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Taichi Kokubun

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Taichi Kokubun
国分 太一
Kokubun in 2018
Kokubun in 2018
Background information
Born (1974-09-02) September 2, 1974 (age 51)
OriginHigashikurume, Tokyo, Japan
GenresRock
Occupations
Instruments
Years active1988–2025 (indefinite hiatus)
Labels

Taichi Kokubun (国分 太一, Kokubun Taichi; born September 2, 1974) is a Japanese keyboardist and actor.[1][2] He plays keyboard for Tokio, a musical group of Starto Entertainment formerly known as Johnny & Associates.

Early life

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Taichi Kokubun was born in Higashikurume, Tokyo.

Career

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As an artist

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Before debuting with Tokio, Kokubun, like other Tokio members, was a backup-dancer for Johnny's Entertainment boy bands, including Hikaru Genji.[3] In 1990 he became the keyboardist of Tokio, but it was not until 1994 that the band debuted.[3]

In 2004, Kokubun took a break from Tokio to form a temporary group with KinKi Kids member Tsuyoshi Domoto.[3] Together they released the theme song to Fantastipo, a movie in which they starred.

As an actor

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Kokubun began his acting career with a role in Abunai Shōnen III, a 1989 Japanese drama. Since 1993, he has played parts in drama shows and movies such as Fantistipo and Shaberedomo Shaberedomo.

He has hosted Gachinko! with other Tokio members.[2] Currently Kokubun hosts Kaitai Shin Show and Shonen Club Premium on NHK, Tetsuwan Dash and Guruguru Ninety-Nine on NTV, R30 and Sekai Kurabete Mitara on TBS, Mentore G on Fuji TV, and Aura no Izumi on TV Asahi.[4]

In April 2009, Kokubun became a sportscaster for the Fuji TV show Sports!.[5]

Hiatus

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On June 20, 2025, on a press conference offered by Nippon Television president Hiroyuki Fukuda, it was announced that Kokubun would step down from his hosting duties on Tetsuwan Dash [ja] due to "multiple compliance-related incidents in the past" not crime related, without explaining the details, because of privacy protection. Kokubun himself accepted the decision taken by the broadcaster, and apologized for the trouble caused. It was also informed that he would take an indefinite leave of absence.[6][7][8][9] Compliance officers of the broadcaster have revealed that the case is about sexual harassment. Other broadcasters are considering removing Kokubun from their programs. Some sponsors, such as Japanet Holdings, have started removing ads on which he appears.[10] As a result, TV Tokyo cancelled the planned June 22nd broadcast of Danshi Godan [ja] and was dropped from the 2025 edition of the TV Tokyo Music Festival [ja].[11] Mainichi Broadcasting System also followed suit by cancelling the planned June 21st broadcast of Tokio Terrace [ja].[12] TBS announced on June 24th that it has dropped him from Sekai Kurabete Mitara [ja]. Since the show's episodes are recorded in advance, Kokubun would be edited out from the batch of episodes that TBS had scheduled to air at that time.[13]

On November 26, 2025, Kokubun held a press conference where he apologized to everyone affected over the issue that ended his participation as a Tokio member, as well as the suspension of his activities. He also informed about his lawyer filing a petition for human rights relief with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations in October over the response that Nippon Television had, resulting in Kokubun's decision to step down from "The Tetsuwan Dash".[14][15]

Filmography

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Year/s Title Medium Role Notes
1989Abunai Shōnen IIITVUncredited role
1993DousoukaiTVUshio
1994Otōsan wa ShinpaishoTV
Yagami-kun no Katei no JijoTVKoji Yagami
1995Haruyo, KoiTV
The ChefTVTaichi
1996Glass no KakeratachiTV
1997Kin no TamagoTV
Kenshui NanakoTVShinya Aramaki
1998Oshigoto DesuTV
1999Yonigeya HonpoTV
Shin Oretachi no TabiTVEpisode 10 only
2000Bus StopTVKyugo Abe
2001Omae no Yukichi ga NaiteiruTV
2002OtōsanTVJiro Yamaguchi
EngimonoTVLead role
2004TokioTVTakumi MiyamotoLead role
2005Hiroshima Showa 20 nen 8 Gatsu MuikaTVMichaki Shigematsu
FantistipoMovieTorajiStarred with KinKi Kids member Tsuyoshi Domoto, whom he released the theme song to the movie with
2006Dance DrillTVWataru Ishibashi
2007Inochi no Iro EnpitsuTVLead role
Shaberedomo ShaberedomoMovieMitsubaAward a Mainichi Film Award for Best Actor[2]

References

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  1. ↑ "Johnny's Net Tokio Profiles" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2009-09-26. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  2. 1 2 3 "Taichi Kokubun on IMDB". Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  3. 1 2 3 "TOKIO - artists - JaME U.S.A." Archived from the original on 2009-08-22. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  4. ↑ "Kokubun completes conquest of major networks". TokyoGraph. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  5. ↑ "Taichi Kokubun becomes a sportscaster". TokyoGraph. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  6. ↑ "日テレ社長、国分太一の報告受けた際の心境「ただただショック。残念」". Oricon (in Japanese). 20 June 2025. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  7. ↑ "国分太一 （株）TOKIOが解雇も　全番組降板申し入れ　コンプラ違反で日テレが20日会見". Mainichi (in Japanese). 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. ↑ "TOKIO国分太一、無期限活動休止 謝罪コメントも発表「自分を見つめ直させていただきます」【全文掲載】". Oricon (in Japanese). 20 June 2025. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  9. ↑ "国分太一さん、日テレ番組を降板　コンプライアンス上の問題行為". Kochi News (in Japanese). 20 June 2025. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  10. ↑ "国分太一さんのコンプライアンス違反はセクハラか　無期限活動休止、出演CMも差し止め". Sankei (in Japanese). 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. ↑ "テレビ東京、「男子ごはん」22日放送分をさしかえ　国分太一さんコンプラ違反の影響拡大". The Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). 2025-06-20. Retrieved 2025-06-29.
  12. ↑ "ＭＢＳ　２１日の国分太一出演番組「TOKIOテラス」放送休止を発表　今後は「引き続き検討」". Daily (in Japanese). 2025-06-20. Retrieved 2025-06-29.
  13. ↑ "国分太一さん出演番組について". TBS (in Japanese). 2025-06-24. Retrieved 2025-06-29.
  14. ↑ "元TOKIO国分太一氏が会見「心よりお詫び申し上げます」"傷付けてしまった"当事者やファン、関係者に謝罪". FNN (in Japanese). 26 November 2025. Archived from the original on 26 November 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  15. ↑ "元「TOKIO」の国分太一さんが会見で謝罪　涙ながらに「数日間ですべてを失った」". TV Asahi News (in Japanese). 26 November 2025. Archived from the original on 26 November 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
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