Johnny’s Jr. Stable also changed his name to “Jr.”
© Smile Up
Idol group Johnny’s West announced on Wednesday that they have changed their name to “WEST.” (with period), removing “Johnny’s” from their name following the sexual abuse scandal surrounding their agency. the group’s Smile Up (formerly Johnny & Associates) talent.
The company manages a stable of young trainee idol groups called Johnny’s Jr. is now similarly known simply as “Jr.” Oricon previously reported that the group KANJANI 8 also plans to change its name, but the name is currently still listed as “KANJANI EIGHT” on the website by Smile Up.
As Johnny’s West, the seven-person idol group has performed theme songs for anime such as Ace Attorney, Monster Hunter Stories RIDE ON, the 2018 anime Captain Tsubasa, and Captain Tsubasa: Junior Youth Arc.
Smile Up President Noriyuki Higashiyama previously made a statement last month when the company publicly admitted for the first time that Johnny & Associates’ late founder Johnny Kitagawa sexually abused a large number of stars. ambitious pop music. teenagers from the 1970s to 2010 that the company would not change its name. However, the company announced the new name Smile Up on October 2, effective Tuesday, as part of the company’s “vision” to regain the trust of fans.
Smile Up will be responsible for handling compensation measures for sexual abuse victims in Kitagawa and will begin that process in November. The company will close after compensation measures are completed. The agency will create a separate new agency to oversee talent management practices and will announce that name at a later date. Members of Johnny’s fan club will decide on the name.
At a press conference last month, then-president Julie Keiko Fujishima announced she would step down as president but would remain the company’s representative director and owner. The agency said it is taking measures to compensate for the damage caused and prevent a recurrence.
The BBC’s March report led to an external investigation
On March 7, the BBC released an hour-long documentary titled Predator: J-Pop’s Secret Scandal, which detailed “a long history of accusations sexual abuse by boys in the company [Kitagawa] given”and why”Japanese media remained largely silent.”
On April 12, Kauan Okamoto, a Japanese-Brazilian singer-songwriter, held a press conference and claimed Kitagawa abused him approximately 15 to 20 times between 2012 and 2016 when he was still a member of the company and said he was at least aware of three other people who had also been abused.
Following Okamoto’s press conference, a group of fans and idols held a press conference on May 11 saying they had sent a petition to Johnny & Associates calling on the company to apologize and open a meeting. investigate.
An outside inquiry established in late May to investigate Kitagawa concluded in August that Kitagawa had sexually abused members of the agency for decades and that the agency had covered up his conduct. Kitagawa. Kitagawa family members were said to have known what he was doing and did nothing to stop him.
Kitagawa’s death and past accusations
Kitagawa died at the age of 87 in July 2019 from subarachnoid hemorrhage (a type of stroke). Fujishima then became president in September 2019.
Kitagawa founded Johnny & Associates in 1962 after forming the male idol group Johnnys. Johnny & Associates went on to form and manage many male idol groups such as SMAP, Arashi, Tokio, KinKi Kids, V6, KAT-TUN and Hey! Speak! DANCE. Members of idol groups under the management of Johnny & Associates are collectively referred to as “Johnny’s”.
Kitagawa previously faced allegations of sexual misconduct during his career. Shukan Bunshun magazine published a 14-week long article in 1999 detailing allegations of child sexual abuse and exploitation. However, the accusations never resulted in formal criminal charges. Kitagawa and Johnny & Associates sued the magazine, and the magazine lost in its first trial in March 2002. However, the magazine effectively won the case at the Tokyo High Court in July 2003. The Supreme Court decision said the testimony of the alleged victims was “generally consistent” and “specific, straightforward and detailed.” The decision also said Kitagawa “had no evidence to counter the or any particular refutation.”
Source: Oricon, Smile via Hachima Kikō