Shukan Bunshun is reporting that Kis-My-Ft2‘s Hiromitsu Kitayama is the next departure from Johnny & Associates. This story comes days before the departure of former V6 member Ken Miyake, and soon to be former King & Prince members Sho Hirano and Yuta Jinguji, with Yuta Kishi to follow later this year. The Johnny’s Jr. group IMPACTors are also rumored to be leaving.
When they debuted in 2011, the TV and advertising industries whispered among themselves that Kis-My-Ft2 was the “next dangerous group.” They debuted at Tokyo Dome 18 days after their debut, a record. However, they were not treated given preferential treatment for much longer.
“The group was created by Iijima Michi, the SMAP manager who was forced out when the group disbanded. It took six years from Kis-My-Ft2’s formation to their debut. The following month, Sexy Zone’s debut was announced, and suddenly they became the hot topic,” says a TV station official.
Kis-My-Ft2 was only invited to NHK’s “Kohaku Uta Gassen” twice.
“Masahiro Nakai, the former SMAP member, was looking after them. He was the one who produced their subunit Busaiku. But he left the company in 2020,” says the same TV official.
Hiromitsu, the oldest member at 37, is the leader.
“Both of his parents are teachers. He is an only child. When he appeared on a quiz, he said that he wanted to us the prize money to give his parents a new car. He has a parental side,” says an entertainment reporter.
Because Hiromitsu was classmates in high school with former Johnny’s Tomohisa Yamashita and Koki Tanaka, he auditioned for the company and passed.
“He would say ‘I can’t dance’, so he went to dance classes on his own, and thanks to that, was able to form a unit. He was 25 when he debuted. He was the oldest person to debut at that time and he worked hard,” says a Johnny’s staff member.
In 2020, Bunshun reported that Hiromitsu was dating Uchida Rio. He had a good relationship with his seniors at the company, going out for drinks and playing golf with Masahiro. But the senior he admired the most was Hideaki Takizawa.
The Johnny’s staff member adds, “When Hideaki selected Hiromitsu for “Takizawa Kabuki” in 2015, Hiromitsu said it went from ‘a one-sided love to a two-sided love.’ Hideaki brought out Hiromitsu’s cheeky side and loved him like a ‘favorite disciple’, taking him out to eat.
But Hideaki is gone now.
“Since last fall, Hiromitsu has had many discussions with the company,” continues the Johnny’s staff member. “Hideaki left and he consulted others. This was also when Ken started to have discussions with the company.”
It was asked if Hiromitsu was having these discussions last month, and Johnny’s didn’t deny it.
“The talks ended with him deciding to leave the company,” says the Johnny’s staff member. “When he will leave is currently being figured out. A new office was established for him in Tokyo last year.”
Currently, Hiromitsu has a series in a magazine, and is starring in “Endless SHOCK”, which ends in May, and the NHK drama “Seigi no Tenbin Season 2.” Hideaki has also just opened his own agency.
Bunshun went to Hiromitsu’s home and when they introduced themselves as such on his intercom, he hung up.
They then asked his mother, who hadn’t heard about him leaving Johnny’s. She said that he’s an adult so she leaves things to him to decide for himself, but that she will support him regardless of his decision.
Bunshun then asked Johnny’s if he was leaving, but they didn’t receive an answer in time.
One by one, another star leaves.
Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that this is a gossip post, meaning that it may contain information that’s not entirely true. Futhermore, if and when Hiromitsu was to leave the company, it would be accompanied by a press release from Johnny’s, as is standard with the departure of all debuted talents.
