The Japan TimesJul 30, 2025
Compliance violations and misconduct in Japan’s entertainment industry have long been overlooked, but a recent wave of scandals involving TV personalities may present an opportunity for lasting change. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/30/japan/media/changes-in-tv-industry/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #media #japanesetv #tokio #taichikokubun #ntv #celebrities #fujitv #japanesetv #masahironakai #sexualharassment #corporategovernance #sexcrimes #johnnykitagawa
How the Japanese TV industry is changing

After a series of major scandals in recent years, Japan’s TV industry appears to be growing more sensitive to issues of harassment and misconduct.

The Japan Times
SumikaiJun 17, 2025

In seinem neuen Buch rechnet Arashi-Mitglied Kazunari Ninomiya mit der Vergangenheit seiner Agentur ab und fordert eine späte Entschuldigung vom einstigen Idol-Mogul Johnny #JohnnyKitagawa #Arashi #NinomiyaKitagawa.

https://sumikai.com/musik-news/arashi-mitglied-kazunari-ninomiya-fordert-spaete-entschuldigung-von-johnny-kitagawa-357745/

The Japan TimesSep 4, 2024
A group of victims sexually abused by late boy band agency founder Johnny Kitagawa has announced that it will disband, saying that it has fulfilled its aim of having the company acknowledge and apologize for the abuse. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/09/04/japan/crime-legal/johnnys-victims-group-disbanding/ #japan #crimelegal #johnnyassociates #johnnykitagawa #smileup #sexcrimes #childabuse #corporategovernance
Johnny’s victims group to disband one year after agency admitted abuse

The group says it will continue to help victims with unresolved cases — through consultation and other forms of support — despite the disbandment.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesMar 29, 2024
Two former employees at the now-defunct talent agency Johnny & Associates, whose founder had sexually assaulted performers for decades, also engaged in such abuse, Smile-Up said Thursday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/03/29/japan/crime-legal/sex-abuse-johnnys-others/ #japan #crimelegal #smileup #noriyukihigashiyama #sexcrimes #johnnykitagawa
Smile-Up says two ex-Johnny's staffers were also sexual predators

The statement from Smile-Up, which is responsible for compensating victims, came after the BBC published an interview with its president.

The Japan Times
DeadlineMar 28, 2024

Number Of Men Who Say They Were Abused By Once-Celebrated J-Pop Agent Johnny Kitagawa Now Nears 1,000
#Agencies #News #BBC #JPop #JohnnyAssociates #JohnnyKitagawa

https://deadline.com/2024/03/johnny-kitagawa-johnny-and-associates-abuse-1235869618/

Number Of Men Who Say They Were Abused By Once-Celebrated J-Pop Agent Johnny Kitagawa Now Nears 1,000

Johnny Kitagawa abused nearly 1,000 people, BBC Documentary Reveals

Deadline
The Japan TimesJan 17, 2024
Victims of Johnny Kitagawa want the talent agency he founded to be more transparent with its criteria for compensation after many were turned down over not being able to prove their past affiliations or engagements. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/01/17/japan/crime-legal/johnnys-smileup-compensation/?utm_content=buffera5954&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #japan #crimelegal #johnny039s #johnnykitagawa #smileup #sexcrimes
Johnny's abuse victims seek transparency on compensation criteria

Many are unable to prove past affiliations with the agency, with some alleging that the wrongdoings occurred before the signing of contracts.

The Japan Times
TomatoGrilledCheese Dec 31, 2023
Not a word tonight about decades of #JohnnyKitagawa blowing fat ropes in the mouths and rectums of young boys dreaming to become idols. It’s basically an essential part of J-POP culture. Why leave it out? #紅白2023 #紅白 #kohaku #kouhaku #kohaku2023
The Japan TimesDec 30, 2023
Tokyo police have been receiving an increasing number of requests for consultations from male victims since alleged sexual assaults by Johnny Kitagawa started making headlines. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/12/30/japan/crime-legal/men-consultations-sexual-abuse/?utm_content=buffer4d376&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #japan #crimelegal #johnnykitagawa #johnnyassociates #sexcrimes #japanesepolice
More men seek sex abuse consultations after Johnny's scandal

According to Tokyo police, consultation requests from male victims surged in September after the agency admitted its founder had abused entertainers.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesDec 15, 2023
Japan’s auteurs and anime triumphed in 2023: From Hayao Miyazaki's “The Boy and the Heron” to Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Monster,” the box-office hits kept coming. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2023/12/15/film/super-mario-bros-hayao-miyazaki-ryusuke-hamaguchi/?utm_content=buffere5776&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #culture #film #theboyandtheheron #hayaomiyazaki #oppenheimer #johnnykitagawa #ryusukehamaguchi #hirokazukoreeda #thesupermariobrosmovie #2023inreview
Japan’s auteurs and anime triumphed in 2023

From Hayao Miyazaki's “The Boy and the Heron” to Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Monster,” the box-office hits kept coming.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesDec 8, 2023
The announcement signals a new chapter in the talent agency’s history as it scrubs references to its disgraced founder from its current structure. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2023/12/08/entertainment-news/johnny-associates-starto-entertainment-change/?utm_content=buffer05078&utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon&utm_campaign=bffmstdn #culture #entertainmentnews #startoentertainment #johnnyassociates #jpop #childabuse #idols #johnnykitagawa #sexcrimes
Johnny’s changes name to Starto Entertainment

The announcement signals a new chapter in the talent agency’s history as it scrubs references to its disgraced founder from its current structure.

The Japan Times