Masaru Nashimoto (梨元 勝, Nashimoto Masaru, 1 December 1944 – 21 August 2010) was a Japanese reporter who specialized in covering show-business gossip and scandals. He was born in Nakano, Tokyo.^[1]

Career

After graduating from Hosei University in 1968, Nashimoto first worked as a magazine reporter for the publisher Kodansha.^[1][2] He became a reporter for a TV Asahi show in 1976, covering celebrity gossip and scandals. His catchphrase was "kyoshuku desu" (sorry to bother you) when questioning show business celebrities. He served as a guest professor at Hakodate University from 2000 to 2004.^[2]

Lawsuits

In 2002, Nashimoto, together with the Tokyo Sports newspaper, was successfully sued by actor Mayo Kawasaki over insinuations that he had been involved in an extra-marital relationship.^[3]

Illness and death

Nashimoto announced in June 2010 that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. He died in a Tokyo hospital on 21 August 2010, aged 65.^[4]

Works

• Nashimoto, Masaru (October 2009). 酒井法子隠された素顔 [Noriko Sakai - the Hidden True Face]. Japan: East press. ISBN 978-4781602783.
• Nashimoto, Masaru (September 2010). 絶筆 梨元です、恐縮です。―ぼくの突撃レポーター人生録 [Final Work: Sorry to Bother You, My name's Nashimoto - A Record of my Life as an Offensive Reporter]. Japan: Tembo Books. ISBN 978-4885462191.