UPDATE: What’s in store for TOKIO’s future? / Announcer Fukuzawa Akira blogs about his memories working with TOKIO

With TOKIO to celebrate their 25th anniversary without Yamaguchi Tatsuya, who is indefinitely suspended from any entertainment activities and has been referred to prosecutors on suspicion of engaging in an indecent act with a high school-aged girl.

With a press conference being planned on what the four members of TOKIO intends to do for their 25th anniversary and how they will perform live?  And whether or not they will work on a new album?

UPDATE: TOKIO will be holding a press conference on May 2nd at 2:00 p.m.

Meanwhile, Fukuzawa Akira who worked with TOKIO as an announcer/moderator on “Tetsuwan! DASH!!” and is hosting NTV’s “Shinso Hodo Bankisha” blogged about his memories of working with TOKIO:

At the time “Tetsuwan! DASH!!” started in 1995, a year after TOKIO debuted, the show was a 30-minute program on weekdays, late night.

At the time, they had recorded at Korakuen Hall, with no spectators present, they were working hard to make it an interesting program.

Although I was only a moderator on the show, I often joined them on location from time to time.  I have memories of their “TOKIO vs. Train” relays, while I was shown in the wagon car.  Looking back, I was cheering for them!

Yamaguchi Tatsuya often served as an anchor in the relays. 

In 1998, the series would air on Sunday’s Golden Time.  The program centered on “DASH village” and the moderator of the studio ceased to exist.   But while I was working on another broadcast, I was enjoying their growth.

Sometimes the members of TOKIO came to the studio and the number of staff surrounding them have increased and that was proof that they were becoming successful.

From the start of the program in 1995, they have been supported by countless staff for the past 23 years and loved by countless viewers and the show would be a program that parents wanted to show their children “DASH!!”. 

But Yamaguchi’s stupidity betrayed all that.  Why couldn’t he imagine what would happen?  Why couldn’t he not overlook his actions?  The source of creativity is from imagination but it can not be helped to say that he will be disqualified as a musician.

Thinking about what affected his judgment, while remember his gentle smile, it is too easy to say it was because of alcohol.  As a person who loves alcohol, I’m not saying that alcohol isn’t bad, but people who are not responsible drinking alcohol is bad.

I want to see the four members to create a new TOKIO without stopping, I say this as a person who has witnessed their “miracles” many times.

Their “heart” is very strong!

I am sure they will grow.

Hang in there TOKIO!  

Hang in there! Tetsuwan! DASH!!