Fair Trade Commission warns Johnny’s Jimusho of pressuring TV stations to not feature former SMAP/Johnny’s members Inagaki Goro, Katori Shingo and Kusanagi Tsuyoshi

NHK is reporting that Johnny’s Jimusho had pressured commercial TV stations and others to not feature three members of SMAP, who left the group and Johnny’s at the end of 2016 (Inagaki Goro, Kusanagi Tsuyoshi and Katori Shingo).

The Fair Trade Commission had warned Johnny’s Jimusho on the 17th that they could face antitrust violations.

The three members left Johnny’s and sided with their manager (who split from Johnny’s) and established her own office.  The three continue to work and are involved in entertainment and solo projects but have not been featured on public TV, only on private stations (primarily Internet-based) and have not appeared on commercial broadcasts.  Many have speculated that the three, since leaving Johnny’s have been blackballed by major TV networks.

Kimura Takuya and Nakai Masahiro stayed with Johnny’s and continue to appear on public TV.

---