Member of pop group Tokio referred to prosecutors for forcibly kissing teen

Right, and why is a 46 year old , over-aged "idol" think when he asks a HS girl to his apartment. I think "kissing" was not the last thing on his mind, and luckily for the girl it didn't go any farther.

Now we won't be seeing Tokio on TV or in public for a while....if ever! (Yeah!)

Time for some victim-blaming why the hell did she go to his apartment in the first place?

And I love how one of the fans suggested that maybe he did it because of stress that's hilarious

A member of popular Japanese boy band Tokio

LOL

And here I thought he might be around 19 to 26 years old.

there should be some kind of unwritten rule when to stop calling them "boy bands" after they reach 35 at least.

Or has this band broken up, which should then read

A member of popular but disbanded Japanese boy band Tokio

or

A member of popular 90's Japanese boy band Tokio

Right, and why is a 46 year old , over-aged "idol" think when he asks a HS girl to his apartment.

I guess 46 is the new 26!

A pop star coming onto a teenager? Why I am shocked! I have never heard of such a thing!

The the agency and the girl have already reached an unspecified agreement and she has withdrawn her complaint.

Once again status and money trump Justice in Japan, but she's not complaining about it is she

So many posters are victim blaming and saying this is nothing. Speaks volumes about you.

I’m going to guess this isn’t the first time he’s done this. Can't help but wonder if others will come forward now that this information is out there. And that’s why it’s important it’s out there. So others know they too can come forward and put an end to this kind of thing.

"We're really sorry that he drank alcohol and kissed the victim without thinking about how she felt,"

Why are YOU sorry? Shouldn't HE be sorry??

And why are people suggesting this is a set up? Any idea how many young men get groped, assaulted and harassed by older men? Many. This guy thought his behaviour was fine. Clearly like so many others on this board.

Add this to the 100’s of cases we don’t hear about.

Yubaru, I usually agree with your opinions, but I must say I am a little saddened by this news. Of all the "Johnny's" performers out there, I thought Tokio were the most down-to-earth, hard working members. I have enjoyed their TV program Testuwan Dash, and some of the other programs they were involved in.

It will be interesting to see how Johnny and Associates plays this. They wield such clout in the entertainment industry, if they want Tokio back soon, they have the power to do it, after a period of self-contrition of course.

We used to watch him every morning now he's not there, wonder why

Bwahahaha! He’s 46 years old and they call him a member of a boy band? That’s hilarious! However, a man of that age should not be taking high school girls to his apartment and trying to get it on with them. He’s just another perverted creep and should be locked up. It’s about time Japan joined the rest of the modern world and created a child sex offenders list although, it would be quite an extensive list. It would be a good deterrent if these perverts knew they would end up on the list for the rest of their lives. Obviously the current penalties do little to deter them.

Guess he was trying out for a post with the LDP.

Here's what will happen to him:

Because he is a famous person in Japan which means some tears with an apology and all will be well.

@ ulysses - forcibly kissing somebody is called "sexual assault", and is always a crime. It does not have to involve the "naughty bits". It merely has to involve unwanted contact intended to satisfy a sexual desire. And I think most agree that was his plan.

I think you're giving the perv too much credit. I'd say MOST high school girls know better than to go to an apartment with a 46 year old pop star.

No. Most high school girls (or even many adults) DON'T know any better than to not go into a 46 year old pop star's apartment. Most of them would be so star struck that they would follow these guys anywhere. Not to mention that the "talents" at Johnny's Entertainment have this wholesome nice guy public image, that being sexually assaulted would probably be the furthest thing from their minds. The sad part is that guys like this, will sometimes take advantage of the naivety of these children, and since they have this pretty boy/ nice guy public image, their fans and other ignorant people won't believe the victims and will do and say anything to protect these talents.

If you honestly think that

trying to kiss an underage minor WITHOUT CONSENT is ok

assaulting a teenager, or anyone for that matter who enters a man's apartment is justified.

then YOU are part of the problem!

Now we won't be seeing Tokio on TV or in public for a while....if ever! (Yeah!)

The public here has been a lot more forgiving these past few years. He'll be back whether we care or not.

Tokyo Reporter reported this as "He is then alleged to have forcibly kissed her and committed other acts deemed obscene".

So I wouldn't take the simple "kissing" in this story as all that may have happened. She is presumably underage, so it would be sexual assault to kiss her, never mind "forcibly". He also offered her alcohol, which this story omits.

I don't know about you, but that sounds enough to kick him off tv. All Becky did was sleep with a married man.

You sound naive about teenage girls, what they know, what they talk about, etc.

The reason there are laws protecting youngsters is because that is the age when people are easily influenced. There are a certain class of people who prey on such age-groups and I am sure you know what those people are called.

Even if the girl went there knowingly its still a crime.

If a man invites you to his apartment at night, it's not a game of chess he's interested in.

I’ve invited women over with no sexual intentions. Some women are cool and fun to hang out with doing things other than sex. It’s weird that you would think the only quality a woman could have that would make a man want to hang out with them is their sexuality. Women are a lot more dynamic than that.

The public here has been a lot more forgiving these past few years. He'll be back whether we care or not.

Totally agree. He'll go away for a while as their so called "punishment", which is more like vacation time because he'll still get paid by JE, and receive his royalties. Then they'll slowly phase him into variety shows, then a couple of commercials, then within the next 6 months or so, he'll have all of his regular shows back. Magically, all is forgotten as if it never happened.

Just like that. His career is on a downward spiral. He could have gone to Akihabara and pick up some HS girls.

Add this to the 100’s of cases we don’t hear about.

No Kidding! Many of the talent agencies (including JE) have ties to the Yakuza, so the othr victims we never hear about are probably bought off or threatened.

the entertainment world is a very dirty one. A very high percentage of the players (and that includes 'clean cut' actors and singers get into it for the easy sex.

And practically all the girls - and boys - got where they are by giving sexual 'favors'. And yes, Im talking about japan.

+1 to the others with more news outlets

My Japanese is not amazing but here’s some:

女子高校生は友人とともに山口宅を訪れていたが、２人でその場から離れ、女子高校生が自ら警視庁に被害届を提出した。山口は当初否認していたが「酒を飲んでいて覚えていない」などとも供述。関係者によると、大筋で容疑を認めているという。先週、書類送検された。事件後、示談が成立し、被害届は取り下げられた。今後、検察が調べるものとみられる。[https://mainichi.jp/articles/20180426/spn/00m/200/005000c]

I don’t know why the English news is leaving out details of the other girl. With two testimonies it could be a stronger case. But I guess the settlement may shut out one. Who knows.

When you’re in the power position of being a nationally famous figure, you can manipulate other people easily especially if they’re a fan.

Creepy scum, unforcantly he will get a suspended sentence and be back on the air in 2-3 months like nothing happened. People forget to easily in this country.

First, the guy is a first class scumbag.

Second, why is a high school girl willingly going to his place?

Third, where was this teen found? One of the talent agency hacks had to know a teen girl to bring there. Why isn't this enabler and the agency (and it's ceo) also legally in the crosshairs?

Fourth, where are this girl's parents in all of this? No care about where she goes, who's she's with, etc?

Yuck!

It is just so gross....!

A 46-year in a 'boy-band'???!!!!

Don't worry, Johnny's will sort this out. They always do. The big boss himself managed to sort his own sordid problems. Allegedly.

The way it was explained to me by a policeman is that if you sue or come to a financial agreement, they can't prosecute, and if they prosecute, you can't sue. Not sure if that is 100% true, maybe the cops and prosecutors are just a little lazy at times!

The top level Johnnies idols are untouchable. Remember Kusunagi-kun running around the park drunk and naked? He apologized and bounced right back. Same will happen with this guy. Management, media, and law enforcement will see to it. "He was drunk and didn't know what he was doing." "He has paid his debt through reflection and media shaming."

If it were my daughter, I wouldn't allow her to go into any 46 year old's apartment no matter how famous he is

Do you REALLY think her parents knew she was going to/in his apartment????

@Tmarie

If a man invites you to his apartment at night, it's not a game of chess he's interested in.

These are not just any "men". These are big name celebrities in Japan. Tokio goes back decades, and people get star struck by them. I knew a 30+ year old woman who would spend so much money for a Shinkansen green car seat to/from Osaka to follow SMAP members to their concerts. And this was a fricken 30+ year old WOMAN.

For teenagers who are less educated, less experienced, and a lot more naive, the attraction is much more stronger to be able to get close to these people. There's even a term for it: "groupees", and I got news for you: most groupees are teenage girls. And these girls will follow these guys around anywhere they go because: they are CHILDREN and don't know any better. All they know is what they see on TV, and they assume these guys are super nice and cool.

And NO, men do not invite women back to their apartments to sexually assault them, especially underage children. Your whole write up about "assuming the worst" is preposterous, and all it tells me is that you know or have known a lot of bad men. Real men don't do that, so do make blanket statements and assume everyone is like that.

I wouldnt call being nationally humiliated and having to stay out of public view and being out of work for a long period “bouncing back”.

Not to mention be lost a very lucrative beer commercial contract. Understandably, the beer company didn't want someone with a drinking problem promoting their product.

Mirai Hayashi, please go back and reread. You posted my name but I'm not the one you should be taking issues with.

46 years old and in a "boy band"? Time to redefine the term....

JT why are you calling them a boy band?

All JE acts are considered "boy bands" because they start their careers when they are in their pre-teens or early teens. With that said, I think its time for Tokio to disband like SMAP did. They are getting way too old for this.

Tmarie...my bad...I stand corrected!

And as expected, yesterday's press conference was filled with tears, "regrets", and a 10 minute deep bow while the press takes about million shots of him bowing when one of two shots would suffice. He lost his sponsors, TV commercials, and regular spots, but he'll be back and no one will remember this.

gogogo, agreed hes scum. but its not that people forget easily, its just that its the routine here.

I heard that Yamaguchi was actually in rehab for his alleged"alcohol problem" and

this all happened the day he got out of the hospital. He was in the hospital for liver

problems, and the day he got out he went and got drunk. Not sure if that is true, but

if it is, this guy has serious issues. He needs an intervention by his bandmates and the

company. But all in all, I would expect this to all blow over in 6 months or so.

You’ve just illustrated everything that is wrong here. But to answer ur question: “Why isn't this enabler and the agency (and it's ceo) also legally in the crosshairs?”

Probably for the same reason the JK business are immune here as well.

"High school girl" does not necessarily mean she was underage. A large fraction of 3rd year high school students in Japan are 18 or turn 18 during their 3rd year.

"High school girl" does not necessarily mean she was underage. A large fraction of 3rd year high school students in Japan are 18 or turn 18 during their 3rd year.

I’ve seen high school drop outs re-enroll in high school as late as their 30’s or 40’s.

What does it matter if she was 18 or 81?

A forced kiss is still a forced kiss.

Victim? It was only a kiss. She probably got $500. for that kiss too.

What an absurd assumption! This is a middle aged, self absorbed, self indulged, over the hill, wannabe

idol who himself on a minor. You THINK this is OKAY!!!??? And how do you know that it was "ONLY a kiss"? It was unsolicited, which mean is sexual ASSAULT on a child! For the girl to report this implies that he stepped way over the line. And to assume that she got paid for it really DISGUSTS me. You should REALLY be ashamed to even make such comments without knowing the facts!

IMO, questions about an underage teen going into an apartment of a 46 year old famous person, ALONE, deserves some scrutiny.

If it were my daughter, I wouldn't allow her to go into any 46 year old's apartment no matter how famous he is. But with that said, just because she was in his apartment, doesn't give him a license to sexually assault her!

A pity she dropped the complaint, he should be prosecuted.

You should REALLY be ashamed to even make such comments without knowing the facts!

Well, that's an awful high horse you have Mr. high and mighty.

As far as being "REALLY ashamed", not at all.

I think you're giving the perv too much credit. I'd say MOST high school girls know better than to go to an apartment with a 46 year old pop star. You sound naive about teenage girls, what they know, what they talk about, etc.

Yep, it was JUST a kiss! Some victim. Compared to what goes on in the world today, your reaction ridicueless. Some just can't help themselves throwing the VICTIM word out there to inflate their own sense of importance or moral righteousness.

and I'm still not convinced that this wasn't a set up, which if true, makes this teenager pretty darn smart.

I'd say MOST high school girls know better than to go to an apartment with a 46 year old pop star. You sound naive about teenage girls, what they know, what they talk about, etc.

Having once been a teenage "girl" myself, yes, I can certainly say I knew what I wanted and what I was doing. In this case, it seems it was made very clear that this girl did not want to be kissed and yet, this guy decided that what SHE wanted, didn't matter. What he did is called assault. Sexual assault, actually. And posters like you who continue to defend this kind of behaviour should perhaps take a long look at themselves and the kind of behaviour they display at work and out in public. You could be the next person being accused of sexist and harassing behaviour because you don't seem to understand what is okay and what is not okay based on what you have posted on this thread.

Earth to females of child bearing age:

If a man invites you to his apartment at night, it's not a game of chess he's interested in.

Assume the worst, because it's true and decline his request.

Earth to Burning Bush. Not all men feel and think like you do. Thank goodness. The idea that men can't just "hang out" with women and be friends with them says a lot about how you view women and the kind of relationships you must have with them - which I'm guessing is virtually none because it seems you only think women are good for one or two things. A shame. Plenty of lovely men out there and I hope they find your comments offensive and speak up.

the entertainment world is a very dirty one. A very high percentage of the players (and that includes 'clean cut' actors and singers get into it for the easy sex.

And practically all the girls - and boys - got where they are by giving sexual 'favors'. And yes, Im talking about japan.

And where is it that you came upon this information?

JT why are you calling them a boy band? Those guys are musicians and they play their own instruments when they perform. I think that's called a real band.

This is O-V-E-R-B-L-O-W-N.

I have to agree with you there that's why I did it first

Without her testimony prosecutors will have to drop the charges because they don't want

their conviction rate to suffer

No sympathy for the girl. Sounds like entrapment. She willingly went to his apartment, watched him drink and then allowed herself to be kissed.

Just trying to get some money out of him I'd say.

what if it was other-way around? That might be she being so cute!

Forcibly kissing someone is at least molestation and when its a high school student its a crime.

its unfortunate that the girl withdrew the complaint, this guy should have done jail time.

And the 'drunk' excuse again.

Will he promise not to drink ever again as it seems to trigger peadophilic instincts in him!!

@Michael Jackson

OOPS!

I misinterpreted your "victim blaming" comment.

BOOM! Career over! Agree with MarkX, Tokio is one of the boybands that I dont loathe. I can't help but feel this was a honeytrap. That doesn't mean the guy isn't at fault btw.

Perhaps he was hoping to have a similar fling/relationship as Exile's Hiro and Ueto Aya who hooked up when she was 14? barf

Oh well, no more Dashjima :(

Another 46 year old man baby predator. Nothing new here. High school girls are the holy grail to these creeps.

@ FizzBit - I'd be willing to bet, although of course I can't be sure, that she got way more than $500 for her silence.

Time for some victim-blaming

C'MON!

Victim? It was only a kiss. She probably got $500. for that kiss too. Some victim. I'm also wondering if Tokio was the actual victim here, or I should say mark.

IMO, questions about an underage teen going into an apartment of a 46 year old famous person, ALONE, deserves some scrutiny.