Johnny Kitagawa: J-pop agency boss resigns over predator’s abuse

11 comments

1. Kinda weird the title is that, but Julie Fujishima (his niece) resigns and Shonentai’s Noriyuki Higashiyama will be taking over as CEO. Oddly, Julie dodged questions about if she’ll be divesting her stocks in the company, as she holds 100% of it.

2. She’s probably getting a massive retirement payout.

3. More on this subject from other reputable sources:

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   – Nikkei Asia (B): [Japan talent agency president quits over sex abuse scandal](https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Society/Japan-talent-agency-president-quits-over-sex-abuse-scandal)
   – Bloomberg (B+): [Head of J-Pop Agency Johnny and Associates Resigns Over Sex Abuse Scandal](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-07/head-of-j-pop-agency-johnny-s-resigns-over-sex-abuse-scandal)
   – Japan Times (A-): [Ex-J-pop idol made president at Johnny’s amid sexual abuse scandal](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/09/07/japan/society/johnnys-new-president/)
   – Reuters (A+): [Japan’s Johnny Kitagawa sex abuse scandal forces shake-up at J-pop agency](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japans-johnny-kitagawa-sex-abuse-scandal-forces-shake-up-j-pop-agency-2023-09-07/)

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4. Resigns as shach. Remains in management.

5. Close the business.

6. I saw he’s been cancelled from the Guinness Book of Records for having produced the most concerts, but perhaps he can get back in in the”Entertainer Who Buggered the most Boys” category, although he might have stiff competition from Jimmy Saville.

   Also Kimtaku just quit Johnny’s and they’re predicting an avalanche to follow him.

   Finally, has any major Johnny’s talent come out and admitted knowing of the abuse, or otherwise jumped on Johnny’s grave?

7. Clarification: I know she’s the niece of the pedo, but aside from sharing blood, is there any evidence she actually did anything wrong? I don’t see why merely being related to a bad person means you lose your job…

   (obviously if she had any complicity in this, she should not only be fired but also be in jail, but if she’s his niece, she probably was a kid when this stuff happened?)

8. Wow!!!! Predator abuse is a huge case and will not be taken lightly.

9. Shit people, shit music. The sooner this company dies and releases the stranglehold it has on the Japanese music industry the better. Shame it’s not the only one.

   It’s scary how easily they suppress the music and artists that don’t belong to them.

10. “There was talk at the press conference of structural change and many observers believe the organisation is likely to make amends – but it’s unclear what that change would look like and how the agency’s talents would be managed and protected.”

    Nothing will change. Ok. They might get better at hiding abuse. So they might change..

11. I have a hard guess that this was the reason why the agency were so overprotective and restricting promotion on their boybands outside of Japan. The fear of being exposed by a overseas media like the BBC has to be staggering.

    I also hope this is true reason SMAP wanted to disband (and disassociate from Johnny’s) back in 2016, but pressure around them delayed that decision.

    A bittersweet aftermath is that jpop fans may be benefiting over this scandal now that is very probable that the agency will release tons of music discography legally overseas, in a desperate PR effort to save whatever reputation they have.