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BBC reporter Mobeen Azhar is doing a follow-up to his documentary on the Johnny Kitagawa sexual abuse case from final 12 months, Predator: The Secret Scandal of J-Pop.” In an article in regards to the sequel, titled The Shadow of a Predator, present SMILE-UP head Higashiyama Noriyuki reveals to Azhar that there have been two extra predators who had been concerned which are nonetheless on the market right this moment.
Higashiyama advised the BBC that an inner investigation by the previous firm in August 2023 had concluded that two individuals at Johnny & Associates had been believed to have sexually abused expertise.
He revealed that, up to now, he has not contacted the authorities.
“From a authorized standpoint, I don’t suppose we’ve got the authority to do this,” Higashiyama says. “But when these concerned file a prison grievance, I think about we’d co-operate as a lot as attainable.”
He says that he doesn’t know if the survivors of abuse by the 2 perpetrators need to pursue prison proceedings.
“I don’t even know who they’re,” he says.
The struggles of Johnny Kitagawa’s victims making an attempt to get compensated was additionally introduced up, which was talked about earlier this 12 months.
A lawyer representing survivors of Kitagawa’s abuse described Smile-Up’s course of as “a black-box scenario”.
Smile-Up has itself solid doubt on among the allegations. Days after being arrange, the company launched an announcement saying: “Now we have acquired info that there are circumstances by which individuals, who’re most definitely not victims, are telling false tales utilizing the testimony of actual victims.”
Additionally they discuss victims dealing with harassment from netizens, together with the story of one particularly.
A number of the survivors who shared their experiences have confronted condemnation and harassment from individuals on-line.
A lady who didn’t need to be recognized says her husband confronted demise threats and harassment when he shared his story of being abused by Kitagawa.
“He needed to disclose every thing,” she says. “He didn’t need future youngsters to be harmed in the identical means.”
After he spoke out, his private particulars had been uncovered on-line.
Ultimately the girl acquired a textual content message from her husband telling her that he’d gone to the mountains. It was there that he ended his life.
“When I discovered him, it was too late,” she says.
Unsure if one thing is misplaced in translation or one thing, however citing freedom of speech because the rapid response to that’s wild.
Smile-Up CEO Noriyuki Higashiyama says that he’s conscious of this case.
“Individuals have freedom of speech,” he says. “I’m not encouraging slander. If it’s attainable, I would love to get rid of on-line abuse.”
Moreover, it’s revealed that Higashiyama himself is seemingly assembly with victims.
Higashiyama says he has spoken personally to nearly 200 individuals who have come ahead with claims of abuse.
“I hope it’ll assist to fix their hearts, even just a bit. I take into account that to be my function. My principal focus is to fulfill with survivors.”
He admits that he has no formal coaching or expertise in counselling or serving to survivors of sexual abuse.
Smile-Up is organising and funding counselling for many who have come ahead. “We’re pondering of doing that indefinitely,” Higashiyama says.
If that’s what the victims need, then I suppose that’s good, however from a company perspective that is realistically all nearly injury management to get individuals to maneuver foward, and him assembly with them personally seemingly is principally simply one thing to say that appears good and remorseful.
So far as the follow-up documentary, that will likely be out on March 30. Given the content material of the article, I’m guessing it’ll largely revolve across the steps which have already been taken by SMILE-UP. To some extent that has been lined right here, however since he’s additionally speaking on to executives and victims, it ought to hopefully be capable to generate new perception into every thing that’s occurred since. Hopefully it’s additionally in a position to make clear the aforementioned different sexual predators inside the firm as properly.
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Talking of updates on the SMILE-UP compensation stuff, there are actually 968 individuals who have come ahead and fewer than a 3rd of them have been compensated up to now.
⛔️JK
SMILE-UP. Sufferer Reparations Report
As of 15 Mar 2024No. of pple who approached its compensation assist desk: 968
No. of pple whom the corporate notified abt compensation particulars: 370
No. of pple who agreed to compensation: 320
No. of pple who acquired paid: 287 pic.twitter.com/nSY7fg7qNg
— Transitions⛈️🌈 We 40! (@transitions0101) March 15, 2024
We’ll see the place that quantity finally ends up on the conclusion of all this. Whereas I understand there will likely be those that attempt to reap the benefits of the scandal and the system, I’m skeptical that round a 3rd is wherever close to an correct reflection of those who deserve compensation.
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