King & Prince's Kaito Takahashi Withdraws from "24-Hour TV" Due to Ill Health, Shares Feelings on Blog

Kaito Takahashi of King & Prince has announced his withdrawal from "24-Hour TV" due to ill health, a revelation that has deeply shocked fans. Amidst this, Takahashi updated his official blog, "Kaito's Idol Diary," to share his current feelings.

His blog post revealed a deep "regret" over being unable to participate in a project he had been preparing for over a long period, and his candid emotions resonated painfully with many fans. However, Takahashi also expressed gratitude to his fans and conveyed "trust" in the members and friends who will take over his performance as substitutes, showing a positive attitude.

On social media, "#KaitosIdolDiary" became a trending topic, with an outpouring of warm messages from fans expressing concern for Takahashi's health and wishing him a swift recovery. Comments included: "Thank you, Kaito-kun, please rest well now," "Kaito-chan must be the most frustrated," and "Don't push yourself, heal completely, and show us your cheerful smile again."

Furthermore, it has been revealed that Ren Nagase of King & Prince and Genka Matsuda of Travis Japan—who is his close friend and described as a "comrade in arms"—will take over Takahashi's intentions and perform as substitutes. Fans expressed their anticipation for the duo's performance, saying things like, "We can ask them because we trust both buddy Ren and comrade Genta," and "They'll surely carry Kaito-chan's feelings and do their best." They were also moved by the strong bond between Takahashi, Nagase, and Matsuda.

This project was conceived and developed by Takahashi from scratch. Fans are vowing to send their full support from in front of their TVs, believing "Kaito's thoughts and passion will definitely be conveyed," and are eagerly awaiting Takahashi's recovery.

The context

"24-Hour Television" (24時間テレビ, Nijūyo-jikan Terebi) is an annual charity telethon broadcast live over a weekend in late August by Nippon Television. It features various segments including emotional stories, challenging performances, and charity appeals, with popular celebrities serving as main personalities. The event is widely known in Japan and often includes special projects or challenges performed by the main personalities.

King & Prince is a popular Japanese idol group formed by Johnny & Associates (now STARTO ENTERTAINMENT) in 2018. They are known for their music, variety show appearances, and acting roles. Kaito Takahashi and Ren Nagase are current members of the group.

Travis Japan is another popular Japanese idol group also under STARTO ENTERTAINMENT (formerly Johnny & Associates). They made their global debut in 2022. Genka Matsuda is a member of this group.

The announcement of a member's withdrawal from a high-profile event like "24-Hour TV" due to health reasons, especially after extensive preparation, is a significant event for both the artist and their fanbase. The outpouring of support and the stepping in of fellow members and close friends highlight the strong bonds within these idol groups and with their fans, which is a common characteristic of the Japanese idol industry.