Latest news with #NipponTelevisionNetworkCorp
Yomiuri Shimbun
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Pop Group TOKIO Disbands After Problematic Acts by Kokubun on Popular Nippon Television Show ‘The Tetsuwan Dash'
The all-male pop group TOKIO said Wednesday it was disbanding, announcing the decision on the website of its management company of the same name. Band member Taichi Kokubun had been suspended indefinitely from TOKIO on Friday, after being removed from 'The Tetsuwan Dash,' a popular variety show on Nippon Television Network Corp. Kokuban was found to have committed compliance violations. 'We confirmed with each other that, given our current situation, it would be difficult to continue TOKIO and gain support and trust again. So we decided to bring our activities to an end,' the band stated in the announcement. TOKIO made its debut in 1994.
The Mainichi
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Japan minister to seek Nippon TV report after TOKIO member Kokubun's removal from show
TOKYO -- Japan's communications ministry will request a detailed report from Nippon Television Network Corp. (Nippon TV) after Taichi Kokubun, 50, a member of the popular idol group TOKIO, indefinitely suspended his activities and the network removed him from its programs due to unspecified "past conduct." The ministry's move was announced by its minister Seiichiro Murakami at a post-Cabinet meeting news conference on June 24. "We would like to hear extensively from Nippon TV about how it sees the issue and how it will respond as a company in the future," Murakami said. On June 20, Nippon TV announced that Kokubun would leave the network's popular variety program "The Tetsuwan Dash" after confirming multiple instances of past misconduct. At that press conference, Nippon TV President Hiroyuki Fukuda repeatedly cited "privacy protection considerations" in declining to disclose any details including the specific number or nature of the violations, or whether there were any victims involved. According to Murakami, on June 20, the ministry received a preliminary report from Nippon TV about Kokubun's misconduct and the company's subsequent decision to remove him from the program. The broadcaster informed the ministry it would refrain from explaining specifics due to privacy-related considerations. Following a recent series of problems at Fuji Television Network Inc., the communications ministry has set up a panel to discuss strengthened governance for private broadcasters, with its first meeting scheduled for June 27. Murakami refrained from commenting on whether the Nippon TV case would be placed on the panel's agenda, saying only that a decision would be made "appropriately at a later stage."
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
Japanese Pop Star Kokubun Halts Activities
Tokyo, June 20 (Jiji Press)--Taichi Kokubun, a member of Japanese male pop group Tokio, will halt his entertainment activities indefinitely, effective Friday, his management agency said. The agency said that it has found a compliance violation by the 50-year-old, but did not disclose details. Earlier Friday, Nippon Television Network Corp. said that it would remove Kokubun from its popular variety show "The Tetsuwan Dash." He makes regular appearances on five other programs on television and radio. The broadcaster said that it decided to take the celebrity off the show based on the results of an investigation conducted by external lawyers over the compliance issue, after it was informed of the matter on May 27. Hiroyuki Fukuda, president and chief operating officer at Nippon TV, told a press conference that multiple people were involved in the compliance issue, and expressed great disappointment. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
Asahi Shimbun
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Asahi Shimbun
TV host Kokubun steps down after misconduct surfaces
Celebrity entertainer Taichi Kokubun will step down from his popular TV show due to serious misconduct, Nippon Television Network Corp. announced, without disclosing the nature of the allegation. Nippon TV President Hiroyuki Fukuda addressed the media on June 20 following an emergency board meeting, expressing regret over the situation. 'It is a serious and unfortunate matter,' Fukuda said. However, he declined to disclose specific details of Kokubun's misconduct, citing privacy concerns. Kokubun, 50, also released a public apology, announcing that he would be suspending all entertainment activities for the time being. 'The root cause lies entirely in my own lack of awareness of the position I hold, my complacency, poor judgment and inadequate behavior,' he said in the statement. Kokubun rose to fame as a member of the popular boy band Tokio and later expanded into acting and hosting TV and radio programs. His sudden announcement of suspension will leave broadcasters scrambling to reschedule or even cancel six shows in which he has been appearing. According to Nippon TV, the company became aware of the issue on May 27 after a source alerted the broadcaster to Kokubun's misbehavior. A subsequent investigation involving a third-party lawyer included interviews with relevant individuals. The findings led to the decision for Kokubun's removal from 'The! Tetsuwan! Dash!!,' an iconic reality show he co-hosted for three decades. Despite the controversy, the broadcaster confirmed that the program will continue airing. 'This is an issue concerning an individual cast member, not the show itself,' Fukuda said. He emphasized that no Nippon TV staff members engaged in any misconduct but acknowledged the broadcaster's responsibility for continuing to cast someone with potential issues. The revelation comes as the entertainment industry increasingly confronts issues of harassment and human rights violations, typically involving sexual abuse and bullying. Earlier this year, another well-known TV show host, Masahiro Nakai, retired from show business following accusations that he sexually abused a female newscaster from Fuji Television Network Inc. Both Nakai and Kokubun are originally from Johnny & Associates Inc., now renamed, the powerful showbiz agency at the center of a major sexual abuse scandal involving its late founder. (This article was written by Sachi Matsumoto and Yusuke Miyata.)
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
Tokio Member Kokubun Commits Compliance Violations
News from Japan Culture Jun 20, 2025 12:37 (JST) Tokyo, June 20 (Jiji Press)--Nippon Television Network Corp. said Friday that Taichi Kokubun, a member of male pop group Tokio, has been found to have committed several problematic acts regarding compliance in the past, and will leave "The Tetsuwan Dash," a popular TV variety show of the major Japanese broadcaster. Nippon TV President Hiroyuki Fukuda will explain the matter at a press conference to be held at the company's headquarters in Tokyo from 1 p.m. the same day. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
