Photo/Illutration Noriyuki Higashiyama speaks on the TV program “Sunday LIVE!!” on May 21. (Haruto Hiraoka)

Actor and singer Noriyuki Higashiyama apologized for the sexual abuse scandal embroiling his talent agency and suggested that entertainers and management discuss whether to drop “Johnny” from the company’s name.

Johnny Kitagawa, the founder of Johnny & Associates Inc. who died in 2019 at 87, has been accused of sexually abusing boy idols who were under contract to the company.

“I sincerely apologize to everyone who has suffered from emotional distress,” Higashiyama said May 21 on TV Asahi’s morning news show “Sunday LIVE!!” “From now on, united with everyone now (at the agency), I will do my best so that fans can support us without worry.”

Higashiyama, the 56-year-old presenter of the show, said that as the oldest member of the agency, he thought he should speak about the scandal first, and he asked younger members to wait to comment on the issue.

On the show, he said the victims’ accounts of what Kitagawa did are “truly heartbreaking and regrettable.”

“We have to sincerely face their brave statements,” he said.

Higashiyama added, “The emotional distress (that the sexual abuse) caused to the minors and its impact on their lives are immeasurable.”

He continued: “I believe we have to address this issue transparently together with people outside the agency.

“The discussions should cover what current members (of the agency) should do, what we should do for those who made the accusations, and whether we should continue using the name ‘Johnny.’”

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