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| TOKIO’s Taichi Kokubun Goes on Indefinite Hiatus After Internal Violations, NTV Pulls Him from Long-Running Show |
Japanese TV mainstay and longtime TOKIO member Kokubun Taichi is officially taking a bow from public life—at least for now. On 20 June, Nippon TV (NTV) confirmed it’s dropping Kokubun from its long-running Sunday variety staple The! Tetsuwan! DASH!! following the revelation of several compliance issues involving the star.
Though the specifics behind the violations remain tightly sealed—NTV citing privacy concerns and making it clear there’ll be no criminal charges—the broadcaster said they’d carried out an internal investigation and concluded that it wouldn’t be appropriate for Kokubun to continue appearing on the programme. The decision was reached after discussions with Kokubun himself, who accepted the outcome.
Just hours later, management companies TOKIO Inc. and STARTO ENTERTAINMENT issued a joint statement announcing that Kokubun would suspend all entertainment activities indefinitely, effective immediately. The move, they said, is meant to give him space to reflect on his actions and the responsibilities that come with his position in the industry.
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In his own written apology to fans and colleagues, Kokubun didn’t shy away from taking the blame. “This is entirely due to my lack of awareness, my naivety, and my complacency,” he said. “I’ve caused great inconvenience to so many people. I deeply regret my actions and will be stepping away from all work without a set return date.”
TOKIO Inc. president—and Kokubun’s bandmate—Shigeru Joshima also weighed in, saying: “After confirming the violation and speaking with him, we made the call to suspend his activities indefinitely so he can properly reflect.”
NTV’s top brass wasn’t quiet either—President Hiroyuki Fukuda held a rare press conference to address the situation head-on. While offering apologies to viewers, Fukuda emphasised that the network wouldn’t share details of what exactly went wrong, but stressed that the choice to remove Kokubun from DASH came after careful internal review.
Despite his departure, The! Tetsuwan! DASH!! will keep running, though it’s uncertain how the show will adjust without one of its longtime faces. The variety programme has been a Sunday fixture in Japanese homes since the late ’90s, with TOKIO members leading quirky DIY and survival-style segments that gained cult popularity.
As for Kokubun’s future, both TOKIO Inc. and STARTO ENTERTAINMENT have made it clear: there’s no timeline for a comeback, and the focus right now is accountability, reflection, and letting things settle.
For now, fans are left with a quiet farewell—and more questions than answers.
Quick Summary:
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Kokubun Taichi (TOKIO) suspended indefinitely due to multiple compliance violations.
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Removed from Nippon TV’s The! Tetsuwan! DASH!! as of 20 June.
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No criminal charges filed; misconduct details undisclosed for privacy.
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Apology statements issued by Kokubun, TOKIO Inc. President Joshima Shigeru, and STARTO ENTERTAINMENT.
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No plans for return; show will continue without him.