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Judgment Game's Western Release Removes Pierre Taki's Role

Sega announced on Friday that it will change the character model and Japanese voice for the character Kyohei Hamura in the Western release of Ryu ga Gotoku Studio's Judgment (Judge Eyes: Shinigami no Yuigon) PlayStation 4 game. Sega has temporarily removed screenshots and trailers featuring Hamura from all its official channels, and the company plans to update those materials in the future. Denki Groove member and actor Pierre Taki (real name Masanori Taki) plays Hamura in the original Japanese version of the game.

The game will launch in the WEST. as previously scheduled on June 25. Sega announced earlier this month that it will temporarily cease sales of the game, which shipped in Japan last December.

The official website for Mahjong Hōrōki 2020, a new live-action film based on Takehiro Irokawa's Mahjong Hōrōki novel, also confirmed on Wednesday that the film will open in theaters in Japan as planned on April 5. Toei made the decision to release the film, which also features Taki, as scheduled with no cuts.

Disney's official Japanese website announced on March 13 that the company would replace Taki's role of Olaf in the Japanese dub of the Frozen film. The company suspended production and sales of Blu-ray Disc and DVD releases of the film on the same day. Additionally, Disney Store locations in Tokyo removed video products and CDs related to the film on March 14.

Square Enix announced earlier this month that it is replacing Taki's role of Olaf in the Japanese-dubbed version of the Kingdom Hearts III game. The game will get an update that replaces Taki.

Disney plans to release the Frozen 2 film sequel simultaneously in the United States and Japan on November 22.

The Narcotics Control Department of Japan's Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry arrested Taki on March 12 for alleged illegal possession and use of cocaine.

According to authorities, Taki tested positive for cocaine in a urine test conducted on the night of March 12. Authorities have confiscated his smartphone, and are investigating when and where he used it. Authorities also confiscated a rolled up South Korean won bill that he supposedly used as a straw. According to the Narcotics Control Department, Taki had been under investigation since fall last year.

Taki was also playing roles on NHK's Idaten ~Tokyo Olympic Banashi~ Taiga historical drama, TBS' Jinsei Saikō Restaurant variety show and Genbabito documentary program, and TBS' Tamamusubi radio program, all of which announced that they were "investigating appropriate responses" to the situation. He also narrates BS11's Sekai no Kokkyō o Aruitemitara program, which has announced that it is changing the narrator for the program. Shizuoka Asahi TV canceled its Pierre Taki no Shonnai TV variety show.

Denki Groove's planned concert at Zepp Tokyo on March 15-16 was canceled.

Taki has performed theme songs for the Hakaba Kitarō anime, and he has also voiced roles in the Odenkun and Ganbare! Odenkun anime. He played the character Sōda in the live-action Attack on Titan films. His synthpop group Denki Groove performed songs for Eureka Seven, Hakaba Kitarō, Welcome to Irabu's Office, and the recent Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us film.

Sources: Sega's Facebook account, Mahjong Hōrōki 2020 film's website, Disney's Japanese website, Sports Hochi via Yaraon!, Hachima Kikō