[JAPAN] SMAP meal suspended at Osaka Government office

April 24, 2008 by Dennis Amith

JapanToday.com reported, “The Osaka prefectural government on Wednesday said that it has suspended the so-called “SMAP meal set” at its cafeteria for its employees. The meal set was released two weeks ago because Osaka Gov Toru Hashimoto liked it when he appeared on SMAP’s popular Fuji TV program. The popular idol group created the meal for him.”

“A spokesperson for the prefectural government said, “We tried to use the meal set to promote Osaka, but unfortunately, it became a promotion for a specific talent and TV program, which is not our purpose.”