Episode 259: The “Godfather Of J-Pop” Assaulted Male Trainees In Exchange For Making Them Stars (Johnny Kitagawa)


 

Johnny was a legendary figure in the world of J-Pop, known for his uncanny ability to turn unknown talents into superstars. He held the music industry, media, and A-listers of Japan under his spell, making his every command a golden ticket to success.

Some saw him as a genius businessman and marketing mastermind, while others whispered that he was more akin to a devil, preying on the souls of his chosen trainees. But no one could deny the power he held, or the price he demanded for his services.

Celebrities are often accused of selling their souls to the devil. Making deals with the devil. But it’s alleged that Johnny didn’t do deals and he took what he wanted. And what he wanted were the souls of every trainee he liked. He wanted his prey.

Full Source Notes: rottenmangopodcast.com

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64837855 (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64837855) (BBC documentary)

https://yuyufirst.com/yuumeijin/4208/ (https://yuyufirst.com/yuumeijin/4208/)

Furmanovsky (pdf (https://researchmap.jp/read0050432/published_papers/29367990/attachment_file.pdf))

https://youtu.be/tWolElE5SdA (https://youtu.be/tWolElE5SdA) (Early Television performance of The Johnnies)

https://www.theidolcast.com/posts/johnnys-amp-associates-paved-the-way (https://www.theidolcast.com/posts/johnnys-amp-associates-paved-the-way)

https://www.japanpolicyforum.jp/culture/pt201712191653027253.html (https://www.japanpolicyforum.jp/culture/pt201712191653027253.html)

https://johnnysjr98.wordpress.com/2018/01/24/what-johnnys-jr-is/ (https://johnnysjr98.wordpress.com/2018/01/24/what-johnnys-jr-is/)

https://nihonchique.com/2012/03/14/johnnys-talk-johnnys-and-marriage-dating/ (https://nihonchique.com/2012/03/14/johnnys-talk-johnnys-and-marriage-dating/)

https://aramajapan.com/news/johnny-associates-creates-official-youtube-account-johnnys-jr-channel/85896/ (https://aramajapan.com/news/johnny-associates-creates-official-youtube-account-johnnys-jr-channel/85896/)

https://apjjf.org/2019/14/McNeill.html (https://apjjf.org/2019/14/McNeill.html)

https://neojaponisme.com/2011/05/23/the-jimusho-system-part-three/ (https://neojaponisme.com/2011/05/23/the-jimusho-system-part-three/)

 https://neojaponisme.com/2010/04/05/the-jimusho-system-part-one/ (https://neojaponisme.com/2010/04/05/the-jimusho-system-part-one/)

https://news.infoseek.co.jp/article/asageiplus_230064/ (https://news.infoseek.co.jp/article/asageiplus_230064/)

https://aminoapps.com/c/japan/page/blog/the-dark-side-of-johnny-associates/MXsk_uaWeXX4lYQrgVqxdjjX31dNK (https://aminoapps.com/c/japan/page/blog/the-dark-side-of-johnny-associates/MXsk_uaWeXX4lYQrgVqxdjjX31dNK)

https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/p-et-tp0-20090424-486526.html (https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/p-et-tp0-20090424-486526.html)

http://blahknow.blogspot.com/2014/10/blog-repost-nsfw-documentation-of.html (http://blahknow.blogspot.com/2014/10/blog-repost-nsfw-documentation-of.html)

https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2012/02/23/four_leaves_kochan_dies_of_cancer.shtml&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1679231974394667&usg=AOvVaw1Akr-grBDQLANEBzpxrJFh (http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2012/02/23/four_leaves_kochan_dies_of_cancer.shtml)

https://www.cyzowoman.com/2010/04/post_1726_2.html (https://www.cyzowoman.com/2010/04/post_1726_2.html)

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/d236028c9430e6a8a579b714f61ed6fa3e41ee58?page=2 (https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/d236028c9430e6a8a579b714f61ed6fa3e41ee58?page=2)

http://www.midori-lo.com/column_lawyer_138.html (http://www.midori-lo.com/column_lawyer_138.html)

https://news.yahoo.com/exposed-abuse-still-revered-japan-230806787.html (https://news.yahoo.com/exposed-abuse-still-revered-japan-230806787.html)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2dUqJKIeOU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2dUqJKIeOU) (interview with Nakamura, the Bunshun journalist)

https://academic.oup.com/book/27756/chapter-abstract/197973810?redirectedFrom=fulltext (https://academic.oup.com/book/27756/chapter-abstract/197973810?redirectedFrom=fulltext)

 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64837855 (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64837855)

https://evaw-global-database.unwomen.org/en/countries/asia/japan/1908/penal-code-1908 (https://evaw-global-database.unwomen.org/en/countries/asia/japan/1908/penal-code-1908)

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210402/p2a/00m/0na/041000c (https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210402/p2a/00m/0na/041000c)

https://www.voiceupjapan.org/en/age-of-consent-in-japan-are-the-youth-protected-and-empowered-by-the-current-laws-and-guidelines/ (https://www.voiceupjapan.org/en/age-of-consent-in-japan-are-the-youth-protected-and-empowered-by-the-current-laws-and-guidelines/)

https://www.asianjunkie.com/2023/03/10/bbc-documentary-on-johnny-kitagawa-covers-decades-of-sexual-abuse-allegations-against-him/ (https://www.asianjunkie.com/2023/03/10/bbc-documentary-on-johnny-kitagawa-covers-decades-of-sexual-abuse-allegations-against-him/)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u32Uf8s6v7o (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u32Uf8s6v7o)

(Yoshioka Ren’s interview)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYPa_Gq6rns (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYPa_Gq6rns)

(Gaasyy’s live with Kauan)

https://www.cyzowoman.com/2023/03/post_425384_2.html (https://www.cyzowoman.com/2023/03/post_425384_2.html)

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-11/j-pop-mogul-johnny-kitagawa-alleged-sex-crimes-covered-up/102076058 (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-11/j-pop-mogul-johnny-kitagawa-alleged-sex-crimes-covered-up/102076058)

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_%26_Associates http://blahknow.blogspot.com/2014/10/blog-repost-nsfw-documentation-of.html

https://veeeeecky.tumblr.com/post/17938014194/a-documentation-of-johnny-kitagawas-alleged- past

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Leaves

https://www.excite.co.jp/news/article/Cyzo_201907_post_210427/

https://medium.com/@izana/a-big-taboo-in-japanese-media-f50e26aa232a

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64837855

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/apr/23/justinmccurry.theobserver

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J-pop

https://www.reddit.com/r/HobbyDrama/comments/tyxizt/jpop_johnny_kitagawa_the_myth_and_ allegations/

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/feb/11/turning-japanese-music-moguls https://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/14/world/lawmakers-in-japan-hear-grim-sex-case.html

https://jpop.fandom.com/wiki/Four_Leaves

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64837855 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001jw7y

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-11/j-pop-mogul-johnny-Kojigawa-alleged-sex-crimes-cov ered-up/102076058

https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/30/world/in-japan-tarnishing-a-star-maker.html

https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/johnny-Kojigawa-how-j-pop-founder-faced-decades-of-se xual-abuse-allegations-27412/

Production Note:

Rotten Mango has not done original reporting on this case. The stories are based on existing material (listed in show notes).

The RM team works hard to make sure everything you’re listening to is as accurate as possible and we try to use multiple sources to verify the facts. Creative liberties may be taken in certain cases during the presentation of the case. Please email us at rottenmangop@gmail.com if you have any questions!

 
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Episode 260: Korean Billionaire “With No Face” Mysteriously Linked To 32 Dead People In Attic

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Episode 258: Chinese Live Streamer Died On Stream, Then Someone Stole Her Body & Sold It