Danica Davidson
June 25, 2025 
The popular J-rock group Tokio launched its first album in 1994 and has performed multiple theme songs for anime. But right now it’s making news in Japan because it’s disbanding after Taichi Kokubun, one of the members, was allegedly caught in a scandal.
The band got its start with Johnny & Associates Inc., a talent agency that had covered up rampant sexual abuse being done by its founder, Johnny Kitagawa. Although at this point it cannot be confirmed, it appears that Kokubun might be leaving because of sexual abuse he allegedly committed.
Kokubun stated in a press release that he was leaving the group indefinitely. While more than one place has said that Kokubun committed “breaches,” they’ve been mum on what those breaches are. However, the Japanese news outlet Kyodo News got an anonymous source they trust to talk a little about it. According to the source, Kokubun did something that might be deemed sexual harassment. Statements have also made the point that the breaches were multiple in number and not a one-off.
If that’s the case, this isn’t the first time the band has had a sexual scandal. In 2018, band member Tatsuya Yamaguchi got in trouble for kissing a high school girl against her will. He departed from the band as a result.
The rest of the group put the following statement on their site after Kokubun’s scandal: “We decided it would be difficult to regain trust and continue receiving support as a group.”
Tokio has done theme song performances for the anime Kochira Katsushika-ku Kamearikouen-mae Hashutsujo, Kodocha, The Skull Man, Soar High! Isami, Tsuyoshi Shikkari Shinasai, and Yamato 2520.
The band is also known for helping out the Fukushima Prefecture after it suffered a major earthquake and nuclear crisis in 2011. They helped farmers out by doing commercials dedicated to agriculture from the area.
Source: Kyodo News
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
