Japan top figure skater in forced kiss clinch with older female politician
Japan has been shocked and amused by a scandal in the popular world of ice skating.
Daisuke Takahashi, the 28-year-old male figure skating star and much loved by female fans as a heartthrob as well as Olympian, has been sexually assaulted (kind of) by his old boss, a 49-year-old Seiko Hashimoto, a former skater herself and now politician.
Takahashi has long been rumored to be in a relationship with Japan’s other most famous figure skater, Mao Asada.
However, it seems that at least at a drunken party in February after the end of the Sochi Olympics, Asada had a rival in an unlikely form. Hashimoto apparently grabbed Takahashi and, whether out of a celebratory spirit or lust it is not clear, forced him to kiss her in front of others.
A picture has emerged of the drunken embraces and it doesn’t look pleasant. Takahashi seems to be turning away at one point.
Hashimoto has three children and is a former Olympic speed skater and cyclist, and was in charge of Japan’s team in Sochi.
Shukan Bunshun, the weekly tabloid, published the pictures and broke the story this week.
According to the magazine, others at the party claim Hashimoto “pounced” on her prey and the kissing may have continued for some minutes!
Though his management is yet to make a formal complaint about harassment, it is very embarrassing for the high-rising politico Hashimoto.
She has responded that she did not force herself on the younger star and that it was a natural embrace at the time.
We’ll let you be the judge of that…
