This year, longtime observers of Japanese entertainment witnessed something that once seemed impossible: The talent agency Johnny & Associates confronted its past.
Following months of renewed focus on decades-long sexual assault allegations aimed at the company¡¯s founder Johnny Kitagawa, the powerhouse agency conducted an internal investigation and also appointed a third-party team of experts to look into the claims.
Then, in early September, Johnny & Associates held a press conference to formally acknowledge that Kitagawa did, indeed, abuse young men for years. Kitagawa¡¯s niece, Julie Keiko Fujishima, resigned from her position as company president, with former Johnny¡¯s performer Noriyuki Higashiyama assuming the role. He told the news conference the company would offer compensation to Kitagawa¡¯s victims, and a statement later released online said that the agency would not claim management fees made from ads or TV appearances featuring Johnny¡¯s talent for a year ¡ª all fees would go to its performers instead.
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