Kazuya Kamenashi’s Departure Agency Scandal and KAT-TUN’s Split

A big fight broke out between the members, with them physically fighting in the dressing room

The idol group KAT-TUN will disband on March 31st, and member Kamenashi Kazuya (38) will also leave his agency, STARTO ENTERTAINMENT, on the same day.

Formed 25 years ago, the group was known for being unconventional, for better or worse, within the former Johnny’s agency, which aimed for propriety.

Jin Akanishi (40), who had a strong international ambition, left the group and the agency in 2010. Later, in 2013, Koki Tanaka (39) and in 2016, Junnosuke Taguchi (39) also left the group. Tanaka and Taguchi were arrested later for drug-related issues.

A reporter who has followed KAT-TUN closely recalled, “A famous story is the huge fight in the dressing room where the members physically fought each other. Each of them had such strong personalities, which led to the explosive popularity of the group.” After all the departures, only Kamenashi, Tatsuya Ueda (41), and Yuichi Nakamaru (41) remained. Nakamaru was reported for an extramarital affair last year, and after a period of suspension, he resumed activities at the beginning of this year.

According to the same reporter, “Kamenashi was the symbol of KAT-TUN. About a year ago, he began discussing the future with the members. Once he decided to leave, the group’s continuation was no longer an option. The other members agreed.”

There were opinions that if it weren’t for Nakamaru’s infidelity report, KAT-TUN could have continued, but according to the reporter, “That had almost no impact.”