New Leader of J-Pop Agency Accused of Abuse

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    The Spin

    Narrative A

    While acknowledgment of Johnny Kitagawa's heinous abuse is a step in the right direction, it doesn't come close to justice. For six decades, Johnny Kitagawa sexually abused vulnerable boys while the people around him — and, more deplorably, society as a whole — turned a blind eye to his crimes. This case speaks to the broader crisis of governance in Japanese entertainment and calls attention to the nation's lack of adequate child protection laws.

    Narrative B

    Although there are no excuses for the terrible crimes Kitagawa committed and Japan's entertainment industry — and the nation itself — has a long way to go to stamping out crimes against minors, both the agency and the nation have taken encouraging steps forward. Johnny & Associate's compensation program and Japan's revision of its Penal Code concerning sex crimes and further pending reforms are vital efforts in the right direction.


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