Photo/Illutration Asumi Takada, using a pseudonym, left, the founder of Penlight (Group to reveal sexual assault at Johnny’s & Associates Inc.), speaks at a news conference in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward on May 11. (Amane Shimazaki)

Fans of idols signed to Johnny & Associates Inc. submitted a petition to the renowned talent agency calling for an investigation into allegations the late music mogul Johnny Kitagawa sexually assaulted numerous aspiring male pop stars.

“We sincerely urge the agency to listen to the voices of the victims and provide an explanation as to why this issue has been overlooked,” the founder of the petition group said at a May 11 news conference after the plea was delivered.

With 16,125 signatures, the petition calls on the agency to establish a third-party committee to investigate the truth, acknowledge the facts and apologize to and provide support for those who reported they were sexually assaulted.

The agency pledged to make its position on the issue clear this weekend after receiving the petition.

The group consisting of four fans called Penlight (Group to reveal sexual assault at Johnny’s & Associates) had been calling for online signature since April 19.

The group was formed after former teen idol Kauan Okamoto, 26, told a news conference held April 12 at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan in Tokyo that he was sexually assaulted 15 to 20 times at Kitagawa’s home and at hotels between 2012, when he joined the agency at the age of 15, and 2016, when he left the agency.

He also said he saw Kitagawa sexually assault other boys. 

Kitagawa was one of the most revered figures in Japan’s entertainment industry. His agency produced dozens of boy bands and male idol groups, including SMAP, Shonentai and Arashi. Kitagawa died in 2019.

Okamoto is not the only person who has accused Kitagawa of sexual misconduct.

The founder of Penlight, using the pseudonym Asumi Takada, is a diehard fan of the agency. Despite that, she found it strange that some victims are now speaking out while other idols continue to appear on television and give live gigs.

She was torn by the idea that she would be tolerating sexual violence by remaining a fan of teen idols. In the end, Takada resolved to continue to support idols without turning a blind eye to the issue and decided to establish Penlight.

(This article was written by Amane Shimazaki and Maki Okubo, senior staff writer.)

Related News