TOKYO: Kauan Okamoto, another former J-pop star, has claimed that Johnny Kitagawa, a renowned Japanese music producer who passed away in 2019, repeatedly assaulted him sexually.
When Kauan Okamoto was 15 years old and a boy band member from 2012 to 2016, he claimed he was assaulted up to 20 times. The 26-year-old asserted that he thought up to 100 boys had experienced abuse. Throughout his life, Kitigawa refuted all accusations and was never charged. In March, a BBC documentary examined complaints made by several victims, according to the BBC.
According to the BBC’s documentary Predator: ‘The Secret Scandal of J-Pop, ‘ several victims expressed concern for their jobs if they rejected Kitagawa.’
Kitagawa was respected as one of the most significant characters in the Japanese music industry. His legacy of producing countless J-pop singers was recognized nationwide when he passed away in 2019 at 87.
However, since 1999, when a local publication called Shukan Bunshun published testimonials from six former idols, there have been allegations that Kitagawa had manipulated and sexually assaulted juvenile artists. However, most Japanese media chose not to report on the charges, which led to years of claims of a cover-up by the business.
Okamoto claimed during a press conference for international media on Wednesday that the BBC documentary’s recent publication had made him feel compelled to speak up. He first made his accusations to Shukan Bunshun on April 5. On Wednesday, he was allowed to speak before the Foreign Correspondents Club in Tokyo.
Okamoto stated, “Japanese media are extremely hesitant to cover this issue; however, [I have heard] international media, like the BBC, might report on it.”
The Japanese-Brazilian musician said that between 15 and 20 times of abuse took place in Kitagawa’s Tokyo flat. In 2012, he was chosen to join the Johnny’s Jr. group, a talent pool of aspiring male idols at Kitagawa’s agency Johnny & Associates. Okamoto claimed he knew at least 100 guys who had spent the night in Kitagawa’s house and thought they had all experienced abuse.
Following Okamoto’s news appearance, Johnny & Associates said in a statement that it was trying to “strengthen our governance system.” It did not address allegations made by Okamoto or any other reference to its founder Johnny Kitagawa.
