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| Johnny Kitagawa: Ex- pop star Kauan Okamato details sexual abuse by famed producer | Johnny Kitagawa: Ex- pop star Kauan Okamato details sexual abuse by famed producer |
| (36 minutes later) | |
| Kauan Okamoto said he was sexually abused by Johnny Kitagawa from the age of 15 | Kauan Okamoto said he was sexually abused by Johnny Kitagawa from the age of 15 |
| Another former J-pop star has said he was the victim of sexual abuse by Johnny Kitagawa, a revered Japanese music producer who died in 2019. | |
| Kauan Okamoto said he was abused up to 20 times between 2016 - 2020, beginning when he was 15 and in a boy band. | |
| The 26-year-old said he believed as many as 100 boys had been abused. | The 26-year-old said he believed as many as 100 boys had been abused. |
| Kitigawa denied all accusations during his life and he never faced charges. A BBC documentary in March detailed allegations from several victims. | Kitigawa denied all accusations during his life and he never faced charges. A BBC documentary in March detailed allegations from several victims. |
| Multiple accusers told the BBC's Predator: The Secret Scandal of J-Pop documentary they feared their careers would be harmed if they refused Kitagawa. | Multiple accusers told the BBC's Predator: The Secret Scandal of J-Pop documentary they feared their careers would be harmed if they refused Kitagawa. |
| In Japan, he was viewed as one of the music industry's most powerful figures. When he died in 2019 at age 87, his legacy as the architect of J-pop idol culture was widely celebrated in the country. | |
| However allegations that he had groomed and sexually abused minors had been around since 1999, when a local magazine Shukan Bunshun published accounts from six former idols. | |
| Most Japanese media however did not cover the allegations - prompting years of accusations of an industry cover-up. | Most Japanese media however did not cover the allegations - prompting years of accusations of an industry cover-up. |
| Mr Okamoto told a foreign media press conference on Wednesday he had been compelled to speak out after the BBC documentary was released last month. He first detailed his allegations to Shukan Bunshun on 5 April, and he was invited to speak at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Tokyo on Wednesday. | Mr Okamoto told a foreign media press conference on Wednesday he had been compelled to speak out after the BBC documentary was released last month. He first detailed his allegations to Shukan Bunshun on 5 April, and he was invited to speak at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Tokyo on Wednesday. |
| "Japanese media are extremely reluctant to cover this issue, but [I have heard] foreign media, like the BBC, might report on it," said Okamoto, according to reports. | "Japanese media are extremely reluctant to cover this issue, but [I have heard] foreign media, like the BBC, might report on it," said Okamoto, according to reports. |
| The BBC's investigation into Japan’s J-pop predator | The BBC's investigation into Japan’s J-pop predator |
| The Japanese-Brazilian singer and songwriter said the abuse occurred about 15- 20 times at Kitagawa's Tokyo apartment. | The Japanese-Brazilian singer and songwriter said the abuse occurred about 15- 20 times at Kitagawa's Tokyo apartment. |
| He had been picked to join the Johnny's Jr group in 2012 - which was a talent pool of male idols in training at Kitagawa's agency Johnny & Associates. | He had been picked to join the Johnny's Jr group in 2012 - which was a talent pool of male idols in training at Kitagawa's agency Johnny & Associates. |
| Mr Okamoto said he knew of at least 100 boys who had stayed over at Kitagawa's home and he believed all of them had been abused. | Mr Okamoto said he knew of at least 100 boys who had stayed over at Kitagawa's home and he believed all of them had been abused. |
| On Wednesday Johnny & Associates issued a statement after Mr Okamato's press conference saying the company was working to "strengthen our governance system". | On Wednesday Johnny & Associates issued a statement after Mr Okamato's press conference saying the company was working to "strengthen our governance system". |
| It did not address Mr Okamato's allegations or make any other reference to its founder. | It did not address Mr Okamato's allegations or make any other reference to its founder. |
| The agency remains Japan's top male talent manager and production company. It has produced some of the country's biggest boy bands, such as SMAP and Arashi. | The agency remains Japan's top male talent manager and production company. It has produced some of the country's biggest boy bands, such as SMAP and Arashi. |
| Mr Okamoto said he hadn't considered taking legal action against Johnny & Associates. | Mr Okamoto said he hadn't considered taking legal action against Johnny & Associates. |
| Instead he expressed hope that telling his story would inspire more victims to speak out. | Instead he expressed hope that telling his story would inspire more victims to speak out. |
| "I hope everyone will come forward because it is an outrageous number of victims," he told reporters on Wednesday. | "I hope everyone will come forward because it is an outrageous number of victims," he told reporters on Wednesday. |
| "I believe that what he did to me, performing sexual acts when I was 15, and what he did to other boys, was wrong." | "I believe that what he did to me, performing sexual acts when I was 15, and what he did to other boys, was wrong." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Japan | Japan |