Johnny & Associates, the talent agency founded by Johnny Kitagawa. Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP
Following years of rumors and allegations, a panel commissioned by the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates has found credible evidence that its founder, Johnny Kitagawa, sexually abused hundreds of boys dating back to the 1950s. The Associated Press reported the news on Tuesday (August 29). The J-pop mogul, who managed many hugely successful boy band through out his career, died in 2019 after suffering a stroke.
The panel’s investigation of the agency lasted three months, beginning after Junya Hiramoto and Shimon Ishimaru — former members of the boy band Johnny’s Junior — claimed they were sexually abused by Kitagawa when they were teens. They were among nearly two dozen ex-J-pop idols who came forward this year with allegations that Kitagawa abused them in his mansion, car, and overseas hotels. Kitagawa was never formally charged with any of these crimes.
The panel has called for the Johnny & Associates to apologize and compensate Kitagawa’s victims, and for the resignation of Julie Keiko Fujishima, Kitagawa’s niece, as the agency’s president. “The company’s cover-up led to the sexual abuse continuing unchecked for so long,” investigative team leader Makoto Hayashi said in a Tokyo press conference. “There were many opportunities to take action.”
Back in May, Johnny & Associates posted a minute-long video in which Fujishima briefly apologized for her uncle’s actions, along with a written note. While many critics aren’t satisfied with the apology, Kauan Okamoto, Kiwagata’s first whistleblower to go on record, met with Fujishima and responded positively to their interaction.