Reporters found to be in possession of a list of people who will not be asked questions at press conferences
Johnny’s, blame the PR company… PR company apologizes “We received many media inquiries”
Intensive reporting by Japanese media and questions to the government… Secretariat: “The government has no list”
Johnny’s, a large Japanese entertainment company that announced that it would take steps to close its business in the future due to the sexual exploitation of its founder and former president, the late Johnny Kitagawa (died in 2019), has this time reported to the media. The ‘NG List’ scandal was embroiled in controversy. It was discovered that he had a blacklist of media companies that should not be named during press conferences.
According to reports from local public broadcasters NHK and Yomiuri Shimbun on the 5th, it was revealed in some media reports on the 4th that Johnny’s had an ‘NG list’ to not nominate specific reporters and free journalists at the time of the press conference held on the 2nd. . It is said to contain information such as the reporter’s name and photo.
Johnny’s held a press conference on the 2nd and announced that it would change its name to ‘SMILE-UP.’ It will take effect from the 17th.
After changing its name, Johnny’s announced that it would close down the business in the future once compensation is paid to victims of Johnny Kitagawa’s sexual exploitation. Afterwards, they said they would establish a new company to conduct talent management, etc. The mission explained that it would be contested through fan clubs, etc.
At the press conference on this day, President Noriyuki Higashiyama (東山紀之, 57), Johnny’s Island CEO Yoshihiko Inohara (井ノ原快彦, 47), who is in charge of training Johnny’s Jr., a type of Johnny’s trainee, and two lawyers from the company, etc. This was attended. About 300 media reporters and others were present. The host was former NHK announcer Kazuya Matsumoto.
Johnny’s requested that only one question be asked per media outlet at the press conference. The conference was held in the form of nominating reporters who raised their hands, but reporters who were not nominated protested, causing an uproar. Yomiuri reported the situation, saying, “There was also a scene where an unnamed reporter raised an objection and a dispute broke out.”
However, it was reported that Johnny’s brought a list of NGs from media outlets to the press conference at the time.
Accordingly, Johnny’s admitted to Jiji News Agency that an official from ‘FTI Consulting’, a foreign PR company in charge of running the press conference, showed him the NG list on the 30th of last month. However, Johnny’s explained, “We did not make any rude requests, such as asking anyone not to point out a specific person.” He also demanded an apology from FTI Consulting.
FTI Consulting issued a statement on the 5th and said, “This was written by our company and shared among operating staff in order to prepare for the smooth operation of the conference within the limited (press conference) space usage hours. “Johnny’s was not involved in any way whatsoever, including writing and sharing with operating staff,” he said.
FTI Consulting explained that regardless of the NG list, “questions were asked from reporters from a wide range of media” based on the judgment of the moderator at the time. “I apologize from the bottom of my heart for causing so much inconvenience and concern to the reporters who attended the conference, the viewers who watched the conference, Johnny’s, the host, and everyone else involved,” he apologized.
Despite Johnny’s FTI Consulting’s explanation, the scandal is not easily subsiding. Local media outlets are reacting sensitively and publishing related articles.
In particular, sparks flew to the Japanese government.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, a spokesperson for the Japanese government, was asked at a regular press conference on the morning of the 5th whether there was an NG list at the press conference of the Chief Cabinet Secretary and Prime Minister regarding the Johnny’s NG List incident.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno said, “There is no list that prevents specific reporters from being named in press conferences between me and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. “We are responding politely,” he said.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno said, “There are times when it is difficult to name all (press conference) attendees due to time constraints. “We will try to answer as many questions as possible,” he said.
Meanwhile, on the 5th, Johnny’s began the process of removing the ‘Johnny’ sign hanging on the headquarters building. Yomiuri reported that around the headquarters, dozens of celebrities, including fans, stopped and filmed the event with their smartphones.
Johnny’s is an entertainment company founded by Johnny Kitagawa in 1962. It has about 190 employees and has 13 affiliates, including a record company. It is a huge entertainment company that nurtured popular male idol groups such as Japan’s national groups SMAP, Hikarugenji, Boys’ College, V6, Kinki Kids, and Arashi.
The scandal surrounding the sexual exploitation of Johnny Kitazawa (age 87 at the time of his death), who died in July 2019, began with the British BBC documentary ‘Predator: The Secret Scandal of J-Pop’ in March. done.
Afterwards, on April 12 of this year, Okamoto, who was a member of Johnny’s Junior, held a press conference at the Tokyo Foreign Correspondents’ Association and revealed that he had been sexually exploited by Johnny Kitazawa, and revelations from victims followed. The UN Human Rights Council’s ‘Business and Human Rights’ Working Group visited Japan on July 24 to examine the situation.
The Human Rights Council announced the results of its investigation on the 4th of last month, saying, “Suspicions that should be deeply concerning that hundreds of talent at the (Johnny’s) office are subject to sexual exploitation and abuse have been revealed.” A related report is scheduled to be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in June next year.
Accordingly, Johnny’s finally acknowledged the problem of Johnny Kitagawa’s sexual exploitation for the first time at a press conference on the 7th.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.