Hitoshi Matsumoto of the popular comedy duo "Downtown" is seeking compensation for damages from the publisher of Weekly Bunshun. The trial will begin at the Tokyo District Court on the 28th.
The publisher is expected to fully contest the matter in court and insist on the truth of the article. It is alleged that he was forced to do sexual acts without his consent in a hotel room nine years ago. He has been on hiatus from his entertainment activities since January because he wants to focus on the trial.