Post Time: 2026-03-13
Country: United States, Australia, United Kingdom. City: Columbia, Indianapolis, Inglewood, Pearland, Vallejo(4 Sep 2023) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Tokyo - 4 September 2023 1. Various of the members of Johnny's Sexual Assault Victims Association holding press conference 2. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shimon Ishimaru, deputy head of Johnny's Sexual Assault Victims Association: “Johnny & Associates must immediately investigate the facts of this case, hold a dialogue with the victims of this case after examining the responsibility of the parties involved, and promptly establish and operate a relief system for victims that provides appropriate compensation for them.” 3. Ishimaru speaking 4. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Junya Hiramoto, head of Johnny's Sexual Assault mouse click the following website page Victims Association: “I hope sites that Johnny & Associates will not announce or propose a plan unilaterally, but rather engage in dialogue with the victims, and take into account the ideas and hopes that emerge from that dialogue.” 5. Various of Reporter asking a quesiton 6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Junya Hiramoto, head of Johnny's Sexual Assault Victims Association: “Even if we are sitting here confidently, we bear pain, a very deep pain that we cannot forget and will not disappear.” 7. Various of reporters 8. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Junya Hiramoto, head of Johnny's Sexual Assault Victims Association: “(At the hearing, ) there are many other victims, not just us here today sitting in front of you, who cannot speak up – I think there are countless of them. I want to help them.” 9. members of Johnny's Sexual Assault Victims Association holding click here. press conference STORYLINE: A group of men who say they were sexually abused by a Japanese boy band producer expressed hope Monday that the company will provide financial compensation and introduce measures to prevent a recurrence. They say producer Johnny Kitagawa sexually preyed on young dancers and singers for decades, having them stay at his luxury home, handing them cash and leveraging promises of potential fame. The company, Johnny & Associates, is a powerful force in Japan's entertainment industry. The men said at a news conference Monday that they have been ignored for decades by the company, Japanese society and mainstream media. Company Chief Executive Julie Keiko Fujishima released a brief statement on YouTube in May about the accusations but has not appeared before reporters. Shimon Ishimaru, together with eight other men, formed a group demanding an apology and compensation from the company. He urged the company to engage in conversations with the victims. Johnny’s, as the company is known, is family-run and not publicly listed. Kitagawa, Fujishima’s uncle, died in 2019 and was never charged. A special team set up by the Tokyo-based company recently spoke to 23 accusers, but has said the total will likely balloon to at least several hundred people. The team also recommended Fujishima resign. Junya Hiramoto, another member of Ishimaru’s group, said they hope to set an example for others who have suffered. Over the years, persistent allegations against Kitagawa have generally been dismissed as malicious rumors. Mainstream media stayed silent. Japan tends to be behind the West on issues of gender equality, children’s rights and awareness about sexuality. It was only after a BBC documentary about Kitagawa aired this year that the scandal again became a topic of scrutiny. The Associated Press does not usually identify people who say they were sexually assaulted, but Kitagawa’s recent accusers decided to be named publicly in news accounts. AP Video shot by Ayaka McGill =========================================================== Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive:
