Yūsuke Yamamoto’s Troubled Past Surfaces as He Entertains at Host Club

Japanese actor Yūsuke Yamamoto, who was ousted from his agency due to controversies involving alcohol and women, was seen entertaining female guests at a host club.

Yamamoto appeared on the Japanese TV show AI NO HYENA, which aired on AbemaTV on March 9. During the show, he transformed into a working as a male host.

In the episode, Yamamoto took the time to verify how much he could earn by experiencing being a host.

Upon entering a host bar in Osaka, Yamamoto drew laughter with his clumsy antics, such as chugging strong drinks to boost sales or spilling expensive alcohol while opening the bottle.

Yamamoto’s first attempt at entertaining guests was awkward. He struggled to converse naturally, prompting a call from the manager. He was advised to “actively engage in the customer’s conversation,” “use appropriate physical contact to win over the customer,” and “not to take too long in switching hosts.” Yamamoto appeared flustered by the constant criticism.

Yamamoto had difficulty adjusting to the host bar and even expressed self-derision. During a filming break, he was seen stepping out into the hallway to smoke and drink straight from the bottle, shocking the panelists.

Yūsuke Yamamoto was fired from his agency due to personal issues on March 22, 2017. He had caused several problems related to alcohol and women, and a scandal erupted when it was revealed that he had secretly been running a bar and entertaining guests. Yamamoto retired amid severe criticism but has since returned to the industry.

Yamamoto had previously starred as the male lead in the 2012 Japanese drama Ouran High School Host Club, based on an anime. Viewers responded, “He was acting as a host, and now he’s become a real one,” and “It suits him well.”