From the 1970s onwards, few institutions in Japan could match the cultural and economic reach of the industry built by Johnny & Associates (J&A). Founded by Johnny Kitagawa in 1962, the agency managed male performers who became idols of Japanese television and shaped popular culture. Kitagawa's cultural standing was immense; when he died in 2019, his funeral was held at the Tokyo Dome, with then-Prime Minister Abe Shinzō sending a formal message of condolence.
However, serious allegations of sexual abuse against Kitagawa had circulated for decades prior to his death. Reports of him abusing trainees and performers aged 12 to 18 years appeared in weekly magazines as early as the 1960s. In the early 2000s, Tokyo High Court proceedings found the allegations credible, and the issue was raised in a session of the National Diet of Japan. Despite this, mainstream media remained largely silent and no criminal investigation was launched. As of 2026, over 500 individuals have been compensated for abuse suffered at Kitagawa's hands. This raises the question: how did Japanese society become broadly aware of potential criminal conduct and yet fail to act for decades?
To answer this, Professor Yukiko Nishikawa from the Graduate School of Global Studies, Doshisha University, Japan, examined the sociocultural, psychological, and institutional mechanisms behind the prolonged silence around Kitagawa's crimes. Her latest article, published in Japan Forum on March 11, 2026, draws on sociological theory and analyses of statements from key industry figures, media organizations, and institutional reports. Parts of the case background discussed also draw on Prof. Nishikawa's book, titled 'The Politics of Conformity in Japan' (Routledge, 2025), though the analysis and arguments presented in the article are newly developed.
Previous researchers explained this silence using psychological frameworks such as the spiral of silence and the bystander effect. The former describes staying quiet when one's views conflict with perceived majority opinion, while the latter refers to failing to intervene when others are present. While Prof. Nishikawa acknowledges these offer partial explanations, she argues they are insufficient—they describe passive processes, whereas the Kitagawa case involved active suppression.
Instead, Prof. Nishikawa characterizes the situation as a 'conspiracy of silence.' This denotes not a coordinated plot, but a mutually reinforcing, unspoken arrangement among institutions with shared interests in keeping the issue out of public view. "Understanding this case requires critically analyzing the broader systemic mechanisms alongside individual psychology to explain why such silence was maintained, despite widespread awareness of allegations over several decades, " she remarks.
The study identifies structural mechanisms behind this silence. Television networks avoided negative coverage to protect access to J&A performers, later confirmed in self-assessment reports by major broadcasters. At the same time, Japan's 'kisha kurabu' press system—granting journalists privileged access in exchange for uniform reporting—discouraged investigative coverage. Weak legal protections for abuse victims and government non-interference in cases involving powerful private entities ensured no external pressure. The concept of 'sontaku,' meaning acting on implicit expectations of powerful actors, captures how this complicity operated without overt coordination.
The study also challenges the narrative that the 2023 BBC documentary or former J&A performer Kauan Okamoto's press conference marked a turning point. Prof. Nishikawa argues this framing reflects symbolic power, as portraying foreign media as the catalyst obscures ongoing domestic complicity and avoids accountability. "Overall, my article sheds light on the often unseen forces that shape our everyday conduct. By exploring structural dynamics, it provides a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that influence human behavior, such as silence toward potentially criminal acts," says Prof. Nishikawa.
Unfortunately, even after J&A's dissolution, the study states that the underlying structural conditions remain largely intact. "There is an urgent need to reform relations among the media, the state, and industry, along with strengthening internal due diligence within each entity to protect human rights in Japan," concludes Prof. Nishikawa. Without addressing these issues, similar patterns of institutional silence could persist or recur elsewhere.
About Professor Yukiko Nishikawa from Doshisha University, Japan
Dr. Yukiko Nishikawa is a Professor at the Graduate School of Global Studies at Doshisha University. Her research interests include politics and society in Japan, Japan's diplomacy and security and politics in East and Southeast Asia. She has published several research papers and books on these topics, including: The Politics of Conformity in Japan (Routledge, 2025); Political Sociology of Japanese Pacifism (Routledge, 2018); Human Security in Southeast Asia (Routledge, 2010); Japan's Changing Role in Humanitarian Crises (Routledge, 2005).
