A Nightmare at Johnny’s: The Jr. Days of Okamoto Kauan

Kauan was sexually assaulted 15-20 times before leaving Johnny’s. It is an experience he does not want to recall. Still, he says his gratitude to Mr. Johnny has not changed.

 

“What Mr. Johnny did is unforgivable as a human being,” Kauan said. “But for me, he is a great benefactor who guided me into the world of entertainment. If I had not met Mr. Johnny, I would not be where I am today. Even though I have suffered damage, my sense of gratitude has not changed.”

“On the other hand, I also think that Mr. Johnny had a complex. His father was a Shingon Buddhist monk and a strict man, but he lived with the secret that he liked children of the same sex. He was not tall either. I think it was because of this sense of inferiority that he stayed behind the scenes and never appeared on the stage.”

It’s the path you have decided to take.

With Johnny’s encouragement, Kauan’s career in the entertainment industry developed. However, he was conflicted.

“My dream is to be a solo musician like Justin Bieber and inspire many people around the world. With Johnny’s, you have to stick to the group you belong to.”

“My work increased, but I was appearing in so many variety shows and dramas that I began to wonder, can I continue like this? I began to question whether it was self-preservation to stay with Johnny’s, where I had a stable job, while I was worried about my future.”

 

In August ’16, kauan quit Johnny’s. When he informed Mr. Johnny of his intention to leave, Mr. Johnny agreed, saying, “It’s the path you decided to take.” Kauan immediately made a fresh start. He joined forces with a composition company and began working with Jr. members who were also worried about their future. At first, they were well received. However,