Freelance Announcer Hiroshi Ikushima Taking Indefinite Hiatus; Removed from TBS Position Due to Harassment Allegations (UPDATE1)

The Yomiuri Shimbun

20:17 JST, January 27, 2025

Hiroshi Ikushima, 74, a freelance announcer, announced Monday that he was taking an indefinite hiatus from activities in the entertainment business, in addition to leaving his job as the main personality on two radio programs for TBS Radio Inc., effective that day.

This decision was the result of allegations that he committed power and sexual harassment against staff members of his early morning radio programs.

According to his agency, Ikushima berated staff members while the program was broadcasting live. He also sent an inappropriate image from the internet to a female staff member, who later complained that it was “very unpleasant.”

TBS Radio also announced Monday that Ikushima “disobeyed the TBS group’s human rights policy and committed major violations of the group’s code of compliance.” The company said it determined that letting him continue to appear on the radio program was no longer possible.

Ikushima posted a comment on his official website reading, “I am seriously reflecting on my lack of awareness or recognition of the harassment. I apologize from the bottom of my heart to the people who suffered from my words and deeds.”

The radio programs began airing in 1998, and Monday was to mark the 6,995th broadcast.