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TokuSpirits: Philippines' Otaku Expo Organizer Did Not Pay Guests

Actor Ryōsuke Kaizu (also known by his real name Kazunori Inaba) posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday alleging that Otaku Expo and Ozine Fest organizer Dennis Uy did not pay the talent fees, airfare, and hotel arrangements for Kaizu and other Japanese guests for the combined TokuSpirits 2017 and Otaku Expo Reloaded event ion the Philippines. Kaizu elaborates that Uy allegedly did not honor any of the verbal or legal agreements it made with the TokuSpirits event, and that Otaku Expo has not paid the event fees in full.

As a result, Kaizu said that he would discourage and forewarn Japanese talent, singers, and animators from any events related to Dennis Uy. Kaizu noted that only if Uy "acknowledges that he will pay his debts in full and apologizes in a sincere manner, then just maybe the doors will open again for Japanese entertainers to return to the Philippines."

In the official Otaku Expo Facebook page Uy responded to the allegations on the same day, saying that he had clarified with Georgette Anne Inaba (Kaizu's wife) that Otaku Expo would not cover the guests' airfare, accommodation, food, and talent fee. He claims that Inaba had assured him that she and her husband would have the money to cover the costs. Noting Kaizu's comment regarding the outstanding balance, Uy wrote, "Yes it's true. But we have a signed letter drafted by her lawyer and agreed by my lawyer for the terms of payment, so in my knowledge, I think, that matter should have been closed."

Other guests of the event, including Ei Hamura, Toshihide Wakamatsu, and Michiko Makino, also commented regarding the event. Hamura stated that. Hamura stated that "Red Mask [Ryōsuke Kaizu] and Mrs. Red Mask [Georgette Anne Inaba] are truthful people," while Wakamatsu stated that he attended the event due to the love of fans, Kaizu's invitation, to thank people who had purchased a ticket, and "the crisis of Mrs. Georgette Anne Inaba."

Makino claimed that everything that Kaizu and Inaba stated was "all true," and that "[Dennis Uy] had not paid the fee they were promised before the event." Makino further claimed that Kaizu and Inaba had hired a lawyer for legal action, and that the guests had pooled their income for the event. Makino wrote that despite the setback, she was glad that many participants came for them, and said that the legal matter with Otaku Expo is still being settled.

Aside from Kaizu, Hamura, Wakamatsu, and Makino, Kei Shindachiya and Kenta Satō were also in attendance as guests.

TokuSpirits began as an event in 2016 managed by Ryōsuke Kaizu and his wife Georgette Anne Inaba to support charity organizations. The first event last year took place in San Fernando City, Pampanga for the benefit of the Kids Cancer Vibe local organization. This year's event was a joint event held by both TokuSpirits and Otaku Expo, and took place on August 12-13 at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila.

[Via The Tokusatsu Network]