NHK Special on Johnny Kitagawa: Shocking Final 7 Minutes and the Reporter’s Bold Move

The October 20th broadcast of NHK Special “Johnny Kitagawa: The Real Image of the Idol Empire” has sparked a significant controversy by addressing the sexual abuse allegations against the late Johnny Kitagawa.  

The former Johnny & Associates agency has been dissolved in the wake of these issues, and the operations are now split into two entities: “Smile-Up” (SMILE Corp.), a compensation company led by Noriyuki Higashiyama, and “Start Entertainment” (STARTO Corp.), which handles talent management.

A portion of the responsibility for the sexual abuse issues lies with the media, which had long treated Johnny & Associates as a taboo subject. 

The program, as a public broadcaster, examined the behind-the-scenes aspects of the Johnny’s scandal, investigating how the situation unfolded. It focused not only on Johnny Kitagawa but also on his late sister, Mary Kitagawa, who effectively controlled the agency, shedding light on the distorted industry structure.

The Compensation Director of Smile-Up, who exhibited a rude attitude

The most impactful part was the last seven minutes.

A scene was shown in which Sachiko, the sister of the late Ryo Nakaya, the first Johnny who became the origin of Johnny’s Entertainment, was seeking compensation from Smile Corporation. Sachiko, unaware that she was being filmed by NHK’s camera, was speaking to a male representative, the head of the compensation department at Smile Corporation. In response to Sachiko’s request for an apology from President Higashiyama of Smile Up.

“Why does Higashiyama have to be at the apology meeting? I don’t understand,” he said.  

“If it were ‘Merry should apologize’ or ‘Johnny should apologize,’ I could understand that, but Higashiyama is not the perpetrator, after all.”

He said that,  

and then, in the program, it was narrated that Higashiyama later met with Sachiko and apologized for Johnny’s sexual misconduct.

“The male head of the department responded in a consistently rude manner, showing no sincerity. It’s no wonder this sparked outrage online. You can also sense the resolve of NHK to air this,” said a sports newspaper reporter.

NHK’s big-name former employee was also shown no mercy.

The program conducted a direct interview with Hisao Wakaizumi, a former NHK director who is currently an advisor at STARTO Corporation.