NTV Kicks Off “No Need to Answer”
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, 48, who was interviewed by Shukan Bunshun and Shukan Shincho on December 4, said, “ Nittele has given me no explanation for more than five months, and there is none at all. He also said that he had no explanation from Nittele for more than five months. DASH! DASH! (NTV), which he will appear in regularly. “Frankly speaking, I wonder what position I should take and how I should face the program from now on. Since there is no explanation, I wonder what the hell is going on here. A Nittele staff member commented in an interview about the uproar, “I was surprised that Matsuoka-san, who still appears on ‘Tetsuwan DASH,’ would be so harsh on Nittele. It seems that the onsite staff is getting nervous. However, Mr. Kokubu is a person of merit at Nittele. Many staff members feel that the station could have said something a little more to Mr. Kokubu. Matsuoka’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 went independent. Since many STARTO talents appear in “Tetsuwan DASH,” this is probably to avoid any trouble with the company. At the same time, they may be considering “graduating” from the program. After Nittele’s announcement of the compliance violation, Kokubu disappeared from the public stage. His voice was weak. What impressed me the most was his comment, “I would like to take this opportunity 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,” he said in tears as he apologized to them. He seemed to be in a very tight corner. Kokubu repeatedly asked at the press conference for an answer to the question about the harassment that Nittele had not disclosed. However, Nittele is a serious company, and at a regular press conference held after the press conference on December 1, Nittele President Hiroyuki Fukuda dismissed the issue, saying, “I don’t think it is necessary to answer the question,” in the interest of protecting the victim.