Regarding the sexual assault issue of Mr. Johnny Kitagawa, Johnny's Office held a press conference in Tokyo on the 2nd.
We have changed our current company name to "SMILE-UP." and announced that we will close the company in the future.
He also revealed his intention to change the name of the group he belongs to with the name "Johnny's", and the name of Mr. Johnny, the former president and founder, will disappear.
The press conference began at 2 p.m. at a hotel in Tokyo, and was attended by four people: President Noriyuki Higashiyama, Vice President Katsuhiko Inohara, Corporate Lawyer Hiroshi Kimeda, and CCO = Chief Compliance Officer Masayuki Yamada. Former president Julie Fujishima did not attend the press conference.
table of contents
Point [1] Johnny's disappears and goes out of business
Point 2: What is the new company? What's in name?
Point [3] What about damage reporting and compensation?
Point [4] Recognition and apology for the damage
Open Table of Contents
table of contents
table of contents
Point [1] Johnny's disappears and goes out of business
Point 2: What is the new company? What's in name?
Point [3] What about damage reporting and compensation?
Point [4] Recognition and apology for the damage
Point [1] Johnny's disappears and goes out of business
《Johnny's Company Name Change》
In it, Mr. Higashiyama commented on the current company name "Johnny's Office" as "SMILE-UP." on October 10. and clarified that this company will be responsible for compensating the victims.
Mr. Higashiyama stated, "We will change our company name and completely withdraw from talent management and training operations, and we would like to complete compensation, relief, and psychological care for those who are still suffering from the damage, even if it takes time."
"Smile Up" temporarily becomes an SNS trend with Johnny's name change
《Closed down after Johnny's compensation》
In addition, Mr. Higashiyama changed the name "SMILE-UP." However, he continued to serve as president and representative director, compensated the victims, and announced that he would close the business in the future.
Mr. Higashiyama said, "I know that some people feel uncomfortable with the word smile, but the first thing to do is to proceed with apologies and compensation to the victims as soon as possible. We consider it a social responsibility. I will serve as president, and Julie Fujishima will remain a director as a 100% shareholder. This is because in the future, it will not be possible to compensate beyond the law if you include the capital of a third party. And we will properly compensate the victims and close the business."
Julie's Letter "Eliminate All Traces of Janie from This World"
Mr. Inohara read out a letter from former president Julie Fujishima, who did not attend the press conference.
The letter reads, "Johnny's Office has decided not only to change its name, but also to close the business, and I believe that closing what my uncle Janie and mother Mary made is what I can do as a relative of the perpetrator."
"I left Johnny's Office four years ago from my mother, Mary. I think Johnny's office was in power not only by Johnny, but also by my mother, Mary. Janie and I have never had a meal with just the two of us since we were born. When Janie lost the trial, Mary said, "Janie is innocent, so we brought the case here, and if she's guilty, she won't make a fuss from us. He himself insists on his innocence until the end. It was the lawyer's fault that we lost.' I think the people who worked under Mary at the time heard the same thing and believed it. You might think that's not the case, but maybe Johnny was kind of geniusly attractive and brainwashed everyone."
"This time, many people criticized me for remaining a 100% shareholder. In fact, we have received many offers from many funds and companies about acquisitions on favorable terms. Many experts have advised me over and over again that paying inheritance tax with that money and disappearing as a shareholder is the easiest way to go, as it eliminates liability for compensation. However, I decided to remain 100% of the shareholders because I heard that if other people joined as shareholders, the victims would be virtually unable to provide relief beyond the law. For that reason, I will remain 100% of the shareholders in the current company, but from now on, I will concentrate on compensation and mental care of the talent, and will not be responsible for any other work. In the future, I will also step down as CEO of all affiliated companies." "When I inherited from Janie and Mary, I used the business succession tax system to maintain Johnny's office, but I will stop this by surrendering my right of representation, pay all taxes due promptly, and terminate the company."
"I believe that closing Johnny's Office is something that I must do as a relative of the perpetrator, and I would like to remove all traces of Johnny Kitagawa from this world."
《Changed in all groups named "Johnny's"》
At the press conference, Mr. Higashiyama also revealed his intention to change the names of his group and affiliated companies bearing the name "Johnny's."
Janney, the former president and founder, will be gone.
Mr. Higashiyama said, "It's a name that has been loved by many fans, so I think they have their own struggles, but I have heard that they will change it. I think they made a tough decision, but I think that's how it will go. None of them will all be named Johnny's."
Mr. Inohara also said, "I think there was an opinion that I wanted the name Johnny's Office to be kept, but I think the strongest feeling I heard was not that I was thinking of Mr. Johnny Kitagawa, but that I came in because I admired the seniors who shone in the place called Johnny's. That's why we have to work harder than ever under the new system."
Point 2: What is the new company? What's in name?
《Mr. Higashiyama appointed as president to establish a new company》
Mr. Higashiyama stated that he would establish a new company to manage talents in place of the current Johnny's Office, which has changed its name, and stated, "We will dismantle Johnny's Office ourselves and carve out a future with fans while sincerely facing the victims."
He also announced that he would be appointed as president of the new company and Mr. Inohara would be appointed as vice president.
《The new company is an agent company》
Mr. Higashiyama positioned the company as an "agent company" that concludes individual contracts with talents who wish to join the new company, and explained that talents "do not entrust everything to the company or are tied down, but seek a place to play an active role on their own according to the direction of their activities."
On top of that, he said, "Among the talents currently belonging to Johnny's Office, members who have confirmed their intention to move to the new company and work will be notified through the fan club."
《Company name to be decided by fan recruitment》
Regarding the name of the new company, Mr. Inohara, who will be appointed as vice president, stated, "In order for us to carve out a future, I think we should work together with our fans once again," and indicated that the company will be decided through open recruitment from the fan club.
《Former president, Mr. Fujishima did not invest》
Regarding the management structure of the new company, Mr. Higashiyama stated, "We would like to establish the new company as a corporation within about one month and gradually expand its functions," while Mr. Fujishima, the former president of Johnny's Office, explained that he would not invest in anything and would not join the board.
Mr. Higashiyama commented on what he was expected to do as president, saying, "I think there are more suitable presidents and management professionals, but I think they wanted me to understand the feelings of the victims and the feelings of the talents. I hope you will look at it with warm eyes."
《Junichi Okada's question》
On the other hand, at the press conference on the 2nd, there were questions about some reports that Mr. Junichi Okada, a talent belonging to the company, was leaving Johnny's Office, but Mr. Higashiyama only stated, "I think we have a strong desire to convey our voice firmly, and I would like our fans to wait."
Point [3] What about damage reporting and compensation?
As of September 9, the Victims' Relief Committee on Janie Kitagawa's sexual assault had been contacted by 30 people, of whom 478 were seeking compensation.
In addition, about 325 of these people have been confirmed to be enrolled in Johnny's Office in the past and present.
Masayuki Yamada, a lawyer who has been appointed as CCO = Chief Compliance Officer, said of the compensation amount, "We will receive the compensation amount from the Victim Relief Committee, present it to the victims as a settlement plan, and finally provide compensation while talking with the victims. As we want to realize early compensation for those affected, we would like to inform everyone of the total amount of compensation and the number of people compensated at the appropriate time and in an appropriate manner."
In addition, since September 11, President Noriyuki Higashiyama has met directly with the three people who have complained of damages, apologized for Johnny's Office's response so far, and explained the status of compensation and recurrence prevention efforts. I would love to meet anyone I want to meet in the future. If you want me to be heard, please raise your hand and I will visit myself."
Regarding the 9 people seeking compensation, Mr. Higashiyama said, "I have a strong feeling that this was the case, and I think we need to think more carefully about providing care. Since the number of people may increase in the future, we decided to make it an office specializing in compensation and relief. We will continue to compensate even after we go out of business."
In response to a question about whether the degree of compensation changes depending on whether or not the talent belongs to the company, he replied, "I think that if I was really victimized, I would have to compensate for it, and I would like to think about it carefully with the cooperation of everyone."
Regarding the proof of the damage, corporate lawyer Hiroshi Kimeda said, "There was a time when Johnny's Jr. was not managed comprehensively. We will not shift the burden of proof to the victims so that we can compensate them as broadly as possible."
Furthermore, regarding the future of consultation, Mr. Inohara said, "I don't think we should suddenly jump into a place where we don't know who we are, for example, if we can create a therapy room and have as many one-on-one conversations there as possible and tell various truths little by little. I would like everyone to come as much as possible."
Mr. Higashiyama also said, "I think it is really difficult to suddenly talk to three former judges, so I would like to first think about the importance of providing mental care and healing their hearts, and then properly understanding their intentions from there."
Point [4] Recognition and apology for the damage
《Apologies to victims, etc.》
At the beginning of the press conference, there were a series of apologies to the victims.
President Noriyuki Higashiyama once again apologized to the victims, saying, "I would like to apologize once again to those who were affected by Mr. Kitagawa and those who are still suffering.
Mr. Katsuhiko Inohara said, "The victims had a really hard time and were able to hold on to them alone for a long time, and finally they were able to speak out, and it was precisely because of their courage that this company moved to change significantly. I would like you to stop slandering me."
In a letter from former president Julie Fujishima, read aloud by Inohara, he said, "Considering the feelings of the fans around the world who have supported the talent belonging to Johnny's Office, I am really, really sorry and cannot put it into words. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and concern caused to the relevant companies. Once again, dear victims, I cannot forgive what Janie did. I am sincerely sorry. In addition, I will do my best to support the talents and employees so that they can fully spread their wings on the new path and make everyone happy."
《Compensation scale "What is this"》
Regarding the fact that 478 people have applied to the compensation reception desk so far, and 325 people have reported damage and are seeking compensation, Mr. Higashiyama said, "I have a strong feeling that this was the case, and I think we need to think more carefully about providing care. Since the number of people may increase in the future, we decided to make it an office specializing in compensation and relief. We will continue to compensate even after we go out of business."
Mr. Inohara also said, "I agree with you, but I think that there were so many people, and that they really had the courage to come forward, and that there are still people who are still worried because they can't take the courage to do it alone. I think we must continue to think about how to encourage that person to engage in dialogue. We don't think that's enough."
《What is Mr. Higashiyama's responsibility? Sexual harassment allegations denied.
In addition to holding Mr. Higashiyama accountable for Janie Kitagawa's sexual assault, in response to a question about allegations that Mr. Higashiyama himself was sexually harassed, Mr. Higashiyama replied, "I have never sexually harassed. Some of you may have felt power harassment, but it was about 35 to 40 years ago, and I think it was difficult for me to understand sexual assault. I read about Kitagawa's crimes in the newspaper, but they didn't cause a stir in the world, and I wondered what this meant."
《Recognition of sexual assault》
Mr. Higashiyama commented on Kitagawa's sexual assault, saying, "I think it means that I have turned a blind eye to the conclusion, and I didn't really know how to act. I think I can say this to many people now, but at that time, there were only homes, workplaces, and schools, and I didn't have the courage to tell anyone," he said, adding, "I'm always thinking about how to save the fear felt by the victims and what I can do to heal them.
At the end of the press conference, he said, "Various junior kids were affected, and although I was at the training camp as a talent, there was a feeling that I should not have touched it, that I should not enter it. I was at an age where I couldn't do it personally, and if people said I was turning a blind eye to it, I think it would be up to me. I don't think the wounds inflicted on the heart can be healed, and it is not a problem that can be done only by compensation. I feel that what we can do is to throw away everything that bears the name of Johnny's and heal [the victims]."
Mr. Inohara added, "I think I was in absolute control, and I think it was a clever trick. It was under control without us children realizing it, and there may have been many such people among the adults who were there at the time."
He added, "I think many people were able to confess thanks to one person's courage, and I don't think we should waste it."