Junichi Komoto, a member of the popular comedian duo Jicho Kacho, apologized Friday for letting his mother continue to receive welfare benefits after his career took off.
"My way of thinking was too naive. I sincerely apologize for that," Komoto said as he bowed in apology at a news conference at Yoshimoto Kogyo Co.'s Tokyo office in Shinjuku Ward.
Komoto said he plans to return the money his mother received for the past few years.