The “Godfather Of J-Pop” Slept with Male Trainees In Exchange For Making Them Stars
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 พ.ค. 2023
- Rotten Mango Merch: fanjoy.co/collections/stephan...
Full Show Notes: rottenmangopodcast.com
WHERE ELSE CAN YOU LISTEN/WATCH THIS EPISODE?
Spotify Video 🥭 open.spotify.com/show/5jZ9hN1...
Apple Podcasts🥭 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
(OR wherever you listen to your podcasts!)
ROTTEN MANGO MERCH 🥭 fanjoy.co/collections/stephan...
The Intro Artist 🥭 www.behance.net/jieyang18
#rottenmango #podcast
The male rape victims stigma to this day is absolutely disgusting. I remember hearing about a case of a couple having "marital problems", basically he wasn't able to perform in the bedroom after he came back from a tour with the Army. The wife thought it was maybe ptsd or something so they went to couple therapy. There, he eventually revealed that he had been assaulted by his superior. His wife couldn't believe it, she asked him "Just one guy? You're a soldier, you're strong, why didn't you fight him off?" and the dude told her "I just froze, he was my superior, and I was so caught off guard" and eventually she walked out saying "You could have fought him off but you let him do it, because you're into guys, that's why you can't have sex with me anymore. And if instead you really were too much of a coward to fight back, I'm disgusted either way because you're a pussy." I still remember it like 15 years after because of how outraged I was at the wife's behaviour. Unfortunately it is often the case, like "it wasn't 10 dudes holding you down, why did you LET IT HAPPEN". As if it all comes down to that. I hope I'll get to live in a world where rape victims of both genders are treated equally and not made to feel ashamed or like it's their fault. But I see how most people are, and I know that won't happen, not in my lifetime at least.
@@rosekin3480 bruh girlie, it didn't happen to him. He's talking about the story of someone else.
that's fucking heartbreaking. i can't even put words to what i wish could happen to the wife (not SA, because no, but some really fitting karma would be nice)
No, I have hope it will happen in our life time. We've made so much progress already. There's much more awareness about it. It's not how it was back in the 90s or even 2000s. Have hope
@@jourdyngroman shouldn't you be praying bad to befall on the one who assualted him first?
@novathebudgie well, i don't pray to begin with; don't believe in anything that gets prayed to. sure, the person who assaulted him should receive their just karma, as well. however his wife is somebody very close and intimate to his life, his partner for Pete's sake. her betrayal will cut deeper to his psyche than the assault, I'm sure. she has a duty to love and support him; his attacker does not.
this case is absolutely disgusting - my heart goes out to all the victims
It’s crazy to think but not new I think a lot of idols go through sex trafficking
🚩As gut-wrenching & disgusting as this is, this is *VERY* common practice in ALL of the industry professions.
They are told that;
"This is how it works in the entertainment industry ~ *everyone*, every celebrity you know the name of has done it this way."
Worse, it often doubles as blackmail as well, bc of the photos, videos & audio recordings made during the whatever sexual acts were on the table in order to "seal the deal'.
As strange as it seems, the victims would rather not *ever* have any of it come out, even though it would prove that they were abused/extorted/blackmailed for their careers. It's a tragic & weird, but a ridiculously powerful form of control. Sometimes even *after* the career is over. How awful.😢
Now take into consideration that TPTB, world leaders, government officials (both state & federal), sometimes top law enforcement officers, & even royalty are all involved, & have been for hundreds (possibly/probably thousands) of years in running the world.
Things get weird, & push the boundaries of what human beings should ever go through, when the Rich, Famous & Powerful are involved. Trust that when people who can get pretty much anything they want, over time they grow bored with what you & I would consider typical or 'normal' entertainment or sex life.
In their minds, they 'need' more, even if it is illegal or abusive or worse.
I realize it's a lot to take in.
But if you doubt it all, think about Jeffrey Epstein & his Lolita Express jet (with plenty of beds on board) as well as his Pleasure Island. He was found guilty of underage sex trafficking & so was his right hand woman, Ghislaine Maxwell. Now just try to find out WHO WERE THE CHILDREN TRAFFICKED TO. I mean we know some names that have been brought up, & several of the survivors have named 'big' names, including royalty.
It's awful, it's frustrating & it's sad, but blackmail makes the world go around & has for many many years.
In world politics & entertainment industries, the most powerful form of blackmail is involving children.
If you believe in any form of Higher Power, Pray for the Victims & Pray that this gets exposed & stamped out in our lifetime.
Amen 💗🙏🕊️
@@greenleif Wow, I started reading your post and then I gave up it was so long.
@@dawnsilvas3410 because he's trying to educate you?
omg.. an elf here
These Jpop , K pop stars aren't killing themselves for no reason. The music industry is an incredibly dark place where many predators reside and NO ONE is protecting these young people. It's disgusting and sad.
law that educates younger adults, teens, or children who to call and what to do in cases of S grooming/ SA. law that disallows older adults from sleeping with younger adults, teens, or children - w/o parental supervision... this will never happen.. thus the promise of hell to all predators and the encouragement for all victims to survive and overcome - since the beginning of time. 😐
USA is the worst out of all especially when it comes to drugs and sex in Hollywood.
Japanese have been covering up so many sexual abuse cases for so many years that it is about time that it was blown over.
Korea is not that bad in terms of those things but they are known to be overworking and have long lasting contracts.
Korean suicide is usually due to some depression of loneliness and school/overworking.. not because they were rape victims.
Curiously, none of the Johnny's stars have committed suicide.
. @user-qm2jm1gp3c What they say is true, you can't win against an old stupid Japanese. They are the worst in the world.
@@audreyheart2180 The problem is the people enforcing the law usually have a part in it which is why it's able to go on so long and be so prevalent. Just look at cases like Savile and Epstein. These people were being protected by the media and the government for decades.
It's so weird that everyone knows this guy is a child predator and rapist and yet he's still celebrated in Japan. Japan has always had such terrible views on child consent and SA but this is incomprehensible how vile this whole situation is.
In Japan, SA acts in general are seldom properly punished, so it's not that surprising that these kinds of sh*ts happened there
Old people rule over there, mainly male old people.
@@iceicecle9221I mean, the same is true for America. But our culture is different and when something is wrong with society, the people do our best to make the changes. It's been getting harder and harder as of late tho with so many of these people in power and not enough people with money willing to make changes. It's capitalist greed that restricts social changes now.
I’m Japanese. He’s not celebrated, at all.
The company has already announced that they’re going out of business, with some groups continuing under new leadership.
Even before these allegations hit, a lot of us were skeptical about Johnny’s idols position in the industry, because oftentimes they were severely lacking in talent, especially compared to trained professionals, and yet would regularly get the prime spot in music shows, lead roles in movies, stage plays, you name it. Something fishy was obviously going on behind the scenes. They were synonymous with the male idol industry, so all the media companies were practically in their pocket.
That’s why Japanese outlets were reluctant to report on this at first. In fact, they probably already knew but were covering for his ass. Then, a foreign outlet, the BBC, broke the story, and once the people knew there was no un-knowing it. Public response ranged from rage to indifference. I’d say a lot of people who were never interested in the industry have only heard of the story in passing.
All this to say, DEFINITELY not celebrated by anyone at this point.
@@destituteanddecadent9106 Why are you lying? To save face for Japan? You claim this pedo wasn't celebrated and yet they literally celebrated his life and achievements with media coverage and TWO DAY memorial concert after he died? Okay, dude. Not to mention he was never held accountable for his crimes. Johnny's company and idols were popular during and after victims started coming out. Not sure why you're trying to rewrite history but nobody is buying it.
All criminals that commit crimes against children need to be prosecuted regardless of country they reside. People have no idea how sexual assault affects people from childhood to adulthood. There’s no excuse for this man being able to prey on innocent boys for decades on end. It’s sick for anyone to make 1 excuse for what this predator did to the innocent.
The asshole died in 2019:/
Preach!
Seriously, the affects are never talked about enough. I think people just think it "goes away" but it never does.
@destahknee311 That part. The memories never go away.
No but bro Japan is so sooo bad at this it really is considering !
As one of the young Japanese, I want everyone know that Johnnys’ popularity and power in the entertainment industry are insanely strong so that literally no media reported about his crimes. It’s not like we hate the person who speaks up for sexual assault but we just don’t know about and media don’t inform us bc they want be against Johnnys’ company. However, many media have started to talk about it very recently so everyone finally knows what has been happening. And many people say this must not be allowed.
Sorry for my bad English but I just wanna say that our generation never repeat this kind of tragedy.
Your English is good! And thanks for letting us know that the younger generation will not tolerate this. I'm glad to hear more news outlets are covering this story now
The victims ought to have gone for medical test to verify their claims
Both physical and mental tests
D cce
So he is like the Japanese Johnny Seville how vile and the fact he was enabled is even more sick🤬
@@cutecuteoldold In 2023 you all need to stop this nonsense. It is not as easy as you think> I am sure you listened to the video and heard the power this man had. Victims has been saying for years that fear stops them. Embarrassment holds them. Not being believed, is another issue. And we have seen this coming out for decades. yet you all still want to put it on the victims to do something. When the only blame and accountability falls on the predator. No one else.
I will never understood the "don't speak ill of the dead" thing because the perpetrator may be dead but a lot of his victims are still very much alive. Shouldn't those who are living take precedence over someone 6 feet below?
To understand this case better I'd recommend reading the book The Trauma Myth: The Truth About the Sexual Abuse of Children-- and Its Aftermath by Susan A. Clancy. The author herself regret the title because it's more than often misunderstood but I think it's perfect if you understand what it means (which you will by reading the book). It's a crime because they are not PSYCHOLOGICALY EQUIPPED TO UNDERSTAND what is happening to them at THE MOMENT of the act and to MAKE DECISIONS about it. But, AT THE TIME OF TH ACT (that's important, pay attention) it's not, in many cases, if it's not coerced, a traumatic occurrence. It may be understood AT THAT TIME, even as pleasurable, or funny. Only when they GROW UP and truly understand what was going on, what it meant, THEN horrible psychological consequences may START to take place. It's just hard for us to think that WHITHOUT the knowledge (that they don't have because of the age) AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURENCE, they MAY have "enjoyed", or not thought much about it. Why MOST of the victims blame themselves (and they shouldn't) So it may, until understanding comes, be kept as a GOOD MEMORY. So now you can understand the declarations of victims that supported him. Even when they had the ability to understand they were the victims of a crime, they chose to side with the goof memories they had about it. Transforming that good memory into a bad one, with the new understanding, is a long and PAINFUL process itself.
Ikr😢
@@JohnnyLynnLee But most kids that have that happen to them have changees in their behaviour, are terrified, aggressive, depressed etc. And they're not trying to get assaulted by other adults too, like they would if they'd enjoy it.
That honestly sounds like a "kids actually love to be sexually assaulted and they only get traumatised by it, once the society tells them that it's supposed to be bad" thingy. Which is an argument many pedophiles use.
@@lethfuil you didn't provide ANY data to back up your claims. You know why? Because they DO NOT exist. What I've said on the other hand I can back up. do you want some books on the issue? The Trauma Myth: The Truth About the Sexual Abuse of Children--and Its Aftermath by Susan A. Clancy. Pedophilia and Sexual Offending Against Children: Theory, Assessment, and Intervention Michael C. Seto.
@@lethfuil And before you freak out, the author herself regrets the title "trauma myth". Although it is TRUE if you use the CLINICAL definition of "trauma." They do develop depression, anxiety and all sort of problems but not CLINICAL TRAUMA, PTSD, because, as she explains AT THE TIME, they didn't think it was wrong if they weren't coerced. And physiological trauma requires that the EVENT ITSELF, at the time it happens, provoke a kind physiological shock in the organism.
It is disgusting that he died and never pay for the disgusting crimes he committed. Also, that people mourned for a disgusting person like him.
Oh...he is paying, nothing in this world is hidden in the next- he IS paying
Far be it for me to judge on gods level but that sounds like a fire brimstone destination for me. What a disgusting human being!!
Oh hun, he’s paying dearly for what he’s done.
He is paying in hell
,but God
It’s disgusting that he’d only accept male stars knowing that he specifically wanted to prey on these underaged boys :( I haven’t watched the whole video yet but I hope that he was punished and the victims are able to heal from what that man has put them through.
English person that saw the BBC documentary. He sadly wasn't punished. He's loved as a national treasure. And a whole yea it never happened as a country ..really sad. Some of the interviews with the poor men. They are grateful for the opportunity he gave them. Sons still love him and think of him as a really good guy. Was really sad to watch :(
Hi, I'm a fan of many idol groups from his agency. Sadly, he wasn't punished and passed away due to old age back in 2019. What's incredibly sad is when he passed away, it was treated like Japan just lost a hero. Even the boys from his agency keeps praising and saying their thanks to Johnny. It was incredibly conflicting to watch all of that happened as a fan, knowing that they might very possibly be one of the victim of that monster.
Johnny was an incredibly powerful man and his company basically control the entertainment industry. It's no coincidence that every idol that left his company never got major media attention after they left, even though they were the best selling artists for the last 10 years or so before they left. He was able to get away from the allegation when it first brought up too back in the late 90s
A gay predator and pedophile, that's what he is. Prostitution in showbiz is not limited to women. So many male idols and actors have slept with their fellow men to grapple their way to success.
you guys r so naive. like 99% of elite men do this.
@@chanelghostin6060 lol no...most men aren't going arround sexually assaulting minors. Such a silly comment lol
Imagine having parents who say it’s ok if you get raped just make that money, you basically just selling your kid, feel so bad for these boys, I hope this still doesn’t go on with other companies.
Parents who say that are just as guilty. Jail them all!
Which is why I hate those people on the internet who say “if they parents allows it it’s fine” and if parents are God and know everything. No ma’am your child is 12. TWELVE! They are not old enough to go into the kpop industry especially with all the bad shit that happens there.
@@nakynakiJpop, not Kpop
Lol the Japanese have a history of selling their kids to the sex industry since the warriors states period. Usually it's the girls but heck, times have changed and now it's boys. Just look at their hentai, they're f*cked up people
Just like that in Hollywood smh
The UN has stepped in to demand Japan properly address the abuse and support the victims starting today. It’s so great to have coverage like this spreading the voice of very vulnerable groups. Thank you for this.
The lack of acknowledgment or male victims is disgusting. This is why so many don't report this.
And thr favt people make excuses for the perp? My jaw dropped.
I live in Japan and this case was soooo well-known.
I think the older generation would say “oh don’t trust what you see on internet”
But most of us younger generation actually say “well that’s not surprising at all…we all had a feeling this had been happening”
Anyway this is just so disgusting and we’re all so proud this boy brought up his courage to talk about his experience in public now 😢
In other words the entertainment industry is disgusting no matter where things like this happens… cause there are predators that feeds off people’s desperation to make their dreams come true and of course there are those that dont care and will fuck their way to the too
I'm glad people in the younger generations at bold enough to not fall into tradition and call out this injustice
@@choux7746 yeah
The older generation would say something like that probably because most of them chose to take the money and turn a blind eye I'm assuming that's what happened to the older victims.
@@choux7746exactly
The victims is around 2500 people. I can't find the right word to describe how bad Kitagawa is. He shouldn't die. He should stay alive until his life was ruined.
Damnnnnn
Unfortunately Johnny died in 2019, and his death was publicly mourned at the time. There was a memorial event at Tokyo Dome. I wish he were still alive to witness his public image crumble, and he would have died in shame.
@@KiraKamiyaJapanese people have high sense of honour so yes ...I hope his family and friends feel shame for what he did. All of the people that supported him
Don’t worry - even if he got away from earth, but after death 💀, he will NOT get away the judgment from GOD !
Absolutely. Disgusting anyone would even protect him, he should've been in jail in harshest conditions possible
The parents who approved what Johnny did are really terrible. They are as bad as the sexual predator.
My brother was scouted by Johnnys Entertainment when he was a child. My mom said no. Best decision ever.
I 100% believe parents would let their sons be abused for fame and money. It happens all the time in Hollywood.
Not surprising, people are greedy and will do desperate despicable things
Thats why most boys don't return home. They fend for themselves as we see in kpop today.
Some pafrents do, yes. They are narcissists who want their children to live up to their frustrated dreams. They should have their children removed.
One of the victims said that when he confessed about it to his parents, they were shocked and her mom cried. In Japan, this was not mentioned on TV at all for decades so as she said in the beginning, lots of people thought it's just a rumor, i am pretty sure that most of their parents have never even heard of that rumor.
This really isn't anything uncommon, which is heartbreaking on top of that. Some "parents" should not have kids.
Yep.
As a survivor of SA this was very triggering but as my court case comes closer and having to talk at court.. I know I’m not alone and I’m strong.I standing up for all of us, all the victims
I'm sending all the love to you ❤❤❤❤ you're so brave for standing up. I pray you get the justice you deserve 🙏🏽
I’m a rape victim and I had a court case. Just know that u are brave to step forward and after court go to lots of therapy because sadly rape victims barely get Justice ._. My rapist was found not guilty even tho there was enough evidence. But know that u were strong and u did the best u could
@sher bear I'm so sorry the justice system failed you. But you're very brave for trying. Know that there are people who do believe you. Even if it just an internet stranger. Wishing you a lot of love and healing 💕 ❤️
@@TheNeishaHarris Thanks! I moved to a new city and starting school after being trapped in my own prison for 4-5 years. I’m 25 turning 26 and I feel like my life hasn’t been fulfilled much.
You’re my hero! This episode was triggering for me too. I hope everything is going the right direction and you get justice
Stockholm syndrome is so hard to break out of. This episode is hard to listen to cause it’s… just awful. But I’m glad that you are raising awareness. Especially so that male SA victims can hear they’re not alone and there’s NOTHING wrong with them.
It's not really hat.
To understand this case better I'd recommend reading the book The Trauma Myth: The Truth About the Sexual Abuse of Children-- and Its Aftermath by Susan A. Clancy. The author herself regret the title because it's more than often misunderstood but I think it's perfect if you understand what it means (which you will by reading the book). It's a crime because they are not PSYCHOLOGICALY EQUIPPED TO UNDERSTAND what is happening to them at THE MOMENT of the act and to MAKE DECISIONS about it. But, AT THE TIME OF TH ACT (that's important, pay attention) it's not, in many cases, if it's not coerced, a traumatic occurrence. It may be understood AT THAT TIME, even as pleasurable, or funny. Only when they GROW UP and truly understand what was going on, what it meant, THEN horrible psychological consequences may START to take place. It's just hard for us to think that WHITHOUT the knowledge (that they don't have because of the age) AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURENCE, they MAY have "enjoyed", or not thought much about it. Why MOST of the victims blame themselves (and they shouldn't) So it may, until understanding comes, be kept as a GOOD MEMORY. So now you can understand the declarations of victims that supported him. Even when they had the ability to understand they were the victims of a crime, they chose to side with the goof memories they had about it. Transforming that good memory into a bad one, with the new understanding, is a long and PAINFUL process itself.
I'm definitely not qualified to judge but as i know this has nothing to do with the stockholm Syndrome. It is a typical reaction to victims of pedophil predators. Often victims think they owe their predators something because he/she was so supportive, helpful and so on.
I honestly think it's not just Stockholm syndrome. They were groomed and brainwashed right from the beginning. Also, the victims interviewed who said good things about Johnny probably only said those things because it is a custom in Japan (and in a lot of east and even southeast asian countries) to always only say good things about others, even if you don't like them. I think a lot of Americans don't understand the immense pressure that a lot of Asian societies have to confirm and to never. rock. the. boat. Humility/politeness etc...are often just expected, and to be anything else is considered a bad trait, and you WILL be ostracized. I've had first-hand experience of this and it was miserable.
@@JohnnyLynnLeeperfect explanation
The point is, the victims don't even perceive themselves as victims
@@rafaelsmith5737 You summed it up way better than me.
The age of consent being thirteen to this day must be a joke. It is like they are putting them on a platter for predators. It is just outrageous and unbelievable.
They don’t take mental illness seriously. no surprise “highschool teen dating “ is a thing .Overworking ,alcoholism ,red district is ENCOURAGED.Suicde rate is one of highest
Literally!!!are the leaders of Japan just open pedophles and want their citizens to be too??
It's not 13. Hasn't been for years. Stop perpetuating this.
Actually the age of consent in Japan differs on the prefecture and most have it set at 16 or 18. I think the last prefecture that had it set at 13 changed it 4-5 years ago.
It’s not 13 anymore, but it’s not like it’s been “years and years” since this was the case. Clearly, based on the ruling on Johnny, it wasn’t soon enough for his victims.
Thank you so much for covering this case, Stephanie! As Japanese, I can attest that this allegation is very well known in Japan. And it's infuriating that nobody cancelled him and he literally completely got away from it cuz he passed without facing any consequences. It's sicken my stomach.
Saddest thing abt this case is only "the one didn't succeed in the industry" would speak out, and ppl think it's less credible because "he's being salty", or "jealous"... 😞
Wanted to add on to this! They finally secured an interview with TBS last week but it was like the 11pm news:/
All the broadcasters are scared of losing the idols as regulars.
Wondering who of the famous ones is remaining silent.... J-pop bandboys.
Powerful people usually get away with things until they die. Like Jimmy Saville who sexually abused hundreds of people and was a friend of the Queen.
That is literally how Michael Jackson fans treated the men who accused MJ of child @abuse. They dismiss them as failed celebs who only come after the King of Pop for money.
Whenever I see any pop group I always wonder if they’re sexually abused but they just don’t say it. Unfortunately pedophile rapists get their fix in such industries. So anyone famous I literally wonder what sh*t they’ve heard, seen or experienced but can’t say anything about it *shudders*
Im from Japan and literally EVERY GIRL grew up chasing after idols from Johnny’s. This has been talked here and there since when my mom was younger. The medias are so disgusting for not reporting this on the TV because they are afraid. It’s so gross. Money is everything
I was in be of those girls and I look back and cringe about it. I didn't realise, but as I grew older not only the rumours about Johnny, but also the entire machine that is Johnny's Jimusho, I realised it was really fucked up...
I also followed one of their groups for a while growing up. Back then I watched a Johnny tv show, don't remember what it's called, featuring young trainees, supposedly a show to help them practice being on tv. And sometimes wondered why there were always these weird close-up shots of their body parts, like chest, neck, etc. These kids are half the time in PJ and half the time half naked, and the show aired at late hours. I didn't make the connection until much older that the show was probably not targeting their fans, but was catering to p/dophiles.
Most Johnnys fans knew shady stuff was happening, if people wanted to know they would read 2ch. it was all there..
Can you tell me name of the Koji's book? I would like to buy an support him
The legal age in jp for consent is 13?!! But you can't even drink or smoke until your 20! Or drive a car until your 18?!!!yet at 13 they concider you mature enough to accept sexual advances ?! Here In nz, the legal age for consent is 16
Not anymore, it was raised to 16 recently. Still a minor age. Also, in Japan, the legal age to drink, gamble, smoke, etc. is 20.
Ages 18-19 are still considered minor ages over there.
But imagine that the age of consent being 13 has been law for almost a hundred years and it wasn't raised until this year. Crazy.
im in nz too and honestly
The way He named them Johnny’s as if they were his property, which I believe he did think so, was very disgusting
This whole story is literally so disturbing but I'm happy STEPHANIE is tell it and sheding light to stories like these. ❤
😊
@AfianyArkoasnow298 that must have been a pocket post. I sometimes prefer to play the video but leave my phone in my pocket because I'm walking in public or in a meeting.
This case had been pushed aside for so long, I thought no one would talk about it again. I'm so glad that you used your platform to bring awareness of the disgusting things Johnny Kitagawa had done during his reign in the J-pop industry.
Honestly I think it blew up this year… I know the reputation of the company is big but gosh those allegations were unknown till this year. It’s so sad that he got away till his death.
law that educates younger adults, teens, or children who to call and what to do in cases of S grooming/ SA. law that disallows older adults from sleeping with younger adults, teens, or children - w/o parental supervision... this will never happen.. thus the promise of hell to all predators and the encouragement for all victims to survive and overcome - since the beginning of time. 😐
As a Japanese and as a sexual minority, I am truly outraged.
I feel deep despair that this country and its society still do not take this issue seriously.
It is symbolic that the BBC was the first to take up this issue.
I have come to this conclusion after watching many things, not just this case, and after watching the reactions to this incident for several months:
This society does not reflect and change anything.
They don't think, even if they vaguely think "this is not good,
All they do is postpone and ignore the problem, and that's it.
Even more distressing, Johnny's fans even attack the accusers.
And Takuya Kimura, arguably the most successful Japanese actor of all time, said, "Show must go on.
The Japanese seem to be somewhat amused by this idiotic celebrity,
But... This is the lyric by FREDDIE MERCURY
They don't really understand this humiliating meaning at all. F
Thanks for reading this far.
Hopefully, everyone overseas will put more pressure on this country for this.
I understand this is weird, but
Japanese society is so rigid that it never really reflects on itself.
No matter that animators of works that the world is crazy about are forced to work for low wages,
If illegal connections between politics and religion are revealed,
If "anti-gaming ordinances" are enacted by local governments, using clearly fabricated public comments,
They quickly forget about it. The problem will never be solved.
Do you think I'm someone who really hates Japan?
Never. I love my country and just can't tolerate such shame.
彼女に、この件のアップデートをポストして下さいとメッセージ送りました。国連の報告書、特別チームのレポート、ジャニーズ事務所の記者会見 9/7/23。私は、最後の記者会見を見て、ジャニーズは解体すべきだと思っています。
Look at your minor gravure idols and how much men support it in your country. Japan has been covering up anything that is bad since the 1960's but now all that covered up rotten cancer is now coming out. With the country reachin over 15 trillion in debt... it seems like Japans days are numbered.
Johnny's is the most powerful label/agency. They dominate all the jdramas, the music charts, the variety shows, news stations. Even if you're not really a fan of their artists, your favorite drama will at least have an artist signed with Johnny's. They're that big a deal in japan that even actors who've been acting for years are intimidated by an artist signed with them.
@@ting-ting7001 I hope many great artists get out of the Jxxx office ASAP. Last week Japanese Media discovered their slave contract.
Look up BBC paedophilia scandal they tried to hide .
This case triggers me so much because 1: i'm an sa victim/survivor 2: i had cases pending but they were instantly closed bc of lack of evidence and 3: my story was never heard or believed by anyone
My heart goes out to the victims and may they get the justice they deserve
I’m so sorry you had to go through that…I wish you all the patience and strength. And I do hear you. I read your comment and my heart goes out for you…May the blessings be❤️🙏🏻
Ohh 😢 I'm sorry sweetheart
All the best for you. I get how you feel I myself almost got Ra**d😖the most scary thing ever went through. May God protect and bless us
Publicly R. Kelly was cancelled but all over my timelines there were people of my same color (african american) doing THE MOST to excuse him because of his household name in his genre and how good his music is. I really wish we lived in a world where being famous wasn't even a mid tier excuse for being a predator
Same, I'm not support creeps I don't care how good any product they sell is.
No because it’s actually insane how many people still support r.Kelly and they even go as far to say “free r.Kelly”. They don’t take anything serious until you do it to them
@@AgentMChan people like that piss me off.
Same, saying that they want him to be free to release a new album, ppl are disgusting
Black people really need to let R.Kelly go, I’m begging 🙏🏿
I’m Japanese and have even stanned a few of the idol groups under Johnny’s and I always thought they were just rumors…. The boys that are currently in the media always praise him to be their father figure and how well they were taken care of…. That’s crazy…. I can’t believe that there was such an awful side to this… thank you for covering this story.
of course they praise him if they side something bad their job will be ruined for ever
Abusers also like to NOT abuse a couple of ppl & put on a facade so that their false persona can gain a good reputation, making it even harder to go against him if u were a victim because “he would never do that, he’s so nice & caring! I have never seen him do anything.”
Or maybe they were not the victims hence they could only know the good side of Johnny.
@@user-hq7xr7cj6c it's called grooming
@@amnos180188 While that may be true one has to also remember he’s a pedophile serial r*pist. He mostly did that to all of them.
As someone who was groomed into thinking gross things were out of "love" or "validation" and was exploited because of an abuse of power imbalance by many many people, alongside other victims who were also brainwashed, hearing this entire case made me absolutely sick. There are so many different factors in these types of environments that make victims feel like they have/want to endure bad things, even if it isn't that way at all. Especially when it's attached to something you're passionate about. I really appreciate that you mentioned how people often feel like it was their fault and only realize they were a victim when they're much older and see different perspectives. It's a very scary and confusing process to slowly realize that, and even scarier to speak out about it in the face of a big company who has the power to silence them. The fact that the victims mustered so much courage to speak up about it and reach others to warn them, but was met with little to no support and being dismissed by media, is such a horrible thing. I also appreciate that you mentioned how sometimes to cope, victims will refuse to see what they went through as abuse and instead romanticize it to make it easier to handle mentally. The fact you mentioned that abusers take advantage of that to further manipulate the victims was also something so new to me, I feel like that isn't acknowledged in a lot of places. Although this video was heartbreaking, it was very well done, and my heart goes out to all victims of sexual assault/exploitation.
Sometimes i wonder if that kind of experience can sometimes unfortunately create future pedophiles because they still think its an act of love or that its normal. Not at all saying you may be one, just saying how there jave been cases where the victims sometimes get so brainwased into not thinking that anything is wrong with it. Kinda like (really hate to say this) boku no piko.
I would also wish that people understand that there are 2 types of victims, one being the ones who are abused in an agressive way where the kid wishes to escape because they feel pain. The second being the ones like yiu and the victims in the video where wltheu wernt awarebthat its abuse and still saw the predator as family because the abuser twisted their minds into feeling lived and cared for.
The way that guy said "see, they still love me. I couldn't jave abused them" makes me think of abpredator i encounterd that said that kids can consent and that we were the ones brainwashing them into thinking those activities are evil or something. Those guys to me are the worst because they have the victims wraped around their finger.
It's in the group names he didn't even bother to hide them "kinky boys" "sexy zone" and even publish photos of them wearing barely clothes.. I loathed him and I hope there's a special place in hell for him
He was a pedo and took advantage of those boys and he manipulated them into thinking it was ok. It’s sick and disgusting and he should not be remembered for being the pioneer of J-pop but for being a person who used his position and power to take advantage of minors. Thank you for covering the story. I feel so sick to my stomach after hearing this. People that commit crimes against children are the most vile and should be condemned whether they are dead or alive.
These predators get away with ruining children lives and this will continue to happen if they keep covering up their dirty deeds smh
I don't even consider male predators that go after young boys as gay, they don't have a sexuality they're just vile. Whilst I didn't go through what they went through and my abuse was different I still would throw a party if my abuser died.
Facts
Personally, I think this takes away responsability, any predator is vile regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, etc. There shall not be a difference in treatment on their terrible acts, if a gay man does it is the same as if a straight man did it, one is no less gay, the other is no less straight, but both are equally as disgusting. I'm part of the community, therefore i think recognizing that there are bad people as well in here and that we have to be careful is just logical, bad people come from all paths of life, after all.
@@giu7210 I never said that only predators that go after the same sex are vile, that is not at all what I meant.
@@maryleethefox8642 Yeah, so let the man rest as the evil he was, in this case he happened to be gay so let's just acknowledge what's true.
@@giu7210 Not gay, he is a preferential child predator. The gender is only part of the reason he picked those victims.
I remember in the BTS book, jungkook mentioned that when he was auditioning in different companies,one producer askesd to meet him at an hotel room for the "audition"....he was 13_14, at the end he didn't go instead he went and auditioned at bighit...
Rapist and pedophiles don’t get to not be spoken ill of when they pass. They did horrible things. I’m not Asian but I was told that saying a lot as I grew up but rapist & pedophiles should not apply. They chose to do those horrible things and now they should be remembered for such.
These creeps also need to be called out in life before they pass like R. Kelly, all of those Hollywood creeps, and whoever in the entertainment industry all over the world they need to be called out.
I hope people realize that this predatory system also leaked through in kpop. There's so many reports of former idols and former trainees in Korea where they exposed how unsafe it was and explain the unsafe things happened to them. It's extremely sick and not limited to just Japan or Asia.
Definitely not limited to Asia or idols, it's everywhere in all entertainment industries, whether it be musicians or Hollywood movie stars, all the kids that enter those industries are vulnerable to predators. Not even just kids tbh, a lot of power is in play, especially for dreamers and those desperate to climb up the ladder.
@ SOOMI>>>I hope people realize that this predatory system also leaked through in kpop??
It is rumored in hip hop with P-Diddy and young boys under his leadership.
Many people dont mentioned, SM founder learned from Johny's method.
@@cynthiacater5825 Yup and also Chris Stokes with the band B2K. Ironically B2K made a song with Diddy.
Raz B, one of the members, has been recently going through public breakdowns; going through the same complex emotions the survivors in this video went through. Unfortunately some fans are turning against him, which is sad. They don't seem to understand the mind of a survivor.
He absolutely chose some of those candidates purely b/c he found them attractive and not necessarily b/c he thought they’d make good idols. Like the fact that so many were in training for *years* but never debuted or actually became idols, makes me think he kept them around purely so he could abuse them and then when they were “too old” for him he would fire them. Vile, *vile* monster I hope he rots
When you were talking about how the body still feels the pleasure even if the brain doesn’t want it, I really related to that because I’ve struggled with that in my SA experience. thank you for covering this and expressing the awfulness of this case
This case made me sick in the stomach. I feel Soo bad for the trainees who had to deal with that disgusting man almost every night
they didn’t have to. they valued money over their dignity.
@@chanelghostin6060 And you valued apathy over compassion, and apparently victim blaming too. No one should suffer through that to pursue a career.
@@chanelghostin6060 I’m sorry, are we not talking about children? These children lacked dignity? Really…
I was a big fan of hsj and kisumai when I was younger and I'm not aware of this, my heart hurts so much while watching this video 😭😭😭
@@miaz3839 pursuing a career and pursuing fame are two different things. they knew what they were getting themselves into.
I used to think that having a little girl would be so stressful because of how hard you have to protect them from the world and predators. But the more I look in this direction the more I realize how serious this problem is even for boys.
It's worse for boys, way more worse than you can imagine
It’s a serious problem for all children. Unfortunately the only sex that gets cared for in this area are girls. Boys face similar issues. Have you wondered why there are so many men who are homeless? For example.
@@briannguyen6248 all I'll say is gone are the days parents thought their boys are in safe hands,not anymore
People simply don't care when it happens to men.
@@briannguyen6248Bruh dude, no one cares about either of them. Both genders go through victim blaming so don't make it about genders.
i was saed by my sister ex boyfriend that had a kid with her i told many ppl when i was 13 to try get help to not have to go and stay at my sisters house and i was told he wouldn't do that and I'm a liar so yeah society needs to stop disregarding sa of men or child males.. my sister almost enjoyed forcing me to stay with him while she got the milk or something like that this man is now a truck driver and started a new family with new babies he's a pedophile and its made me sick my whole life knowing the system will always protect ppl like that
Im sorry that you were not protected, I believe you❤
Wow, this is so sad that he was able to hurt so many children… I can’t believe he died a free man. So messed up, my heart goes out to all of his many victims.
The thing I consider most vile is how someone uses their reputation or authority/power to do disgusting acts like this and get away with it for so long is what I can’t even consider as a human being but some horrific creature that just lives for making things a living hell because they can
My ex husband and adopted family is some of them.. they all abuse me in every way..
The fact that _one_ person can have so much power to make or break a person is so fundamentally fucked in the first place. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The people that think this doesn’t happen in the US need to read the stories of Lou Pearlman (the founder of NSync and boy bands). He was a sick groomer as well.
Lou pearlman is who Lee sooman got his inspiration to form idol groups from. I was a BSB fan back in the day and once everything came out, it was so distressing
@@meaghannemack82 really??? 🤢🤮
@@sarawinardi6745 yep!
Yep and Justin Bieber and usher with diddy. Diddy has getting getting exposed for decades and just now ppl are finally turning an eye to him
@@meaghannemack82 Lee Soo Man got his inspiration from New Edition.
In fact Lou Pearlman was inspired by New Kids on The Block to form his boybands and New Kids on the Block was created to be the pop alternative to New Edition. So you can say New Edition is the blueprint for both modern American boybands and Kpop boygroups.
As a person who had been groomed at age 13, then SA at 14, I was also confused by how my child self had no idea that what happened were crimes. As a kid, those acts are uncomfortable, painful and disgusting, but my brain couldn’t understand it was SA.
It took years after the SA and a talk with a therapist to realize what happened were crimes. Then slowly, I was able to feel that anger and pain from SA. And that spell his grooming had over me was broken. Truth shattered it.
But living in a lie, like the other victims of Johnny is much easier than if they accept they were SA victims. So they’d rather brush it off and say Johnny was a nice person who was a lil too “affectionate”.
I wouldn't say he "slept with" them so much as manipulated, coerced, sexually assaulted, and r*ped them. Think the title is a bit soft on him.
TH-cam will take the video down with these titles
@@ShweMyaukMyauk Oh, that makes sense, then.
as an ex-johnny’s entertainment fan and someone who is half japanese, this case left me so heartbroken. the thing that frustrated me the most was the past allegations getting swept under the rug so fast, the media was QUIET about it so i had no idea when i was younger. my heart is with the victims, who must have been terrified to speak up. the one good thing is that it’s finally starting to get the attention it should have been getting. sucks kitagawa can’t be held accountable though. thank you for covering this story stephanie.
I don't know how old you are and I am not japanese but I am old kpop fan and I was anime fan before I got into kpop not fan of kpop now , I remember NEWS original members who most them went their own ways yamapi was my favorite and I still remember how he was sexualized even as young artist, lot of his old jdramas he would have shower scenes that show his butt and people normalize that as japanese dont considered male butts to be sexualize and I remember as kid I thought that was bullshit and it made me uncomfortable, but now that those kinda news come to light of pedophilia gay owner, anyone supprise, also whem taka left the group early formation and they kept blocking one ok rock from preforming in main stream media in japan, Johnny is definitely guilty, may he rot in hell.
WASIAN ALERT☠️……
@@tsunaka bro what....
@@Erzan391 wasian alert🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@tsunakawhats wrong w wasians
Japan's culture is super backward. It's so sad how so many victims' voices are dismissed when Johnny died. Whether Johnny is alive or dead, he did what he did. Kudos to those trainees and idols who spoke out about Johnny. I hope they get therapy and support to heal from the emotional and sexual abuse they went through.
You have to take (rumoured) Johnny’s yakuza association into account, people are intimidated to talk & deal with it publicly
Not different from the west or the US, what you think we aren’t any better?
Lou Pearlman? Harvey Weinstein? Dan Schneider? I mean we can go on with this list
Oprah Winfrey (selling African kids in her school in Africa), Epstein, Obama,@@avrgegmer1396
In the west, at least they get punished, blacklisted, exposed. This is straight up parents knowingly selling their kids for money and never-ending Japan's conservatism which causes the victims to be shamed instead of supported and heard. It's backwards in so many ways but hey- at least we got anime
@@avrgegmer1396Criticizing a horrid aspect of Japanese culture, doesn’t mean that people are saying other culture are better and dont have issues. Weaboo
This is disgusting. I remember when I told my dad I was assaulted, and he had already suspected me of being gay at that point, and the only thing he said to me was. “I didn’t grow up like that.”
I just came out of the closet this year and I still struggle with thinking Im gay because I was assaulted as a kid.
I'm so sorry this happened to you 😞
Just know your loved and wanted even if your father didn't there will still be someone who loves you more❤
I really think predators look out for gay kids precisely because they’re already prone to be ostracized and demonized by institutions, societies and even their own families. Like priests and conversion therapists, they already have access to the those peoples innermost insecurities and fears.
I am so sorry 🫂and your dad is a horrible person 🤮
SA is SA. He should have been extremely angry that someone would do that to his child without consent. Even if you were 25 and not a child, a parent should be concerned for your emotional and physical well being , not who you prefer to be with that is mutual.
This is creepy. I remember being obsessed with Yamapi because he was such a bishonen and talented. There was one song that I learned parts of the words from because he sang with SO much passion. One of my Japanese classmates asked if I knew the meaning of what I was singing. Sawarenai is the word that stuck with me. It means dont touch(?)
That singer left the company after a scandal. I never looked into the details. Now I wonder.
I think that mighta been a sign. I was also a huge fan of Yamapi. I saw two of his dramas.
Yamapi left the company after a scandal? What scandal? I think he just left because his contract finished.
I still follow him. He used to be a BIG friend of Jin. They would get in a lot of trouble together. Almost asking for it. I have no doubts about Jin, unfortunately. But... Yamapi truthfully I never dared to think about it.
I think Yamapi left because he wanted to do more work overseas which wasn't allowed while he was under J&A? So he didn't renew his contract?
Look at him thriving now though!
Yamapi's fan here too! Glad that he thriving...love him in Code Blue and all of his work...
I am so glad Stephanie covered this case, it's been put aside for way too long. It's infuriating how he got away with this. It sickens me to the core and I'm so glad you're bringing some light to this! I hope all of the victims are doing well, and I hope they will NEVER EVER experience such events again, no one deserves this. This is utterly horrendous, unacceptable what he did.
I was growing up in Japan and as a kid I idolize a lot of JA idols. If you don't live in Japan, you won't really know the power they held in the entertainment industry. They were not only producing idols, but also actors and even newscasters. At their peak, literally no popular J-Drama or J-Movie without any actors from JA. They are literally everywhere, companies from snack company to airlines use JA idols as their ambassadors. To measure their power over fans, even a concert for a newly formed idol group can fill up the Tokyo Dome. When you live in Japan it's impossible for you to not know JA and their idols.
But since I left Japan I don't follow up with any JA idols anymore and this news is really shocking for me. I can't imagine what these boys went through and yet they still can give their smile and best performance for their fans on stage 🥲🥲🥲
I’ve never live in Japan, only go there for a short vacay. But, I know how powerful J&A is…Just look at Hiroshi Nagano. He never reprised his roled as Daigo Madoka/Ultraman Tiga after 2008. Even when Tsuburaya did a recapped about Ultraman Tiga, all scenes where Nagano present was cut…Now, that V6 already disband, I’m hoping to see Nagano back as Daigo Madoka.
I didn't grow up in Japan but was a huge fan of NewS as a teenager. I'm not even asian. You don't need to live in Japan to know this.
@@penultimania4295most people outside of Japan don't know much of it
God it makes you miss the Carpenters. The concert at Budokan in 1975 was amazing and is available on TH-cam. Karen was so beautiful.
This is the same type of practice that happens in the US as well. It's sinful and absolutely sickening. Not everything that glitters is gold.
I got into Kpop through first being interested in Jpop and Dorama. My favorite groups at the time were KAT-TUN and Hey!Say!Jump. This is sad to hear, what all these boys might have been going through, with a smile on their faces. Too bad that man didn't get to face the consequences of his actions. I hope whosoever were around, and might've been involved in any capacity, get's punished. There's no way some people who're still in the company currently, don't have knowledge or even participated in the SA of these boys.
A lot of the little boys were often enrolled by their moms, who themselves were Johnnies fans. The dream of being an idol was not always theirs.
Imagine wanting your kid to be successful in your favourite idol company and unknowingly handing them over to abuse. :(
My ex gf is a classical instrumentist and singer. I won’t reveal her name for obvious reasons, but she was initiated to music very young and being from a stressful family (parents argued a lot and she was the older sister of two significantly younger brothers) messed up a lot with her head and our relationship. Her mother practically treated her like a new her through which she can live (she told one of my friends that she missed out on her youth and had my ex too soon). Needless to say things between us ended very badly, with she hurting me very much in favour for her inflated « I’m better than you » ego.
Your videos are great for informing everyone about the disgusting truth of how the world works…thanks for being such a great storyteller.
The fact that this is still happening right now to a bunch of k-pop trainees as the competition is fucking huge and some trainees and idols are even forced by their companies to sleep with rich men… But yeah still a lot of teens (though there is much more awareness nowadqys thankfully) think being a k-pop idol is the ideal life
@@udontevenwannaknowbruv thats kind of a reach. Kpop is a whole different industry in literally a different country. Dont generalize a whole country.
@@user-qmx1j1pa8k The fact that you don’t think this happens in a whole different country in the same type of industry. That’s what goes on in your precious K-pop world my friend. Also I wasn’t generalising and I didn’t say it happens to all of them but it does happen all over the world where young attractive people want one thing badly and the rich and powerful have the ability to make that happen. Of course abuse comes into play. Think about the MeToo movement. Literally in every country so why are you acting like South Korea, the country with the most active entertainment industry is somehow the exception? But of course they’re terrified to speak out about it because they will be blacklisted.
This is why some K-pop fans are delusional, you’ll do anything to defend your love for K-pop and ignore all the dark sh*t which has your idols literally killing themselves. It’s not a coincidence that one of the most sexualised male K-pop idols has committed suicide a month ago (think about what he’s had to endure throughout his career) and 2 days ago another idol has followed.
Wish we could stay on the "complimenting Stephanie." comments on her other channels. Not here.
@@user-qmx1j1pa8kno one’s generalizing an entire country. at the end of the day, k-pop is still just another entertainment industry and it’s naive to think it’s an exception to having horrible practices. there are already cases of kpop companies taking advantage of minors:
-several brazilian girls were lured into prostitution after a company promised to make them stars
-G. NA scandal
-baek ji young’s scandal
-nine muses and stella being forced to shoot provocative scenes, with minors present
-extreme sexualization of hyuna, krystal, tzuyu while they were in their teens
and that’s just to name a few. some of these people were not minors when they were taken advantage of, but they were minors when they signed a contract to work for the company that put them in the position to be an “ideal” victim. the list can go on and on. kpop is painted as a cutesy genre, but it’s still just another entertainment that exploits children and opens them up to predators.
Bless Koji for coming out with his info and opening those floodgates.
This actually clarified alot for me as I went through a similar situation when I was 14 I was groomed by an older Japanese student and was ultimately shunned by the Japanese exchange community at school when I eventually came out about the trauma -which resulted in my school giving me an ultimatum about leaving or staying and them finding a way to expell me (as the fee paying students on exchange are financial assets to the school and their image). Was so surprised because where I live, it's totally acceptable to talk about your trauma and seek help
Before Kpop when I was about 13 to 17 years-old I was a Jrock and Jpop fan. Its crazy since being Black and American I'd be told how weird I was for liking them but they really cheered my up when I was having a hard time. My favorites being KATTUN and NYC from Hey Say Jump. To this day I can remember their names off the top of my head. The guy who wrote that song was Akanishi Jin, he used to be the A in KATTUN. It was only until much later did I find out this was happening. Seeing the boys' faces that I loved so much knowing what I know now is quite painful. Especially since there is no justice now for the victims.
O
I'm black and American too and was a huge jpop and jrock fan. I never shared my interest with most people, because I was afraid of being judged. KATTUN was my favorite too!
I'm Latino who loves listening to a lot of Asian pop music, but I was afraid to be judged for not listening to Spanish music by my own community...as if I don't listen to that genre as well. 🙄 I like listening to all genre.
@nessie As a musician, (67 yrs old) who has spent my life playing, teaching and performing the piano and keyboards, I am SO glad you love all genres of music.
I have played for thousands of school kids of All ages from babies to college students, and always enjoyed it when the students would dare listen to MANY styles of music. It DOES actually increase brain function (just for a crazy scientific bit of info) But, there ARE so MANY wonderful decades and centuries of music. Baroque music is wonderful, but so is big band of the 1940s American jazz.
Most of all I love music that gives Glory to God Almighty. Especially since God invented music and has it around him all the time in Heaven. It's a wonderful thing.
@nessie that's so shocking to me because I feel like in the US it's so normalized to listen to Latin music and Afrobeat. It's always just Asian music and sometimes European Music you get ridiculed for.
Thanks for shedding light on this. I was a J-Pop fan before becoming a K-Pop fan. Unfortunately he passed away in 2019. It is unbelievable that his company debuted some of the most famous and most loved male J-Pop idols. He is also viewed as a "national treasue" in Japan too like jeez
Unfortunately? I haven't watched the whole vid but isn't he like the predator why unfortunately I think u meant fortunately
@@aryakenkre5428 Maybe he should've got his comeuppance before he passed and rightful justice/apology for the victims. This was an open secret for decades, but he had such a tight grip on the media that this didn't come to light until after he died.
@@aryakenkre5428 I hope they mean like "unfortunately he passed without getting punished"
@@aryakenkre5428 unfortunately he died before even getting punished for everything he did to these boys. He's so lucky he got away after he died, while his victims still suffering from all the abuse for the rest of their lives... Too bad the government and police doesn't even bat an eye and treat it like a simple rumor. It's completely infuriating for fans.
@@loveachi28 yeah but he is probably getting punished in death
he died a happy, successful man which is the reality for way too many vile, cruel criminals. always comes down to power
I have many friends in the industry here and they can confirm that so much of this is true but people looked the other way because Kitagawa had so much power. He could totally cancel tv stations, artists and just anyone if he wanted to. The reason why this is out now? Cause he's been dead for a while. But he was a pervert and hurt so many people...but there's a lot of those who ignored his crimes. Very sad.
This reminds me of the Saville case in the UK. It was known that he abused kids but nothing was done until after his death, where the extent of his crimes were finally revealed. 😔 Unfortunately, horrible things like that can happen anywhere. I didn't know Japan had their own Saville... This is bad. Thanks for the info!
Yeah, that also makes me feel like documentary wasn’t “Trauma Tourism”, but more like they hoped it would get more attention with Netflix’s release of their documentary on Savile, and maybe make it look like the BBC has changed for the better.
Yesssss I was actually thinking of the Jimmy Savile case when listening to this story 😢 I remember hearing about people coming forward about their experiences with Savile after he passed away as the man was extremely powerful and it would have been very scary to try to go up against him when he was alive with all the connections and status he had. My heart truly goes out to all the survivors of that man 😔 Unfortunately it happens more than we think in these powerful industries.
I've been binge watching all of the Rotten Mango podcasts on all different cases that Stephanie covers from around the world, she covers a lot of cases I haven't even heard of and she does such a fantastic job with her incredible story telling 🙂
I think this is such a sad story...
He basically took advantage of ambitious, hungry and hopeful artists. And to make things worse, since there are a lot of harmful stereotypes around masculinity, no one seemed to care too much or give it too much attention.
I hope the young men find peace and feel safe within their minds and bodies again.
Hungry young ambitious will walk right into a lion’s den before thinking, they haven’t experienced the real world. Johnny made a program for them to create art while he managed them in his own (sick) way. The longer you live the more you don’t know what’s weird or not. There are those who want to learn things without even realizing. Someone will come in as a hero with alllll the answers while giving nothing but taking everything. There’s also those who will take these young man under their wings respectfully with permission from parents because they will feel the guilt trip not passing on learned knowledge. Both will pass on all of the darkness they overcame or trying to overcome. This is why internet can be good. You can learn many subjects BUT people will probably want to put into practice and experience.
Edit: 🚨long paragraph 🚨
This is almost identical to the manager of N'Sync (and other bands) as well as the manager of B2K (and other bands).
Thank you for a well researched, well thought out, and very well presented story on something so sensitive. It's time we protect those who can not protect themselves. Thank you!
Thank you for covering this!
I'm sorry I haven't finished the video but I just have to say that as a fan of the idols from his company, I can attest that the fandom is well aware of all of his allegation and very much detest him. You don't even know how glad we are when he passed away back in 2019. It still hurts me whenever the idols speak so highly of him even after he passed away, knowing what horrible things he might have done to them in the past. He is a disgusting monster and we all hope he rot in hell.
one question purely out of curiousity without shaming: why do fans support a group that they themselves know their idols have and possibly are being sexually abused by the company owner? While they work for that pedo, all the money, time and energy fans give to them inevitably also and mostly! goes to said pedo.
I cant wrap my mind about that. I wouldnt want to continue funding that life despite how much I may like one of the idols.
Yes, they wanna be idols and God knows I've been an idol fan supporting the dreams of my faves but this goes beyond their dream, it's abuse that keeps happening with the money and power the fans brings... without the fans, the company would have nothing.
@@my-vn8nw seems very Machiavellian; ends justify the means :(
@@my-vn8nw personally, I've been a fan for quite a while before I've finally found out about all of this. I didn't really interact with the fandom and just quitely enjoy it by myself watching my silly little boy group doing silly things. For me, I've just became so attached to them. If I found out earlier maybe I won't feel this attached, and I think some fans may feel the same. I know it might not sit right with a lot of people and I'm not saying that feeling is justified.
Also, the groups from his company lasts for a VERY long time, like recently a group just disbanded after their 26 years anniversary. And a lot of fans has been supporting them for years too, sometimes even before these idols debuted so it can feel like the group and the fans have grown up together all these years.
Side note: Japanese fans can be took all this idol thing to a next level. Once they stan a group, it it's either the fans feel entitled to the idols or they put their idol in a very high pedestal almost like a god. I see that it's more common for jp fans to sweep any scandal under the rug and just pretend like nothing ever happened.
@@my-vn8nw + now that he's dead there's this feeling of relieve kinda (?) I notice that especially with the intl fans. Maybe it just feels like finally the monster is gone, even though we can't really tell what's happening behind the curtain, and we can't deny the trauma most of them must be having.
I'm not trying to defend the fans, I'm just telling you how me and maybe other fans feel about this
This made my heart hurt. I'm a massive fan of SMAP, and just thinking that the boys may have been victims of this horrible man 😢
IKR, I didn't follow their music but I liked SMAP'S dramas. Sadly, one of the books did mention that Johny SA Goro. It broke my heart, among SMAP members he's my fave. Still, at least he and other members finally left the company.
@@Shaphat Oh no, poor Goro 😔 I hope he’s okay.
as a fan of hikaru genji, i feel you. it makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about it.
oh god not smap ;m;
It was an inside joke back then coz Jhonny's idols usually the ones who can dance well (like Nakai or Kusanagi Tsuyoshi) but Goro was known really bad at it so the only reason Goro even got accepted was because "Jhonny-san liked him so much". I get goosebumps writing this coz Goro is my ichiban.
Shivers runs down my spine....knowing that the victim suffers more and more while the culprit even after his crimes came out got away and not only that he also got the respect after his death....while the victims only suffer more and more in their life.
This is so horrendous and despicable. It just seems to me that many of the victims excused the abuse away because they couldn't psychologically accept what had happen to them so in their minds they had to either justified Johnny actions or excuse it away. One has to think about this behavior happening today in the music and movie business on a global scale. Look at Weinstein and what he did to many actresses for years. Others knew about his behavior and just accepted it and dismissed it. And yes, Weinstein often used blackmail of holding the actress career in his hand.
I’m I’m 😊😊😊m
Being a fan of ARASHI, SixTONES, I knew everything about Johnny and how scummy he was. Especially when so many of "his" idols have been diagnosed with panic disorder and other mental health issues. And then debuting a 11 year old in a group called SEXY ZONE, like when the news broke out I was so mad and because of how gatekept Johnny had his idols (aka no music available outside of Japan unless you buy their CDs from a proxy site), so unless you were in the know and kept up with the company, most people didn't know. Marius Yo retired from the industry in december of 2022, which I'm glad for as he had a lot happen to him since 11 and obviously was a trainee for the 10 months leading to his debut in 2011, so I'm glad he's feeling better and just not in the company anymore.
Other than that I just like the image of Johnnys funeral with all the idols to where majority of them are smiling!! Like they're happy the evil is finally gone, it honestly looks like a sport photo with how its framed and how there's 1 giving a thumbs up, some of the older idols just looking as if they're cheering.
Great telling of this monster that the industry couldn't go against it because of all the power and monopoly he had.
i was a fan of SEXY ZONE and was at the same age as Marius when i first discovered the group, J&A, or Jpop in general. Now growing up realizing how fcked up it is naming a full underaged boys group SEXY ZONE... makes me feel sick.
i didn't know Marius finally retired... the last time i heard about this group was him taking a break because he wanted to study overseas. also he went back to japan and took photos with the members during christmas 2022 (even the group official instagram also posted about it), so i thought he's still with the group... didn't know it was his last and farewell concert.
(also the funeral photo had me lost it because they're all smiling lol i just knew deep down the trainees and idols are relieved he's now gone)
Which J&A idols which has mental health issues? I dont think any members of Arashi has this problem, right?
@@tsuyoi-hikari One member of King & Prince came to mind, there was also a KAT-TUN member. Matsushima Sou of Sexy zone went on break for panic disorder way back in like 2017? 2018? Arashi are fine from what I've seen.
Scary to think that he’s younger than me. I only started my musical education after high school and right now in my classical music field, at 30 years old you’re still a « young singer » when for these teenage girls and record companies I’d be an old bag.
I was an Arashi fan for a long time. Finding content with Arashi was a pain because they take down pretty much anything that were uploaded by fans. With this, now I wonder what Arashi went through. Jun was one of the "elite" because he was one of two or three who didn't go through auditions and got in Johnny's immediately after Johnny saw him, did that mean more than what they said it did???
I'm thinking the same thing. I was a Kat-Tun fan. I remember hearing that initially Jin failed his audition, but Johnny himself accented him as trainee
I was also a hyphen back then and I remember scouring the Internet for Cartoon KAT-TUN episodes and their behind the scenes. Seeing Jin's song there is... I can't.
😢
And NEWS… Hey! Say! Jump… so many others too…
Ive read a comment somewhere that johnny kitagawa let takuya kimura married was because at that time there were numerous witnesses regarding with this issue 😐🤔
I never heard about this case until recently because my family brought it up… The fact the media didn’t report on this is just insane… I was so shocked when I saw what disgusting things that have been happening :(
I have so much respect for the person who spoke about his experience.
Thank you for bringing up this topic. As someone who mainly listens to music from Japan, albeit not exactly pop (mostly), it's inevitable to have heard Johnny's name at least once or twice in passing, as well as the boy bands under him. To be honest, I didn't really know a thing about them until I watched this video. It's amazing that you unpacked so much here, from the facts to the whispered truths that will probably never settle as heavy a thought as it should to the vast Japanese population.
I guess it's as you said, that from an Asian culture with some similar values shared in Japan, you can like, talk about this subject with more cultural depth than someone who's detached from the Asian mindset would approach this, and I really appreciate that. This video really made me think about how complex this situation is, and you can't say a single sentence about this topic with just a single emotion. There's just so much - too much - to think and say about. Not just from an outsider's perspective, but to the Japanese mass and even the people directly involved - you can't really generally categorize, or neatly define one view they hold towards Johnny's actions, and himself as a whole. It's almost like an impossible maze where people refuse to acknowledge what happened as it did, in the end leaving people like me who can only watch as outsiders kind of frustrated with what they choose to see and believe. Hell, from what I can imagine, some of the victims themselves might get angry on Johnny's behalf and for pitying the, never acknowledging the idea that what happened to them was abuse.
I try to believe that in recent years, Japan's been moving towards progression more, and while it's still iffy to think about the mass accepting something as huge-scale and culturally impacting as a big figure being an emotionally-manipulative (that's what it sounded like to me) predator, I just hope that the victims find peace, and for one day the truth to be spoken unabashedly, and for people in Japan to stop hiding under the guises of reverence and respect with the shame and avoidance for topics they should really start facing head-on.
this is so disgusting, these podcasts really question me about general life, what is really going on behind everyone's minds.
love this channel Stephanie, i feel like a lil detective when i listen to your podcasts
I'm pretty sure Jennifer Lawrence was discovered in a mall. Someone just came up to her and was like, "Do you want to be a model?" It's actually kind of creepy. I think I'd tell the guy to leave me alone. (Unless it was a woman, but it's still creepy.) And the person had no idea that she could act, but she went on to become one of the youngest people to win an Oscar for Best Actress. It's a crazy story.
There was a couple in the US I think, who used to do the same (recruit and abuse young people) and the recruiter was the wife to pretend it's safe.
Yeah watch out for women. The fact that people don't see women as sexual predators is why they can convince children and other women to meet with them
@@marianagaoka9687 The woman who was kidnapped and kept in a box under the couple's bed for many years had a similar experience. I don't remember her name and I should because I know the story well. Everything about her is just usually called something like, "The girl in the box."
The wife later admitted that it wasn't the first time they had done it, and the first girl was murdered. Thank goodness, the second girl was able to escape and she's still alive today. But they're "grift" was that it was a man, a woman, and a baby in the car. They picked up hitchhikers and seemed trustworthy because there was a woman and child in the car. What sick human beings.
@@Kristine_202 I Googled about the girl in the box and only then one realizes how sick some people are in this world. Even if it's a married couple with a baby in their arms telling you to ride on their car. They are the deceptive type, using babies (or who knows, maybe dogs/cats) as a "hook".
I used to tell my fangirl classmates this 15 years ago when i was still in high school but they never believed me. It was all over the internet but they decided to not even look it up. I wish i still talked to those girls, i wanna see their reactions.
Considering that it's affecting the company's rep to the point where they're seemingly banned from the NHK broadcasting channel... it was quite a big thing.
It’s a form of coercive control, as well. We really need this to be against the law everywhere around the world. I feel so badly for the boys being a survivor, myself.
Yes!! This needs to be heard!! i’m japanese and im a a big fan of some of the groups! (sixtones) It’s always hard for me to hear the boys in there yt channels talk so highly of mr. johnny and thank him for stuff he’s done. I believe it’s also a part of the culture that you have to bare the pain and try not to bother your surroundings. Me, because i was raised in the US, i always find it so frustrating how many don’t speak up about it. Even in a public space, they wouldn’t raise there voice to stop someone from sexually harassing them, or even defend themselves
It's probably in a contractual obligation to talk highly about that that guy.
God how I wished i had a therapist like the one who was interviewed. Growing up as a male victim is such a confusing and difficult time just like the victims of this case. N e ways good vid
I’m sorry for what you’ve gone through. It seems people are finally accepting that men can be victims as well, and I hope you find acceptance and healing ❤
Happy for your progress, but very sorry your support wasn't helpful. Sending love ❤
You will find someone, eventually! People who were asked to get help or wanted help, and eventually got help, mostly have success through their therapists.
This is not just for j-pop, but it happens to ALL entertainment industries around the world.
This is so sad. I feel like this is what they mean when they say “sell your soul to the devil” accepting abuse or doing something outside of your moral standards in exchange for something you want. 😢
learning about this case makes me feel sick. I was obsessed with Hey! Say! JUMP and KAT-TUN through my middle school and high school years and now that I’m learning about this, I feel terrible and in hindsight, I think I always found it a little weird that my favorite HSJ member auditioned to debut when he was only 10-11 yrs old but never really thought anything of it until now
Damn. Are they under j&a too?
@@robhiro yes
Same!! I was a huge KATTUN and HSJ fan!! It just makes me sick thinking about what they must've gone through all this time.
It feels like the HSJ members will always be an idol... Especially to Ryosuke Yamada who is very young and auditioned for the sake of her mom(fan of KinKi Kids). Even the mothers really forced their sons to be part of this company. It's sickening!
That story reminds me of Jimmy Savile - a wildly accepted and succesful man in show-biz, ready to work with children, very charitable, who knew well what people want to hear and see and used that skill to make the crowds trust him completely. So much so that numerous victims spoke out only after his death.
And Michael Jackson.
I think you did a an amazing job unpacking this controversial topic and story. Your perspective and depth is really commendable.
I didn't know about this man! Just googled "his" groups and I recognized almost all... that's so scary
what hurts me most to hear from this case is that you cant help the victims unless you break them from this little bubble of twisted flowers they all created in their heads. and its like youre going to hurt these victims again and whats even worse is theres no guarantee you can even make them happy after making them face the facts.
law that educates younger adults, teens, or children who to call and what to do in cases of S grooming/ SA. law that disallows older adults from sleeping with younger adults, teens, or children - w/o parental supervision... this will never happen.. thus the promise of hell to all predators and the encouragement for all victims to survive and overcome - since the beginning of time. 😐
I’ve never been angry but feel my heart drop at the same time. The instant Stephanie said his name I kept repeating “this has to be a joke, this can’t be real”.
Growing up I was in LOVE with anime and I really liked the music played in the opening/endings and I realized I started liking Japanese music. So I started searching for myself and came across a TON of J-pop artists and one of them was KAT-TUN from J&A. When I say I loved these guys I literally plastered my entire bedroom wall with all of their posters/pictures, I tried playing their songs on piano by ear (the internet was still growing so finding sheets were IMPOSSIBLE) I was DEDICATED to this group… until I got older and then discovered Kpop so eventually I forgot about them slowly but I never stopped listening to them, even today I still have some favourites saved. I found the group when I was 13.
It’s been 15 years and I’m now hearing about these horrible and absolutely disgusting crimes and I’m honestly wondering how I just didn’t freaking know. Like Stephanie said there were allegations since the 90s so why the hell didn’t I know this?! I’m so heartbroken and my childhood is completely ruined by this vile man. I can’t believe I supported a man/company who participated in such disgusting crimes and I just didn’t know or even bother to research. I feel so heavy and I hope all the artists that were victims find some version of peace for themselves. Personally I just want to apologize for supporting such a disgusting man, for some reason this is hitting me really hard and I can’t help but feel like I was part of the problem. I don’t even listen to kpop that much anymore just because I don’t like the system they’re forced to work in in order to “make it” I still listen to Korean/Japanese music, I just avoid the idol factories, and now because of this I think I will continue to keep my distance. I feel so guilty but I wish nothing but the best peaceful lives for these men and I hope more continue to speak out against this demon, although I know it’s hard, especially for men to come out, but people NEED to know about his disgusting actions. Fuck this guy and everything he’s built under this facade, it’s time for him to go.
You arent part of the problem. He was the whole problem. I am the same I loved kattun especially around 2005-2008 around then. I hope they werent hurt but I get the feeling that they were, especially Jin
You’re not guilty, all you were doing was support a boy band that you liked. Like everyone else has said, these crimes were buried due to the old fart’s power and influence. Even if you had taken the time to research, it would have been difficult to even find anything, especially with the internet not being as advanced as it is today.
I got goosebumps hearing this. The fact that this is not new to any entertainment industry either in Asia or anywhere in the world. Sadly often times, powerful criminals mostly got away with this.
Watching this episode brought back a lot of memories from the past for me. I migrated to the States when I was 13 years old....where the grooming had started for me. Many years later when my wife and I sought therapy, I remember my therapist asking me to write a letter to my abuser telling him off and say all these negative things to him for having ruined my life as a child. The following session I never completed the letter nor wanted to complete it. MY therapist asked why I didn't want to confront my abuser via my letter. I simply told him, that I didn't feel any hostility toward my abuser, in fact, I partly blamed myself for it because I felt like perhaps I egged him and many others on, even though I was merely 5 or 6 years old.
1:12:37 I agree to that. I am a Filipino and was taught by the older generation that no matter how evil a person was when he's living, when he dies we should be very respectful. That respect does not necessarily have to be for the deceased but their family who's grieving. There's a saying "A person becomes the kindest when he dies. " True enough, we only hear good things about the deceased during their funerals...
We also have this in Egyptian culture
this is sad these people are awful they don’t deserve respect
Same with the Dominican Republic. We’re supposed to keep hush about how rotten a person is cause they’re dead. I was raised in the US, so I give zero cares, but my mom is very much like that.
Ehhh, you should only follow teachings that make sense, not blindly follow everything your elders pass on. Otherwise we would never improve as a society. Rotten people deserve all the shit talking even after they're dead.
Thank you for bringing this issue to light. I am pretty sure this kind of atrocity does not happen only in J Idol companies but in idol companies worldwide. I hope more people will have the courage to speak up against child grooming and expose these predators for what they truly are, monsters in human disguise.
In the early 00s I was REALLY into Jpop. Arashi was my favorite group, and yes, they were Johnny's. Knowing now what went on, it makes me so sad for all the idols I loved.
I remember I found this out only about 5 years ago and I heard about the book but was so devastated by how people in Japan ignored it and Johnny’s was still thriving, honestly heartbroken
Thank you for this. This is totally disturbing and disgusting. I would image this happens a lot in music industry. Whether it is jPop or K-pop. Or even Hollywood. These nasty people need to be called out. This is not ok
It does. Check out nsync with Lou pearlman, B2k, usher and briber who were groomed by diddy. And look up the dark side of kpop. Some of them have groomed, used as escorts and pimped out by their companies to get where they are. Those agencies are smart because they scout children and a lot of the times they grew up poor and the company knows it’ll be easier to take advantage of them
I had been waiting for this episode Stephanie! Thanks for covering this scandal. Thankfully it’s finally blowing up on Japanese media now so hopefully something will come of it. My cousin was scouted by Johnny’s Entertainment while walking in Shibuya when he was 16. My aunt furiously refused to let him join and now I know why.
Money and fame though
He picked nice boys for a reason
The cultural context is so vital. Thank you for providing a fuller picture of what’s been going on.