I apologize once again to everyone who supported me, to everyone involved, and most of all to my colleagues and friends who got me into this mess. I am very sorry.&#8221;
 Takehiro Kimoto, 51, of the comedy duo TKO, bowed deeply as he held a press conference in Tokyo on January 23.
<figure id="attachment_293573" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-293573" style="width: 1280px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="e887eadb"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/02/10000000000000090020_20230124154704017525_P230123000144-1.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-293573" class="wp-caption-text"> Kimoto and his partner Kinoshita bowed as they left the venue. The two were both frightened and some questioned whether they were truly sorry for their behavior.</figcaption></figure>
 It was in July of last year that Kimoto&#8217;s large-scale trouble with his investment was discovered. He collected money from more than a dozen acquaintances and junior comedians, causing damage totaling more than 600 million yen. After the riot, Kimoto dropped all of his programs and left Shochiku Entertainments, to which he had belonged. His return to terrestrial broadcasting was said to be hopeless.
 More than half a year later,&#8230;&#8230; he has never made an explanation in public, so why did he hold a press conference now?
 He must have reached a point where he could repay the victims. The person who approached Kimoto about an investment and absconded with the money has returned and is now able to repay the money. Kukki, 46, of &#8220;Wild Bombs&#8221; who is said to have been cheated out of the money! (46) has been repaid in full. Takashi Yoshimura (42) of Heisei Nobushi-Kobushi has also been repaid a little, but not in full,&#8221; said a source from Yoshimoto Kogyo.
 In August of last year, FRIDAY directly interviewed Kimoto shortly after the fiasco. At that time, he revealed that he had not received any repayment from the person who had offered him a real estate investment, and he looked thoughtful, saying, &#8220;I am considering legal means. However, in a direct interview in December, he made a complete turnaround, confessing that he was living part-time, but speaking positively, saying, &#8220;We are working on a solution.
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 At this press conference, he also reported to the media that he is currently in contact with the person who absconded with his money and that he plans to repay the victims in turn. He reiterated how he had approached the people around him about investing and his own perception of the commotion.
 I was honestly aware that I had been scammed,&#8221; he said. But I couldn&#8217;t tell the police because I was afraid the world would find out.
 I was afraid to tell the police because I was afraid that the world would find out about it. I was so anxious about my job (as a comedian) as I was approaching my 50s. I got into it with the sole intention of somehow continuing to do comedy forever.
 Kimoto was upbeat throughout the press conference. After the explanatory press conference, he and his partner, Takayuki Kinoshita (51), even declared that they would &#8220;resume working together.
 I&#8217;ve been waiting for this day for a long time, so I think it&#8217;s the beginning of a new day. I want to put more effort into comedy, and if there is a chance, I want to participate in the awards race as well.
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 The press conference lasted for an hour and a half, but it is true that some criticized the two&#8217;s antics, saying that they showed no signs of remorse and that it was just a publicity stunt after all. The press conference is said to be TKO&#8217;s first step toward a comeback. Entertainment reporter Takayuki Jyoshita explains.
 I think this press conference was an opportunity for TKO to appeal to the industry, saying, &#8216;Please give TKO work in the future. He said, &#8216;I want to compete on the board,&#8217; which means he wants to be on the stage. Kinoshita also left Shochiku due to the power harassment issue, so he and Kimoto have no more contacts to bring in work together. The press conference was the perfect opportunity.
 Will the &#8220;disgraced duo&#8221; make a comeback?
 The only way for TKO to make a comeback is to do good work on small stages and in local markets. If TKO is to make a comeback, it will have to do some good work on smaller stages and in local markets. If we can gradually fill the big box, we may find a producer who will use us with the scandals in mind,&#8221; said Jyoshita.
 Tickets for TKO&#8217;s talk live concert, which went on sale at noon the day after the press conference, sold out immediately. The press conference, which could be called a grand strategy for their return to show business, was, for the time being, a success.
<figure id="attachment_293574" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-293574" style="width: 1280px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="55409782"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/02/KA1_6974.jpeg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-293574" class="wp-caption-text"> Last December, Kimoto responded to a direct interview with FRIDAY. I have to make a living, so I&#8217;m working part-time now,&#8221; she revealed.</figcaption></figure>

 Takahiro Kagawa (2nd)

 In January, Takehiro Kimoto of the comedy duo TKO held a press conference in Tokyo and bowed deeply. It was the first time he had publicly explained his financial troubles, in which he collected money from more than a dozen acquaintances and junior comedians, causing damage totaling more than 600 million yen.

 The man who disappeared from terrestrial broadcasting due to investment troubles worth over 600 million yen He told FRIDAY that he was "working on a solution." ......

TKO Kimoto’s “Grand Strategy to Return to the Entertainment Industry after a Too Late Press Conference” Will Really Succeed?

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