<figure id="attachment_444936" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-444936" style="width: 688px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="3df2a2ed"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/10/59ecd17ade4086afcd5dc73e4caa4293.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-444936" class="wp-caption-text">Kokubu leaves the studio in &#8217;18, being seen off by the staff. A compromise with Nippon TV has yet to be reached.</figcaption></figure>
<h2> The situation has become extremely confusing.</h2>
<p><span class="strongInContent"><span class="strong-in-content"> He says that he doesn&#8217;t know which compliance violations were the reason for his resignation, but the reverse side of the coin is that he has a lot on his mind. If the specifics are revealed, he will be in trouble. &#8230;&#8230;</span></span></p>
<p> A senior NTV staff member expressed his true feelings about the unexpected blowback.</p>
<p> Taichi Kokubun, 51, was suspended for &#8220;noncompliance,&#8221; the actual nature of which has yet to be revealed. On October 23, four months after he was abruptly dropped from the program, it was revealed that he had filed a human rights complaint with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA).</p>
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<p><span class="strongInContent"> Kunibata admits that he had acted in a way that violated compliancy in the past, and says he deeply regrets his actions. However, there was no explanation from Nippon TV as to when and which actions led to the decision to immediately drop the program. In addition, he claims that since he was under strict orders to refrain from any words or actions that would lead to the identification of the people involved, he was unable to set up a place to apologize to them externally. In other words, they have decided to file a petition for human rights relief on the grounds that Nippon TV&#8217;s handling of the situation was inappropriate.</span></p>
<p> Nippon TV President Hiroyuki Fukuda (64) immediately responded, saying at a regular press conference on October 27, &#8220;We are extremely perplexed by the human rights complaint filed by the lawyer representing Mr. Kokubu. We cannot help but feel that they are disregarding the privacy protection of the people involved, which is the area we place the greatest importance on,&#8221; and the situation has become extremely confusing.</p>
<p> Kuniwake&#8217;s sudden counterattack is said to have shaken the company. A veteran Nippon TV employee tilted his head.</p>
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<p><span class="strongInContent"> There are voices from all over the station saying, &#8216;This is a story that has already ended, so why are they rehashing it now? Kokubu admits that he was at fault, so he is not going to rehash it now! DASH! (Nippon TV), and his agent must be well aware of that. If they were dissatisfied, why didn&#8217;t they deny or refute it first?</span></p>
<p> Another mid-level Nippon TV staffer was scathing, saying, &#8220;The way Kokubu&#8217;s side is doing this is cunning.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> What Nippon TV is most concerned about is not allowing the victims of Kokubu&#8217;s harassment to be identified. Kokubu&#8217;s side says it wants to apologize to the parties involved, but such an action could lead to the identification of the victims, which could lead to secondary damage such as the development of PTSD or attacks from &#8220;TOKIO&#8221; fans. However, now that Kokubu has filed for human rights relief, the public will be critical, asking, &#8220;Why doesn&#8217;t Nippon TV give Kokubu a chance to apologize? I see this as a calculated counterattack in anticipation of this trend.</span></p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" A Thorny Path Ahead"></div>
<h2>Security guards are posted around his home.</h2>
<p> At the press conference when the petition for human rights relief was filed, Kokubu&#8217;s representative mentioned the issue of compensation for damages and penalties for dropping programs and commercials.</p>
<p> The agent said, &#8220;(If there is a penalty), I think it will be a considerable amount of money. If it goes badly, I think she will have to sell her house.&#8221; However, entertainment reporter Chikako Komai denies the possibility of a huge penalty fee being charged.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> In the past, when Pierre Taki (58) and Erika Sawajiri (39) were arrested for drug use, they were charged the full cost of reshooting a film they were shooting. However, Kokubu did not commit a crime. And with the situation still unclear as to what even caused him to drop out of the film, it would be impossible to hold Kokubu responsible.&#8221;</span></p>
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<p> Still, a thorny road awaits Kokubu. As one of the executives at the station continued, &#8220;It&#8217;s almost impossible for him to return to terrestrial broadcasting.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> I think it is almost impossible for him to return to terrestrial broadcasting. I don&#8217;t think sponsors will allow Kokubu to return. Then, too, there is the question of whether he will be able to make a comeback on the Internet. Matsumoto Hitoshi (62) of &#8220;Downtown&#8221; will return on November 1 with his own Internet service, &#8220;Downtown Plus,&#8221; but this was made possible with the backup of Yoshimoto Kogyo, a huge entertainment agency. That is why Nippon TV is also producing &#8220;Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Aahende! (Nippon TV).</span></p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> On the other hand, the only company attached to Kokubu is &#8220;TOKIO Inc. Since &#8220;STARTO ENTERTAINMENT&#8221; is a completely separate company from &#8220;TOKIO Inc.&#8221;, we cannot expect any cooperation from STARTO.&#8221;</span></p>
<p> A major entertainment industry executive added, &#8220;In the first place, financial circumstances are not the reason, as Kokubu has ample reserves. The reason behind his counterattack is his family.</p>
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<p><span class="strongInContent"> In 2003, he married a woman three years younger than him, and they had a baby girl in 2004 and 2006, respectively. Immediately after his hiatus, he told his close acquaintances that he wanted to protect his children. The media was in front of their house every day, and the family could not even leave the house, so they hired security guards and stationed them around the house.</span><br>
<span class="strongInContent"> Moreover, Nippon TV&#8217;s withholding of the contents of the compliant violation allowed the rumors with tails to walk on their own. If this continues, it will even affect the children&#8217;s future &#8211; the main goal of Kokubun is to protect them. Even if I wanted to do YouTube, I would not be able to give a talk or sing a song on my own.</span></p>
<p> The battle with Nittele is already turning into a quagmire. How will the battle with Nippon TV end?</p>
<figure id="attachment_444937" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-444937" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="6698c62e"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/10/527147cb12b28d9f2a00cb136218ef56.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-444937" class="wp-caption-text"> Although he had appeared in a commercial for Marugame Seimen since 2009, there is no sign of him on the official website.</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_444938" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-444938" style="width: 1655px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="b6376189"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/10/ceb78779a55966a6c5e8e3622b0f5424.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-444938" class="wp-caption-text"> Immediately after Kokubu announced his suspension, Nippon TV President Fukuda held a press conference. He did not give details of the compliance violation.</figcaption></figure>
<p> From the November 14-21, 2025 issue of &#8220;FRIDAY</p>


 Yasuko Sakaguchi (1st photo) Shinji Hasuo (2nd photo) Kyodo News (3rd photo)

 Taichi Kokubun has filed a human rights complaint against Nippon TV, claiming that the company's handling of his case was inappropriate. Behind the calculated counterattack, which was made in anticipation of future developments, is the existence of a family...

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