Sexual harassment cases involving idols have been on the rise recently. Furthermore, it often leads to not only the perpetrator being affected but also those around them as well. Yesterday (25th June, Thursday), the J-pop industry was in shock as the abrupt news of the disbandment of the legendary rock band TOKIO (トキオ).
According to an interview, the group had decided to disband following internal conflict involving one of their members, Kokubun Taichi (国分太一). Taichi had reportedly been implicated in a case related to sexual assault, which led to tension within the band and ultimately influenced their decision to part ways.
Last week (20th June, Friday) Nippon TV, a network that the band had been working with for years, announced that they were dropping Taichi due to issues related to sexual harassment. “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.”
Since then, the pianist had gone on an indefinite hiatus, stepping away from all public and entertainment activities to reflect on his actions. While this move was intended as a gesture of accountability, it did little to mend the damage done to the band he is associated with.
As the controversy continued to cast a long shadow over the idols, TOKIO eventually made the painful decision to bring all group activities to an end. “Given the current situation,” the group wrote in an official statement, “we concluded that regaining the trust and support of our fans would be extremely difficult. As such, we’ve decided to put a full stop to our group activities.”
In their farewell message, TOKIO expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who had supported them throughout their three-decade-long career. While the disbandment marked the end of an era, many fans continue to hold out hope that the remaining members will overcome these hardships and find new purpose in their solo endeavours, carrying the spirit of TOKIO forward in their own unique ways.
Sources: Tonboriday, Koreaboo, TOKIO
Zaima Humaira contributed to this article
