News Verification Documentary "Re-Investigated" Final Episode Explores the "GaaSii Phenomenon" - Documentary Following GaaSii, Yoshikazu Higashitani (54), for One Year to Broadcast on July 4 (Sat) at 11 PM

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"ABEMA," the new future TV, will broadcast the final episode of the news verification documentary program "Re-Investigated," a joint project with TV Asahi's news bureau, on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at 11 PM.

"Re-Investigated" is a news verification documentary that "re-investigates" individuals and incidents that once caused a stir, and social issues with complex backgrounds, re-examining events from perspectives that were not fully illuminated at the time.

The final episode, airing on Saturday, July 4, #5, is titled "What Was the GaaSii Phenomenon? A Documentary Following Yoshikazu Higashitani," and features a one-year documentary following GaaSii, Yoshikazu Higashitani (54), as it traces his current life and looks back on the "GaaSii phenomenon" that once sparked widespread debate across Japan.

In 2022, GaaSii gained attention for videos exposing the behind-the-scenes of the entertainment industry. In the same year, he garnered approximately 280,000 votes in the House of Councillors election and became a member of the Diet. However, the situation rapidly unfolded with his expulsion from the Diet, his return from Dubai, and his subsequent arrest. While he generated enthusiasm that could be called a social phenomenon, he disappeared from the public stage as a criminal. This program delves into what that enthusiasm was, why so many people were captivated by him, and who GaaSii truly is, through long-term reporting and interviews.

The investigation follows GaaSii's daily life as a businessman currently managing bars and restaurants, and delves into his origins through interviews with his mother, sister, old friends, and acquaintances he still keeps in touch with. Furthermore, the program filmed a gathering of his online salon members, where people connected by their shared admiration for GaaSii gathered, still looking up to him. What emerged from the investigation was not just the portrait of one individual, but the image of a society that created a "Heisei era dark hero."

In an era where even unverified information is consumed as "story." Why did people get excited and believe? And what remained after the fervor subsided? What is the true nature of the commotion that swallowed us in a flood of information?

The final episode of "Re-Investigated," airing on Saturday, July 4, at 11 PM, will examine what the "GaaSii phenomenon" was, while re-examining the state of contemporary society. Please tune in.

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"Re-Investigated" Program Overview

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Final Episode #5: Saturday, July 4, 2026, 11 PM onwards

#5 Preview Video: https://abema.tv/video/episode/90-2060_s1_p502

#5 Broadcast URL: https://abema.tv/channels/abema-special/slots/EQyLhduN6bbcQF

Program URL: https://abema.tv/video/title/90-2060

<#1> Kanto Rengo Main Perpetrator: Where is He Hiding? / Child Prostitution Hotel in Laos

https://abema.tv/video/episode/90-2060_s1_p1

<#2> Confession of a Pedophile / From Rampage to Violence... The Truth of Kanto Rengo

https://abema.tv/video/episode/90-2060_s1_p2

<#3> Strict Guidance No Longer Necessary? Sparta Training at Ramen Oudo-ya

https://abema.tv/video/episode/90-2060_s1_p3

<#4> Spoke with Someone for the First Time in a While... Japan's Society Eroded by Loneliness and Isolation

https://abema.tv/video/episode/90-2060_s1_p4

*When using images, please include the credit line [ (C) AbemaTV, Inc. ].

About "ABEMA"

"ABEMA" is a video distribution service that aims to innovate television, operating as "new future TV." Since its launch, it has provided internet television that is free to watch without registration, offering approximately 25 channels broadcasting 24/7, including a news-only channel, original dramas, romance reality shows, variety shows, anime, and sports, all pursuing "highest quality or uniqueness."

In addition to boasting the No. 1 number of original episodes in Japan (※) among domestic video services, it offers a rich lineup of new movies, popular domestic and international dramas, and trending anime, as well as sports broadcasts and online live events. Users can enjoy content anytime, regardless of time constraints, on TV or on-demand. Through a viewing experience that is not bound by location on smartphones, PCs, tablets, and TV devices, it continues to provide content while catering to diverse lifestyles.

Furthermore, "ABEMA Premium" offers exclusive features and content for ¥1,180 (tax included) per month, and "ABEMA Premium with Ads" allows viewing of "ABEMA Premium" exclusive content with ads for ¥680 (tax included) per month.

(※) As of March 2026, self-researched.

For the latest information, please check official social media.

"ABEMA" (https://abema.tv/), new future TV where you can enjoy free videos and trending content.

To commemorate its 10th anniversary, "ABEMA" will be rolling out various campaigns throughout the year to celebrate, including special programming and the "ABEMA 10th Anniversary Free Grand Thanksgiving Festival." Please look forward to "ABEMA's" 10th anniversary.

"ABEMA" 10th Anniversary Site URL: https://contents-abema.com/10th/