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[Bullet Club]

Judgment actor Pierre Taki will be completely scrubbed from game’s western release

Sega has announced it will remove the character model and voice lines provided by actor Pierre Taki in Judgement for the western release.

The character model and Japanese voice for Kyohei Hamura will be adjusted for the western release of Judgment, Sega has stated. The company is also scrubbing all references to the actor who played him from press materials.

In a notice posted on Twitter, Sega said all screenshots and trailers featuring the character Hamura have been temporarily removed from all of official channels. Updated versions of the materials will be made available at a later date.

It was also assured Judgment would not miss its June 25 release date.

Earlier this month, the actor who played Hamura, Pierre Taki, was arrested in Japan for cocaine use. Following a tip, the police pulled the actor over and searched his car. While no drugs were found, a urine test confirmed the substance was in his system.

Japan heavily frowns upon drug use in the country, and the arrest has resulted in severe repercussions for Taki’s career.

Not only will he be scrubbed from Judgement, but he will not be brought back as Olaf in Disney’s upcoming Frozen sequel. Not only did Taki lend his voice to the snowman in the Japanese version of the film, he also portrayed the character in Kingdom Hearts 3.

After news of his arrest, Square Enix announced it would release a patch for Kingdom Hearts 3 in Japan, replacing Taki’s voice work as Olaf.

Judgment was first revealed at TGS last year as Project Judge, and is in development for PlayStation 4.

Source: VG247

 

[Xaero Gravity]

A bit extreme over some recreational drug use, but I get that's how things are in Japan.

 

[klosos]

Nice am glad its getting a release date , Yakuza 6 was in the top 3 games of last year for me , so am excited.

Also am European and don't get Japaneses culture and the reaction of an actor using a bit of Colombian bam bam , it seems overblown to me.

 

[Fuz]

I personally find it ridiculous, but maybe Japan is right with their absolute zero tolerance stance on the matter.

 

[Ichabod]

Yo, Pierre, we takin' you outta there.

 

[nowhat]

Isn't an actor doing coke equal to a musician smoking pot? I.e. Tuesday?

 

[Shifty]

This all seems rather heavy-handed.

Are they going to be patching him out of the original Japanese release as well?

 

[Spukc]

 

[ThatStupidLion]

extreme actions require extreme consequences.

remind me not to support this game.

 

[DonF]

He looks so badass 8( well, hope they can find someone cool.

 

[iNvid02]

What a weird weeb nation

 

[Ban Puncher]

 

[Abriael_GN]

I see VG247 didn't pass the chance to make the headline sound as sensational as possible.

That being said, I don't like to see this kind of stuff. There is no logical reason to completely remove the work of an actor (and cause many developers to have to do additional work) just because he has done something seen as bad but completely unrelated to the game.

Yet, this kind of stuff is considered super serious by suits in Japan. Not so much by normal people. Pretty much all of my Japanese friends have been shaking their heads about it since the whole scandal happened.

 

[DeliciousDoc]

Game is great and I'm glad you will be able to play in English soon. If they plan to patch over the game, I hope they give some sort of warning so I can disconnect from the internet and finish it as it was designed first.

 

[A.Romero]

I really wanted to play this game but can't support that attitude. What people do with their bodies is their own business, the government nor the employer should intervene.

 

[iconmaster]

Not only will he be scrubbed from Judgement, but he will not be brought back as Olaf in Disney’s upcoming Frozen sequel.

You have to admit, Olaf getting busted for snow is kind of hilarious.

 

[RPGCrazied]

Why not just change his voice? Why the model change? Does it look like him or something?

 

[michaelius]

Looks like huge overreaction to me but as long as Sega is releasing it in the west it's their own money they are burning.

 

[Fuz]

Does it look like him or something?

Yeah.

 

[Snakey125]

For those saying this is a overreaction:

In Japan, Drug-use is VERY VERY taboo and it's a very serious thing when people are found to be using. I know it's stated in the article but it's not here in USA where you just hope the person gets clean. This is a pretty common and what will happen is everyone will start cutting ties with the person.

It might seem like a waste of money, but this is just Sega making sure they are not seen having dealings with this person.

 

[Fbh]

Seems like an overreaction but I'm not attached to the actor or character and since it won't affect the release date it's not really an issue to me

Why not just change his voice? Why the model change? Does it look like him or something?

Yeah. Not just him but a bunch of characters in the game are modeled after the actors who voice them

Isn't an actor doing coke equal to a musician smoking pot? I.e. Tuesday?

Yeah.... but japan is really extreme with drugs.
Hell, the author of Rurouni Kenshin was found in possession of child porn and all he got was a slap on the wrist
But this guy does drugs and his career is basically over

 

[Breakage]

I heard honour and shame are huge parts of Japanese culture, so this isn't surprising.

 

[TheDuskwalker]

Bit extreme, but it's how Japan is. Just glad it doesn't seem to be affecting the release like we were worried it would.

 

[Kazza]

Disappointed we won't be seeing the original actor in the western release, but happy that the game won't be missing its originally planned release date.

Hopefully the actor can be modded back in once the game (eventually) releases on PC.

 

[GTR R35_Supra RZ]

It's a wrap folks, the star has faded...the struggle will be real landing anything, let alone casting auditions.

 

[MisterBrimstone]

What a stupid course of action.

Let's just hope the guy who discovers the cure for cancer doesn't touch any boys genitals because we can't use his work then.

 

[brap]

Fucking stupid.

 

[Sqorin Hammerfarf]

As far as America is concerned, isn't this literally unpersoning a minority?

 

[Jigsaah]

Judgment actor Pierre Taki will be completely scrubbed from game’s western release

Sega has announced it will remove the character model and voice lines provided by actor Pierre Taki in Judgement for the western release.

The character model and Japanese voice for Kyohei Hamura will be adjusted for the western release of Judgment, Sega has stated. The company is also scrubbing all references to the actor who played him from press materials.

In a notice posted on Twitter, Sega said all screenshots and trailers featuring the character Hamura have been temporarily removed from all of official channels. Updated versions of the materials will be made available at a later date.

It was also assured Judgment would not miss its June 25 release date.

Earlier this month, the actor who played Hamura, Pierre Taki, was arrested in Japan for cocaine use. Following a tip, the police pulled the actor over and searched his car. While no drugs were found, a urine test confirmed the substance was in his system.

Japan heavily frowns upon drug use in the country, and the arrest has resulted in severe repercussions for Taki’s career.

Not only will he be scrubbed from Judgement, but he will not be brought back as Olaf in Disney’s upcoming Frozen sequel. Not only did Taki lend his voice to the snowman in the Japanese version of the film, he also portrayed the character in Kingdom Hearts 3.

After news of his arrest, Square Enix announced it would release a patch for Kingdom Hearts 3 in Japan, replacing Taki’s voice work as Olaf.

Judgment was first revealed at TGS last year as Project Judge, and is in development for PlayStation 4.

Source: VG247

Newsflash Sega: WE DON"T CAREEEEEEEEEE!

 

[Fighterofthenightman]

extreme actions require extreme consequences.

remind me not to support this game.

This isn't Reddit

 

[chilleverest]

Yo, Pierre, we takin' you outta there.

Fellow gooner ?

 

[nkarafo]

Eh, so he likes to get high, big deal.

Hell, the author of Rurouni Kenshin was found in possession of child porn and all he got was a slap on the wrist

In Japan you could legally buy photobooks with nude child models until the late 90's or so.

Though i don't know if that counts as "porn".

 

[Javthusiast]

The way they handle the situation is absolutely stupid, but no other way around it, with the way japanese laws are related to drugs, I guess. As long as japan will provide me with them core values, I'll let this slide. xD

 

[Scopa]

I’d be interested to see how many of the Japanese politicians who make the law partake in a line or two..

 

[Ichabod]

Fellow gooner ?

No, sorry mate . Was a song reference.

 

[JunkerWoland]

As soon as the drug news hit, I assumed they'd be replacing Taki's voice and making alternations to the in-game model. I am a bit surprised Sega still hasn't issued a statement in Japan, although they might be waiting, until they're ready to announce the new voice and show the updated character. There's also Sega Fes next week, which would potentially be an advantageous occasion to premier the intended changes.

I'm also bit surprised Sega is currently holding to the game's already announced international release date, but it won't be shocking to possibly see this change in the coming months.

 

[Pimpbaa]

Man, getting arrested not for possession but for traces of cocaine in your urine?

 

[Humdinger]

That's really an unusual step. I've never seen anything done like this in a game before. Amazing!

 

[DeliciousDoc]

That's really an unusual step. I've never seen anything done like this in a game before. Amazing!

I haven't heard of them scrubbing an already released dvd or blu ray of an actor either. Why do they do it for games? Because it's doable?

 

[LazyParrot]

That's really an unusual step. I've never seen anything done like this in a game before. Amazing!

This isn't the first time this has happened. Hell, it isn't even the first time this has happened in a (technically) Yakuza game. The actor who voiced and modeled for Tanimura in Yakuza 4 also got caught up in a drug scandal, and they replaced him with someone else in the remaster.

 

[EDMIX]

I see VG247 didn't pass the chance to make the headline sound as sensational as possible.

That being said, I don't like to see this kind of stuff. There is no logical reason to completely remove the work of an actor (and cause many developers to have to do additional work) just because he has done something seen as bad but completely unrelated to the game.

Yet, this kind of stuff is considered super serious by suits in Japan. Not so much by normal people. Pretty much all of my Japanese friends have been shaking their heads about it since the whole scandal happened.

Its their IP, its their call.

If they want their image to be honest and not supporting of such a concept, they are 100% free to do that. Those developers also get paid to do that work and are getting paid to do a different model. They are not slaves you know. I have no issue with SEGA looking to protect their brand. The game is still a day 1 for me.

 

[JimiNutz]

Regardless of Japanese cultural differences, I think this is an extreme reaction, especially for the Western release. I can understand it for Japan but why do this for the Western release?

 

[EDMIX]

Regardless of Japanese cultural differences, I think this is an extreme reaction, especially for the Western release. I can understand it for Japan but why do this for the Western release?

SEGA has a brand to protect. They want nothing to do with supporting drugs...

 

[haxan7]

It's news to me that Japan would socially punish someone this hard for being caught using drugs.

My question is: why?

If it's related to the dishonor associated with gangs, who I assume are involved in distributing drugs, that is REALLY ironic here.

 

[Enjay]

Drugs are to Japan as tits or expression of opinion are to USA.

 

[JimiNutz]

SEGA has a brand to protect. They want nothing to do with supporting drugs...

But in the West?
Nobody cares here. It's just wasted time and money.

 

[EDMIX]

But in the West?
Nobody cares here. It's just wasted time and money.

SEGA cares.......

Again....its their brand ,they don't want anything to do with supporting folks who abuse drugs. Their brand image isn't a waste of money to them and I agree with this move.

 

[Closer]

I really wanted to play this game but can't support that attitude. What people do with their bodies is their own business, the government nor the employer should intervene.

I agree with your statement, but what a company does with their game is their business, so I don't know why are you upset.

 

[Shin]

In Japan, Drug-use is VERY VERY taboo and it's a very serious thing when people are found to be using.

I came across this post yesterday which highlights the action taken by Japanese society against him (Taki).
It's Google translated from Dutch to English because I'm being lazy ATM, but you get the general idea of what happen.

Meanwhile, this has become an interesting case study of how extremely taboo the subject is. It is almost as if Taki is being erased from public existence. A list of "measures" taken by authorities other than Sega itself

• NHK, the public broadcaster in Japan, has decided not to broadcast all episodes of a historical drama ( Idaten ) in which Taki plays a part. Only episodes without the actor will still be shown.
• In Shizuoka, the city where Taki was born, it was decided to drain the wells (where he was depicted as a local celebritiy) to remove e . Also a local PR jingle made by Taki was removed from their promotional material.
• The annual Fuji Rock festival has canceled the performance of the band in which Taki plays .
• In addition to Yakuza, Taki was also the voice of Olaf in Kingdom Hearts. KH3 will receive a patch in Japan with a different voice actor.

 

[-MD-]

For those saying this is a overreaction:

In Japan, Drug-use is VERY VERY taboo and it's a very serious thing when people are found to be using. I know it's stated in the article but it's not here in USA where you just hope the person gets clean. This is a pretty common and what will happen is everyone will start cutting ties with the person.

It might seem like a waste of money, but this is just Sega making sure they are not seen having dealings with this person.

Interesting.

How is weed viewed over there?