Japan Talent Agency President Quits Sex Abuse Scandal: Julie Keiko Fujishima resigned as president of Johnny & Associates, Japan’s top talent agency, due to allegations of the late founder, Johnny Kitagawa, engaging in inappropriate relationships with minors. Fujishima will be replaced by actor Noriyuki Higashiyama with the agency since 1979. The announcement followed a BBC documentary in March revealing abuse claims by former workers called “Johnny’s boys.”
Kitagawa’s victims may have been as young as elementary school age. From the 50s to the 2010s, people claim abuse. A third-party group advised Fujishima to resign. Kitagawa may have abused many idols and trainees.
Despite anonymous accusations against Kitagawa in the 1990s, the mainstream media largely ignored the issue until recently. The UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights finds the problem “troubling,” prompting Japan’s government to seek more openness.
Fujishima appeared before the media, admitted to the abuse, and apologized sincerely to the victims. The agency discussed the scandal publicly for the first time in this news conference. Fujishima takes full responsibility for paying the victims what they are owed. Despite quitting, she will retain her shares in the company to monitor pay handling.
Kitagawa founded Johnny & Associates in 1962, launching the careers of J-Pop acts like SMAP and Sexy Zone. Despite reports of Kitagawa’s misconduct in the 90s, the media only recently addressed it. This raises concerns about the Japanese entertainment industry’s respect for human rights and media accountability.
Since then, Japanese broadcasters like Fuji TV and TV Tokyo have asked the agency to respond appropriately to these claims. Johnny’s acts are still widely discussed in Japanese media.
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Noriyuki Higashiyama, the new president, discussed his early days as Johnny’s idol at age 19. He mentioned a place where abuse couldn’t be discussed. Despite abuse reports, Higashiyama trusted Kitagawa as a father figure. Although Higashiyama wasn’t hurt, he knows Kitagawa hurt many stars.
Kitagawa’s victims are dissatisfied with the government’s current case handling. The Johnny’s Sexual Assault Victims Association’s Shimon Ishimaru said the new president’s choice was distracting. Ishimaru, a former Johnny’s trainee, discussed Kitagawa’s abuse, causing 20 years of depression.
In his recent speech, Higashiyama expressed his desire to meet with victims and emphasized his commitment to regaining trust. But he should have mentioned the timing.
The victims’ group plans to report Kitagawa’s abusive behavior to the police soon. Past reports were ignored due to insufficient proof. The association may file a civil case in the U.S. against the agency. They want to do everything to get justice.
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Our Reader’s Queries
What happened with Johnny’s Entertainment?
Johnny & Associates, a prominent J-pop entertainment agency, has officially ended its use of the company name. This decision was made as a form of reparation to the talents who were victims of sexual assault by the agency’s founder, Johnny Kitagawa.
What is the Johnny’s controversy?
In 2023, a thorough and independent three-month investigation conducted by Johnny’s resulted in the conclusion that Kitagawa had perpetrated sexual abuse against hundreds of individuals throughout his career.
What happened to Johnny and Associates?
Johnny & Associates made a big announcement on October 2, 2023. They’re splitting into two parts. One part, called Smile-Up, will deal with making things right for those affected by Kitagawa’s abuse. The other, Starto Entertainment, will take care of the current acts signed with Johnny & Associates.
Who is the new president of Johnny’s?
In September, Noriyuki Higashiyama took over as the new president of Johnny & Associates. This came after the entertainment powerhouse acknowledged that its late founder, Johnny Kitagawa, had sexually abused young performers at his male-only talent agency for many years.