BBC To Release Documentary About Idol Industry Mogul "Johnny Kitagawa" And His Alleged Abuse Cases

[stan BISH]

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2023-02-28/bbc-plans-documentary-episode-about-idol-industry-mogul-johnny-kitagawa-alleged-abuse/.195389

BBC Plans Documentary Episode About Idol Industry Mogul Johnny Kitagawa's Alleged Abuse

The BBC is listing the summary and air date of a documentary about Talent Agency Johnny & Associates founder Johnny Kitagawa on its BBC Two channel. The program will debut on March 7 at 9:00 p.m. GMT (4:00 p.m. EST).

The broadcaster describes the program as follows:

Johnny Kitagawa's legendary male-only talent agency trained young boys to become superstars. But for over 50 years, Japan has kept Kitagawa's dark secret – a long history of allegations of sexual abuse, made by boys in his agency. Even after the music mogul's death in 2019 the Japanese media remained largely silent. Why? Journalist Mobeen Azhar explores the suffocating reality of being a J-pop idol, the influence that Kitagawa had on the media and exposes the brutal consequences of turning a blind eye.

Kitagawa passed away in July 2019 due to a subarachnoid hemorrhage (form of stroke). He was 87.

Kitagawa was born in Los Angeles, and his family returned to Japan when he was very young. He later returned to America and spent some of his youth there. He taught English to orphans in the Korean War for the United States Army. Kitagawa returned to Japan again and founded Johnny & Associates in 1962 after establishing the male idol group Johnnys.

Johnny & Associates went on to establish and manage many male idol groups such as SMAP, Arashi, Tokio, KinKi Kids, V6, KAT-TUN, and Hey! Say! JUMP. The members of idol groups under the management of Johnny & Associates are collectively known as "Johnny's."

In addition, Kitagawa was a music producer and stage production director. He continued to produce musicals into his 80s. He held Guinness World Records for having the most No. 1 artists, the most No. 1 singles, and the most concerts produced by an individual.

 

 

 

the fact that we have to wait for a British network to bring attention in mainstream media about the abuses and allegations surrounding Johnny Kitagawa should tell you about the power this man still commands even on dead

someone with better knowledge of it can probably explain this better than me but this guy actually had a monopoly of the Japanese male idol scene, to put it in Kpop terms let's say that all the top tier boy groups were owned by a single company, imagine the power said company and it's president would have? imagine if said person was willing to abuse that power?

thankfully Johnny Kitagawa's influence is diminishing and most of his associates are also old as shit so they are next in line

[Your Biggest Fan]

OMG!!!!!

I wonder if this is why so many artists have jumped ship recently.

They should've done this when he was alive, but better late than never I guess.

[stan BISH]

1 hour ago, Your Biggest Fan said:

OMG!!!!!

I wonder if this is why so many artists have jumped ship recently.

They should've done this when he was alive, but better late than never I guess.

i don't really follow boy groups so i haven't heard news about it but if many of their idols are quitting they may have gotten a heads up of what's coming, if the BBC does a good job with their report then i would understand why they don't want to be associated with them

and i feel that there is no way this would air if he was still alive

[Your Biggest Fan]

13 minutes ago, stan BISH said:

i don't really follow boy groups so i haven't heard news about it but if many of their idols are quitting they may have gotten a heads up of what's coming, if the BBC does a good job with their report then i would understand why they don't want to be associated with them

and i feel that there is no way this would air if he was still alive

3 members of King & Prince, Takizawa Hideaki and V6's Ken Miyake left. Sho Hirano and all members of Impactors are rumored to be leaving. All this has happened within a span of 4 months

[Moon Jellyfish]

2 hours ago, Your Biggest Fan said:

OMG!!!!!

I wonder if this is why so many artists have jumped ship recently.

They should've done this when he was alive, but better late than never I guess.

Tbh, this could make sense. There has been a lot going on in that company these last few months. I wouldnt be surprised if it was somehow connected to this.

 

I kinda wanna watch it, but also a bit afraid to see and hear how bad it was (besides what's already been said)