United Nations Human Rights Council investigation team: shocking news conference on sexual assault by Kadokawa | Japan | Sexual assault
Experts from the United Nations Human Rights Council held a press conference in Tokyo on the 4th, announcing their shocking allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in Japan's entertainment industry, involving hundreds of artists from Japan's top male celebrity agency, Johnny&Associates. Experts call on the Japanese government to take action on this.
According to a report by Kyodo News Agency on August 4th, experts from the United Nations Human Rights Council's "Business and Human Rights" working group held a press conference at the Japan Press Club in Tokyo on August 4th to release an investigation report on the issue of sexual assault by Johnny's Office in Japan. The investigation is conducted by Damilola Ogombi, who serves as the chairman of the working group, as well as political scholar Pichamon Yofangtong, who studies business and human rights issues.
On March 7th of this year, the BBC's official website launched a documentary titled "The Predator: J-Pop's Secret Scandal". The documentary tells the true story of Johnny Kitagawa, the founder of Johnny&Associates, the most influential agency in the Japanese entertainment industry, who sexually abused young boys under the company during his lifetime. The Jenis sexual assault incident is one of the focuses of the investigation by the United Nations Human Rights Working Group.
According to a news release on the United Nations website on August 4th, two human rights experts began their official 12 day visit to Japan on July 24th. The working group reviewed multiple issues, including sexual harassment and abuse in the media and entertainment industry, as well as issues related to the treatment of foreign workers in technical internship training programs.
Working group member Yue Fan also stated at a press conference, "Interviews were held with victims of sexual abuse at Johnny's office, revealing deeply worrying suspicions of artists being involved in sexual exploitation and abuse."
Yo Fan Tong also pointed out that the Japanese government should take the lead in providing relief to victims of sexual assault at Johnny's Office. She believes that the investigation conducted by the external expert "Special Group to Prevent Recurrence" established by the firm is questionable in terms of transparency and fairness.
It is reported that the working group plans to submit the final report of the investigation to the United Nations Human Rights Council in June next year.