Japanese pop culture’s ‘godfather’ Johnny Kitagawa accused of child sexual exploitation – BBC

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Investigative documentary ‘Predator: J-POP’s Secret Scandal’ released on BBC iPlayer (Source: BBC)

Even after his death in 2019, allegations of sexual exploitation of minors were raised against Johnny Kitagawa, former president of Johnny’s office, who is still called the “god” and “godfather” of the Japanese pop music scene.

Johnny’s Office is Japan’s largest male idol agency celebrating its 61st anniversary this year. He has produced popular groups such as Arashi, Smap, and Kattun.

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On the 7th (local time), the BBC released an investigative documentary about the allegations that Johnny Kitagawa sexually abused multiple teenage trainees at the agency over the years.

In the documentary, one victim who was sexually exploited by Johnny Kitagawa responded that he was told, “If you don’t put up with it, you won’t be sold.” The victim said, “The only adult in the camp was Johnny, and it was not an environment where he could consult.”

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The BBC pointed out the background of Johnny Kitagawa’s sexual exploitation that has not been publicized so far △silent media △law that did not recognize boys as sexual victims until 2017 △Japanese unique culture of keeping shame.

This is not the first time Johnny Kitagawa has been accused of sexual exploitation of minors and pedophilia. Previously, in 1999, Japanese weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun raised the same suspicion and was sued by Johnny’s office for defamation.

According to reporter Ryutaro Nakamura, who was a member of Shukan Bunshun’s coverage team at the time, influential media outlets such as broadcasting companies and sports newspapers did not publish reports saying that they could not turn Johnny’s into an enemy for advertising. One major newspaper downplayed the incident as a “special case in the entertainment industry.”

Reporter Nakamura, who said, “I have been desperate for the Japanese media since 1999,” said that while the New York Times (NYT) and the Associated Press were actively reporting overseas, Japan was actually a windless zone.

The BBC analyzed that the fact that even the media did not cover the case is in contrast to cases of sexual exploitation in foreign entertainment such as Harvey Weinstein.

There was even a discussion in the House of Representatives special committee saying that it might violate the child prostitution and child pornography prohibition laws, but there was no media that dealt with it.

In 2003, the Tokyo High Court ruled that Shukanbunshun’s report was proven to be true in the main part of the article about “sexual harassment”. The defamation lawsuit filed by Johnny’s side against Shukanbunshun did not lead to a criminal trial.

Japan’s unique culture of hiding shame also made it difficult for victims to easily reveal the truth.

Nobuki Yamaguchi, who treats survivors of male sexual exploitation in Japan, said, “Japan has a culture of ‘shame’ (恥)” and “even if they have personal problems, they don’t talk about it.”

“The first step in recovery is admitting that the abuse occurred,” Yamaguchi added.

Source: Donga

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