A dispute has surfaced between comedian Hiroshi, known for his camping gear, and the manufacturer he’d commissioned to produce one of his signature items. Hiroshi initially said he wanted the LINE chat logs between them made public so people could judge for themselves — but he’s since gone quiet without ever releasing them, and that shift has drawn attention. On 5ch’s Nanimo Jikkyo (Live News) board, opinions split over whether it was wise to move forward with production without first settling the rights, and whether going completely silent (“gan-mushi,” flatly ignoring the backlash) during a controversy is actually the smart play.
Smart move!
So which side actually looks worse to the public here?
>>5
If you haven't read the statement the manufacturer put out, Hiroshi comes off looking better.
If you haven't read the statement the manufacturer put out, Hiroshi comes off looking better.
https://imgur.com/ue3IaQ3.jpeg
He was so eager to release those LINE chats before… so what happened?
He was so eager to release those LINE chats before… so what happened?
>>17
I really love this.
I really love this.
>>17
Makes me want to do the "story of my life!" bit.
Makes me want to do the "story of my life!" bit.
>>17
Maybe this is one of those cases where he didn't think he'd done anything wrong when he said it, but then showed it to people close to him and they were like, "uh, this isn't good."
Maybe this is one of those cases where he didn't think he'd done anything wrong when he said it, but then showed it to people close to him and they were like, "uh, this isn't good."
Honestly, it is the best move available to him right now.
>>18
When you're getting flamed, going totally silent and waiting for people to get bored really is the best strategy.
When you're getting flamed, going totally silent and waiting for people to get bored really is the best strategy.
>>18
But that tactic isn't going to turn a strategic defeat around.
But that tactic isn't going to turn a strategic defeat around.
Even that small frying pan Hiroshi uses when camping — he's talked about basically saying "I want something like this" and having it made for him, so he probably just gave rough specs like the size, and the actual design work was all on the factory's end. So maybe this time too, Hiroshi just conveyed the general image, and it's the manufacturer that actually turned it into a real product?
>>27
That's exactly the manufacturer's side of the story.
That's exactly the manufacturer's side of the story.
>>27
The real problem is starting production without even sorting out the rights in the first place.
The real problem is starting production without even sorting out the rights in the first place.
He doesn't have much other work — don't go picking fights within the one industry that's his last refuge.
>>28
Well, he's also got that AC flare-piping commercial gig, so…
Well, he's also got that AC flare-piping commercial gig, so…
Fan: "Let's take this to court!"
Hiroshi: "…"
>>32
Seriously? (Wait, really? If he releases them he loses, doesn't he?)
Seriously? (Wait, really? If he releases them he loses, doesn't he?)
>>32
Classic "enemy pretending to be a fan" move.
Classic "enemy pretending to be a fan" move.
Wait, did Hiroshi just want something for his own personal use?
>>33
He said it was ordered in a small lot, so it was probably meant for a test sale.
He said it was ordered in a small lot, so it was probably meant for a test sale.
If they can pull off a smooth reconciliation, this could actually be great publicity. Just work out a revenue split so both sides profit.
>>40
Nah, this has left a pretty bad impression.
Nah, this has left a pretty bad impression.
Has anyone actually pulled off going into hiding until a scandal blows over?
>>84
Happens more often than you'd think.
Happens more often than you'd think.
>>84
There are quite a few cases, but those usually involve someone blossoming in a side gig or hobby unrelated to their main job. And this is exactly that kind of hobby.
There are quite a few cases, but those usually involve someone blossoming in a side gig or hobby unrelated to their main job. And this is exactly that kind of hobby.
>>84
Waiting for a scandal to actually blow over genuinely takes years. And that only works for people who weren't excessively hated to begin with. Take Watabe (comedian Yuichi Watanabe) — he's nowhere near his peak, but people finally stopped bringing him up recently.
Waiting for a scandal to actually blow over genuinely takes years. And that only works for people who weren't excessively hated to begin with. Take Watabe (comedian Yuichi Watanabe) — he's nowhere near his peak, but people finally stopped bringing him up recently.
This is an issue between Hiroshi and the manufacturer, so outsiders shouldn't be running their mouths about it.
>>93
Can't help it — Hiroshi's the one who asked us to judge who's in the wrong.
Can't help it — Hiroshi's the one who asked us to judge who's in the wrong.
>>93
Hiroshi: "I want to release the LINE chats and have everyone judge."
Manufacturer: "We don't want to fight, but since we're being blamed one-sidedly, we have our side of the story too — go ahead and release the LINE chats, we don't mind."
Hiroshi: "…This is between us, so it's none of outsiders' business."
Is that seriously how it's playing out now? No way that's really it.
Hiroshi: "I want to release the LINE chats and have everyone judge."
Manufacturer: "We don't want to fight, but since we're being blamed one-sidedly, we have our side of the story too — go ahead and release the LINE chats, we don't mind."
Hiroshi: "…This is between us, so it's none of outsiders' business."
Is that seriously how it's playing out now? No way that's really it.
You hear stories sometimes about someone paying big money for a full custom order meant for personal use, only for a slightly tweaked version to show up cheap on the market not long after.
>>115
Happens a lot with cars and motorcycles too — a one-off part gets made for someone, then later ends up added to the regular lineup.
Happens a lot with cars and motorcycles too — a one-off part gets made for someone, then later ends up added to the regular lineup.
Hiroshi probably wanted to hold onto the blueprints and the rights, right? Was he trying to have some manufacturer build it as an OEM exactly to spec so he could sell it through his own channels? If so, it sounds like he only outsourced the design work.
The more natural pattern would be: the manufacturer builds what Hiroshi wants, markets and sells it themselves, and pays Hiroshi a cut as an advertising fee. Was that what the manufacturer had in mind?
The more natural pattern would be: the manufacturer builds what Hiroshi wants, markets and sells it themselves, and pays Hiroshi a cut as an advertising fee. Was that what the manufacturer had in mind?
By the way, anyone already convinced Hiroshi is definitely losing is just as biased as anyone else. Sure, he's making the bad move of not releasing the LINE chats he said he would — no idea if it's a dead end for him or not — but that doesn't mean the manufacturer is automatically 100% in the right either. So if you actually want to stir things up, the move is to cozy up like you're on his side and go "come on, just release the LINE chats!"
※This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Nanimo Jikkyo G) thread「[Breaking] Hiroshi Enters the “Completely Ignore Everything” Phase」.
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