The Dark Legacy of Johnny Kitagawa: A Look Back on His Impact and Controversies

Johnny Kitagawa (喜多川擴), the founder of Japan's largest talent agency, Johnny & Associates, passed away on July 9, 2019, at the age of 88. Following his death, shocking allegations emerged regarding his long-standing sexual exploitation of underage trainees at his agency. A BBC documentary aired in March 2023, revealing that Kitagawa had been abusing minors, with reports suggesting that the number of victims could be as high as 1,000.

Rumors about Kitagawa's misconduct had circulated since 1965, but they did not gain significant traction in Japanese society until after his death, largely due to his immense influence in the entertainment industry and his reclusive nature, which limited public scrutiny.

On September 7, 2023, Johnny & Associates held its first official press conference regarding the allegations, where former president Julie Fujishima publicly acknowledged the abuse and offered sincere apologies to all victims. Subsequently, on October 2, the company announced it would be changing its name from Johnny & Associates to 'Smile Up,' and in December, a new entity named 'Starto Entertainment' was established to handle its existing management operations.

Initially, the Korean media showed little interest in Kitagawa's death, as he was not a well-known figure in South Korea. However, following the surfacing of the abuse allegations, special reports began to emerge, including a significant piece by Chosun Ilbo on September 12, 2023, titled 'The Reality of Japan's 'Republic of Concealment' Exposed by the Johnny's Incident.'

Born in Los Angeles in 1931, Kitagawa lived in Japan from ages 2 to 16 before returning to the U.S. to complete his education. He even taught English to war orphans in Korea during the Korean War. Inspired by the musical film 'West Side Story,' he founded Johnny & Associates in 1962, which grew to become Japan's largest talent agency.

Johnny's boy bands gained immense popularity in Japan, with groups like the trio 'Shonen-tai' debuting in 1985 and the seven-member 'Hikaru Genji' in 1987, solidifying the agency's status. Shonen-tai was reportedly a model for the South Korean dance group Sobangcha.

In 1988, the group SMAP was formed and became a national idol, with members like Takuya Kimura and Masahiro Nakai enjoying long careers in entertainment. During the early 2000s, when the Korean Wave began, they featured artists like BoA and actors such as Jang Dong-gun and Lee Young-ae on their shows, contributing to the Hallyu boom. Kimura was even affectionately known as 'Kim Tak-goo' in Korea, while Tsuyoshi Kusanagi debuted in Korea under the name 'Cho Nan-gang.' Following SMAP, the five-member group Arashi also became a beloved national idol in Japan.

The revelations of Kitagawa's abuse have severely impacted the image of Johnny's artists. No Johnny's affiliated singers attended the prestigious year-end Kohaku Uta Gassen in 2023, and many have been dropped from advertising campaigns. While this reflects the public's response to the scandal, it is unfortunate that the artists, who are also victims in this situation, are suffering further consequences.