Jiro Sato spin-off series cancelled amid harassment allegations

Production of a new spin-off series for the "Bayside Shakedown" (Dai Sosaken) franchise has been officially cancelled following workplace harassment allegations involving veteran actor Jiro Sato. The controversy stems from an incident during the filming of the drama "Fufu Bessei Keiji," where Sato reportedly made unsolicited physical contact with actress Ai Hashimoto. An investigation by Fuji TV's external lawyers identified the behavior as harassment.

While the series director, Katsuyuki Motohiro, initially attempted to save the project by suggesting a temporary pause to adjust the script and recast, insiders confirm the production has been formally terminated. The cancellation is attributed to the difficulty of finding suitable replacement actors within the tight filming window required to coincide with the upcoming movie release. Fuji TV has declined to comment on specific project cancellations but announced plans to broadcast previous films in the series to promote the new movie.

In a recent social media post, Sato addressed the ongoing controversy by making a lighthearted reference to the reports, sharing a personal anecdote about his wife to contrast the recent public scrutiny.