(Photo : Photo credit should read BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP via Getty Images)
This photo illustration taken in Tokyo on July 10, 2019 shows front pages of Japanese daily newspapers publishing pictures of Japan's leading boyband star-maker Johnny Kitagawa, who died on July 9, 2019. - Japan's leading boyband star-maker Johnny Kitagawa, who built an entertainment empire and broke records with his acts, has died of a stroke, his company said.
Allegations of decades-long sexual abuse within the most prominent boyband talent agency in Japan have prompted a wave of calls for accountability.
Julie Fujishima, the current president of Johnny and Associates and the niece of the agency's late founder, Johnny Kitagawa, is embroiled in the controversy, according to USA Today.
Sexual Abuse Allegations Shake Prominent Japanese Boyband Agency
In light of Fujishima's failure to address and look into the claims that have dogged the industry for years, the commission set up by the agency to look into the allegations has demanded her resignation. The investigation of the allegations included interviews with 41 alleged victims and company officials.
The accounts presented in the report painted a bleak portrait of abuse and exploitation, shedding light on the experiences of those pursuing fame within the agency's ranks. The panel, composed of a lawyer, psychiatrist, and clinical psychologist, conveyed a powerful message of responsibility.
The knowledge of the allegations and the alleged inaction of Julie Fujishima have come under intense scrutiny. The report emphasizes her long-standing cognizance of the claims and her failure to conduct an exhaustive investigation.
This revelation prompted the commission to recommend her resignation, indicating that her position within the agency had fostered a culture of disregard.
Reports indicate that the maltreatment endured by recruits, colloquially referred to as "Johnny's Jrs," dates back decades. Johnny and Associates, founded by Kitagawa in the early 1960s, dominated the Japanese entertainment industry and shaped the landscape of Japanese popular culture for decades.
Yet, allegations of sexual abuse of young boys pursuing fame and fortune have cast a long shadow over the agency's reputation. The death of Kitagawa in 2019 did not end the allegations; instead, the controversy gained momentum after a BBC documentary brought the matter to a broader international audience earlier this year.
The alleged victims' testimonies shed light on the traumatic effects of the abuse, describing the long-lasting psychological wounds and feelings of being violated. The report cites harrowing accounts of recruits being forced to perform sexual acts, describing manipulation and exploitation.
The severity of the situation is highlighted by victims' accounts of their initial encounters and the severe emotional toll they endured. Based on extensive interviews, the panel's findings constitute a damning indictment of the agency's past practices.
Fujishima's public contrition in May was a significant admission of the problem. However, her willingness to address the issue was greeted with skepticism because the agency had been aware of the allegations for a considerable time.
Her video statement highlighted the agency's acknowledgment that "there was a problem." The panel nevertheless pushed for her resignation due to her inability to take more comprehensive action, as per Straits Times.
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Entertainment Industry Grapples with Accountability and Reform Amid Abuse Revelations
The ongoing revelations regarding Johnny and Associates' history of sexual abuse reflect the entertainment industry's greater difficulties in addressing its past misconduct. The demand for accountability extends beyond individual resignations and emphasizes the need for structural reform to prevent such misconduct from occurring in the future.
The panel's insistence that Fujishima resigns to "overhaul" the agency conveys a clear message that inaction in the face of allegations of abuse will no longer be tolerated. The hope is that these measures will result in a new beginning for the agency, free from the legacy of abuse that has haunted it.
The repercussions of this investigation extend far beyond the entertainment industry, raising concerns about the responsibility of institutions to address and rectify instances of abuse, regardless of their prominence or legacy, The Guardian reported.
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