A defamation trial over popular comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto¡¯s sex abuse allegations, first published in weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun, kicked off on Thursday.
Matsumoto, who was absent from the hearing at the Tokyo District Court, is seeking ?550 million ($3.6 million) for defamation against Bungei Shunju, the magazine¡¯s publisher, over its report alleging that he had forced two women into having sex.
Bungei Shunju said it will fight the case and requested the case to be dismissed.
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