Yamaguchi Tatsuya hasn’t talked to members of TOKIO since leaving Johnny’s

In the interview with former TOKIO member Yamaguchi Tatsuya, Yamaguchi who was interviewed by Josei Seven revealed a few things that may surprise people.

In his first interview in a year and four months, Yamaguchi revealed that since leaving TOKIO and Johnny’s Jimusho, he has been studying at a temple several days a week.

Yamaguchi’s scandal was one of the major headlines in Japanese entertainment in 2018.  Yamaguchi quit the band TOKIO and Johnny’s Jimusho after it was revealed that Yamaguchi invited a minor and her friend to his home to drink. While drunk, he tried to force her to kiss him and tried to force her to drink.  Because of the police report filed about Yamaguchi’s forced indecency, he was suspended indefinitely.

Yamaguchi held a press conference to apologize to the victim, but it angered his band members when he talked about wanting to come back to TOKIO after his suspension, if they have a place for him.  His bandmates showed their anger during their press conference that Yamaguchi should think about the victim not about coming back to TOKIO and because it was a huge inconvenience put on the band, Yamaguchi decided to quit the group and sent a letter of resignation to Johnny’s Jimusho, who then accepted his resignation and ended their contract with him.

When asked about if he still maintains friendships with his former TOKIO bandmates, Yamaguchi said, “I haven’t met with them since leaving the office.  I’m a person who became a big nuisance to them, so I can no longer rely on them.  The members have a special relationship.  It’s a relationship that is different from having friends, colleagues or family.  It’s like fighting friends who keep fighting together.  They were always worried about me and one day, I would like to meet and talk”.

When asked if he saw the interview with TOKIO’s four members admonishing him, Yamaguchi said, “Actually, I was in the hospital at the time of their press conference, so I didn’t know what was said.  Later, I knew I could watch the video on the Internet, but I’ve already apologized to the members and I haven’t watched the video.  Some people may feel that for a friendship that has been going on for nearly 30 years, that it’s very sad.  However, I caused them a lot of trouble, so I decided to stay away from the members.  So, that’s what I did”.

As for what he does now, Yamaguchi said, “Since May, my medical condition has settled down, so I go to the temple.  I’m good at carpentry, so I go to the mountains where the temple is located and cut trees.  That is how I am able to face myself.  I have been rethinking of what kind of person I was.  I felt that I was an adult who behaved like a child.  I would act happily on TV and felt that was my role.  But I was too childish and made mistakes”.

You can read more of the interview on “Josei Seven” (September 12, 2019 issue).

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