Latest news with #TheTetsuwanDash
3 hours ago
- 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.]
Kyodo News
3 hours ago
- 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
Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Tokio J-pop boy band member removed from TV show over past conduct
Taichi Kokubun was removed from The Tetsuwan Dash, a variety programme aired by Nippon Television Network and fronted by the members of Tokio. PHOTO: THE JAPAN NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK TOKYO - A member of Japanese all-male pop group Tokio has been removed from a popular TV programme due to past conduct that breached compliance rules on multiple occasions, a TV network said on June 20 . Taichi Kokubun, 50, was removed from 'The Tetsuwan Dash,' a variety programme aired by Nippon Television Network 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, the network's president Hiroyuki Fukuda declined to elaborate further on the cases, citing a need to 'protect privacy.' He said it was not a criminal matter. According to Mr 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 programme 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. KYODO NEWS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Japan Times
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Pop group Tokio's Kokubun to leave Nippon TV program over compliance violations
Nippon Television Network on Friday announced its decision to remove Taichi Kokubun, a member of male pop group Tokio, from "The Tetsuwan Dash," its popular variety show, as he has been found to have committed compliance violations. Kokubun, 50, has accepted the decision, which was made based on the results of an investigation conducted by external lawyers over the compliance violations, according to the major Japanese broadcaster. Nippon TV will continue to broadcast the program. The firm and its parent, Nippon Television Holdings, decided on Kokubun's removal at their extraordinary board meetings the same day. Nippon TV President Hiroyuki Fukuda held a news conference on the matter later in the day, but he refrained from mentioning specifics about Kokubun's problematic acts out of concern for "privacy protection." "The Tetsuwan Dash" began airing in 1995, featuring Tokio members.
The Mainichi
7 hours ago
- 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.
