From Longtime Stars to New Talent, Ohta Pro Faces a Growing Crisis of Departures

Gratitude toward the Vice President and dissatisfaction with the current management

The rush of entertainers going independent shows no signs of stopping. There have been cases of talents such as actress Shihori Kanjiya (40) and actor Ryo Katsuji (40) leaving agencies they had belonged to for many years. Amid this trend, one of the long-established agencies in the Japanese entertainment industry that is reportedly being whispered about within the industry as a possible source of multiple talents going independent is Ohta Production.

“Ohta Pro has a long history. In the past, Beat Takeshi (79), Bakusho Mondai, and Kuniko Yamada (66), among others, were signed with the agency. It still represents many highly successful talents, including Hiroyuki Ariyoshi (52), Gekidan Hitori (49), and Rino Sashihara (33).” (Entertainment reporter for a sports newspaper)

A producer of a variety show at a major commercial TV network says that the prestigious agency, which has produced numerous stars, is currently experiencing major upheaval.

“Kataoka Tsurutaro (71), who helped build an era alongside the agency, changed his contract with the agency to a business partnership arrangement as of July 1. Apparently, he initially intended to leave, but Ohta Pro made considerable concessions in negotiations to keep him, saying, ‘We can’t afford to lose someone who has contributed to the agency for so many years.’ They reportedly settled on a business partnership arrangement after changing the fee split from 70:30 to 90:10.

Ohta Pro has been a family-run company since its founding, and the founder’s son is currently serving as president. Ohta Pro used to have a very warm, family-like atmosphere, with close relationships between talents and managers, and was said to be an agency that took a personal interest in its talents and stood by them.”

However, since the current president took over, some talents have reportedly begun complaining that “the agency is focused solely on making people successful and no longer shows the affection it used to.” The producer suggests that “this may also have something to do with why Tsurutaro moved to a business partnership arrangement.”

“It is said that the current president’s mother was the person who made Ohta Pro into the large agency it is today. She currently serves as Ohta Pro’s vice president, and whenever she visits television stations to pay courtesy calls or conduct business, if any of the agency’s talents happen to be there, she will almost always go to their dressing room to encourage them, even if they are young, unknown talents. There was a strong sense that everyone at the agency was working together to become successful.

Many mid-level and senior talents feel indebted to her, and that gratitude has also fostered a strong sense of belonging to the agency. However, the current president only pays attention to the agency’s biggest stars. The vice president is already elderly. If she were to step down as vice president and distance herself from the management of Ohta Pro, it would not be surprising if some talents chose to go independent.” (The aforementioned major-network producer)

Was it true that Kakataro Tsurutaro moved to a business partnership arrangement? Was dissatisfaction with the current management the reason? In response to “FRIDAY Digital’s” inquiry, Ohta Pro said:

“It is true that he has moved to a business partnership arrangement, but we have not heard that there was any dissatisfaction. As a company, we will continue to support Kataoka Tsurutaro.”

Is the long-established agency now standing at a crossroads――?