“Stock Price Plummets 10%”: Outrage Over Takuki Tsuzuki of Yonzen Shinshin Being Referred to Prosecutors—The “Background” Behind How a Fundamentally Sincere Man Crossed the Line

DJing at a club

It has been revealed that Takuki Tsuzuki (29), a member of the comedy trio “4000 Heads,” was referred to prosecutors on August 18 on suspicion of violating the Tokyo Metropolitan Nuisance Prevention Ordinance by sexually harassing a woman in her 20s.

According to investigative sources, late one night in late June, he is suspected of touching a woman in her 20s on the face and groping her lower body over her skirt at a music event venue in Tokyo. During a voluntary interview with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Tsuzuki stated,

“I deeply regret my actions,”

and generally admitted to the allegations, adding that

“I had been drinking at the time,”

.

Tsuzuki and the woman did not know each other. After the woman filed a complaint in July, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department referred the case to prosecutors on August 18 on suspicion of violating the Tokyo Metropolitan Nuisance Prevention Ordinance and assault.

“It was apparently like a club event, and Tsuzuki was reportedly DJing there. It’s not uncommon for men to make physical contact with women in such settings while trying to pick them up, and it rarely escalates to the point where the police are called.On the other hand, Tsuzuki’s ‘groping’ in this case was persistent and more malicious than has been reported. The woman reportedly felt a strong desire to see him punished,” said a social affairs reporter for a national newspaper.

Yonzen Toshinshin was formed in 2016 and gained popularity for their surreal comedy routines centered around Takumi Goto (29). They advanced to the semifinals of the 2019 M-1 Grand Prix. However, their media exposure gradually declined around the time of the COVID-19 crisis. According to a source in the entertainment industry:

“Watanabe Entertainment, the agency they belong to, is known for its skill in pitching acts to TV stations and other media outlets, and the comedians and talents they promote see their exposure skyrocket overnight. A recent notable example is actress Ai Mikami (25).Yonzen Toshinshin was also heavily promoted for a while, but at some point, that ‘promotional power’ waned. Rumors even circulated that one member had angered a senior executive at the agency at the time…”

Since they do a lot of work as a trio, if the group’s overall popularity declines, life becomes difficult for the individual members as well.

Tsuzuki discovered a passion for fashion and, in 2023, launched his own apparel brand, “HIROKI TSUZUKI,” alongside his comedy career. With over 130,000 Instagram followers, he is also recognized as a fashion influencer.

“He started interacting more and more with people in the fashion industry. Unlike the world of comedians, who spend their time rambling in izakayas, it’s common in that industry to hear stories about renting out clubs and drinking expensive champagne… (Tsuzuki) is a serious and decent guy at heart, but he might have been gradually influenced by that environment,”

said a comedy industry insider in an interview with this site.

Tarnishing the brand’s reputation

Following the revelation of the scandal, the aforementioned “Hiroki Tsuzuki” announced a temporary hiatus. Shares of the “yutori” group, which manages the brand, fell 6.31% on August 18, the day news broke that the case had been referred to prosecutors.On the following day, August 19, it closed down 4.58% at 2,395 yen. A drop of over 10% in just two days is no small matter.

“Since the stock had been rising sharply for several days, we cannot definitively conclude that the decline was caused solely by the news about Mr. Tsuzuki, but given the timing, it is strongly suspected to be one of the factors behind the drop. Shareholders are furious, and stock message boards are echoing with voices of resentment, such as ‘Don’t mess with us’ and ‘I seriously want to sue.’”

said a business reporter for a national newspaper.

Takayuki Kinoshita (54) of the comedy duo “TKO” once served as creative director for the apparel brand “BUCCA44,” but sales plummeted after he sparked a major backlash over the “plastic bottle incident” involving a junior comedian. Sales were suspended in May 2021, and the business was eventually transferred to another company.

“I’m not sure if Mr. Kinoshita’s case applies exactly, but Mr. Tsuzuki has essentially tarnished his own cherished brand. It looks like he’ll be left with a surplus of inventory due to the controversy,” said a sports newspaper entertainment reporter.

Goto and Ryota Ishibashi (29) of Yonsenjinshin appeared live on FM FUJI’s “Yonsen Milk” on August 19. Goto said

“There’s no way we’re breaking up,”

, while Ishibashi said,

“It will take time to regain the trust we’ve lost, but we’re determined to do our best to make everyone smile again,”

, looking toward the future. Will the day ever come when the three of them stand on stage together again?