|
Post by Admin on Mar 17, 2023 20:03:34 GMT
Johnny Kitagawa’s legendary male-only talent agency trained young boys to become superstars. But for over 50 years, Japan has kept Kitagawa’s dark secret – a long history of allegations of sexual abuse, made by boys in his agency. Even after the music mogul’s death in 2019, the Japanese media remained largely silent. Why? Journalist Mobeen Azhar explores the suffocating reality of being a J-pop idol and the influence that Kitagawa had on the media, and exposes the brutal consequences of turning a blind eye. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001jw7y
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Mar 17, 2023 21:20:02 GMT
Johnny Kitagawa was the architect of Japanese pop-idol culture, holding a world record for the most number-one artists, the most number-one singles, and the most concerts produced by an individual.
But allegations of sexual exploitation from boys and men who worked with him at his male-only talent agency dogged Kitagawa's career.
However, the claims didn't stop Kitagawa holding national treasure status until he died in 2019. Even in death, he is still revered - but why?
|
|
|
Post by Admin on May 14, 2023 18:53:49 GMT
The president of Johnny & Associates Inc., one of Japan's most powerful talent agencies, on Sunday issued a video and written apology to those who have alleged sexual abuse by its late founder Johnny Kitagawa, in a rare move for the office.
The apology by Julie Keiko Fujishima, a niece of the scandal-tainted former president of the company, came a month after Kauan Okamoto, a Japanese-Brazilian singer and songwriter, claimed Kitagawa sexually abused him on multiple occasions as a young teen.
The president of Johnny & Associates Inc., one of Japan's most powerful talent agencies, on Sunday issued a video and written apology to those who have alleged sexual abuse by its late founder Johnny Kitagawa, in a rare move for the office.
The apology by Julie Keiko Fujishima, a niece of the scandal-tainted former president of the company, came a month after Kauan Okamoto, a Japanese-Brazilian singer and songwriter, claimed Kitagawa sexually abused him on multiple occasions as a young teen.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on May 15, 2023 17:29:18 GMT
The CEO of Japan's most powerful pop talent agency, Johnny and Associates, has apologised to alleged victims of sexual abuse committed by its late founder, Johnny Kitagawa. A BBC documentary spoke to several victims and prompted a J-pop star to come forward with his story of abuse. Thousands of fans of Japanese boy bands have since signed a petition calling for a full investigation. Japanese media have long been accused of a cover-up. Kitagawa was arguably the most influential figure in Japan's entertainment industry - his agency has held a near-monopoly on Japanese boy bands for decades. Disturbing reports of Kitagawa sexually abusing teenage boys in his agency were first published 20 years ago. A libel case subsequently found the claims Kitagawa sexually abused minors in his agency were true. Despite this, the pop mogul never faced charges and continued recruiting and training teenage boys until his death four years ago, at the age of 87. His death was a national event, and even the prime minister at the time sent condolences. A BBC documentary in March, Predator: The Secret Scandal of J-Pop, detailed allegations from several teenage victims who worked for the all-male agency. They detailed a pattern of exploitation, with the abuse taking place at Kitagawa's luxury homes, and often witnessed by other boys. Several victims told the BBC they thought their careers would be harmed if they did not comply with Kitagawa's sexual demands. The BBC's coverage prompted another of the agency's former J-pop stars to come forward - in April, the Japanese-Brazilian singer Kauan Okamoto said he had been abused by Kitagawa for four years, from the age of 15. Okamoto said he knew of at least three others who had gone through similar ordeals, and thought as many as 100 boys had been abused. Allegations of abuse go as far back as the 1960s.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on May 17, 2023 4:19:46 GMT
Kis-My-Ft2 /「Sweet Melody」Music Video
|
|