[News] External experts publish findings on investigation into Johnny Kitagawa's sexual abuse claims
On 29 August 2023, a special team of external experts comprising of Hayashi Makoto, Asukai Nozomu and Saito Azusa published their findings on their investigation into the sexual abuse claims against Johnny Kitagawa.
I have translated the summary of the investigation report here.
Content warning: sexual assault, grooming
29 August 2023
Special team of external experts to prevent recurrence
Hayashi Makoto
Asukai Nozomu
Saito Azusa
Summary of Investigation Report
The team of external experts (hereafter, “the team”) has submitted a report regarding Johnny & Associates (hereafter, “J&A” or “the agency”) and the sexual abuse allegations against Johnny Kitagawa (hereafter, “Kitagawa”). The findings are summarized below.
1. About the investigation
Investigation period: 26 May 2023 to 29 August 2023
Investigation method: Interviews with the victims and persons related to J&A (41 persons), careful examination of relevant documents and the establishment of a mental health support consultation service
2. Facts of the case
Based on the investigation, after Kitagawa carried out sexual abuse in the 1950s, he repeatedly and widely committed sexual abuse on many members of the company's Johnny's Jr. division from the early 1970s to the mid-2010s. This has been recognized as fact.
Up till now, despite the Bunshun series of articles and the subsequent court case , publishing of exposés , requests for interviews by the BBC , the agency has admitted that it failed to respond adequately in the investigation of the facts behind Kitagawa’s sexual abuse.
3. Causes
(1) Johnny Kitagawa’s abnormal sexual predilection
(2) Mary Kitagawa’s negligence and cover-up
(3) The inaction of J&A
(4) Relational power structures which caused the abuse to go undetected
4. Background of the case
(1) Harmful effects of a family-run business
(2) Sloppy management of the Johnny’s Jr division
(3) Weak corporate governance
① Dysfunctional board of directors and negligence of the board in supervision and direction
② Lack of an internal audit department
③ Lack of basic internal corporate regulations
④ Inadequate internal whistle-blowing framework
⑤ Inadequate training regarding harassment
(4) Silence of the Japanese media
(5) Issues with the entertainment industry
5. Strategies to prevent recurrence
(1) The reality of this case
(2) The response that should be taken by J&A
As an organization, J&A needs to recognize the sexual abuse committed by Kitagawa, sincerely apologize to the victims and swiftly start a dialogue with the victims and set out to make amends.
(3) A system for making amends to the victims
In order for J&A to make the appropriate compensation to the victims and help them recover from the harm which they have suffered, the agency should immediately create a “Reparation System for Victims”.
(4) Crafting and implementing a human rights policy
J&A should look at human rights policy models in other companies across the globe and draft their own policy. In addition, they need to publicly announce it domestically and abroad, and proclaim that they will comply with their human rights policy and never again commit acts which violate human rights, such as the sexual abuse of young boys.
(5) Enhancing the training system
① Training on the respect of human rights
② Training on problems related to sexual abuse
③ Training on harassment
④ Training held for the talents (including Johnny’s Jr.)
(6) Strengthening the corporate governance structure
① The resignation of Julie Fujishima as President and prevention of the harm caused by family management
In order for J&A to carry out total reform, it is necessary to change the President, the top management representative, and Julie Fujishima should resign as President and CEO. This will prevent one of the largest causes of J&A’s governance inadequacies, which is caused by a family-run management
② Revitalizing the board of directors
The board should convene at regular intervals to fully carry out their supervisory role, share the company’s internal issues in a timely manner and determine the appropriate countermeasures which should be implemented.
③ Utilizing outside directors
The agency should create a system to fully utilize the outside directors in the role they’re meant to fulfil.
④ Establishing an internal audit department
An internal audit department, independent of other departments, should be established in order to ensure the effectiveness of internal controls, and business operations which are efficient and appropriate.
⑤ Putting in place basic internal corporate regulations
⑥ Active use of the internal whistle-blower system
In order to promote the active use of the internal whistle-blowing system, the system should be revised and internal whistle-blowing should be recommended and made known to all within the company.
⑦ Expanding the number of consultation channels and deploying advocates
The agency should increase the number of advocates and channels where the Johnny’s Jr. members can seek advice.
(7) Appointing a CCO (Chief Compliance Officer)
The agency should recruit an external expert on human rights and appoint them as CCO (Chief Compliance Officer). The CCO shall be granted the authority to state their opinions at the board meetings and is the person in charge of the development and implementation of the agency’s human rights policy and the enhancement of the training system. The CCO shall also oversee the internal audit department and internal whistle-blowing system.
(8) Engaging the media in dialogue
J&A should swiftly begin dialogue with the media and proclaim that they will never allow similar sexual abuses to ever happen again. To do that, they will need to show their firm resolve to embark on a fresh start establish their human rights policy and strengthen their corporate governance. From now on, the company should also demonstrate its commitment to prevent the violation of human rights by engaging the media through mutual monitoring and checks.
(9) Monitoring the prevention of recurrence and publicly announcing the results
-END-
[1] In 1999, the tabloid Shukan Bunshun published a series of articles that described sexual abuse of ten teenaged male talents. A Parliamentary hearing examined the claims, but Kitagawa denied everything and sued the magazine. In 2002 a court handed down a judgment in Kitagawa’s favor, levying $81,500 in damages. Shukan Bunshun appealed and in 2003 the Tokyo High Court ruled that the sexual abuse charges had validity, based on court testimony by two former Johnny’s talents, but not claims that the agency had supplied alcohol and tobacco to minors. (Schilling, M. (2019, July 18) Johnny Kitagawa: Power, Abuse, and the Japanese Media Omerta. Variety.)
[2] In graphically explicit diaries published in 1988, a member of J&A group Four Leaves claimed that Kitagawa sexually abused the young male talents in his employ. (Schilling, M. (2019, July 18) Johnny Kitagawa: Power, Abuse, and the Japanese Media Omerta. Variety.)
[3] Julie Fujishima did not directly respond to the allegations of sexual abuse, when contacted by the BBC for a comment. (Azhar, M. (2023, March 6) Japan’s J-pop predator - exposed for abuse but still revered)
Sources:
1) Investigation report summary: Johnny & Associates website
2) Variety article: Johnny Kitagawa: Power, Abuse, and the Japanese Media Omerta
3) BBC article: Japan’s J-pop predator - exposed for abuse but still revered
I have translated the summary of the investigation report here.
Content warning: sexual assault, grooming
29 August 2023
Special team of external experts to prevent recurrence
Hayashi Makoto
Asukai Nozomu
Saito Azusa
Summary of Investigation Report
The team of external experts (hereafter, “the team”) has submitted a report regarding Johnny & Associates (hereafter, “J&A” or “the agency”) and the sexual abuse allegations against Johnny Kitagawa (hereafter, “Kitagawa”). The findings are summarized below.
1. About the investigation
Investigation period: 26 May 2023 to 29 August 2023
Investigation method: Interviews with the victims and persons related to J&A (41 persons), careful examination of relevant documents and the establishment of a mental health support consultation service
2. Facts of the case
Based on the investigation, after Kitagawa carried out sexual abuse in the 1950s, he repeatedly and widely committed sexual abuse on many members of the company's Johnny's Jr. division from the early 1970s to the mid-2010s. This has been recognized as fact.
Up till now, despite the Bunshun series of articles and the subsequent court case , publishing of exposés , requests for interviews by the BBC , the agency has admitted that it failed to respond adequately in the investigation of the facts behind Kitagawa’s sexual abuse.
3. Causes
(1) Johnny Kitagawa’s abnormal sexual predilection
(2) Mary Kitagawa’s negligence and cover-up
(3) The inaction of J&A
(4) Relational power structures which caused the abuse to go undetected
4. Background of the case
(1) Harmful effects of a family-run business
(2) Sloppy management of the Johnny’s Jr division
(3) Weak corporate governance
① Dysfunctional board of directors and negligence of the board in supervision and direction
② Lack of an internal audit department
③ Lack of basic internal corporate regulations
④ Inadequate internal whistle-blowing framework
⑤ Inadequate training regarding harassment
(4) Silence of the Japanese media
(5) Issues with the entertainment industry
5. Strategies to prevent recurrence
(1) The reality of this case
(2) The response that should be taken by J&A
As an organization, J&A needs to recognize the sexual abuse committed by Kitagawa, sincerely apologize to the victims and swiftly start a dialogue with the victims and set out to make amends.
(3) A system for making amends to the victims
In order for J&A to make the appropriate compensation to the victims and help them recover from the harm which they have suffered, the agency should immediately create a “Reparation System for Victims”.
(4) Crafting and implementing a human rights policy
J&A should look at human rights policy models in other companies across the globe and draft their own policy. In addition, they need to publicly announce it domestically and abroad, and proclaim that they will comply with their human rights policy and never again commit acts which violate human rights, such as the sexual abuse of young boys.
(5) Enhancing the training system
① Training on the respect of human rights
② Training on problems related to sexual abuse
③ Training on harassment
④ Training held for the talents (including Johnny’s Jr.)
(6) Strengthening the corporate governance structure
① The resignation of Julie Fujishima as President and prevention of the harm caused by family management
In order for J&A to carry out total reform, it is necessary to change the President, the top management representative, and Julie Fujishima should resign as President and CEO. This will prevent one of the largest causes of J&A’s governance inadequacies, which is caused by a family-run management
② Revitalizing the board of directors
The board should convene at regular intervals to fully carry out their supervisory role, share the company’s internal issues in a timely manner and determine the appropriate countermeasures which should be implemented.
③ Utilizing outside directors
The agency should create a system to fully utilize the outside directors in the role they’re meant to fulfil.
④ Establishing an internal audit department
An internal audit department, independent of other departments, should be established in order to ensure the effectiveness of internal controls, and business operations which are efficient and appropriate.
⑤ Putting in place basic internal corporate regulations
⑥ Active use of the internal whistle-blower system
In order to promote the active use of the internal whistle-blowing system, the system should be revised and internal whistle-blowing should be recommended and made known to all within the company.
⑦ Expanding the number of consultation channels and deploying advocates
The agency should increase the number of advocates and channels where the Johnny’s Jr. members can seek advice.
(7) Appointing a CCO (Chief Compliance Officer)
The agency should recruit an external expert on human rights and appoint them as CCO (Chief Compliance Officer). The CCO shall be granted the authority to state their opinions at the board meetings and is the person in charge of the development and implementation of the agency’s human rights policy and the enhancement of the training system. The CCO shall also oversee the internal audit department and internal whistle-blowing system.
(8) Engaging the media in dialogue
J&A should swiftly begin dialogue with the media and proclaim that they will never allow similar sexual abuses to ever happen again. To do that, they will need to show their firm resolve to embark on a fresh start establish their human rights policy and strengthen their corporate governance. From now on, the company should also demonstrate its commitment to prevent the violation of human rights by engaging the media through mutual monitoring and checks.
(9) Monitoring the prevention of recurrence and publicly announcing the results
-END-
[1] In 1999, the tabloid Shukan Bunshun published a series of articles that described sexual abuse of ten teenaged male talents. A Parliamentary hearing examined the claims, but Kitagawa denied everything and sued the magazine. In 2002 a court handed down a judgment in Kitagawa’s favor, levying $81,500 in damages. Shukan Bunshun appealed and in 2003 the Tokyo High Court ruled that the sexual abuse charges had validity, based on court testimony by two former Johnny’s talents, but not claims that the agency had supplied alcohol and tobacco to minors. (Schilling, M. (2019, July 18) Johnny Kitagawa: Power, Abuse, and the Japanese Media Omerta. Variety.)
[2] In graphically explicit diaries published in 1988, a member of J&A group Four Leaves claimed that Kitagawa sexually abused the young male talents in his employ. (Schilling, M. (2019, July 18) Johnny Kitagawa: Power, Abuse, and the Japanese Media Omerta. Variety.)
[3] Julie Fujishima did not directly respond to the allegations of sexual abuse, when contacted by the BBC for a comment. (Azhar, M. (2023, March 6) Japan’s J-pop predator - exposed for abuse but still revered)
Sources:
1) Investigation report summary: Johnny & Associates website
2) Variety article: Johnny Kitagawa: Power, Abuse, and the Japanese Media Omerta
3) BBC article: Japan’s J-pop predator - exposed for abuse but still revered