|
The
agency will also be changing its name, disassociating itself
from its founder Johnny Kitagawa.
The agency, which represents only male entertainers, last month
admitted that Kitagawa, who died in 2019, had abused hundreds of
boys and young men seeking stardom going back to at least the
1970s. Kitagawa's niece Julie K. Fujishima last month resigned
as agency president, apologizing and promising reform and
compensation.
New president Noriyuki Higashiyama said the agency, commonly
known as Johnny's, would change its name to "Smile-Up" and focus
exclusively on compensating Kitagawa's victims before being
dissolved.
A separate company would be spun off to take over the talent
management business, renewing contracts with those individuals
or groups wishing to stay, he told a briefing. Its new name will
be chosen by fans of its entertainers.
The first media reports of Kitagawa's abuse were carried by
local tabloid Shukan Bunshun in 1999, but the scandal blew wide
open this year as more victims came forward after a report by
the BBC in March.
Following the agency's acknowledgement of the abuse last month,
dozens of major companies have said they would end their
contracts with its entertainers.
In a statement by Fujishima read out in her absence, the former
chief executive, who owns 100% of the agency, said it was her
duty as Kitagawa's kin to put an end to Johnny & Associates.
"I want to remove all traces of Johnny Kitagawa from this
world," her statement said.
(Reporting by Francis Tang and Satoshi Sugiyama; Editing by
Chang-Ran Kim and Edwina Gibbs)
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
