J-Pop: the sexual abuse scandal that brought down the head of a talent agency in Japan

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Johnny Kitagawa was a powerful figure in Japanese pop who used his immense influence to sexually abuse aspiring idols in the country; Now the company recognizes his crimes. Johnny Kitagawa (center) was a J-pop titan who used his immense power to sexually abuse aspiring idols in the country GETTY IMAGES The head of Japan’s biggest pop music talent agency has resigned after finally acknowledging sexual abuse committed by its late founder, Johnny Kitagawa. Julie Fujishima resigned from Johnny and Associates on Thursday (7/6), amid a public apology to her uncle’s victims. The departure comes a week after an investigation found that Kitagawa abused hundreds of boys and young men over six decades as head of the agency that manages boy bands. A BBC documentary about the abuse prompted more victims to come forward. Johnny Kitagawa died in 2019, always denying any wrongdoing. He never faced legal charges. On Thursday, his niece and then-chief executive Fujishima acknowledged the abuse for the first time. “Both the agency and I as an individual acknowledge that sexual abuse by Johnny Kitagawa occurred,” she said. “I apologize to his victims from the bottom of my heart.” Local media showed some of the victims watching the press conference, some appearing visibly angry. The scandal has parallels, in scale and impact on the industry, to that of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, who was convicted of rape and sexual assault. Kitagawa was arguably the most influential and powerful figure in the Japanese entertainment industry. His agency has been the gateway to stardom for many young people over the years. Several victims told the BBC documentary Predator: The Secret Scandal of J-Pop that they felt their careers would be harmed if they did not comply with Kitagawa’s sexual demands. No action taken Julie Fujishima (right) resigned, appointing Noriyuki Higashiyama (left) as the new head of talent agency REUTERS Rumors and some reports about the abuses had been circulating for years, but no concrete action had been taken. The pop mogul never faced criminal charges and continued recruiting and training teenagers until his death four years ago at age 87. His death was a national event and even the Japanese Prime Minister at the time sent condolences. Although some of the allegations were proven in civil court when he was alive, Kitagawa successfully sued accusers for defamation on at least one occasion. Most mainstream Japanese media also failed to report the allegations for decades, prompting accusations of an industry cover-up. In March, the BBC investigation detailing Kitagawa’s abuse was aired, sparking discussion across Japan and launching a full investigation. Thousands of J-pop fans also signed a petition pushing for an investigation into the agency. The documentary detailed allegations from victims who worked for the all-male agency when they were teenagers. The statements show a pattern of exploitation, with abuse occurring in luxurious homes in Kitagawa and often witnessed by other boys. BBC coverage prompted more victims to come forward, including former Japanese-Brazilian star Kauan Okamoto, who said he was abused by Kitagawa for four years, starting at the age of 15. Public pressure led the agency to launch its own independent investigation. The panel, made up of Japan’s former attorney general Makoto Hayashi, a psychiatrist and a clinical psychologist, interviewed 41 people, including 23 victims, as well as former boss Fujishima. In the final report released last week, they found that Kitagawa began sexually abusing young men in the 1950s, through the 1960s, when Johnny and Associates was created, until the 2010s. allowed the abuse to persist for decades. Investigators said Fujishima — a longtime executive at the company — did not act on the allegations despite knowing they existed. Fujishima was initially against an independent investigation. In May, she apologized to the victims but stopped short of saying the individual allegations were true and claimed to have no knowledge of her uncle’s actions at the time. On Thursday, she named as her successor Noriyuki Higashiyama, a household name in television in Japan. The 56-year-old was also one of the first talents recruited by Johnny and Associates. Higashiyama said he was never a victim of Kitagawa’s abuse, but was aware of the rumors. “I couldn’t and didn’t do anything about it,” he said at a news conference. He also acknowledged public calls for the agency’s name to be changed — but said no immediate action would be taken. The company talked about structural changes during the press conference, but it’s unclear what those changes would look like and how the agency’s talent would be managed and protected. There are also questions about the future of Johnny and Associates as a brand synonymous with fame and glamour, and which has now been exposed in a negative light.

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