One of the first things I noticed when I moved to Tokyo was the smiling faces of J-Pop idols posted everywhere - large billboards, moving trucks, subway cars. Japan has the second largest music market in the world, mostly due to the rising popularity of J-Pop, with millions of fans in Japan and all around the world. 

One man, known as Johnny Kitagawa, considered the grandfather of J-pop, is responsible for creating idols out of hundreds of young boys who dreamed of being famous. But few know the dark secrets this man, his company and the Japanese media have kept hidden for decades. Johnny Kitagawa allegedly abused hundreds of pre-teen and teen boys who wanted nothing more than to become a J-Pop star. The stories of sexual abuse were kept quiet by many, due to greed, shame, a culture that has denied that males can be raped and the making of a legend out of a monster. 

Only in his death has the truth of Johnny Kitagawa and his company “Johnny & Associates” finally come to light. 

So dim the lights, put your phone down and listen to the story of how one of Japan’s most beloved and celebrated predators was enabled to abuse hundreds of boys for almost 60 years, while the media and law enforcement looked the other way. 

Sources:

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8j6ho7 

https://starto.fandom.com/wiki/Junior

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2023/05/18/commentary/japan-commentary/johnnys-media/

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64837855 

https://web.archive.org/web/20130614000713/http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2005/aug/21/popandrock3

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68624670

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