Talent agency suspends 11 comedians for "underground business"

A major Japanese talent agency suspended on Monday 11 of its comedians for conducting "underground business" and attending a party hosted by a purported organized crime group without consulting with the company.Yoshimoto Kogyo Co. said it has determined that the comedians, including Hiroyuki Miyasako, 49, and Ryo Tamura, 47, accepted money for their attendance.The party in question, which was held around five years ago, was hosted by a group allegedly involved in money transfer fraud, the agency said."Although (the comedians) were not aware it was a gathering hosted by an antisocial group, …READ FULL ARTICLE