BUMP OF CHICKEN’s bassist Naoi Yoshifumi announced suspension of activities, BUMP OF CHICKEN releases statement

BUMP OF CHICKEN bassist Naoi Yoshifumi (40) has announced he will be suspending activities due to the affair scandal which has rocked the popular band.

BUMP OF CHICKEN will continue activities with its three members (Fujiwara Motoo, Masukawa Hiroaki, Masu Hideo) for now.

Bunshun Online reported that Naoi had been married and had an affair with a woman in the past. According to the article, Naoi had a wife and children but was having an affair with other women.

The band released the following statement on their website: “The listeners who have supported us so far and all the people involved, we have caused a great deal of concern and inconvenience regarding the news about Naoi Yoshifumi, the bassist of BUMP OF CHICKEN.  We are very sorry to all of you.  Naoi himself is now seriously facing what he has done lately, and he is deeply reflecting on his family, the other woman, and many people he has hurt every day.”

“At the time when he was behaving as what was mentioned in the press, we members were very careful about his daily behavior, and he obediently listened to such reprimands at that time. But in the end, we didn’t know much of Naoi’s private life and we didn’t come up with an essential solution. As a result, this happened”.

“We are very sorry.  This has greatly betrayed the trust of those who have supported us so far and has resulted in disappointment for Naoi. Not just one person, but all four of the band take it seriously.  We members and staff offered Naoi a suspension of activities, and he will be making up for mistakes, reconsidered his own way of life, and relearn the importance of those who helped us every day.  He accepted it as an opportunity to rehabilitate himself and accepted it.

“We have talked many times and we have reached the point where we thought that we should stop all activities as BUMP OF CHICKEN, but we will take responsibility for those who support us. For the time being, BUMP OF CHICKEN is based on the idea that the responsibility we should have is to continue all the activities for now. We have come to the conclusion that BUMP OF CHICKEN will work with three members except without Naoi.  We will strongly support the existence of our listeners who have long, cherished our music.  We would like to work even harder on future music production. I would like to thank you for your cooperation”.

---