Keiji Kuroki’s Celebrity Empire Takes a Hit as Wife Reika Miyazaki Faces Tax Evasion Charges

Hasn’t seen his children since January

From heaven to hell?

Keiji Kuroki (46), former EXILE member and husband of influencer Reika Miyazaki (38), who was convicted of massive tax evasion, has opened up about his feelings on social media.

Miyazaki, the representative of advertising agency “Solarie,” was charged with violating the Corporate Tax Act and other offenses after evading approximately ¥157 million in taxes. On July 15, the Tokyo District Court sentenced her to two years and six months in prison, suspended for four years. She was also fined ¥40 million.

Miyazaki called herself “Japan’s No. 1 influencer” and promoted a celebrity lifestyle on social media, showing off luxury cars and designer handbags. Behind the scenes, however, she became involved in tax evasion. In 2021, her tax accountant told her that the amount of tax owed on Solarie’s sales for the fiscal year ending January of that year would be approximately ¥20 million. She then consulted an acquaintance, A, asking:

“Is there any way to reduce the amount of tax we have to pay?”

A introduced her to an acquaintance, B, and defendant Miyazaki evaded taxes by recording fictitious outsourcing expenses paid to B’s company. She reportedly paid B more than ¥10 million in cash as compensation and also paid expenses for coordinating their stories in response to the Regional Taxation Bureau’s investigation. The money illicitly obtained through tax evasion is believed to have been used to purchase luxury goods.

After his wife was convicted, Kuroki apologized on Instagram:

“I am sorry for causing such a commotion among the public regarding my wife, Reika Kuroki, and the tax evasion matter.”

He went on to explain:

“Although I truly had no knowledge whatsoever about the tax evasion, as her husband, I feel a sense of responsibility.”

Considering that the couple had openly enjoyed such a lavish lifestyle together, it is difficult to readily believe that he had no knowledge whatsoever of the tax evasion. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that Kuroki’s life has also been completely changed by the case.

He married Miyazaki in 2021 and, in addition to her children from a previous marriage, they had two children together. At her first trial in March, Miyazaki answered that she was “living together with my husband and four children,” but in reality, they were living separately with the children. Kuroki reported his current situation on Instagram:

“I haven’t been able to see my children since January, and I am currently discussing a divorce.”

Left EXILE in 2022

He also revealed that he currently has ¥15 million in debt, writing:

“I’m working desperately at a different job now to pay this back. I got fired from the company, and it’s seriously ridiculous that I’m being billed by the company I created. What they’re seriously saying to me is basically yakuza-level. This is truly a fall from grace. There are still so many things I want to say.”

In June, some reports showed him abandoning the pride he had during his EXILE days and receiving virtual gifts during a TikTok Live. This prompted cries such as:

“Wow, he’s really fallen.”

“I didn’t want to see him like this.”

But when it comes to making a living, desperate times call for desperate measures.

It also seems unlikely that he can rely on his connections from his EXILE days.

When news broke that Miyazaki had been arrested for tax evasion, those around EXILE reportedly disliked the use of former EXILE member as a descriptor for Kuroki whenever he was mentioned alongside the group. Speaking to this site, a sports newspaper entertainment reporter revealed that he had been asked by people involved:

“It can’t be helped in the body of the article, but please refrain from using ‘former EXILE member’ in the headline.”

He went on to say:

“Mr. Kuroki left EXILE in 2022 and also withdrew from the entertainment industry. Publicly, he cited his physical limits as a performer as the reason for his departure, but I heard that he actually left under somewhat forceful circumstances. I jokingly asked someone involved, ‘Why don’t you help Mr. Kuroki out?’ but there was no reaction. I was simply ignored.”

This time, Miyazaki attempted to evade more than ¥100 million in taxes, but she had already paid the taxes owed on the evaded amount, narrowly avoiding a prison sentence. If so, the possibility of the two getting back together cannot be completely ruled out, but as mentioned above, Kuroki and Miyazaki are currently in discussions about divorce.

“People around him have all withdrawn from Mr. Kuroki at once, to the point that it’s almost heartbreaking. Given the situation, he obviously can’t rely on his former agency, and it would also be difficult for him to actively call himself a former EXILE member and pursue entertainment activities. This really is a case of going from heaven to hell.” (Same sports newspaper reporter)

Judging from Kuroki’s statements on Instagram, there seems to be much more beneath the surface. For the time being, this is certainly a story worth keeping an eye on――.