Hideaki Takizawa Takes the Most Important Thing from Johnny’s to TOBE After the Collapse of the Dominant Force

A “shocking feature” was broadcast.

Shortly after Takizawa left the agency, sexual abuse allegations against Johnny Kitagawa were exposed by the BBC. Victims began to speak out one after another, leading to a major scandal that shook the entertainment industry. Eventually, Johnny’s agency was forced to dissolve. Around the same time, Takizawa launched a new company, TOBE, and welcomed those who transferred from Johnny’s.

In this series of events, I can’t help but feel a sense of fatefulness. In other words, just before Johnny’s agency vanished from the world, he took something with him. Something very important.

Let’s remember. On that day of the funeral, he was seen sitting in the front passenger seat of the hearse, firmly holding the portrait. Yes, Hideaki Takizawa took Johnny’s soul outside.

What is this “soul of Johnny”? Born as an immigrant child in Los Angeles, USA, and after experiencing the Pacific War, he arrived in distant Japan. There, he began the entertainment business by gathering boys. Eventually, it became the largest, most influential, and successful entertainment agency in the country.

After that, where was Johnny heading? It must have been his homeland, America. In a late radio appearance, he lamented about the missed opportunity for the first generation of Johnny’s to release a number one hit song in the U.S.

I wanted to ask Johnny Kitagawa something. What did he think of BTS?

The seven-member Korean idol group, also known as Bangtan Sonyeondan. The globally popular BTS achieved number one on the American Billboard charts with their album LOVE YOURSELF 轉‘Tear’ in May 2018.

Johnny Kitagawa passed away in February the following year, so he must have witnessed this achievement by BTS. Idol pop with Asian boys singing and dancing. Although they might seem similar, it was the neighboring Korean idol group that realized the dream Johnny’s could not achieve.

Was Johnny deeply frustrated?

Johnny’s and BTS

Such a headline appeared at the beginning of a golden time television program. It was shocking and groundbreaking. Johnny’s disliked and rejected competition with idols from other agencies. It was NHK’s Close-Up Gendai. Broadcast on August 31, 2022. By then, the founding siblings Johnny and Mary had already passed away (If both were still alive, would they have allowed this program?).

The program was titled Idol New Trend: Following the Behind the Scenes and narrated, “The dominance of Johnny’s is collapsing.” The global success of BTS was introduced. The Korean production company behind BTS revealed their strategy to launch a new group aiming for global success from Japan. The latest technology developed with BTS is their weapon.

Fan events are streamed online to 250,000 people worldwide. The events are translated into multiple languages using a specially developed app, and the popularity trends are continually quantified by region. It is a thoroughly scientific approach.

On the Johnny’s side, Tadayoshi Okura appeared. A member of Kanjani∞ and producer of Kansai Johnny’s Jr., he discussed the strategy surrounding the debut of Naniwa Danshi.