Porn star subject of growing probe

Japanese porn star Jun Kusanagi dances yesterday at the opening ceremony of a multimedia show at the Taipei World Trade Center. She was forced to cancel her performances later after being accused of lacking a work permit. PHOTO: CHIEN JUNG-FENG, TAIPEI TIMES

On the second day of her modeling tour of Taiwan, Japanese porn star Jun Kusanagi was forced to cancel her performances yesterday as she was accused of lacking a work permit.

Chinese-language newspapers reported yesterday that Taipei City Councilor Wang Yu-cheng (王育誠) accused Kusanagi of working illegally by giving dance performances in revealing outfits as part of a multimedia show at the Taipei World Trade Center.

Taipei City's Bureau of Labor Affairs sent investigators to the trade center yesterday to determine whether Kusanagi possessed a work permit, but the porn star and her Taiwanese agents had disappeared from the scene.

The 25-year-old adult-video actress visited the show again yesterday afternoon, but did not engage in any performances or modeling.

Kusanagi's agent, Shih Yao-ju (時珧如), denied the porn star had engaged in any working activities in Taiwan, claiming that she was here only for photo opportunities and to meet with her fans.

Asked whether the porn star possessed documents allowing to her model at the show, Shih said the issue was "totally irrelevant."

"Kusanagi is not in Taiwan to make money. She is here only to shoot her photo album. And right now she is just shopping for digital cameras and computers at the show," Shih said.

The bureau's investigation was still under way as of press time last night.

Bureau officials yesterday said that, according to Employment Service Act (就業服務法), foreigners who are found to have worked in Taiwan without a legal permit face fines between NT$30,000 and NT$150,000, while their employers here could be fined between NT$150,000 and NT$750,000.

The officials said the kind of entertainment-work license that Kusanagi should have had is issued by the Department of Broadcasting and Television under the Government Information Office, which yesterday said it had no record showing Kusanagi had registered for a license.

Kusanagi has created a media storm since her tour began on Thursday.

Chinese-language newspapers reported yesterday that Kusanagi had earned more than NT$700,000 in the first two days of her three-day visit.

Following the path of Ijima Ai, Madoka Ozawa and Ryoko Mitake, Kusangi is the fourth Japanese porn star to come to Taiwan in an effort to boost her career.