Comedian Minamikawa (43) appeared live on TBS “Akko ni Omakase! (Sundays at 11:45). (Sunday, 11:45 p.m.). He talked about his annual income since becoming independent from Shochiku Entertainments. At the beginning of the program, Minamikawa, who was making his first appearance, greeted the audience with a big smile and said, “I’m here at last. Akiko Wada, the singer, said, “I’ll hear about it later, but I hear they pay you well now,” to which Minamikawa replied, “That’s not true, Akko-san. Minamikawa humbly said, “That’s not true, Akko-san. I’m already paid by the hour. When the topic of semi-regular information spread on the Internet, announcer Junna Yamagata of the same station, who facilitated the discussion, introduced an Internet rumor about Minamikawa: “I heard that he became independent from Shochiku Entertainment and made a lot of money, with an annual income of over 200 million yen. Minamikawa immediately responded, “It’s 5 billion yen,” to which Wada immediately denied it as a lie, saying, “I’m sorry, but I’m a little offended! Wada immediately denied that he was lying. Minamikawa said of the 200 million yen, “There’s no way that’s possible. Please think about it normally.” Saka Okada, a model, professional mahjong player, and TV personality, asked, “What percentage of that is that? Saka Okada, a model and professional mahjong player and TV personality, cut in with, “What percentage of that? Minamikawa replied bluntly, “No, that’s really about 20 million yen, really. Wada continued, “Still 20 million yen? Wada repeated, “No, I work very hard, so it’s about 20 million yen. Wada was impressed and said, “Even 20 million yen is great,” to which Minamikawa replied, “I am very grateful. I couldn’t eat for a long time. I left Shochiku Entertainments in June of last year,” he said, “and I was the first ever to leave Shochiku Entertainments amicably. I was the first in history to leave Shochiku Entertainment amicably,” he appealed. Wada asked, “You mean you suddenly got rich after that? He replied, “Yes, that’s right. I have not made any money. I was paid a salary that was commensurate with my work,” said Minamikawa. Wada said suspiciously, “You’re lying, aren’t you? If you say that, I’ll believe it! I’ll believe it if you say so! Please don’t do that!” He added, “My wife is the president, so we work together. After that, “Einstein” Yuzuru Kawai cut in, “If you say 20 million yen, it doesn’t mean 20 million yen,” but Minamikawa reiterated, “20 million yen, really. I couldn’t eat until I was 40. I couldn’t eat until I was 40.
