<figure id="attachment_449152" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-449152" style="width: 2921px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="1aa6aa2c"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/12/64a427f8ffcf6a5555468d04dca2d2fa.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-449152" class="wp-caption-text">Former TOKIO member Taichi Kokubun (left), who was cleared of noncompliance by Nippon TV, and Masahiro Matsuoka, who complained about Nippon TV&#8217;s response.</figcaption></figure>
<h2><span class="strongInContent"> Matsuoka questions Nippon TV&#8217;s refusal to explain its actions.</span></h2>
<p> It seems that former TOKIO member Taichi Kokubun (51) could not remain silent about his plight.</p>
<p> Former TOKIO member Masahiro Matsuoka (48) was interviewed by the December 4 issue of Shukan Bunshun and Shukan Shincho, where he spoke out passionately about Kokubu&#8217;s series of compliance violation issues and his feelings toward NTV.</p>
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<p> In June of this year, Kokubu was suspended from his regular Nippon TV program, &#8220;The! DASH! DASH!&#8221; was found to be in violation of NTV&#8217;s compliance rules, and Kokubu was removed from the show, leading to the dissolution of TOKIO.</p>
<p> Six months later, on November 26, Kokubu held a press conference in Tokyo accompanied by a representative. While apologizing to the victims, he claimed that he was stuck in a situation where he had not received any explanation from Nippon TV about his behavior that fell under the category of a compliance violation. He then added</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> I want to answer the question.</span></p>
<p> 12 times in total. He testified that the hearing with Nippon TV&#8217;s compliance officer was a &#8220;trick&#8221; in the sense that he was called in on a different matter, and that he was forbidden to record the meeting to protect himself. In response, Nippon TV President Hiroyuki Fukuda said at a regular press conference on December 1,</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> He stated at the press conference that he &#8220;has an idea of what he did&#8221; and &#8220;has repeatedly expressed remorse for his actions. I don&#8217;t need to answer your questions.</span></p>
<p> He was kicked out of the meeting. This website spoke with a sports newspaper reporter who attended the press conference.</p>
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<p><span class="strongInContent"> The negotiations were completely rejected. Nippon TV is distrustful of the fact that Mr. Kokubu filed a petition for human rights relief without prior notice. Human rights are the most important consideration for television. We are angry that we gave the impression that we were trampling on it. I am sure their arguments will continue to run parallel.&#8221;</span></p>
<p> It was Matsuoka who opened his mouth. In an interview with Bunshun and Shincho, he gave his impressions of Kokubun&#8217;s press conference and questioned Nippon TV&#8217;s refusal to give an explanation regarding the compliance violation.</p>
<p> I will spare you the details, but Matsuoka&#8217;s argument was that he is a member of TOKIO as well. He has appeared on &#8220;Tetsuwan DASH&#8221; for Nippon TV for 30 years. However, Nippon TV never offered any explanation for the Kokubun case, and President Fukuda said at the press conference that he had requested that Matsuoka and Jojima continue to appear on the show.</p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" Why Matsuoka is &quot;not satisfied&quot; with Nippon TV"></div>
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<figure id="attachment_449155" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-449155" style="width: 3533px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="387dd22c"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/12/cffb85fad1e5bf82b1ec002fe5bd763f.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-449155" class="wp-caption-text">Will former TOKIO members continue to appear on &#8220;Tetsuwan DASH&#8221; &#8230;&#8230; (from left to right: Kokubun, Johjima, Matsuoka)</figcaption></figure>
<h2><span class="strongInContent"> I&#8217;m just trying to make sure that STARTO doesn&#8217;t get involved.</span></h2>
<p> Matsuoka seemed to be bothered by the fact that his &#8220;friends&#8221; had been cut off, but he continued to appear on the show. In Bunshun and Shincho</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> Frankly speaking, I wonder what position we should take and how we should deal with the program from now on.</span></p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> Since there is no explanation, we are wondering, &#8216;What in the world is this? What is this?</span></p>
<p> For Nittele, &#8220;Tetsudou Dasho&#8221; was a great success.</p>
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<p> For Nippon TV, &#8220;Tetsuwan DASH&#8221; has long contributed as a dollar-box content. From Sunday evenings onward, Nippon TV has been the exclusive domain of the station. →and then &#8220;Tetsuwan DASH&#8221; to &#8220;Itte Q to the Ends of the World!</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> President Fukuda may have sent a message to the viewers that &#8220;Tetsuwan DASH will never end&#8221; by clearly stating that Mr. Matsuoka and Mr. Jojima would continue to appear on the show, but from reading Mr. Matsuoka&#8217;s interview, I think he felt as if he was being left out. Since there was no explanation for Kokubu-san&#8217;s demotion, but only a single request that he leave the show, it seems that it was difficult for them to maintain their motivation.</span></p>
<p> Before being interviewed for this article, Matsuoka left STARTO ENTERTAINMENT, with which he had an agency contract, and went independent. Jojima is also planning to set up his own private office.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> He said, &#8220;It is a decision that is typical of Mr. Matsuoka to avoid any repercussions for STARTO. On the other hand, he must have been very determined to leave the company and answer a weekly magazine&#8217;s interview. If Mr. Matsuoka and Mr. Jojima were to leave the program at the same time, none of the TOKIO members who had been the signatures of the program would be left. In the industry, the termination of &#8220;Tetsuwan DASH&#8221; is becoming a reality,&#8221; said a TV station official.</span></p>
<p> The program has recently been joined by a number of STARTO talents, but it is still &#8220;Tokio oriented.</p>
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<p> This website asked NTV about the possibility of &#8220;Tetsuwan DASH&#8221; being discontinued,</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> DASH! DASH! DASH!&#8221; has no plans to end the program.</span></p>
<p> DASH! According to an entertainment production official with inside knowledge of the situation,</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> DASH!&#8221; &#8220;The relationship between Mr. Matsuoka and Mr. Jojima and STARTO is still good. In fact, there are more people within STARTO who are uncomfortable with Nippon TV&#8217;s response. There are also many junior staff members who adore Mr. Kokubu. President Fukuda probably did not expect Mr. Matsuoka to make a move here, and misjudged the unity of TOKIO. The entire entertainment industry is watching Nippon TV closely to see what kind of station it is.</span></p>
<p> He said, &#8220;The entire entertainment industry is watching what kind of station Nittele is. How will Nippon TV react to Matsuoka&#8217;s appeal for resolve?</p>


 Shinji Hasuo

 The former TOKIO member Taichi Kokubun's compliance problem, which was revealed by NTV in June of this year, is causing more and more stir. In response to Kokubun's press conference, member Matsuoka Masahiro spoke out in an interview about his dissatisfaction with Nippon TV's side of the story. ......

President Fukuda misjudged the situation,” Masahiro Matsuoka confesses his resolve over the Taichi Kokubun issue.

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