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Straits Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Former Johnny's group Tokio to disband after scandal revelation
Tokio, an all-male group, debuted under Johnny & Associates in 1994. The most recent line-up comprises (from left) Taichi Kokubun, Shigeru Joshima and Masahiro Matsuoka. PHOTO: TOKIO/X Former Johnny's group Tokio to disband after scandal revelation TOKYO – Japanese pop group Tokio, formerly part of the now-defunct boy band empire Johnny & Associates, said on June 25 that they have decided to disband following member Taichi Kokubun's hiatus over a misconduct scandal, according to a statement on their official website. 'We decided it would be difficult to regain trust and continue receiving support as a group,' Tokio posted. Kokubun, 50, was axed from The Tetsuwan Dash – a variety programme aired by Nippon Television Network and fronted by the members of Tokio – on June 20. Following the announcement, Kokubun said he was indefinitely suspending his activities in a statement from his office, also named Tokio. Neither Kokubun nor his office has elaborated on what the breaches entailed, but a source close to the matter said they involved behaviour that could be considered sexual harassment. Tokio debuted under Johnny & Associates in 1994 with five members. They are leader and main guitarist Shigeru Joshima, 54; bassist Tatsuya Yamaguchi, 53; keyboardist Kokubun; drummer Masahiro Matsuoka, 48; and vocalist and guitarist Tomoya Nagase, 46. The all-male group are widely known in Japan for their support for Fukushima following the 2011 accident at the prefecture's nuclear power plant. Tokio helped promote local agricultural products through commercials, as their variety programme had featured them engaging in farming in Fukushima. Yamaguchi's contract with Johnny & Associates was terminated in 2018 after he forcibly kissed a high school girl at his home, while Nagase left Tokio in 2021 to pursue his own endeavours. Following Nagase's departure, the remaining three members of the group established a new company under the name 'Tokio', which operated in affiliation with Johnny & Associates. Johnny & Associates changed its name to Smile-Up in 2023 after hundreds of sexual abuse allegations surfaced against the agency's founder Johnny Kitagawa, who died in 2019 at age 87. Tokio's dissolution came after a recent sexual scandal involving Masahiro Nakai, 52, the former leader of Japanese male idol group Smap. A third-party panel probing Fuji Television Network and its handling of the scandal involving Nakai concluded in March that the former TV host sexually assaulted a female employee, amid a culture of harassment at the major Japanese network. KYODO NEWS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Tokyo Weekender
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
Tokio Announce Breakup Following Taichi Kokubun Scandal
Japanese pop group Tokio announced that it is breaking up on Wednesday following a compliance violation by its keyboardist Taichi Kokubun. Sankei Sports broke the story about the violation last Thursday. Details about what he did have yet to be revealed. However, a source close to the matter said it involved behavior that could be considered sexual harassment. List of Contents: The Statement About Tokio Related Posts The Statement 'Taichi Kokubun's recent compliance violations have caused a great deal of distress and concern to everyone involved, and we take this very seriously,' read Wednesday's statement . 'We would like to once again offer our sincerest apologies . We are truly sorry. 'Having come to a mutual conclusion about our intentions, we agree that , given the current situation, it would be difficult to continue working as the group Tokio in a way that could regain all of your trust and support. Therefore, we have decided to bring all of our activities as a group to an end.' The statement went on to apologize to fans who have been with the group for the past 31 years, as well as the people of Fukushima, where Tokio has actively participated in reconstruction and revitalization efforts since the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. About Tokio Formed by Johnny & Associates, Tokio debuted in 1994 with five members. That number was reduced to four in 2018 with the termination of Tatsuya Yamaguchi 's contract. He was referred to prosecutors for allegedly kissing a girl against her will at his home. Two years later, four became three as Tomoya Nagase announced that he was leaving the band to pursue his own endeavors. Last Friday, Kokubun's management announced that he was being suspended by the group. Earlier in the day, Nippon Television Network (NTV) said it was removing Kokubun ,50, from its weekly program, The Tetsuwan Dash . Speaking at a post-Cabinet meeting press conference on Tuesday, Communications Minister Seiichiro Murakami said , '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.' Related Posts Taichi Kokubun of Tokio To Be Suspended for Compliance Violation Japanese Director Sion Sono Accused of Sexual Assault BBC Documentary Exposes Abusive Past of Johnny Kitagawa
SoraNews24
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Tokio announces breakup following repeated harassment by member
Latest scandal simply too much for the remaining members to handle. The past couple of years have seen a reckoning for various members of the entertainment industry who stand accused of both sexual harassment and power harassment. Following the revelation of SMAP member Masahiro Nakai's repeated offenses that led to his ousting and the near collapse of Fuji TV, it has come to light that boy band Tokio member Taichi Kokubun has had a history of sexual harassment and abuses of power for many years. It all started last week, when Japanese broadcaster NTV announced the sudden removal of Kokubun from the popular and long-running variety show The Tetsuwan Dash , created by the pop group Tokio back in the '90s and featuring a range of physical challenges. ▼ An old promo for The Tetsuwan Dash At the time of Kokubun's removal from The Tetsuwan Dash and suspension from both Tokio and Starto Entertainment, little was mentioned about what he had done aside from 'compliance violations.' But in the days that followed, details of his behavior, including inviting women to private dinners, demanding lewd photos from women, and verbally abusing staff. Kokubun issued an apology for his behavior and said he accepted NTV's decision, but his overall career in show business remained in question. But on 25 June, Tokio released the following statement announcing that they were breaking up completely: The group Tokio, consisting of members Shigeru Joshima, Masahiro Matsuoka, and Taichi Kokubun, has decided to disband as of today. Taichi Kokubun's recent compliance violations have caused a great deal of distress and concern to everyone involved and we take this very seriously. We would like to once again offer our sincerest apologies. We are truly sorry. Having come to a mutual conclusion about our intentions, we agree that given the current situation, it would be difficult to continue working as the group Tokio in a way that could regain all of your trust and support. Therefore, we have decided to bring all of our activities as a group to an end. We want to sincerely apologize to our many fans and everyone else who has supported Tokio since our CD debut in 1994, as well as to the media and sponsors who have supported us and given us opportunities to perform. We also apologize for the suddenness of this announcement to the people of Fukushima Prefecture [Tokio has been serving as promotional ambassadors for Fukushima-grown rice since 2013] and other areas that have warmly welcomed our endeavors. Regarding the future, we would first like to apologize and extend our sympathies to everyone involved. Then, we will each look into ourselves and sincerely ask what we can do to give back to everyone who has helped us so far. Finally, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who has been involved with Tokio over these past 31 years. Thank you very much. June 25, 2025 Tokio And with that, Tokio will no longer perform as a group but likely forge their own way as individual personalities and/or musicians. Fans online were sad about the end of an era, but many understood that given the situation there was little else Tokio as a unit could do. 'It's been fun. Thank you, Tokio.' 'I'm so sad. But if it was a group decision, I guess it can't be helped.' 'I guess there won't be any farming idols anymore.' 'Don't just break up! I hoped they'd be more considerate of fans' feelings.' 'When Fukushima was suffering, Tokio was there for us. Thank you, Tokio.' 'It's a shame you're breaking up, but I'll continue to support you individually.' 'This isn't the way it should end…' At the time of Kokubun's departure, it was determined that The Tetsuwan Dash would continue without him. However, the break-up of Tokio altogether may change things. The future of the show itself will likely remain up in the air while the producers sort everything out. Tokio started out as a five-member band but shrank to four in 2018 after Tatsuya Yamaguchi was removed when it was learned he engaged in indecent behavior with underage girls. In 2023, Tomoya Nagase left to pursue his own solo career, leaving the final three members who disbanded today. While it is a shame that a group many people have fond memories of had to go out under such dark circumstances, it's important that this culture of abuse and harassment is exposed and rooted out in order to make the entertainment industry a safer place to work. Source: Tokio, Nikkan Sports, Hachima Kiko Featured image: ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
4 days ago
- 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.]
Yomiuri Shimbun
4 days ago
- 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.
