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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Actor Brad Pitt's LA home burgled and ransacked
Brad Pitt was not home at the time of the burglary, as he has been on a global promotional tour for his new movie F1. PHOTO: REUTERS LOS ANGELES - Burglars broke into Brad Pitt's Los Angeles home on June 26, ransacking the property and fleeing with stolen items while the Oscar-winning actor was traveling to promote his new racing thriller F1, US media reported. A Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson told NBC News that a break-in took place at a residence in the Los Feliz neighborhood around 10.30 pm (1.30pm on Friday in Singapore), without officially confirming who owned the home. Police sources told NBC News and the Los Angeles Times that three suspects climbed over a front fence and broke in through the home's front window before ransacking the location and fleeing with some belongings. The value of the stolen items has not been disclosed. Pitt was not home at the time, as he has been on a global promotional tour for his new movie F1. The 61-year-old actor attended the film's premiere in London this week. The property was purchased by Pitt in 2023 for US$5.5 million (S$7 million), according to Variety magazine. Pitt is the among the most recent celebrities to have their Los Angeles homes burglarised. About US$500,000 of jewelry was allegedly stolen from the home of French striker Olivier Giroud of MLS side Los Angeles FC in a burglary in February. That same month, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's residence was reportedly burglarised. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Straits Times
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' defense to make closing argument in sex trafficking trial
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik makes her closing arguments during Sean \"Diddy\" Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, New York, U.S., June 26, 2025 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg A scene from a hotel security video is shown during Sean \"Diddy\" Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, New York, U.S., June 26, 2025 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg Sean \"Diddy\" Combs listens alongside his lawyers Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos as Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik makes her closing arguments as U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian presides during Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, New York, U.S., June 26, 2025 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik makes her closing arguments during Sean \"Diddy\" Combs' sex trafficking trial in New York City, New York, U.S., June 26, 2025 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg Sean \"Diddy\" Combs gestures during his sex trafficking trial in New York City, New York, U.S., June 26, 2025 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg Sean 'Diddy' Combs' defense lawyers are set to ask jurors on Friday to clear the hip-hop mogul of sex trafficking and other criminal charges, as his closely watched trial in Manhattan comes to a close. Combs, a former billionaire known for elevating hip-hop in American culture, has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy and two counts each of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted on all counts, the Bad Boy Records founder faces a minimum 15-year prison term and could be sentenced to life behind bars. During the first day of closing arguments on Thursday, a U.S. prosecutor told jurors Combs used "violence and fear" to lead a criminal enterprise that helped him subject two of his former girlfriends to sex trafficking, "The defendant used power, violence and fear to get what he wanted," prosecutor Christy Slavik told jurors in her address. "He thought that his fame, wealth and power put him above the law." Combs' defense lawyers acknowledge that Combs was occasionally violent in domestic relationships, but have argued that his conduct did not amount to sex trafficking because the sex acts described by prosecutors were consensual. Over more than six weeks of testimony in Manhattan federal court, jurors heard two of Combs' former girlfriends testify that they took part in days-long, drug-fueled sex parties sometimes called "Freak Offs" with male sex workers while Combs watched, masturbated, and occasionally filmed. Combs did not testify. The jury saw hotel surveillance footage of Combs beating one of the women in a hallway, and heard Combs' employees describe setting up hotel rooms and buying drugs for the performances. Jurors are expected to start deliberations either late on Friday or on Monday. To convict Combs, they must vote unanimously. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- 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.
