Mediaboss Marketing

The China Post/Asia News Network
Monday, Feb 13, 2012

TAIPEI - A Japanese national who has lived in Taiwan for over 15 years has started a fundraising campaign for a taxi driver allegedly attacked and beaten unconscious by half-Japanese actress Makiyo and a Japanese friend.

Naotsugu Yoshida, 34, who is a supervisor of the Hatta Yoichi Memorial Foundation for Culture and the Arts in Taiwan, said he felt sorry about the alleged assault by his fellow countryman and that he hopes he can help the injured taxi driver and his family with the money raised.

Yoshida said that nearly 200 Japanese expatriates in Taiwan have expressed their intention to donate to the fund and that he has raised close to NT$100,000 (US$3,381) so far. He said he hopes to deliver the money to the driver in person.

Yoshida said many Japanese feel angry about the criminal act and the attitude after the attack of the alleged offender Takateru Tomoyori, because he only tried to defend his brutal assault rather than apologizing in the first place.

Tomoyori's attempt to take all the responsibility for Makiyo and two other women allegedly involved in the case in recent days was also not a responsible way to handle the matter, Yoshida said.

Although the injured driver's condition has improved, Yoshida went on, Tomoyori and Makiyo should think about how to show their sincere remorse and help with the driver's medical care.

When asked about the controversial media coverage since the assault took place Feb. 2, Yoshida said the intense pursuit by the press helped reveal the truth about the incident, since Makiyo and Tomoyori did not give honest accounts until the true nature of the attack was exposed.

Makiyo and Tomoyori were indicted for "inflicting serious bodily harm" by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office on Feb. 10.

See original here:
Japanese expats raise fund for victim of high-profile assault in Taiwan