Accusers in Japanese boy band producer Johnny Kitagawa's sex scandal, attend a news conference in Tokyo Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. A group of men who say they were sexually abused by the Japanese boy band producer expressed hope Monday that the company will agree to provide financial compensation and introduce measures to prevent a recurrence. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Junya Hiramoto, head of Johnny's Sexual Assault Victims Association speaks during an interview with The Associated Press Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, in Tokyo. A group of men who say they were sexually abused by a Japanese boy band producer expressed hope Monday that the company will agree to provide financial compensation and introduce measures to prevent a recurrence. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Accusers in Japanese boy band producer Johnny Kitagawa's sex scandal, attend a news conference in Tokyo Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. A group of men who say they were sexually abused by the Japanese boy band producer expressed hope Monday that the company will agree to provide financial compensation and introduce measures to prevent a recurrence. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Junya Hiramoto, head of Johnny's Sexual Assault Victims Association speaks during an interview with The Associated Press Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, in Tokyo. A group of men who say they were sexually abused by a Japanese boy band producer expressed hope Monday that the company will agree to provide financial compensation and introduce measures to prevent a recurrence. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
TOKYO (AP) — A group of men who say they were sexually abused by a Japanese boy band producer have expressed hope the company will provide financial compensation and introduce measures to prevent a recurrence.
They say producer Johnny Kitagawa sexually preyed on young dancers and singers for decades, having them stay at his luxury home, handing them cash and leveraging promises of potential fame. The company, Johnny & Associates, is a powerful force in Japan's entertainment industry.
The men said at a news conference Monday that they
about the accusations but has not appeared before reporters. The company has set a news conference for Thursday.
“We want Julie to apologize, as the chief executive and company owner,†said Shimon Ishimaru, one of nine men who have formed a group demanding an apology and compensation from the company. “For a company behind this big a crime to do nothing is unimaginable.â€
Johnny’s, as the company is known, is family-run and not publicly listed. Kitagawa, Fujishima’s uncle, died in 2019 and was never charged.
recently spoke to 23 accusers, but has said the total will likely balloon to at least several hundred people. The team also recommended Fujishima resign.
Junya Hiramoto, another member of Ishimaru’s group, said they hope to set an example for others who have suffered.
“Our wounds never fade,†Hiramoto said. “Do you think we aren’t still hurting? Do you think we can forget? Do you know what it’s like for us to come forward like this, filled with shame?â€
Over the years, persistent allegations against Kitagawa have generally been dismissed as malicious rumors. Mainstream media stayed silent.
to make sure that Johnny's provides an apology and compensation and that government oversight of businesses be improved.
It was only after a BBC documentary about Kitagawa aired this year that the scandal again became a topic of scrutiny.
, saying he trusted foreign media more than Japanese media. Okamoto, like many others who have come forward, was part of a backup boys’ group called Johnny’s Jr.
The Associated Press does not usually identify people who say they were sexually assaulted, but Kitagawa’s recent accusers decided to be named publicly in news accounts.
___
Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter
The ºÃÉ«tv Press. All rights reserved.
Canada is entering a new era of nation-building. From clean-energy corridors and c…
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
