A JAPANESE pop star who admitted to sexually harassing a teenage girl has quit hit band Tokio in yet another #MeToo scandal.

Tatsuya Yamaguchi got on his knees in repentance to apologise to band members and submit a resignation on Monday night, band leader Shigeru Joshima said.

Yamaguchi acknowledged he forced a kiss on a high school student in February. Although she reported it to police, authorities decided not to pursue charges against 46-year-old after the parties settled out of court.

The four remaining members appeared in a news conference on national television yesterday to announce that the group will not disband, seeing it as their duty “as professionals”, Joshima said.

“We have a responsibility first as Tokio,” he said, after bowing with the other members.

Dressed in dark suits and ties, they appeared solemn and tense in front of flashing cameras at a packed Tokyo hotel room.

Joshima said the group decided to apologise publicly to the victim and her family, fans and other people who were shocked and hurt by the scandal.

The high profile case has helped to make #MeToo a household phrase in Japan.

Sexual misconduct by a government bureaucrat has also grabbed headlines in recent weeks.

The Finance Ministry official, accused of making lewd remarks to a reporter, has resigned.