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The unprecedented huge sexual abuse scandal at one of Japan’s top talent agencies, in which hundreds of young male entertainers are estimated to have fallen victim, has reached a turning point.

A special panel commissioned by Johnny & Associates Inc. to investigate the allegations confirmed that many male minors were sexually abused by Johnny Kitagawa, the late founder of the agency.

In its report released on Aug. 29, the panel called for the resignation of Julie Keiko Fujishima, Kitagawa’s niece, who is the current president of the agency.

In recent months, an increasing number of people have come forward to explain, in concrete and lurid detail, how they were victimized by Kitagawa and how their anguish has continued.

Although the entire picture of the scandal has not been revealed, the recognition of Kitagawa’s sexual abuse by an independent fact-finding panel is a welcome step forward for the victims.

The team deserves special praise for holding the agency liable for paying financial compensation to the victims and proposing a specific framework to provide support to them.

The report clearly calls for relief to all victims, even in cases where the statute of limitations has expired.

The agency must accept the recommendations of the panel, acknowledge its responsibility for the sexual violence committed by its founder, and promptly provide relief to the victims.

Kitagawa sexually abused boys who were hoping to become successful idols with the help of his agency. He took advantage of their weak positions in acts that were so sinful that they could easily wipe out all of his accomplishments in show business over the years.

He could continue perpetrating such abuse for as long as about 40 years because of many problems other than his own personality flaws.

The report points out some key factors behind this scandal. It puts part of the blame on Mary Kitagawa, Johnny’s late older sister, who is described as having been just as influential as Johnny.

But she overlooked and even covered up her brother’s terrible acts.

The report also states that the governance of the agency was in tatters due to family management.

Kitagawa and the agency filed a libel lawsuit against the publisher of Shukan Bunshun. In its ruling over the matter in 2004, the Supreme Court said key parts of the weekly magazine’s articles concerning Kitagawa’s sexual abuse could be deemed true.

The BBC last year questioned the agency over its response to the scandal. But its management did not start an investigation.

In addition to President Fujishima, Suguru Shirahase, the agency’s vice president who has long been a senior executive and has the right to represent the company, should be held severely responsible for the scandal.

Johnny & Associates has decided to finally hold a news conference over the issue. The decision comes too late, but Fujishima and Shirahase should fulfill their accountability and step down.

The panel’s report also cites the news media’s failure to investigate and disclose what was happening at the agency. It points out that their silence and reluctance to criticize Johnny & Associates motivated the agency to strengthen its culture of secrecy, allowing more boys to fall victim to Kitagawa’s sexual abuse.

The media, including The Asahi Shimbun, could have put pressure on the agency by reporting on the abuse. But they failed to do so, thereby causing social indifference to the crimes.

We must do some serious soul searching over our mistake of not recognizing sexual violence as a serious violation of human rights.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 31