Singer-songwriter ASKA posted a new post on Twitter on the 10th. He defended Tatsuro Yamashita, whose remarks on the radio are causing ripples.

"Tatsuro didn't condone 'sexual violence', did he? There must have been other problems with the person who said 'bye-bye' and left. I don't know about that person. Don't take offense, let's think with common sense."

In the uproar, music producer Kiyoshi Matsuo confessed on Twitter that his contract with the talent agency Smile Company was terminated prematurely. He said that the reason was that he  mentioned Johnny Kitagawa's sexual assault problem. "I'm sorry that Mr. Tatsuro Yamashita, who invited me to Smile, also agreed with the company policy. Thank you for your support so far. Bye-bye!" he wrote.

Yamashita spoke for 7 minutes intensely on TOKYO FM "Tatsuro Yamashita's Sunday Songbook" broadcast on the 9th. While saying that if there really was sexual assault "really unforgivable," and he said that his "indebtedness" and "respect" for Mr. Johnny would not change. One of the reasons was the one-sided criticism based on speculation," he said, but added, "There are many other things."