Former J-pop star, Kauan Okamoto, has come forward with allegations of sexual abuse by revered Japanese music producer, Johnny Kitagawa. Okamoto claims that he was abused up to 20 times between 2012 and 2016, beginning when he was 15 and in a boy band. He believes that as many as 100 boys may have been abused. Kitagawa, who died in 2019, denied all accusations during his life and never faced charges. The BBC released a documentary in March 2023 which detailed allegations from several victims, prompting Okamoto to speak out.
Okamoto alleges that the abuse occurred about 15 to 20 times at Kitagawa’s penthouse in Tokyo, with Kitagawa coming to his bed at night and performing oral sex on him after removing his clothes. Okamoto pretended to be asleep as the abuse occurred. He claims that Kitagawa did not explicitly say that success was dependent on putting up with the abuse, but he believed that Kitagawa’s favorite first picks would make it.
Okamoto was picked to join the Johnny’s Jr group in 2012, a talent pool of male idols in training at Kitagawa’s agency Johnny & Associates. He knew of at least 100 boys who had stayed over at Kitagawa’s home and believed that all of them had been abused. Johnny & Associates issued a statement after Okamoto’s press conference saying that the company was working to “strengthen our governance system”, but it did not address Okamoto’s allegations or make any other reference to its founder.
Allegations that Kitagawa groomed and sexually abused minors go as far back as the 1960s. In 1999, a local magazine published accounts from six former idols detailing alleged abuse by Kitagawa, but most Japanese media did not cover the allegations. This led to accusations of an industry cover-up, which persisted even when Kitagawa lost the lawsuit he launched against the magazine.
Okamoto has not considered taking legal action against Johnny & Associates, but hopes that telling his story will inspire more victims to speak out. He spoke at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Tokyo on Wednesday, saying that Japanese media are extremely reluctant to cover this issue, but foreign media like the BBC might report on it.
In 1999, local magazine Shukan Bunshun published accounts from six former idols detailing alleged abuse by Kitagawa.
Most Japanese media however did not cover the allegations – prompting accusations for years of an industry cover-up. This silence persisted even when Kitagawa lost the lawsuit he launched against the magazine, with a court finding that Shukan Bunshun had sufficient reason to publish the sexual assault allegations. In his press conference, Mr Okamoto said he had not considered taking legal action against Johnny & Associates.
Instead he expressed hope that telling his story would inspire more victims to speak out.
The allegations against Kitagawa highlight the problem of sexual abuse in the music industry, where power dynamics can make it difficult for victims to speak out. The industry must do more to protect young artists and ensure that perpetrators of abuse are held accountable. It is important to create a safe and supportive environment for victims to come forward and seek justice.
The case also raises questions about the role of the media in exposing abuse and holding those in power accountable. It is essential that the media reports on these issues, even if they are difficult and uncomfortable to cover. The public has a right to know about allegations of abuse and it is the media’s responsibility to investigate and report on them.
In conclusion, Kauan Okamoto’s allegations of sexual abuse by Johnny Kitagawa are a sobering reminder of the pervasive problem of abuse in the music industry. It is important that victims are empowered to speak out and that those in power are held accountable for their actions. The media has a crucial role to play in exposing abuse and ensuring that justice is served.
