Nakai-Kokubun Clash Exposes Deference to Former Johnny’s Agency

Mr. Minato has begun preparations for a lawsuit against Mr. Ota

On July 6, Fuji TV aired a self-produced investigative program about the scandal triggered by Masahiro Nakai (52) and his troubles with a woman named A-ko. The program interviewed related parties including former president Koichi Minato and former executive director Ryo Ota.

However, the honest impression was that the program revealed nothing beyond the findings of the third-party committee.

A point of particular interest was whether the concealment of information about Nakai’s trouble with A-ko from the compliance office was done to protect Nakai, who continued to appear in regular shows afterward. At Fuji’s apology press conference in January, Minato was asked this directly, and he replied,

“There was no intention to protect Nakai.”

He gave the same answer in the investigative program.

Ryo Ota, who was one of the few people who shared limited information, also said on the program,

“There really was no such intention (to protect Nakai),”

but added,

“However, it’s understandable that it could be perceived and seen that way,”

thus, admitting that, as a result, Nakai was effectively protected.

When FRIDAY Digital sent Fuji TV another inquiry asking whether the policy of filing a lawsuit against Minato and Ota had changed, Fuji TV responded,

“Our company’s auditor has begun preparations for the lawsuit, but we will refrain from commenting on other details.”

Whether or not they truly had no intention to protect Nakai remains highly questionable. It will be worth watching if this issue becomes clear in court.

This is because, having worked as an entertainment reporter for over 20 years, I have personally experienced how much TV stations have bent over backward to accommodate the old Johnny & Associates agency. When President Johnny Kitagawa (deceased 2019) and Vice President Mary Kitagawa (deceased 2021) were alive, the control over media information was especially strict.

From experience, when explaining entertainment news on a wide show, if I said anything against their wishes, the program’s top management or the station’s upper management would soon receive calls from the old Johnny’s side. The program staff would often be warned by the station afterward.

Even though such matters are commonly reported in weekly magazines, many things cannot be said on TV. That said, I’ve strangely never been directly complained to.

Having witnessed the close relationship between the old Johnny & Associates and TV stations up close, it’s easy to imagine how frantic the network executives must have been to conceal information when Nakai—who, despite going independent, maintained a close relationship with the agency—got into trouble with one of the station’s announcers. No matter how much they deny it, I still believe it was likely done not to protect A-ko but to protect Nakai.

A case that clearly exemplifies this agency’s nature is the incident involving Goro Inagaki (51), who was arrested in 2001 on suspicion of violating traffic laws and other charges.

Requests from the old Johnny & Associates and TV stations’ accommodations

When Inagaki, a member of the then extremely popular group SMAP, was arrested, the media notably avoided using the usual term suspect and instead referred to him as “Inagaki member,” an unusual expression that caused a stir. Behind this was a strong request from the old Johnny & Associates to the media, and the press accommodated it—a well-known fact.

“A criminal case like an arrest can’t be completely hidden, but the fact that they could make the media even change the way they referred to him showed Johnny’s power. Of course, scandals like love affairs or harassment were also treated as if they never happened. Honestly, when the old Johnny & Associates was still strong, cases like those involving Nakai or Kokubun wouldn’t have come to light,” said a variety show insider.

Taichi Kokubun (50), former member of TOKIO who announced an indefinite suspension due to compliance violations, was also with the old Johnny & Associates.

The issue started on June 20 when Nippon TV announced his removal from the variety show “The! Tetsuwan! DASH!!.” President Hiroyuki Fukuda revealed at a press conference that multiple compliance violations were confirmed.

“The group TOKIO enjoyed high popularity, especially for projects supporting Fukushima after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Kokubun, as the MC, was especially valued. Additionally, he married a TBS employee three years his junior in 2015 and had two daughters—his public image was impeccable as a gentle father,” said an advertising agency source.

However, he committed multiple compliance violations and was forced to suspend activities. Allegations surfaced that he coerced female staff to send obscene photos and engaged in power harassment toward program staff, exposing his hidden side.

Behind the sudden exposure of sexual harassment and power harassment allegations

It was unthinkable in the past for a TV station to hold a press conference and publicly expose compliance violations by a former Johnny’s talent without the knowledge of the members or the agency. But seeing Fuji TV’s blunder, it’s no surprise that Nippon TV got nervous.

This special treatment extended beyond media relations to everyday operations within the TV stations.

“It’s understandable for nationally beloved groups like SMAP or Arashi, but even before debut, the Jr. members appearing on shows would make the staff nervous. Rookie comedians often get heavily teased by the crew, but Johnny’s Jr. members always had managers shadowing them, intimidating the stations. Feeling that atmosphere, they surely believed they were exceptional. After all, they were treated specially in the entertainment world from a young age, so it’s no wonder they grew up with such misconceptions,” said a TV industry insider.

Under the agency’s overprotection, former Johnny’s talents have lived in the entertainment industry’s warm bath. Now, the rapid surfacing of sexual harassment and power harassment issues is likely tied to the dismantling of Johnny’s.

Ordinary workers have significantly updated their compliance awareness over the past few years. Former Johnny’s talents will likely follow in the footsteps of their failed predecessors unless they update their attitudes many times over. The protective backing that used to cover things up is no longer there.