News Johnny Kitagawa: Japan’s J-pop predator

Leaving aside the moral question on sex with minors (I know it hasn't always been morally verboten but circumstances were different then - these days people grow up more slowly, particularly in Japan), the unanimous testimony of the men who came forward was of a clear tacit understanding that sexual acts with Kitagawa were necessary for them to make it in the industry. This is all about abuse of power and non-consensual sexual relationships, and cannot be condoned under any circumstances, be it 20th century Japan or Ancient Rome.

I find your comparisons with Britain and America a bit baffling to be honest. Not once during this discussion have I tried to compare the overall level of problems in the countries - in fact, I think Japan's society is currently functioning far better than Britain's (I'm not discussing America because I'm not American) and I don't see Japan as a 'den of debauchery'. My point is that certain aspects of its society allow abuse to remain unchecked, and if its method of social control is shame, then shame it has to be.
 
Lothor said:
Leaving aside the moral question on sex with minors (I know it hasn't always been morally verboten but circumstances were different then - these days people grow up more slowly, particularly in Japan), the unanimous testimony of the men who came forward was of a clear tacit understanding that sexual acts with Kitagawa were necessary for them to make it in the industry. This is all about abuse of power and non-consensual sexual relationships, and cannot be condoned under any circumstances, be it 20th century Japan or Ancient Rome.

I find your comparisons with Britain and America a bit baffling to be honest. Not once during this discussion have I tried to compare the overall level of problems in the countries - in fact, I think Japan's society is currently functioning far better than Britain's (I'm not discussing America because I'm not American) and I don't see Japan as a 'den of debauchery'. My point is that certain aspects of its society allow abuse to remain unchecked, and if its method of social control is shame, then shame it has to be.
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We were speaking of the circus. You claimed to advocate the circus over sweeping these things under the rug. America and Britain are prime examples of the circus while Japan remains a prime example of sweeping things under the rug. Or at least, that is what I see.

I don't know of any society that has clearly dealt with sexual issues fully, especially those of a minority or perceived minority. No. I only see stupid, after stupid after stupid. So its either embrace the stupid with a circus, or, try and thwart the stupid by sweeping things under the rug.

This is definitely not about what I want. What I want is a complete, scientific analysis that allows as much compassion, wisdom, tolerance and calm as could be achieved. But I gave up. Its not possible. It cannot be done. People simply won't have that. We can't even talk openly about perfectly normal husband and wife sex in mixed company so its utterly hopeless to talk about anything even slightly more odd and get anywhere.

As for what constitutes abuse of power and what is consent or not, this case is definitely abuse of power and non-consent. But don't try and tell me the guy had some other options. He had none, so he did this. Its not what I want. I am just telling you what I see.

To go any deeper we would need to establish what is consent exactly and what is abuse of power exactly, and what isn't. And that is a deep, deep rabbit hole that people simply don't seem to have the intellect to plumb or the will to remain calm. There is no discussion to be had. No solution to be commonly accepted. Its utterly hopeless and a key reason why this world is such utter piles of feces is cause sex and sexual satisfcation are key to our everything, but we can't get to the bottom of it since it causes all hell to break loose if we try.

So, its under the rug for me. Anyone that doesn't like it, can just go home and have it different.....and all that comes with that "solution".
 
Master of Time said:
But don't try and tell me the guy had some other options. He had none, so he did this. Its not what I want. I am just telling you what I see.
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Then you're arguing that Kitagawa was a victim of his appetites and had no control over his behaviour. I can't accept that, because it denies the whole concept of free will and therefore adults having some responsibility for their actions. You often criticise the behaviour of others (no criticism of you intended - so do I), but there's not really any point in doing so if we don't have any control over what we do.

I'm going to end this conversation, not out of any rancour, because it's been interesting, but we're approaching the issue from such different underlying assumptions that there's going to be no common ground.
 
Lothor said:
but there's not really any point in doing so if we don't have any control over what we do.
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Here lies a very serious problem, simple as it may be. Most of us do have control and I am sure Kitagawa was no exception. But what exactly control is is a conversation in itself. Most people I have talked to (Anglos) take it to mean an ability to completely forego and ignore one's deepest desires from birth to death with no real negative consequences, as if humans are robots, can be robots or should aspire to be robots....good little Victorian robots living lives completely at odds with their own happiness.

Well that is downright silly and its never going to happen. It just drives both good and bad underground where they spoil and fester and can have some really powerful and bad results. It makes for disaffected populations that are easier to control and fleece though. And you will note its not only in Japan where the rich and the powerful don't adhere to any dogma of absolute denial. I doubt there are many Japanese on Jeffrey Epstein's client list.

I'm going to end this conversation
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Fair enough. I just want to make it clear that though I be for the Japanese way of brushing past all this, its not because I am careless and unconcerned. Its because I am sure there are better ways, but the attacks I have received while trying to present them just makes me think its hopeless for humanity to improve on this and related subjects amid half a conversation, which is always a demand for an ever more powerful crackdown.
 
Today, a team of experts investigating Kitagawa's sexual abuse delivered a scathing report, urging Johnny's & Associates President Julie Keiko Fujishima to step down after the family-run business left the issue unaddressed for decades.


The third-party team of experts, appointed by the talent agency in late May, interviewed 41 people for the report and concluded that Johnny Kitagawa started sexually abusing boys in the 1950s and then at his agency from the 1970s to the 2010s. The team is comprised of three experts: former prosecutor-general Makoto Hayashi, psychiatrist Nozomu Asukai, and child trauma specialist Azusa Saito, along with six lawyers from the law firm Anderson Mori & Tomotsune to help with the investigation. "Johnny's & Associates did not take appropriate actions, such as investigating whether the sexual abuse (allegations) against Johnny (Kitagawa) were true or not," despite various news reports and court cases, the report said. "Johnny's & Associates had a serious problem of lacking governance."
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The report claimed that Julie Keiko must have known when she was appointed director, yet did nothing about the issue, thus neglecting her duty. "Overall, we found the statement (by Fujishima) that she 'didn't know' at the time to be a lie," Hayashi said, explaining how the experts came to such a conclusion after conducting hearings with both Fujishima and the victims.
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www.japantimes.co.jp

Expert team reports on decades of sexual abuse by Johnny Kitagawa

The team urged Johnny’s & Associates President Julie Keiko Fujishima to step down after the family-run business left the issue unaddressed for decades.
www.japantimes.co.jp www.japantimes.co.jp


I have my popcorn ready. 🍿
 
Julie Keiko Fujishima, the president of Johnny & Associates, announced her resignation today following allegations of child sex abuse against the company's late founder, Johnny Kitagawa.

https%253A%252F%252Fcms-image-bucket-production-ap-northeast-1-a7d2.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaw...jpg



Julie Keiko Fujishima, Kitagawa's niece, will be succeeded by actor Noriyuki Higashiyama, who has been employed by Johnny & Associates since 1979, the agency told reporters in Tokyo. "On behalf of the company, and as an individual, I acknowledge [the abuse] and offer my deepest apologies to the victims," said Fujishima in a rare media appearance screened live on several terrestrial TV channels. Thursday's news conference was the first by the agency to address the scandal, following months of abuse allegations by former employees -- known as "Johnny's boys" -- prompted by a BBC documentary aired in March that thrust the issue into the global spotlight. Some of Kitagawa's victims were in elementary school during the alleged abuse, their claims ranging from the 1950s until the 2010s."
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Paywall alert:
asia.nikkei.com

J-pop talent agency president quits over founder's child sex abuse

Victims of late mogul Johnny Kitagawa demand apologies and compensation
asia.nikkei.com asia.nikkei.com

english.kyodonews.net

Johnny's talent agency admits sexual abuse by founder, head resigns

The niece of Johnny Kitagawa said Thursday she has stepped down as president of Johnny & Associates Inc., Japan's top male talent agency founded by her late uncle, after acknowledging he sexually abused aspiring teenage pop singers for decades.
english.kyodonews.net english.kyodonews.net

Her resignation made international headlines:

 
And the rats are fleeing the sinking ship: beverage makers Asahi Group Holdings and Kirin Holdings announced separately on Friday that they would no longer use stars from Johnny & Associates in TV commercials.


https%253A%252F%252Fcms-image-bucket-production-ap-northeast-1-a7d2.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaw...jpg


Johnny & Associates, Japan's largest talent agency, has lost two major advertising clients after being rocked by sex abuse allegations, and could lose more as companies weigh the risks of continuing to be associated with the star factory. [...] Asahi has employed boy band V6 member Junichi Okada and actor Toma Ikuta in beer commercials and pop group Arashi members Sho Sakurai and Masaki Aiba in soft drink commercials since March. Kirin said it would no longer run ads featuring idol group Johnny's West member Daiki Shigeoka and Snow Man member Ren Meguro, adding it would end their contracts when they expire.
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Paywall alert:
 
Good Lord!

www.bbc.com

Johnny Kitagawa: J-pop agency's new boss Higashiyama also faces abuse allegations

Noriyuki Higashiyama said he could not recall if he had sexually assaulted juniors at the boyband agency.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com


Journalists asked him if allegations published in a book saying he massaged the crotches of boys, exposed his genitals and told them to "eat my sausage" were true.

He replied: "I don't remember clearly. Maybe it happened, maybe it didn't. I have trouble remembering."
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Even worse is the decade-long complicity of the media, including the NHK.

Yesterday, several broadcasters, including NTV, TV Asahi and Fuji TV, issued rare apologies for failing to report on the allegations for years. It needed a foreign newspaper to get the ball rolling. And let's not forget that former PM Abe was still praising Kitagawa in his eulogy in 2019.

www.reuters.com

Japan broadcasters issue rare apologies for past silence over J-pop agency sex abuse

After Japan's top talent agency Johnny & Associates apologised on Thursday for decades of sexual abuses committed by its late founder, local broadcasters issued rare mea culpas of their own for failing to report on the allegations for years.
www.reuters.com www.reuters.com
 
So far, the reactions of their sponsors have been mixed: some have already cut their ties (Asahi, Kirin), others are still contemplating or in the process of cutting ties (McDonald's, Suntory, Kao, Daiichi Sankyo), while some (Menicon Co., Keihan Holdings Co., Mos Food Services Inc.) say they will continue to collaborate with their stars, arguing they could not be held responsible for Kitagawa's offences.

At a news conference on 12 September, Takeshi Niinami, chairman of Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives), said a company is tolerating child abuse if it keeps using Johnny & Associates idols. He actually used the English term "child abuse".

 
"While some (Menicon Co., Keihan Holdings Co., Mos Food Services Inc.) say they will continue to collaborate with their stars, arguing they could not be held responsible for Kitagawa's offences."

The stars weren't responsible for Kitagawa's offences, but it's an odd response in a country where collective responsibility is the norm. I sense a hastily made up justification.

There must be some very interesting discussions going on at NHK at the moment. This story is likely to continue to run, and in a couple of months NHK has to announce its lineup for the Kohaku event. They're going to have to jump one way or the other - show their loyalty to a brand that is horribly tarnished and further damage their credibility, or cause massive ructions in the entertainment industry and put Johnny's back in the news by announcing that this year's event won't feature the company's bands.
 
The BBC is following up on major Japanese brands cutting ties with the country's biggest talent agency.

Firms including Nissan, Asahi and Suntory say they will not renew any contracts with Johnny and Associates. Toyota, which previously had a contract with one of its top stars, told the BBC it had no plans to sign any more deals featuring Johnny talents. Japan's agriculture ministry has also said it would stop hiring the stars. [...] Nissan Motors told the BBC: "Due to conduct by Johnny & Associates that contravenes our Human Rights Policy Statement, we will refrain from developing new sales promotion materials using that talent agency until further notice." The country's two other beverage giants, Suntory and Kirin, also told the BBC that they had demanded that the agency set out detailed measures to help its victims and prevent similar incidents.
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www.bbc.com

Johnny Kitagawa: Japan firms cut ties with boyband agency over sex abuse

Nissan, Asahi and Suntory are among the companies that say they will not renew contracts with Johnny and Associates.
www.bbc.com
 
I'm not sure that's going to change anything... it did not work in the case of the Unification Church (now officially called "The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU)").

english.kyodonews.net

Sex abuse-tainted Johnny's discussing talent agency name change

Scandal-hit male talent agency Johnny & Associates Inc. has discussed changing its name to distance itself from its late namesake founder, the company says, as it attempts to repair the reputational damage caused by decades of sexual abuse of aspiring teen pop singers by Johnny Kitagawa.
english.kyodonews.net english.kyodonews.net
 
In a press conference earlier today, the talent agency announced they'd rename their company "Smile-Up" and task it solely with compensating hundreds of abuse victims. They would also establish a new company dedicated to managing its performers. Former President Julie Keiko Fujishima, Kitagawa's niece, will continue to hold all shares of what will become Smile-Up. After the compensation process is complete, the company will cease operations.


The existing company will be solely engaged in providing compensation for victims of Johnny Kitagawa's sexual abuse starting in November. The name will be officially changed to Smile-Up on 17 October. An external committee for victim relief set up by the agency said it has received reports from 478 sex abuse victims as of 30 September, and 325 of them are seeking compensation. "We would like to properly create a framework that stands alongside the victims," Noriyuki Higashiyama, president of Johnny & Associates, said at a news conference in Tokyo on 2 October. Yoshihiko Inohara, president of subsidiary Johnny's Island, and two lawyers also attended the news conference. Julie Keiko Fujishima was absent.
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mainichi.jp

Johnny's to change name, create new firm to manage its performers - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Scandal-hit male talent agency Johnny & Associates Inc. said Monday it will change its name and establish a new firm to manage its pe
mainichi.jp mainichi.jp
 
Two related news this week:

Nippon Television Network Corp. acknowledged "pandering" to Johnny & Associates Inc. for over two decades despite reports of sexual abuse committed by Kitagawa. They and everyone else!

The investigation was conducted in response to a report by an agency-established panel that said the "silence of mass media" was a contributing factor that allowed Kitagawa to continue sexually abusing minors for decades.
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Also, the public relations company that handled Johnny & Associates Inc.'s news conference on 2 October made a blacklist of journalists who were not allowed to ask questions.

The agency said the PR company presented the blacklist at a meeting two days before the news conference. The PR company specified that the session would last around two hours, and it apparently wanted agency executives to sidestep questions from specific journalists. According to the agency, Yoshihiko Inohara, president of subsidiary Johnnys' Island, raised concerns about the blacklist during the meeting.
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thomas said:
Two related news this week:

Nippon Television Network Corp. acknowledged "pandering" to Johnny & Associates Inc. for over two decades despite reports of sexual abuse committed by Kitagawa. They and everyone else!





Also, the public relations company that handled Johnny & Associates Inc.'s news conference on 2 October made a blacklist of journalists who were not allowed to ask questions.



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'Pandering' was an understatement. The channel spent a number of days 'mourning' Kitagawa when he died. I'm sure they didn't have to go quite that far to keep in the agency's good books.

It felt good seeing on this morning's news the 'Johnny's and Associates' sign removed from their HQ.
 
More problems for Johnny's (or Smile-Up. :D) - a row about a blacklist of awkward journalists who were not to be invited to ask questions at the big news conference.
mainichi.jp

PR firm says it made Johnny's press conference reporter 'blacklist' - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The public relations firm that organized a press conference for scandal-hit male talent agency Johnny & Associates Inc. admitted Thur
mainichi.jp mainichi.jp

Prioritising friendly journalists at press conferences is the norm in Japan - it's certainly done by the government. The fact that the media are reporting this indicates just how much power Johnny's has lost - the media wouldn't do this if they feared any repercussions.
 
Last edited:
Lothor said:
Prioritising friendly journalists at press conferences is the norm in Japan - it's certainly done by the government. The fact that the media are reporting this indicates just how much power Johnny's has lost - the media wouldn't do this if they feared any repercussions.
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I'd say Johnny's empire has finally crumbled to pieces. Thanks to the BBC.

It was also a British journalist, The Guardian's Jonathan Watts, who openly criticised Japan's kisha club system:

The kisha clubs have been widely criticized, both in Japan and abroad, for encouraging an extreme type of access-driven journalism that undermines the quality of journalism in Japan by stifling criticism and turning reporters into mouthpieces for the institutions that they are supposed to cover. In one representative criticism, Jonathan Watts, the former Tokyo bureau chief for The Guardian, said the kisha club create a problem of "watchdogs becoming lapdogs" because "the kisha-club system rewards self-censorship, fosters uniformity and stifles competition." In its 2023 rankings of World Press Freedom, the non-governmental group Reporters Without Borders singled out the kisha clubs as a major reason that it ranked Japan 68th out of 180 countries, saying, "journalists find it hard put to fully play their role as democracy's watchdog." Smaller media companies, freelance journalists and foreign news organizations are often blocked from joining kisha clubs, leading to one of the most common criticisms, that the clubs foster opaque, exclusive ties between government officials and member journalists, who become overly reliant on their sources for information.
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Kisha club - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
 
Interesting speculative article from the Japanese press on how the evil empire will break up (similarly to a yakuza group apparently) and what will happen to the performers.

japantoday.com

The fate of Johnny and Associates may play out according to the yakuza model

Johnny and Associates, the talent agency whose founder, the late Johnny Kitagawa, was exposed by the BBC last March to have been an unrepentant pedophile who preyed on the young performers it groomed for stardom. The company has since been facing a myriad of troubles, and to cut its losses…
japantoday.com japantoday.com
 
Fascinating comparison! I was under the impression that "Smile Up" was only established for compensation and liquidation. With the agency becoming a pariah, I assume those "talents" will slowly peel off and seek greener pastures.
 
And here we are: NHK decided not to use any former Johnny's or Smile-Up acts for its famous New Year's Eve musical show, "Kohaku Uta Gassen." This is the first time in 44 years that the company's performers will not appear on the music show.

Kohaku Uta Gassen


The agency, still reeling from the fallout over its reckoning with founder Johnny Kitagawa's decadeslong history of alleged sexual assault and child abuse, did not factor into NHK's plans for this year's program, set to air Dec. 31 at 7:20 p.m. from NHK Hall in Tokyo. As a result, the 74th edition of the show presents a broader look at the country's music landscape and its relation to the wider world. Reflecting this year's "Borderless" theme, two of the most notable first-time participants come from South Korea: Stray Kids and Seventeen. They will appear alongside returning group Le Sserafim and the debuting trio Misamo, comprising the three Japanese members of pop group Twice.
Click to expand...


www.japantimes.co.jp

NHK ditches Johnny’s acts for year-end musical bonanza

For the first time in 44 years, performers represented by the beleaguered talent agency will not appear on “Kohaku Uta Gassen.”
www.japantimes.co.jp www.japantimes.co.jp
 
Credit where credit is due: last Sunday, TBS aired the findings of a special internal investigation committee that examined the relationship between the broadcaster and the disgraced talent agency now called Smile-Up Inc. The investigation revealed that TBS not only disregarded sexual abuse allegations against Kitagawa but also tried to protect a member of his talent agency from media exposure. The committee, set up by parent company TBS Holdings Inc. and led by lawyers who used to be prosecutors, interviewed 125 people, including current and past employees of TBS.

The president of TBS Holdings, Sasaki Takashi, said on the program that the company will "reflect seriously" on its failure to report Kitagawa's sexual abuse until this year. Sasaki explained that as Johnny & Associates grew larger and more influential, people in the TBS news and production bureaus increasingly exercised restraint out of concern for the agency's feelings.

 

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