Masahiro Matsuoka’s “Tetsuwan DASH” may be ready to end… “Determination” exudes in his bitter words to NTV.

At a regular press conference held by NTV on December 1, NTV President Hiroyuki Fukuda (64) answered a reporter’s question, “We ask that you continue to appear on the show. DASH!” in which former TOKIO member Taichi Kokubun (51) left the show due to compliance issues! DASH! (NTV), which former TOKIO member Shigeru Jojima (55) and Masahiro Matsuoka (48) dropped out of due to compliance issues, when asked if they would continue to appear on the show. However, Matsuoka seems to have doubts about Fukuda’s answer. On June 20, it was announced that Mr. Kokubu had left “Tetsuwan DASH” due to “multiple compliance violations in the past. At a press conference held on the same day, Mr. Fukuda explained that “it is not a case that would lead to criminal charges” and “I can’t say whether there are victims or not,” and the press conference ended without knowing what had happened. Kokubu announced the indefinite suspension of his activities on the same day, and TOKIO was disbanded only five days later. Other stations followed Nittele’s lead and made similar decisions, and Kokubu’s regular programs disappeared. On November 26, Kokubu himself held a press conference, repeatedly claiming that he and NTV had not been able to “settle” the issue of the problematic behavior he had caused. At this press conference, Kokubu explained how he himself was told he was being demoted. He said that he was summoned to Nittele on the pretext of replacing the production director and producer, but without notice he was told by the executive officer that he would be dropped on the grounds of noncompliance. Mr. Kokubu said that he turned on the recording function on his phone, but his lawyer found it and asked him to delete it. The compliance officer gave him a notebook and pen to take notes, but he was so upset that “his hands were shaking and he couldn’t write anything down,” he said. Nittele, on the other hand, explained, ‘He came to our office as a greeting from his new position, and after the greeting, the employee in charge and the lawyer explained the purpose and objectives of the hearing, and after receiving Kokubu’s approval, we held the hearing. At the press conference held by Nittele at the beginning of this report, the reporter said to Kokubun, “He himself stated at the press conference that he has an idea of what he did and that he has repeatedly expressed remorse for his actions. Fukuda responded, “I don’t think it is necessary to ‘answer each other’s questions. When a reporter pointed out that “there is a difference in temperature between the two sides in the explanation of the interview,” he replied, “I have confirmed that the request not to record the interview was accepted. I have heard that there was no exchange of opinions about whether or not to allow the recording. I think he was quite upset because he said so, but I heard that he started taking notes. He did not take the notes home, but left them behind,” he explained. In the “Bunshun Online” and “Daily Shincho” newsletters distributed on the 3rd, an interview with Matsuoka was published, in which he raises objections to Nittele’s handling of the situation. The “Shukan Bunshun” and “Shukan Shincho,” both of which went on sale on the 4th, carried the full text of Matsuoka’s interview. Matsuoka expressed his gratitude to Nittele, with whom he has built a relationship over 30 years, but insisted, “I think there are things on the station’s side that can be said to be in violation of compliance. He also revealed that the filming of “Tetsuwan DASH” has continued without any explanation from Nittele. On November 30, STARTO announced that it would terminate its agent contract with TOKIO Inc. by the end of the year. About a week earlier, it was also reported in “Josei Seven Plus” that Matsuoka would become independent from STARTO Inc. at the end of November. According to the same media outlet, he has established a private office in the same location as TOKIO Inc. which is going out of business. If Matsuoka-san has sorted out his affairs and complained bitterly about Nittele’s handling of the situation, he may have taken care not to cause trouble for STARTO Inc. However, depending on the future situation, it may become difficult for them to do so. A source involved in the entertainment industry said, “Nittele is a key entertainment company, but they are not a key entertainment company. Nittele is the station with the strongest ties to TOKIO among the key stations. Despite this, Mr. Matsuoka’s decision to be upfront and bitter about the situation must have been based on a “desperate resolution” that would have included the termination of “Tetsuwan DASH. In the interviews with Bunshun and Shincho, he questioned whether his and Jojima’s intentions had anything to do with his appearance on “Tetsuwan DASH” and also expressed his concern that he might be the next one to be dropped from the program. He also expressed his concern that he might be the next to be dropped from the board. Even though there was a problem with Mr. Kokubu, the public is beginning to question Nittele’s handling of the situation, saying that it lacks fairness. Unless Nittele shows sincerity, it will be difficult for the program to continue as before, and the possibility of its termination must be on the horizon. The day of the end of “Tetsuwan DASH” is not far away. It seems that the relationship of trust with the field has been shaken.