Former Fuji TV producer Koichi Ishimoto, 45, has been arrested for allegedly trying to extort 300 million yen from a beautician who once appeared on his television program, police said. Two others, including Takashi Teruyama, 42, who describes himself as a representative of a political organization, were also taken into custody Thursday. Ishimoto, who quit Fuji TV in September, was a producer for the program "Scissors League," in which well-known hair stylists compete. The 35-year-old beautician threatened by Ishimoto and his two accomplices had appeared on the show. The media revealed in September that he was unlicensed. The man, who works for a beauty parlor in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, was once reported widely in the media to be a "charisma" beautician, a stylist who claims to have a loyal following of young girls. Ishimoto quit Fuji TV that month. The station says his resignation had nothing to do with the beautician's case. However, when Ishimoto met with the man in October, he reportedly urged him to "take responsibility" for his forced resignation. He allegedly urged the beautician to pay him money, claiming he could have earned 300 million yen if he worked until retirement. Since the meeting, the beautician had reportedly received several similar threats over the phone until he filed a complaint with the Metropolitan Police Department.
