Former Johnny’s Jr. member Kawan Okamoto held a press conference and testified that he had experienced sexual acts 15 to 20 times during his junior high school days. After the conference, in a YouTube channel where Okamoto appeared as a guest, he spoke candidly about how Johnny Kitagawa, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 87, would invite about 20 underage boys to his room almost every night and sexually assault them.
In the past (2003), the Tokyo High Court recognized the truth about sexual offenses committed by Johnny’s agency. Nevertheless, countless boys have continued to be victimized since 2003. Did the adults around them all turn a blind eye to this?
These acts are clearly criminal and violate human rights, and most of the victims are underage. This despicable behavior takes advantage of the weakness of boys who want to succeed as idols by using their status and power to groom them. This is an atrocious act of making a profit from victims who are silenced and brainwashed into thinking that they have no other options. It is reminiscent of the Epstein Island case in Japan.
Despite this being a major problem, it is not being reported on in Japan, and the media’s great influence is being called into question due to their deference to the Johnny’s agency.
This is clearly a major problem, even when viewed from a global perspective. We urge you to listen more to the earnest pleas of the victims. The victims have paid a lifetime of coping with a wounded heart and trauma. We do not want to live in a Japan that permits the concealment and neglect of such issues. Get your act together, Japan!
