Former Jpop trainee revealed he was sexually exploited by famous producer even with his parents in the next room

Johnny Kitagawa, the late founder of Japan’s popular idol company Johnny & Associates, has been embroiled in sexual exploitation allegations.

On March 7th (local time), the UK’s BBC News broadcasted a documentary titled “Predator: The Secret Scandal of J-Pop”. This documentary dealt with the sexual exploitation allegations surrounding Johnny Kitagawa, who founded Japan’s largest idol management company Johnny & Associates and produced famous Japanese groups, such as Arashi and SMAP.

The documentary claimed that “Johnny Kitagawa had been directly involved in idol casting and training for over 60 years” and “since most of those teenage boys went through his hands, he would have been able to sexually exploit them.”

Former idol trainee A, who claims to have been sexually exploited by Johnny Kitagawa, revealed, “He came to our house. Even with my parents sleeping in the next room, he made me suffer from sexual exploitation.”

Another former idol trainee B confessed, “Johnny Kitagawa approached me and said, ‘Go take a bath’. He washed my whole body as if I were his doll”, and said that he was then sexually exploited by him.

This is not the first time Johnny Kitagawa has been embroiled in sexual exploitation allegations. 

In October last year, Seven Samurai member Maeda Koki revealed, “Some members of Johnny’s Jr. were able to debut by having sexual relationships with him,” adding, “I cannot say for sure whether these things are considered sexual harassment or not, but it is certain that Johnny Kitagawa had sexual intercourses with some members of Johnny’s Jr.”

Johnny Kitagawa died in 2019 at the age of 87.

Source: Wikitree