TOKIO’s Taichi Kokubun Exposed for Harassment — A Difficult Road Lies Ahead

The hidden face he showed on set

“At President Hiroyuki Fukuda’s (63) press conference, the specific details of the compliance violations were not disclosed, but I’ve heard that what became a serious issue were acts of power harassment—such as punching and kicking staff members on the set of The! Tetsuwan! DASH!!—as well as sexual harassment, including pressuring female staff to send explicit photos.

NTV has an internal reporting system called ‘NTV Whistle,’ and information regarding Kokubun’s harassment was submitted there. Based on that information, NTV began its own investigation, and there’s no doubt that’s how this incident was uncovered,” said a mid-level NTV employee.

On June 25, TOKIO suddenly announced its disbandment.

The trigger was the incident involving Taichi Kokubun (50), who was effectively given a red card on June 20. Due to multiple past compliance violations, NTV announced that Kokubun would be removed from The! Tetsuwan! DASH!!, a program that had been running for 30 years. On the same day, STARTO ENTERTAINMENT, which manages TOKIO, announced that Kokubun would suspend his activities indefinitely.

Kokubun had six regular TV shows and was featured in four commercials. With his gentle appearance and mild-mannered demeanor on screen, he enjoyed high public favorability, but on set, he showed a hidden side. A director from a production company shared:

“From a young age, Kokubun would explode with anger over even minor mistakes by staff. I saw many times assistant directors being kicked or having their hair grabbed by him. Cowardly as he was, he never behaved like that in front of people with power—like the show’s producers or chief directors. Masahiro Matsuoka (48) and Tomoya Nagase (46) disliked this side of Kokubun, and when they saw him treating young staff harshly, they would step in and say, ‘Cut it out!’”

But Kokubun’s hidden side wasn’t limited to that. According to the aforementioned NTV employee, “His habit of sexual harassment was also well-known for a long time.”

“When Kokubun took a liking to a female staff member or stylist, he would arrange drinking parties to get closer to them. It was especially bad on location shoots in the countryside. Perhaps because his guard was down, he would sometimes grope stylists during those gatherings. For those who know the real Kokubun, this feels like justice is finally catching up with him.”

Another NTV staff member also reflected, saying the television network bears responsibility for enabling Kokubun’s harassment.

“In 2018, when former member Tatsuya Yamaguchi (53) was referred to prosecutors for forcibly indecent behavior toward a high school girl, Tetsuwan! DASH!! staff were urgently called into NTV. We didn’t know what to expect, but then upper management said, ‘We want to do something to help Mr. Yamaguchi.’ Young staff were dumbfounded, thinking, ‘He’s been referred to prosecutors—what do you mean, help him?’ I believe the company’s tendency to prioritize talent over victims encouraged Kokubun’s harassment behavior.”

With Yamaguchi gone and Nagase having retired from showbiz, and now Kokubun out as well, what lies ahead for TOKIO, a group once anticipated to restart with all five members? Longtime NTV entertainment reporter Toshio Ishikawa, who also heard that Kokubun pressured staff to send explicit photos, said:

“When Yamaguchi left the group, TOKIO held a press conference with all members to take responsibility. That stance was appreciated and helped them maintain popularity. But this time, there has been no explanation, and Kokubun’s actions remain shrouded in darkness. Unless they hold a press conference soon, led by group leader Shigeru Jōshima (54), the issue will escalate, and the group’s survival will be at risk. With scandals and member withdrawals piling up, they may follow the same path as KAT-TUN, who disbanded in March this year.”

Due to Kokubun’s dual nature and the television network’s tendency to prioritize protecting talent, a culture of harassment was allowed to persist for many years. Unless that toxic culture is fully addressed, it’s unlikely he will return to the public eye.

In October 2022, our magazine spotted Kokubun and Matsuoka meeting. They went barhopping for about two and a half hours, visiting a yakiniku restaurant and a bar in Nishi-Azabu.

From the July 11, 2025, issue of “FRIDAY”