On Trial For Reprehensible Charges, Lovin´ That PS3
He was a symbol of the New Japan, of youth, of a new cover of Do-It-Yourself. Takafumi Horie´s IT companion Live Door boasted the second biggest portal site in Japan, and the mogul himself was breast page news. His blog was one of the most widely read in Japan, and he elaborate every bit of his life: From late night drinking to what he ate for dinner. All except failing to report companion profits. Recently eject from patrol holding, Horie stands on trial for his white collar crimes.
In one of his first interviews since getting out of prison, Horie talked up PLAYSTATION 3. At the height of his power, he boldly claimed that he would one day purchase Sony. So, what does he think about the PS3?
The machine is such a good buy. The graphics are amazingly clear. They created an incredible thing.
Fanboy. Brian Ashcraft
Eds Note: My non-sequitur Horie stories after the jump
Back in April 2005, Wired Magazine sent me to Roppongi Hills to interview Horie. He was in the midst of attempting hostilely take over a stogy Japanese media monolith. From weekly tabloids to the comedy shows, his face was everywhere. Every fresh face college grad wanted to work at Live Door. A television drama was even based on him. Horie was the toast of the town.
I was sent to Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture to fall up on the original interview. Horie was running for a seat in Japan´s parliament. Early morning, I arrived at his campaign office. It was deserted. Waiting out breast were two guys, whom I quickly befriended. One was a freelance journalist, the other a TV producer.
We spent the day visiting the sites in Onomichi—a sleepy town without an internet cafe or a movie theater. Over a plate of waffles at lunch, my new found friends let me know that Horie was up to shady business practices, and that it was only a matter of time before he would be arrested. Rumor and speculation, sure, but both were insiders. A few months later, Horie´s companion was raided. He was carted off to jail.
Currently, Horie is on trial. I spoke with that freelance journalist recently, asking what was going to happen, and he said, "Horie made a lot of enemies. A lot of powerful ones. They´re going to make him pay." So there you have it! BA
Horie Talks PS3 [DNA Evolutions via Joystiq]
BusinesshorieJapanPlaystation 3PoliticsPS3Sony
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Heiko
Slightly macabre and Gorey-esque, Heiko is a self-employed illustrator and graphical artist surviving and running in Heidelberg, Germany. He recently collaborated on a beautiful limited edition illustration zine named Silent Water with Australian artist, Lilly Piri. Copies are $5 and available through his website, The State of Things....
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