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transitions101On 22 July, Johnny & Associates announced that TOKIO’s Nagase Tomoya would leave the group and the agency at the end of March 2021. In his letter to members of the fan club, Nagase wrote, “After showbiz, I want to head towards my next place.” According to J&A, Nagase will be working as a creator behind the scenes after his departure. The remaining 3 members, Joshima Shigeru, Kokubun Taichi and Matsuoka Masahiro will establish the J&A subsidiary, TOKIO Co., Ltd.
What was the process that led to Nagase’s departure?
Joshima: Since a few years ago, we’ve had this conversation every now and then. Nagase gradually determined that he wanted to challenge himself in a slightly different field.
Matsuoka: When we shared our opinions whilst making the album, while he knew this wasn’t the direction he wanted to take, he didn’t say, “Well, I want to quit.” Rather, he slowly started to share with us the direction that he wanted to take.
Taichi: I look forward to how he will take what he has experienced and show it to us.
When did you decide (on the departure)?
Matsuoka : About a year ago. We needed to prepare many things, such as when we’d announce it. It’s not like he could leave right after he made the announcement.
Taichi : And then Tegoshi went ahead and did that.
Matsuoka : We were planning to take 2 steps at a time, but he rolled the dice for two and went ahead by 12 steps.
Were there any disputes?
Matsuoka : We readily accepted what he wanted to do. Honestly, we wanted to quarrel over it a little longer, but we’ve aged in a pretty mellow manner.
By working “behind the scenes”, does it mean that he’s retiring from onscreen work?
Matsuoka : In this day and age, I wonder what it means to retire? To us, we don’t feel like he’s retiring. He hasn’t told us so either.
Taichi : He might return as a performing artiste in the future. That’s what happened to Terry Funk, right?
T/N: Terry Funk is an American retired professional wrestler and actor. Funk is known for the longevity of his career – which has spanned more than 50 years and includes multiple short-lived retirements.]
Was Nagase frustrated that TOKIO didn’t get to hold their 25th anniversary tour?
Matsuoka : Frankly speaking, no. We could have held it if we wanted to. There wasn’t a member who particularly wanted to do it, or refused to do it.
Taichi : All of us talked about how we would deal with Yamaguchi’s part when it came to the music. We spoke amongst ourselves and felt that this was probably not the time to do it.
“An amicable divorce.” Tegoshi also emphasized the same thing.
Matsuoka : That fella talks too much. He could have just done it for 5 minutes with a Q&A. Otherwise it’d become a lecture.
What’s the meaning behind the new company’s establishment?
Taichi : We really wanted to maintain our group’s name. The image that people have of us is, “People who can make anything”. However, this was the image that our programs and agency have created for us. From now on, we’ll lay the foundations for ourselves and make anything we want. From a band to a company. So far the company only consists of the 3 of us.
So Joshima is the President?
Matsuoka : With Kokubun and Matsuoka’s support, while we ensure that he doesn’t run away with the company’s money, the 3 of us will do our best.
Whose idea was this?
Matsuoka : Kokubun’s. Honestly, our President doesn’t know half of what’s going on. But it’s fine. So long as I know what’s going on.
Joshima : We’ve made many things as TOKIO. We’ve created things out of a (deserted) island and village. Although we certainly have yet to create a company.
So it’s a group company of Johnny & Associates.
Taichi : J&A holds on to our group’s name. There have been many people who have gone independent, but I think it’s fine for us to attempt a challenge in a different area.
Matsuoka : It’s the reverse version. Conversely, we’re remaining in the company.
Joshima : Perhaps this can only be done by us? Although I did think about who would become President.
Matsuoka : Joshima’s the best President-for-hire in Japan.
Did you report this to Johnny-san?
Matsuoka : We told him on his death anniversary on 9th July. We said, “Please watch over us, we’ll be attempting something new.”
Taichi : We’ll be threading into territory that Johnny-san may or may not have imagined. However, this was also something that Johnny-san taught us. “YOU, just do it.” I guess this was what he was referring to.
Joshima : He often used to tell us, “Don’t copy others!”
Perhaps this may become a model case study for your kouhai.
Taichi : It might be good for them to imitate us, in the way we’ve moved forward without being afraid of what we can’t see.
You’re moving forward as three. What lies ahead?
Matsuoka : We probably wouldn’t increase the number of talents under our umbrella.
Joshima : Let’s avoid competing.
Matsuoka : I hate quarreling over politics.
Will your PR officer tell us not to write about any scandals?
Matsuoka : Feel free to write about it. If you’re going to photograph us, it would have to be this fella (Joshima).
Joshima : I’ll make sure to conduct myself seriously.
Did Joshima-san share this news with your wife?
Joshima : She told me, “All the best!”
Matsuoka : That’s so bland! Is this how things are already?
How are the company’s shares distributed?
Matsuoka : It’s distributed between the 3 of us and J&A.
Your thoughts on separating from J&A
Matsuoka : There are things that you can’t do because you belong to a huge company. However, we have nothing but gratitude towards the company. However, it would be weird if Snow Man or some other group accepted this without question and tried setting up a company of their own.
Joshima : If that happened, we’d crush them.
Matsuoka : They’d be crushed in seconds.
Did you feel like you wanted to quit being an idol?
Joshima : No. We’re not forced into retirement, either.
What would each of you like to do?
Matsuoka : We will continue with the activities that we’re doing now. We won’t do things like quit acting entirely. It’s business as usual, plus alpha.
Taichi : Joshima-san could do lectures on the modern leader, and stuff. Our agency never had any speaking engagements so far.
Matsuoka : “Although we’re reduced to 3 persons, the Leader who persisted for 26 years.”
Taichi : If he had been the kind of leader who expected us to follow him, we would have disbanded a long time ago, I think.
Did you talk about disbanding?
Matsuoka : Not even once. We never thought about destroying TOKIO. It’s also partly due to Johnny-san’s passing. We could never destroy the name
that we’ve received from him.
Will (Joshima) give out extra bonuses using his authority as the President?
For someone who hasn’t given otoshidama* to his kouhai, it’s unthinkable that he would give us bonuses.
[T/N: Otoshidama are money packets given out to children or juniors during the New Year.]
Joshima : It’s the state of the economy, you see....
Will you take part in Johnny’s events?
Matsuoka : If they would do us the favor of inviting us.
Taichi : But we won’t sing.
There are more people going independent in showbiz.
Matsuoka : It’s not for us to talk about it, but I think what used to be the standard (way of doing things) will cease to be so. Even now, it’s hard to define whether someone is a talent or not.
What did Nagase say about the new company?
Taichi : He was happy that we kept the group’s name.
Please give a message to your fans.
Joshima : We’ve acknowledged each other and said, “Let’s attempt the things we want to do!” We hope you will support Nagase Tomoya and the rebirth of TOKIO. That being said, we’ll still be TOKIO until March 2021.
How about the fan club?
Matsuoka : The fan club will continue.
What was the process that led to Nagase’s departure?
Joshima: Since a few years ago, we’ve had this conversation every now and then. Nagase gradually determined that he wanted to challenge himself in a slightly different field.
Matsuoka: When we shared our opinions whilst making the album, while he knew this wasn’t the direction he wanted to take, he didn’t say, “Well, I want to quit.” Rather, he slowly started to share with us the direction that he wanted to take.
Taichi: I look forward to how he will take what he has experienced and show it to us.
When did you decide (on the departure)?
Matsuoka : About a year ago. We needed to prepare many things, such as when we’d announce it. It’s not like he could leave right after he made the announcement.
Taichi : And then Tegoshi went ahead and did that.
Matsuoka : We were planning to take 2 steps at a time, but he rolled the dice for two and went ahead by 12 steps.
Were there any disputes?
Matsuoka : We readily accepted what he wanted to do. Honestly, we wanted to quarrel over it a little longer, but we’ve aged in a pretty mellow manner.
By working “behind the scenes”, does it mean that he’s retiring from onscreen work?
Matsuoka : In this day and age, I wonder what it means to retire? To us, we don’t feel like he’s retiring. He hasn’t told us so either.
Taichi : He might return as a performing artiste in the future. That’s what happened to Terry Funk, right?
T/N: Terry Funk is an American retired professional wrestler and actor. Funk is known for the longevity of his career – which has spanned more than 50 years and includes multiple short-lived retirements.]
Was Nagase frustrated that TOKIO didn’t get to hold their 25th anniversary tour?
Matsuoka : Frankly speaking, no. We could have held it if we wanted to. There wasn’t a member who particularly wanted to do it, or refused to do it.
Taichi : All of us talked about how we would deal with Yamaguchi’s part when it came to the music. We spoke amongst ourselves and felt that this was probably not the time to do it.
“An amicable divorce.” Tegoshi also emphasized the same thing.
Matsuoka : That fella talks too much. He could have just done it for 5 minutes with a Q&A. Otherwise it’d become a lecture.
What’s the meaning behind the new company’s establishment?
Taichi : We really wanted to maintain our group’s name. The image that people have of us is, “People who can make anything”. However, this was the image that our programs and agency have created for us. From now on, we’ll lay the foundations for ourselves and make anything we want. From a band to a company. So far the company only consists of the 3 of us.
So Joshima is the President?
Matsuoka : With Kokubun and Matsuoka’s support, while we ensure that he doesn’t run away with the company’s money, the 3 of us will do our best.
Whose idea was this?
Matsuoka : Kokubun’s. Honestly, our President doesn’t know half of what’s going on. But it’s fine. So long as I know what’s going on.
Joshima : We’ve made many things as TOKIO. We’ve created things out of a (deserted) island and village. Although we certainly have yet to create a company.
So it’s a group company of Johnny & Associates.
Taichi : J&A holds on to our group’s name. There have been many people who have gone independent, but I think it’s fine for us to attempt a challenge in a different area.
Matsuoka : It’s the reverse version. Conversely, we’re remaining in the company.
Joshima : Perhaps this can only be done by us? Although I did think about who would become President.
Matsuoka : Joshima’s the best President-for-hire in Japan.
Did you report this to Johnny-san?
Matsuoka : We told him on his death anniversary on 9th July. We said, “Please watch over us, we’ll be attempting something new.”
Taichi : We’ll be threading into territory that Johnny-san may or may not have imagined. However, this was also something that Johnny-san taught us. “YOU, just do it.” I guess this was what he was referring to.
Joshima : He often used to tell us, “Don’t copy others!”
Perhaps this may become a model case study for your kouhai.
Taichi : It might be good for them to imitate us, in the way we’ve moved forward without being afraid of what we can’t see.
You’re moving forward as three. What lies ahead?
Matsuoka : We probably wouldn’t increase the number of talents under our umbrella.
Joshima : Let’s avoid competing.
Matsuoka : I hate quarreling over politics.
Will your PR officer tell us not to write about any scandals?
Matsuoka : Feel free to write about it. If you’re going to photograph us, it would have to be this fella (Joshima).
Joshima : I’ll make sure to conduct myself seriously.
Did Joshima-san share this news with your wife?
Joshima : She told me, “All the best!”
Matsuoka : That’s so bland! Is this how things are already?
How are the company’s shares distributed?
Matsuoka : It’s distributed between the 3 of us and J&A.
Your thoughts on separating from J&A
Matsuoka : There are things that you can’t do because you belong to a huge company. However, we have nothing but gratitude towards the company. However, it would be weird if Snow Man or some other group accepted this without question and tried setting up a company of their own.
Joshima : If that happened, we’d crush them.
Matsuoka : They’d be crushed in seconds.
Did you feel like you wanted to quit being an idol?
Joshima : No. We’re not forced into retirement, either.
What would each of you like to do?
Matsuoka : We will continue with the activities that we’re doing now. We won’t do things like quit acting entirely. It’s business as usual, plus alpha.
Taichi : Joshima-san could do lectures on the modern leader, and stuff. Our agency never had any speaking engagements so far.
Matsuoka : “Although we’re reduced to 3 persons, the Leader who persisted for 26 years.”
Taichi : If he had been the kind of leader who expected us to follow him, we would have disbanded a long time ago, I think.
Did you talk about disbanding?
Matsuoka : Not even once. We never thought about destroying TOKIO. It’s also partly due to Johnny-san’s passing. We could never destroy the name
that we’ve received from him.
Will (Joshima) give out extra bonuses using his authority as the President?
For someone who hasn’t given otoshidama* to his kouhai, it’s unthinkable that he would give us bonuses.
[T/N: Otoshidama are money packets given out to children or juniors during the New Year.]
Joshima : It’s the state of the economy, you see....
Will you take part in Johnny’s events?
Matsuoka : If they would do us the favor of inviting us.
Taichi : But we won’t sing.
There are more people going independent in showbiz.
Matsuoka : It’s not for us to talk about it, but I think what used to be the standard (way of doing things) will cease to be so. Even now, it’s hard to define whether someone is a talent or not.
What did Nagase say about the new company?
Taichi : He was happy that we kept the group’s name.
Please give a message to your fans.
Joshima : We’ve acknowledged each other and said, “Let’s attempt the things we want to do!” We hope you will support Nagase Tomoya and the rebirth of TOKIO. That being said, we’ll still be TOKIO until March 2021.
How about the fan club?
Matsuoka : The fan club will continue.