Even Long-Time Veterans Are Opting for Business Partnerships… The “Crisis of a Rush of Talents Leaving” Facing the Long-Established Talent Agency “Ota Pro”

Gratitude toward the vice president and dissatisfaction with the current management

The wave of talent going independent shows no signs of stopping.There have even been cases of actors like Shihori Kanjiya (40) and Ryo Katsuji (40) leaving agencies they’ve been with for many years. Amid this trend, industry insiders are whispering that “several talents might go independent” from “Ota Production,” one of the entertainment industry’s oldest and most prestigious agencies.

“Ota Pro has a long history; in the past, it represented Beat Takeshi (79), ‘Bakusho Mondai,’ and Kuniko Yamada (66), among others. Even now, it boasts many top stars, including Hiroyuki Ariyoshi (52), Gekidan Hitori (49), and Rino Sashihara (33),” says a sports newspaper entertainment reporter.

A producer for a variety show on a major network reveals that “a major upheaval is taking place” at this prestigious agency, which has produced countless stars.

“Tsurutaro Kataoka (71), who helped build an era alongside the agency, transitioned his contract with the agency to a business partnership effective July 1.It’s said he initially intended to leave the agency, but Ota Pro made significant concessions—such as changing the fee split from 7:3 to 9:1—arguing, ‘We can’t afford to lose someone who has contributed so much over the years.’ As a result of these retention negotiations, they settled on a business partnership arrangement.

Ota Pro has been family-run since its founding, and the founder’s son currently serves as president. It is said that Ota Pro used to have a cozy, family-like atmosphere, where the relationship between talent and managers was close, and the agency was known for its warm, supportive care.”

However, since the current president took the helm, some talents have begun to complain that “the agency focuses solely on what sells and no longer shows the same warmth as before.” “I suspect these circumstances may have played a role in the background behind Tsurutaro’s move to a business partnership,” the producer says.

“It’s said that the current president’s mother was the one who built Ota Pro into what it is today. She currently serves as vice president of Ota Pro, and whenever she visits a TV station to pay her respects or conduct business, if any of the agency’s talent is on the premises—even if they’re a young, unknown talent—she almost always visits their dressing room to offer encouragement. There was a strong sense of unity within the agency, with everyone working together to achieve success.

Talents at the mid-level and above felt indebted to her, and that fostered a strong sense of loyalty to the agency.“However, the current president only has eyes for the big stars. The vice president is already quite elderly. If she were to step down from her position and distance herself from Ota Pro’s management, it wouldn’t be surprising if some talents chose to go independent,” said the same key network producer.

Is it true that Tsurutaro Kataoka has shifted to a business partnership? Was dissatisfaction with the current president’s leadership the reason? Ota Pro responded to an inquiry from FRIDAY Digital as follows:

“It is true that we have shifted to a business partnership, but we have not heard that there were any grievances. We, too, will continue to support Tsurutaro Kataoka.”

Is this long-established talent agency standing at a watershed moment?