Eikichi Yazawa impersonator files countersuit

[Tokyograph News]

Last year, singer Eikichi Yazawa filed a lawsuit against monomane talento Ryudai Ishiyama over unauthorized use of his name, asking for 10 million yen in damages. Now Ishiyama has announced that he is counter-suing for 100 million yen, claiming mental anguish and negative impact on his work.

The source of the trouble was Ishiyama's official website, which claimed that he was "the only monomane talento approved by Eikichi Yazawa." Last year, Yazawa's management requested that it be removed, saying that the singer had never given his approval. It was eventually taken down, but the lawsuit had already been filed by that time.

Ishiyama insists that Yazawa gave him approval 16 years ago.

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