<figure id="attachment_325777" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-325777" style="width: 1847px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="95df6ae4"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2023/08/3d1aea87b692d64396db711b6bd99cea.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-325777" class="wp-caption-text">Yamashita Tatsuro under fire for his comments about Janie Kitagawa (from Warner Music Japan official website)</figcaption></figure>
 Singer-songwriter Tatsuro Yamashita has dispelled criticism that he is an &#8220;old man.
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 Yamashita was caught in the middle of the sex-abuse scandal involving Johnny&#8217;s&#8217;s office founder, Mr. Kitagawa.
 It all started when Kiyoshi Matsuo, a music producer, was &#8220;terminated&#8221; from Yamashita&#8217;s agency, Smile Company. The reason for this was that Mr. Matsuo had complained about the sexual assault problems at Johnny&#8217;s. On July 1, Mr. Matsuo wrote on Twitter
 Tatsuro Yamashita also agreed with the company&#8217;s policy.
 Tatsuro Yamashita also agreed with the company&#8217;s policy,&#8221; he clarified on Twitter on July 1. Smile Company and Johnny&#8217;s have long had a friendly relationship, and Yamashita has provided music to Johnny&#8217;s celebrities such as Masahiko Kondo and the KinKi Kids.
 Yamashita appeared on TOKYO FM&#8217;s &#8220;Yamashita Tatsuro&#8217;s Rakuten Card Sunday Songbook,&#8221; which was broadcast on the same day. Regarding the termination of Matsuo&#8217;s contract, Yamashita said that he had no employment relationship with Matsuo and that he had urged him to terminate the contract.
 &#8220;I did not urge him to terminate the contract.
 He denied that he had urged Mr. Matsuo to terminate the contract. Regarding the issue of Mr. Kitagawa&#8217;s sexual assault, he said, &#8220;I am in a corner of the music industry.
 I am completely unaware of the inner workings of Johnny&#8217;s,&#8221; he said. I have no way of knowing about the fact of sexual assault,&#8221; he explained.
 He explained that he had no way of knowing about the sexual assault.
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 Toward the end of the radio segment, he said
 If you interpret my attitude as a discovery or being wrapped up in something long and complicated, that&#8217;s fine. I am sure those people don&#8217;t need my music.
 He even went so far as to say, &#8220;Well, that&#8217;s my attitude.
 This caused a firestorm on the Internet. In particular, his words, which are similar to &#8220;If you don&#8217;t like it, don&#8217;t listen to it,&#8221; were met with
 Who do you think you are? 
 I&#8217;m disillusioned. 
 I&#8217;m completely disillusioned.
 Yamashita&#8217;s words, &#8220;If you don&#8217;t like it, don&#8217;t listen to it,&#8221; in particular, caused a severe backlash.
 After the radio broadcast, Yamashita never opened his mouth about Kitagawa&#8217;s sexual assault or the criticism he was subjected to. According to a music industry insider who knows Yamashita
 Yamashita&#8217;s usual behavior did not change even though he was under fire on the Internet. I don&#8217;t know how he feels inside, but &#8230;&#8230;
 Yamashita is not a critic of old people.
 Yamashita rebuffed the criticism of the old man with a &#8220;result.
 SPACY&#8221; and &#8220;CIRCUS TOWN,&#8221; the fifth and sixth albums in the &#8220;TATSURO YAMASHITA RCA/AIR YEARS Vinyl Collection,&#8221; respectively, dominated the No. 1 and No. 2 spots on the Oricon Album Daily Ranking as of August 1.
 The album seems to have sold out instantly at some stores. Not only fans but also young people are picking up the album, taking advantage of the Showa revival boom and the global city pop boom. This proves that Yamashita&#8217;s music is popular among all generations. Those who criticized the old man should apologize!&#8221; (A music industry insider, mentioned above)
 The first album, &#8220;FOR YOU,&#8221; ranked No. 4 in the Oricon Weekly Album Ranking dated May 15. The second album, &#8220;RIDE ON TIME,&#8221; ranked No. 5 in the Oricon Weekly Album Ranking dated June 19, becoming the first top 10 album in 42 years and 8 months, and breaking the record for the longest interval in the top 10 of the Oricon Weekly Album Ranking.
 The Japanese side has contacted Mr. Yamashita to apologize for &#8220;getting involved&#8221; in the commotion. It is safe to say that the relationship between the two is rock solid.
 A reporter in charge of entertainment at a sports newspaper said, &#8220;The relationship between the two parties seems to be on a firm footing.
 On August 4, the UN Human Rights Council&#8217;s Working Group on Business and Human Rights held a press conference in which the issue of sexual assault by Johnny&#8217;s was clearly discussed. Yamashita, however, will continue to pursue &#8220;his music&#8221; in the future.

 The UN Human Rights Council's Working Group on "Business and Human Rights" held a press conference and clearly mentioned the issue of sexual assault by Johnny's. Yamashita Tatsuro, who came under fire for his comments that could be seen as a "defense" of Mr. Kitagawa...

Johnny&#8217;s Sexual Assault also&#8230; &#8220;If you don&#8217;t like it, don&#8217;t ask&#8221; controversial Tatsuro Yamashita looks back at the results, &#8220;Sweeping No. 1 and No. 2 Albums&#8221;.

Johnny’s Sexual Assault also… “If you don’t like it, don’t ask” controversial Tatsuro Yamashita looks back at the results, “Sweeping No. 1 and No. 2 Albums”.

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