mother. The bankruptcy follows a period of reduced income and personal difficulties for the couple.