Masaaki Uchino denies alleged drunk driving and affair
Actor Masaaki Uchino (42) has denied the allegations made by this week's issue of FRIDAY. It was learned on Wednesday that the magazine is publishing an article with five pages of pictures accusing Uchino of driving under the influence and having an affair.
FRIDAY took the photographs in early September. After a rehearsal for his current stage play "Ilias," Uchino headed home but stopped at a convenience store for some happoshu. He drank it inside his car and continued driving home. On a different day, he stopped at a restaurant alone and drank some beer before going home.
Although Uchino's actions in these cases were not arrestable offenses, FRIDAY's article seems to imply that he has a habit of drinking and driving. If true, this could become a big problem, especially given the tighter laws on drunk driving that were passed in June of last year. However, Uchino's agency denied the claims, saying that Uchino had someone driving for him.
In addition to the claims of drinking and driving, FRIDAY also reported that in mid-August, Uchino was seen kissing a woman inside his car. Uchino has been married to actress Maki Ichiro (45) since 2006 and has a 3-year-old daughter, but rumors surfaced earlier this year that he and Ichiro are living separately. The woman that Uchino was seen with is also said to be married.
Uchino's agency also denied that he is having an affair, saying that Uchino is definitely not getting divorced.
source: TOKYOGRAPH