Latest news with #NipponTelevisionNetwork
Straits Times
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Tokio J-pop boy band member removed from TV show over past conduct
Taichi Kokubun was removed from The Tetsuwan Dash, a variety programme aired by Nippon Television Network and fronted by the members of Tokio. PHOTO: THE JAPAN NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK TOKYO - A member of Japanese all-male pop group Tokio has been removed from a popular TV programme due to past conduct that breached compliance rules on multiple occasions, a TV network said on June 20 . Taichi Kokubun, 50, was removed from 'The Tetsuwan Dash,' a variety programme aired by Nippon Television Network and fronted by the members of Tokio. The decision to remove Kokubun was approved at an extraordinary board meeting, based on findings from a third-party probe headed by lawyers. Kokubun has accepted the decision, the network said. In remarks to reporters, the network's president Hiroyuki Fukuda declined to elaborate further on the cases, citing a need to 'protect privacy.' He said it was not a criminal matter. According to Mr Fukuda, the probe was established after the misconduct came to light in late May. 'The Tetsuwan Dash' will continue broadcasting, the network said. Kokubun debuted with the then five-member Tokio in 1994 and has an extensive career in television and radio. After the Fukushima nuclear crisis in 2011, he helped promote local farming produce by appearing in commercials. His removal from the Nippon Television programme comes amid increased scrutiny of Japan's entertainment industry following recent revelations such as a sexual misconduct scandal that emerged at Fuji Television Network Inc. involving popular former TV host Masahiro Nakai. KYODO NEWS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Mainichi
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Yoroku: Streaming of 'Grave of the Fireflies' in Japan a chance to revisit tragic tale
The animated film "Grave of the Fireflies" (directed by Isao Takahata) was released in 1988 and screened together with "My Neighbor Totoro" (directed by Hayao Miyazaki), both produced by Studio Ghibli. At the time, I watched the films as a double feature, something which has now become rare. The lighthearted atmosphere created by "Totoro" was completely transformed by "Grave of the Fireflies" and I remember the people leaving the theater in tears after the screening, moved by the heart-wrenching storyline. "Grave of the Fireflies" tells the tale of siblings Seita and Setsuko, who lose their parents in World War II and eventually perish. The film is based on a novel of the same name by writer Akiyuki Nosaka, who also lost his younger sister at the place where they evacuated during the war. In the past, the movie was regularly aired on Nippon Television Network's "Friday Road Show," but screenings have been discontinued since a memorial broadcast in 2018 following Takahata's death. Video-on-demand service Netflix has now announced that it will stream "Grave of the Fireflies" in Japan from July 15. The film has been available in over 190 countries and regions since last fall. It ranked seventh in the non-English film category during its first week, garnering international attention. Some believe that the film's depiction of injuries caused by air raids is one reason for its absence from recent TV broadcasts. While it is true that there are painful scenes, that is the reality of war. And the film encourages viewers to think about war and society from various perspectives. When streaming the film, Netflix says it will provide advisories including the film's target age group, but in any case, it will be an opportunity for many people to encounter or become reacquainted with this masterpiece. Responding to an inquiry, Nippon Television said it was "considering" airing the movie this year. 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the air raid on Kobe, which darkened the fate of Seita and Setsuko in the film. ("Yoroku" is a front-page column in the Mainichi Shimbun.)
