Japanese actor Jiro Sato (佐藤二朗) has apologized for asking that all of his scenes be removed from an upcoming “Bayside Shakedown” (踊る大捜査線) spinoff drama, retracting the request in a post on X on July 8, 2026, and saying it would be his last post on the matter.
“I truly apologize. I now think the criticism I received was entirely fair,” Sato wrote, referring to backlash over his earlier comment that he wanted his already-filmed scenes cut. He said the request would cause trouble not only for director Katsuyuki Motohiro but for many others involved in the production, adding, “Whether my scenes are used or cut, I have no objections.”
The apology came a day after Fuji Television issued a statement addressing what fans have dubbed the “Sato Jiro-Ai Hashimoto incident,” a dispute surrounding production of the “Bayside Shakedown” spinoff that also involves co-star Ai Hashimoto. According to Oricon News, the network acknowledged that insufficient information-sharing and coordination on the production side had failed to ease the burden on the two lead actors or fully repair relations, and it apologized to both for “significant burden and emotional distress.”
Motohiro, who directed the original “Bayside Shakedown” film series, responded to Fuji TV’s statement by sharing the Oricon News article on X, writing, “There it is (the apology). What was this past week even about…” Sato had reportedly stepped away from the spinoff drama project amid the dispute, though the related theatrical film, “Bayside Shakedown N.E.W.,” remains on schedule for a nationwide Japanese release on September 18, 2026.
Who is Jiro Sato?
Jiro Sato is a veteran Japanese actor widely known for his comedic and character roles in film and television. He has long been part of the “Bayside Shakedown” (踊る大捜査線) franchise, one of Japan’s most successful police drama series, and has appeared in numerous other TV dramas and films over a career spanning more than two decades.
After Sato’s post, fans filled his replies with messages urging him to rest and take care of himself, with many saying they hoped he would return to his usual, lighthearted posts once the situation settled down. Sato followed up with two more posts clarifying that he had accidentally deleted an old pinned post while trying to unpin it, but had since found and restored it.
