Kauan Okamoto, a performer previously represented by Japan’s prime male expertise company Johnny & Associates Inc, who has stated he was sexually abused by its late founder, stated the corporate’s apology to victims has put his thoughts considerably “at ease.”
But the 27-year-old Japanese-Brazilian singer and songwriter stated his “scars” won’t rapidly heal and that the corporate must assist sexual abuse victims all through their ordeal, talking on the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan in Tokyo on Friday.
In the primary press convention held by the company for the reason that allegations in opposition to founder Johnny Kitagawa have been broadly reported by the media earlier this yr, the corporate stated Thursday that his niece Julie Keiko Fujishima has stepped down as president and acknowledged that he sexually abused aspiring teenage pop singers for many years.
Okamoto stated he was “surprised” the company plans to maintain its title unchanged regardless of the damaging scandal.
“I think it will be rather negative to maintain the name Johnny’s,” he stated.
Noriyuki Higashiyama, a veteran TV persona lengthy represented by the company and who took over as president, argued Thursday that fairly than representing the late founder, the title Johnny’s “more importantly expresses the energy and pride that talents have cultivated over the years.”
Fujishima stated she would stay as a consultant director “to fulfill my responsibility of providing redress for the victims.”
Okamoto introduced ahead his case in a press convention in April, saying he had been abused by Kitagawa 15 to twenty instances between 2012 and 2016 when he was nonetheless a member of the company.
Okamoto on the time was a part of Johnny’s Jr, a expertise pool of male idols in coaching who had but to make their debut in a gaggle or solo act.
Kitagawa was one of the crucial revered figures in Japan’s leisure business, propelling quite a few teams resembling SMAP, Arashi and Hey! Say! JUMP to stardom earlier than his loss of life in 2019.
© KYODO