Latest news with #NipponTelevisionNetworkCorp.
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
Japan Male Pop Group Tokio Disbands
Tokyo, June 25 (Jiji Press)--Japanese male pop group Tokio broke up Wednesday, after member Taichi Kokubun indefinitely halted his entertainment activities Friday over compliance violations. The group found it difficult to regain fans' trust and support under the current circumstances, its management firm said. The disbandment came amid heightened criticisms over insufficient explanations by parties involved about what Kokubun actually did. Tokio debuted in 1994 with a CD release. In addition to their musical activities, its members were featured in many television programs, notably Nippon Television Network Corp.'s "The Tetsuwan Dash" variety show, as well as in TV commercials to promote products made in Fukushima Prefecture, which was severely damaged by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami and the ensuing meltdowns at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant. They also individually built acting careers, amassing a wide fan base. Tokio had been active as a three-member group comprising leader Shigeru Joshima, 54, Masahiro Matsuoka, 48, and Kokubun, 50, since Tomoya Nagase, 46, bolted from the group for a private reason in 2021 following the departure of Tatsuya Yamaguchi, 53, amid a scandal in 2018. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
Japan Today
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Tokio pop group member removed from TV show over past conduct
A member of Japanese all-male pop group Tokio has been removed from a popular TV program due to past conduct that breached compliance rules on multiple occasions, a TV network said Friday. Taichi Kokubun, 50, was removed from "The Tetsuwan Dash," a variety program aired by Nippon Television Network Corp. and fronted by the members of Tokio. Neither Kokubun, his company nor the TV network has elaborated on what the breaches entailed, but according to a source close to the matter, they involved behavior that could be considered sexual harassment. The decision to remove Kokubun was approved at an extraordinary board meeting, based on findings from a third-party probe headed by lawyers. Kokubun has accepted the decision, the network said. In remarks to reporters, Hiroyuki Fukuda, the network's president, declined to elaborate further on the cases, citing a need to "protect privacy." He said it was not a criminal matter. According to Fukuda, the probe was established after the misconduct came to light in late May. "The Tetsuwan Dash" will continue broadcasting, the network said. Following the announcement, Kokubun said he is indefinitely suspending his activities in a release on the Tokio company website. In a statement of apology, he said that "my lack of awareness for the situation I am in, my naivety, my arrogance and my inappropriate behavior have caused everything." Kokubun debuted with the then five-member Tokio in 1994 and has an extensive career in television and radio. After the Fukushima nuclear crisis in 2011, he helped promote local farming produce by appearing in commercials. His removal from the Nippon Television program comes amid increased scrutiny of Japan's entertainment industry following recent revelations such as a sexual misconduct scandal that emerged at Fuji Television Network Inc. involving popular former TV host Masahiro Nakai. Tokio's former agency Johnny & Associates Inc. also renamed itself and a separate agency was established after hundreds of sexual abuse allegations against its late founder Johnny Kitagawa. © KYODO
Kyodo News
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Kyodo News
Tokio pop group member removed from TV show over past misconduct
KYODO NEWS - 1 hour ago - 19:21 | All, Japan A member of Japanese all-male pop group Tokio has been removed from a popular TV program due to past conduct that breached compliance rules on multiple occasions, a TV network said Friday. Taichi Kokubun, 50, was removed from "The Tetsuwan Dash," a variety program aired by Nippon Television Network Corp. and fronted by the members of Tokio. Neither Kokubun, his company nor the TV network has elaborated on what the breaches entailed. The decision to remove Kokubun was approved at an extraordinary board meeting, based on findings from a third-party probe headed by lawyers. Kokubun has accepted the decision, the network said. In remarks to reporters, Hiroyuki Fukuda, the network's president, declined to elaborate further on the cases, citing a need to "protect privacy." He said it was not a criminal matter. According to Fukuda, the probe was established after the misconduct came to light in late May. "The Tetsuwan Dash" will continue broadcasting, the network said. Following the announcement, Kokubun said he is indefinitely suspending his activities in a release on the Tokio company website. In a statement of apology, he said that "my lack of awareness for the situation I am in, my naivety, my arrogance and my inappropriate behavior have caused everything." Kokubun debuted with the then five-member Tokio in 1994 and has an extensive career in television and radio. After the Fukushima nuclear crisis in 2011, he helped promote local farming produce by appearing in commercials. His removal from the Nippon Television program comes amid increased scrutiny of Japan's entertainment industry following recent revelations such as a sexual misconduct scandal that emerged at Fuji Television Network Inc. involving popular former TV host Masahiro Nakai. Tokio's former agency Johnny & Associates Inc. also renamed itself and a separate agency was established after hundreds of sexual abuse allegations against its late founder Johnny Kitagawa. Related coverage: Nakai sexually assaulted Fuji TV staff amid harassment culture: panel Ex-Tokio pop group member released after arrest for drunken driving
The Mainichi
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Tokio pop group member removed from TV show over past conduct
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A member of Japanese all-male pop group Tokio has been removed from a popular TV program due to past conduct that breached compliance rules on multiple occasions, a TV network said Friday. Taichi Kokubun, 50, was removed from "The Tetsuwan Dash," a variety program aired by Nippon Television Network Corp. and fronted by the members of Tokio. The decision to remove Kokubun was approved at an extraordinary board meeting, based on findings from a third-party probe headed by lawyers. Kokubun has accepted the decision, the network said. In remarks to reporters, Hiroyuki Fukuda, the network's president, declined to elaborate further on the cases, citing a need to "protect privacy." He said it was not a criminal matter. According to Fukuda, the probe was established after the misconduct came to light in late May. "The Tetsuwan Dash" will continue broadcasting, the network said. Kokubun debuted with the then five-member Tokio in 1994 and has an extensive career in television and radio. After the Fukushima nuclear crisis in 2011, he helped promote local farming produce by appearing in commercials. His removal from the Nippon Television program comes amid increased scrutiny of Japan's entertainment industry following recent revelations such as a sexual misconduct scandal that emerged at Fuji Television Network Inc. involving popular former TV host Masahiro Nakai. Tokio's former agency Johnny & Associates Inc. also renamed itself and a separate agency was established after hundreds of sexual abuse allegations against its late founder Johnny Kitagawa.
Kyodo News
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Kyodo News
Tokio pop group member removed from TV show over past conduct
KYODO NEWS - 12 minutes ago - 13:37 | All, Japan A member of Japanese all-male pop group Tokio has been removed from a popular TV program due to past conduct that breached compliance rules on multiple occasions, a TV network said Friday. Taichi Kokubun, 50, was removed from "The Tetsuwan Dash," a variety program aired by Nippon Television Network Corp. and fronted by the members of Tokio. The decision to remove Kokubun was approved at an extraordinary board meeting, based on findings from a third-party probe. Kokubun has accepted the decision, the network said. "The Tetsuwan Dash" will continue broadcasting, the network said. Kokubun debuted with Tokio in 1994 and has an extensive career in television and radio. After the Fukushima nuclear crisis in 2011, he helped promote farming produce from Fukushima Prefecture on the variety program. Related coverage: Ex-Tokio pop group member released after arrest for drunken driving
