On March 29, the BBC will air the documentary “The Shadow of a Predator”, the sequel to its 2023 Johnny Kitagawa sexual abuse documentary “Predator: The Secret Scandal of J-Pop.”
In the new documentary, the BBC’s Mobeen Azhar spoke to Noriyuki Higashiyama, the President of SMILE-UP. In a tease of the documentary, the BBC reports that Higashiyama believes that Kitagawa was not the only preparator at Johnny & Associates, that in fact there were two more perpetrators, and that they are still alive.
Higashiyama told the BBC that an internal investigation last August concluded that two more people at Johnny & Associates were believed to have sexually abused talent. He has not contacted the authorities though. “From a legal standpoint, I don’t think we have the authority to do that. But if those involved file a criminal complaint, I imagine we would cooperate as much as possible.”
He added that he does not know if the victims of these two other perpetrators want to pursue criminal proceedings. “I don’t even know who they are,” he said.
In the wake of the BBC’s 2023 documentary, nearly 1000 men came forward with abuse allegations against Kitagawa. Some of those who came forward criticized SMILE-UP. for having an unclear compensation process and for not acting quickly enough to speak with them. They say it seems to be “an ad-hoc system with no defined timeline.”
Akimasa Nihongi, who came out with his story of abuse last year, said, “I feel like there are still issues that are hidden.”
For Nihongi and others who have come forward, there is little semblance of justice. A lawyer representing Kitagawa’s victims described SMILE-UP.’s process as “a black box situation.”
The company itself has cast doubt on some of the allegations. The company released a statement last year which read, “We have received information that there are cases in which people, who are most likely not victims, are telling false stories using the testimony of real victims.”
Some of those who shared their stories have been attacked online. A woman who did not want to be identified says her husband faced death threats and harassment when he shared his story of being abused by Kitagawa. “He wanted to reveal everything. He didn’t want future children to be harmed in the same way.”
After he spoke out, his personal details were exposed online. Eventually the woman received a text message from her husband telling her that he’d gone to the mountains. It was there that he ended his life. “When I found him, it was too late,” she said.
When asked, Higashiyama said that he is aware of this incident, saying “People have freedom of speech. I’m not encouraging slander. If it’s possible, I would really like to eliminate online abuse.”
Higashiyama said that he has personally spoken to nearly 200 people who have come forward with claims of abuse. “I hope it will help to mend their hearts, even just a little. I consider that to be my role. My main focus is to meet with survivors.” He admitted though that he has no formal training or experience in counselling or helping survivors of sexual abuse. He added that SMILE-UP.’s work doesn’t have a definitive end date.
Still, some victims feel that despite their testimonies, justice continues to be elusive. Nihongi believes it is important that those who came forward are supported in reaching closure. In his view, this is something that SMILE-UP. has so far failed to deliver. “I want them to take responsibility. I think this is the biggest post-war sexual assault case in Japan. We shouldn’t let it fade away as if it’s a temporary problem. It’s important to keep a record as part of Japanese history.”
“The Shadow of a Predator” will be posted here soon after airing.
