Noriyuki Higashiyama inherits 500 million yen from Mitsuko Mori's estate, angers Mary Kitagawa!

As reported by Shukan Bunshun,

At the funeral of Mitsuko Mori (92)  on Dec 7, Matchy was the representative of Johnny's to pay tribute to Mori.  But Matchy was very uncomfortable knowing that it is Higashiyama who had a special relationship with Mitsuko Mori.  Matchy was so uncomfortable that he left the venue immediately afterwards.  Mitsuko Mori was known to have a deep and special relationship with Johnny & Associates.  68 Johnny's members along with Matchy had paid their final respect to Mori including SMAP, TOKIO, V6, Arashi and many others.   But it was Higashiyama's relationship with Mori that many people were whispering about.  It was a kind of "sweetheart" relationship despite the age difference of 46 years.  What on earth was going on between Mori and Higashiyama?


According to Shukan Bunshun, Mori passed away of heart failure due to pneumonia on Nov 10.  The family held a private funeral on Nov 14 before announcing her death to the public on Nov 15.   Mary Kitagawa (85), Johnny Kitagawa's sister and Vice President of J&A, was not informed of her death until the public report, which made her very angry.   Mary was so angry that she kept asking Fukuko Ishii, a television producer, who also served on the funeral committee  "when did you know? when did you find out?".


It is also reported that Mitsuko Mori had written in her will that Higashiyama will inherit a portion of her estate.  When Mary Kitagawa found out, she got even angrier.   Earlier, when Mori was still in good health, she had said to Mary "Since I have no children, in order to nurture and raise the young children of Johnny's,  I want you to use part of my money when I die."  Mary had consented to the idea even thinking of setting up a "Johnny-Mori fund".  For Mary, whose income is about 1 billion yen a year.  It is not the money, but the proof of friendship between Johnny's and Mori, that she should keep her promise to the end.  And now, Mary feels betrayed by Mori.


It is said Mori owned a house-apartment in the upper class residential area of Minato-ku, now worth about 50 million yen.  In addition to that, she also owned real estate  in the Tokyo metropolitan area.   500 million yen (about US $5,956,000) is also trivial to her since Mori frequently appeared on the list of high income tax payers in the past.  But it's her misplaced kindness to give an inheritance to Higashiyama that makes Mary angry with Higashiyama.   Although Higashiyama is known to be in the running for the position of future President of Johnny & Associates.  His position is now lost and he'll be treated coldly.    Was it a sign when Higashiyama couldn't read his eulogy at Mori's funeral?
[Shukan Bunshun]


Many people are not amused that Higashiyama inherits a portion of Mori's estate no matter how deep his relationship with Mori was.   As a matter of fact, Mori had a legal heir who is the son of her younger sister. A sister who had supported Mori throughout Mori's career before she died in 2008.   This nephew, who is also the representative of the office supporting Mori, is the only blood relative Mori had left (Senior entertainment reporter).
[Nikkan Gandai]


Source: johnnys-watcher translated by 4miu_miu