A JAPANESE pop star who admitted to sexually harassing a teenage girl has quit hit band Tokio in yet another #MeToo scandal.
Tatsuya Yamaguchi got on his knees in repentance to apologise to band members and submit a resignation on Monday night, band leader Shigeru Joshima said.
Yamaguchi acknowledged he forced a kiss on a high school student in February. Although she reported it to police, authorities decided not to pursue charges against 46-year-old after the parties settled out of court.
The four remaining members appeared in a news conference on national television yesterday to announce that the group will not disband, seeing it as their duty “as professionals”, Joshima said.
“We have a responsibility first as Tokio,” he said, after bowing with the other members.
Dressed in dark suits and ties, they appeared solemn and tense in front of flashing cameras at a packed Tokyo hotel room.
Joshima said the group decided to apologise publicly to the victim and her family, fans and other people who were shocked and hurt by the scandal.
The high profile case has helped to make #MeToo a household phrase in Japan.
Sexual misconduct by a government bureaucrat has also grabbed headlines in recent weeks.
The Finance Ministry official, accused of making lewd remarks to a reporter, has resigned.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here