Mikio Date (伊達みきお) of the comedy duo Sandwichman addressed the shoplifting case involving fellow comedian Hiroyuki Sugiyama (杉山裕之) of the duo Wagaya during his radio show, and his measured, compassionate response has struck a chord with listeners online.
Sugiyama is suspected of shoplifting sausages and other items worth a combined 1,189 yen from a supermarket, and he has reportedly admitted to the allegations, according to entertainment outlet Model Press. The case has been forwarded to prosecutors, and Sugiyama’s talent agency has since announced that he is suspended from public activities.
On the October 10 broadcast of “Sandwichman the Radio Show Saturday” on Nippon Broadcasting System, Date read out a long letter addressing the incident. “When I had a stroke, he sent me a kind email checking in on me. He has that gentle side too,” Date said, according to the report. “I scolded him once before, and I’ll have to do it again. First, he needs to properly reflect, change his ways, and take the time to earn back people’s trust. I hope he works hard enough that we can do comedy together again someday.”
The comments quickly spread on social media, where users praised Date’s balanced tone. “What saints the Sandwichman guys are,” one post read, while another invoked the Japanese proverb “hate the sin, not the sinner.” Others picked up on the story’s own framing, joking that Date’s forgiving stance was “as sweet as a fruit sandwich.” Some commenters, however, said they were more worried about Date’s own health than Sugiyama’s situation, recalling that Date suffered a stroke in 2023, while others cautioned that kindness alone would not fix deep-rooted habits.
Who are Sandwichman and Wagaya?
Sandwichman is a veteran comedy duo consisting of Mikio Date and Tetsuya Tomizawa, well known in Japan for their manzai routines and long-running variety and radio work, including the Nippon Broadcasting System program referenced above. Date has continued working in broadcasting since recovering from a stroke he suffered in 2023. Wagaya is a comedy duo whose member Hiroyuki Sugiyama is now suspended from public activities following the shoplifting case, with his future in entertainment uncertain.
Author’s Comment
Honestly, the way Date-san handled this is a masterclass in being mad at someone without writing them off completely — scold first, forgive later, but never pretend it didn’t happen. That’s rarer in this industry than people think. Meanwhile, watching the internet turn a sausage heist into a whole debate about sweetness and sin is just so very Japan. And notice how half the replies are more worried about Date’s blood pressure than the actual shoplifter — that tells you everything about who the real national treasure is here. Sugiyama, buddy, you’ve got one of the kindest men in comedy in your corner. Don’t waste it.
