One Piece Studio’s Parent Company Kicks Out Japanese Actress After Underage Drinking Incident
In an unexpected turn of events, Toei Company, the parent company behind One Piece, Dragon Ball, and Super Sentai, and lots of other famous series, simply terminated the contract of 19-year-old actress Maya Imamori after her underage drinking incident was exposed.
The news exploded like a bomb in the Japanese entertainment industry. Here are all the details on Toei’s handling of the situation, the whole truth about it, and why Japan’s showbiz is so strict when it comes to scandals like this. Let’s break everything down together.
Toei in Shock: One Piece‘s Parent Company Reacts to Gozyuger Controversy
According to Oricon Japan, on November 8, Toei published an official notice announcing that Maya Imamori, who was cast as the main character Sumino Ichikawa/Gozyu Unicorn in No.1 Sentai Gozyuger, was caught drinking alcohol, which is illegal in Japan for those under 20.
One Piece’s parent company, Toei, issued a notice confessing that the actress had broken the law and issued a tearful apology to fans, sponsors, and everyone involved with the show. The statement said:
We sincerely apologize for the great concern and inconvenience caused to viewers, sponsors, and everyone involved with the program. Taking this matter very seriously and from the standpoint of strict compliance, we have decided on the following response after discussions with TV Asahi:
Termination of her appearance contract and removal from the series.
Toei Animation, the animation wing under the Toei and best known for producing One Piece, Dragon Ball, and other major anime hits, isn’t new to maintaining a spotless reputation. When it comes to maintaining compliance, the company doesn’t mess around.
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Meanwhile, Maya’s talent agency declared that her management contract had been cancelled effective immediately. Their statement said:
It has been confirmed that our talent, Maya Imamori, engaged in underage drinking despite being under 20 years old. As this constitutes a serious breach of contract, we have decided to terminate her management contract as of today after careful deliberation.
The agency did not just stop there. They made a promise that the compliance education for the other talents would be upgraded so that the occurrence of such a scandal could be completely prevented in the future.
Rising Under Toei’s Spotlight: Maya Imamori’s Journey Before the Fall
Maya Imamori was born in Miyazaki Prefecture, and she first made waves when she won the Grand Prix at Miss Magazine 2023, one of Japan’s biggest modeling competitions. From there, she landed her biggest role yet, Sumino Ichikawa/Gozyu Unicorn in No.1 Sentai Gozyuger.
Maya Imamori from No.1 Sentai Gozyuger. | Credit: Toei Company
She was not just another ranger, but also the first-ever female Black Ranger in Super Sentai franchise history. Maya, after the news broke out, posted an apology on her Instagram while confessing her mistake and showing deepest regret. She wrote:
I would like to apologize once again to my fans, everyone involved, and my co-stars for causing great trouble and disappointment. Through this incident, I will reflect on my immaturity, face the consequences of betraying the trust placed in me, and live my life with sincerity so that this will never happen again. I am truly sorry.
In the end, Toei’s legacy is forged with disciplines, creativity, and heroism from One Piece to Super Sentai. Though Maya Imamori’s exit is indeed sad, it’s also a reminder that being a hero off-screen matters just as much as being one on it.
So do you think Toei was right to fire Maya Imamori for underage drinking, or was the punishment too harsh? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
The One Piece anime is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
