<figure id="attachment_450072" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-450072" style="width: 1883px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="db3e7ec5"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/12/d2223378ae0c1eceed7a07730dacf72c.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-450072" class="wp-caption-text">Masahiro Matsuoka expresses his dissatisfaction with NTV over the compliant issue with Taichi Kokubun (right)</figcaption></figure>
<h2> Nippon TV kicked him off, saying &#8220;I don&#8217;t need to answer the question</h2>
 The fact that member Matsuoka Masahiro (48) opened his mouth in a direct interview with Shukan Bunshun and Shukan Shincho about the compliance violation by former TOKIO member Kokubun Taichi (51), which was revealed by NTV in June, is still causing a stir.
 Matsuoka responded to an interview with &#8220;Shukan Bunshun&#8221; and &#8220;Shukan Shincho&#8221; published on December 4,
 Nippon TV has not given me any explanation for more than five months.
 He also said that he has not received any explanation from Nittele in more than five months, and that he has no plans to return to Nittele. DASH! DASH! (NTV), which he appears in regularly,
 DASH!&#8221; (Nippon Television Network), in which he will appear as a regular, and that he has not been consulted about it by the station, and frankly speaking, he wonders what position he should take and how he should deal with the program. Since there is no explanation, I am wondering, &#8216;What in the world is this?
 He expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation, and his comments could be seen as a criticism of Nippon TV.
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 A Nippon TV official was quoted as saying in an interview about the uproar: &#8220;I still don&#8217;t understand what is going on with &#8216;Tetsuwan DASH&#8217;,
 I was surprised that Matsuoka-san, who still appears in &#8220;Tetsuwan DASH,&#8221; would be so harsh on Nippon TV. It seems that the onsite staff is getting nervous. However, Mr. Kokubun is a person of merit at Nippon TV. Many staff members feel that the station could have said a little more to Mr. Kokubu.
 Matsuoka&#8217;s strong opposition to the decision was not well received by the staff. Matsuoka&#8217;s strong opposition must have made it difficult for the program staff. But why did he dare to speak out?
 Matsuoka-san terminated his agent contract with STARTO ENTERTAINMENT before this interview and became independent. Since many STARTO talents appear in &#8220;Tetsuwan DASH,&#8221; this is probably to avoid any trouble with the company. At the same time, they may be considering &#8220;graduating&#8221; from the program. That must be how unforgivable Nippon TV&#8217;s treatment of Kokubu and themselves and TOKIO was.
 Kunibuchi, who disappeared from the public eye after Nippon TV announced the compliance violation, held his first public appearance in about five months on November 26, but he appeared gaunt and his voice was weak.
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 What impressed me the most, personally?
 I would like to take this opportunity, on a personal note, to say a few words to my family. I am just so sorry for my wife and children. I have deprived my family of their daily life.&#8221;
 In the scene, he tearfully apologized to his family. He seemed to be in a very tight corner. Kokubu repeatedly asked at the press conference about the harassment that Nippon TV had not disclosed.
 &#8220;I want to answer the question.
 But Nittele was not so serious. However, Nippon TV is a serious company, and at a regular press conference held on December 1, after the press conference, Nippon TV President Hiroyuki Fukuda said, from the viewpoint of victim protection, &#8220;I don&#8217;t think it is necessary to answer the question.
 &#8220;We don&#8217;t think it is necessary to answer the question,&#8221; he said.
 He dismissed the idea.
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" Why did public criticism turn from Kokubu to Nippon TV?"></div>
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<figure id="attachment_450073" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-450073" style="width: 3533px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="abf2a4ea"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/12/cffb85fad1e5bf82b1ec002fe5bd763f-2.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-450073" class="wp-caption-text">Tetsuwan DASH,&#8221; celebrating its 30th anniversary, is facing a major crossroads. From left to right: Kokubun, Shigeru Johjima, Matsuoka</figcaption></figure>
<h2> The &#8220;Real Aim&#8221; of Filing a Human Rights Relief Action with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations</h2>
 As far as this &#8220;answer to the question&#8221; is concerned, Kokubu&#8217;s thoughts will probably never be heard. The Kokubu side must have understood this, as they have been in contact with him behind the scenes many times.
 Nevertheless, the reason why Kokubu made such a statement at the press conference was probably because he wanted to publicize Nippon TV&#8217;s response and implicitly criticize it. The &#8220;accusation&#8221; made by Matsuoka immediately after the press conference confirmed this impression. There is no doubt that this press conference was a major first step toward Kokubu&#8217;s comeback.
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 The fact that Kokubu wanted to hold a press conference had been leaked from the very early stage of the compliance problem. However, as long as we did not know the victim or the nature of the harassment, we could not use the name &#8220;apology press conference. That is why they could not open it immediately.
 So, the Kokubun side first filed a &#8220;human rights relief&#8221; complaint with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations and then held a press conference to discuss the matter. I wondered under what guise they would hold the press conference,
 &#8220;I didn&#8217;t know there was a way to do that!
 I was surprised. Then, following Kokubu&#8217;s press conference, Matsuoka&#8217;s accusation was made at the perfect time. In response to this, NTV responded to this site&#8217;s interview,
 We have been in careful dialogue with Mr. Matsuoka and Mr. Jojima, both of whom are important performers, either directly or through STARTO ENTERTAINMENT and TOKIO, Inc. We would like to talk with you so that we can
 He responded, &#8220;We will be happy to talk to them so that they can understand our thoughts. After that, perhaps because they had taken in the currents of public opinion, NTV apologized from the bottom of their heart,
 NTV expresses its sincere apology and would like to explain directly and politely once again and sincerely accept the feelings of the two men.
 NTV has also issued an apology.
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 Indeed, Nippon TV has only apologized to Matsuoka, Jojima, and STARTO, but has not changed its attitude toward Kokubun, who is the main issue. However, the public has become more critical of Nippon TV, and criticism of Kokubu has weakened in proportion. At a press conference
 At first, I thought about retiring, but many people gave me ideas other than that, so now I am taking the form of suspending my activities.
 As he says, he has not given up on resuming his entertainment activities.
 He has admitted his non-compliance, and there is no doubt that there are victims. It is only natural that he should show great remorse, but there is no doubt that the series of events has been a major step toward his comeback. How will Kokubu make his next move?

 Norifumi Arakida (FRIDAY Digital Entertainment Desk)

 Kojiro Yamada (1st), Shinji Hasuo (2nd)

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