Japan’s Top J-pop Agency Battles Fallout From Sex Abuse Scandal – The Diplomat

Tokyo Report | Society | East Asia

The golden period of Johnny & Associates has come to an finish after the expertise company specializing in male J-pop idols admitted that its late founder, Johnny Kitagawa, sexually abused underage boys. It’s a drastic shift from the company’s earlier place that the allegations of sexual abuse may don’t be verified.

The scandal attracted worldwide scrutiny following a BBC investigative documentary that interviewed victims and likewise detailed how the leisure business and native media turned a blind eye. Final month, an investigation by a United Nations crew of specialists discovered that Kitagawa abused a whole bunch of younger boys. They criticized the company for conducting an “inadequate” inquiry into the allegations and urged the company for higher “transparency” and a brand new probe.

Johnny & Associates is dealing with a public relations disaster as a number of main Japanese firms start to cancel commercials with expertise from the company whereas others plan to not renew their contracts. Kirin, Asahi, Suntory and Tokyo Marine Holdings are amongst these to have ended offers with the company.

In an effort to place a cease to its reputational harm, Johnny & Associates says it’ll work at no cost by not charging administration charges for commercials and tv appearances. It says all of the charges it receives may also go to performers.

Final week the niece of Kitagawa, Julie Fujishima, stepped down as president, admitting to the pitfalls of a family-operated firm in overlaying up abuse. Well-known Japanese singer and actor Higashiyama Noriyuki, 56, was promoted to the highest job. He vowed to “spend the remainder of his life” tackling the problem and profitable again public belief.

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He additionally confused that he was by no means sexually abused by Kitagawa. However he admitted to listening to rumors in regards to the sexual abuse and felt “unable to take motion” on the time.

Higashiyama’s promotion has raised eyebrows – not just for his prolonged affiliation with the company but additionally as a result of he too faces allegations that he sexually abused junior members on the company. Throughout a press convention, reporters requested Higashiyama about abuse accusations revealed in a e-book. He replied that he couldn’t recall abusing any members up to now. However he did trace at the truth that he bullied youthful artists, saying that he had performed issues in his teenagers and 20s that he wouldn’t do in the present day.

Higashiyama has framed the company’s progress round compensation. The company has chosen three judges to supervise the standards and choice course of for compensation.

Former J-pop idol Kauan Okamoto has spoken out in regards to the abuse by Kitagawa. He has referred to as for adjustments to the Baby Abuse Prevention Regulation and a contact level for victims to succeed in out to.

Different victims are calling for the general public and enterprise sponsors to separate Johnny Kitagawa from the artists which are nonetheless with the company with a purpose to stop secondary harm.

Johnny Kitagawa, identified for scouting and producing chart-topping boy bands, was essentially the most influential determine in Japan’s leisure business. He handed away in 2019 on the age of 87. However even after his dying, his title and expertise company carried monumental energy to make or break the careers of aspiring idols.

For many years it was an open secret in leisure circles that Kitagawa sexually exploited teenage recruits of Johnny & Associates.

With Kitagawa, who actively recruited and educated teenage boys till his dying, now outed as a sexual predator, the extent of the abuse will undoubtedly proceed to unfold.