Joshima Shigeru was asked about his thoughts on the Johnny’s Press Conference and Kitagawa Johnny

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Joshima Shigeru (52) was the leader of Johnny’s band TOKIO and a veteran of Johnny’s Jimusho.

Joshima appeared on TV Asahi’s “Weekly News Reader” which he hosts and mentioned the Johnny’s press conference.

At the press conference, it was announced that Fujishima Julie Keiko  had stepped down as president and Higashiyama Noriyuki of Shonentai was appointed as the new president on the 5th. Higashiyama admits the sexual assault problem as fact, “Deeds of a devil” “The most stupid thing in human history”.’ As Higashiyama will rebuilt Johnny’s Jimusho (which it was decided there would be no change in the company’s name), Fujishima will retire from the talent industry by the end of the year and will deal with victims.

Joshima said, “To be honest, I was watching the press conference with mixed feelings. I myself was made to think about what I should do as a talent and what I should do. There are pros and cons to the new step Johnny & Associates is about to take. I think that there is no choice but to do my best. I think that the office will take various measures in the future, but I also hope that I will be able to comment on the program in the future, in a situation where there is no speculation”.

Ishihara Yoshizumi (61), an actor and talent appearing in the same program, asked, “Did the leader (Joshima) feel anything about such things (sexual assault)?”.

Joshima replied, “However, it was a time when there were no internet or smartphones like we have today, so there was no information that the president of Johnny & Associates was a sexually abusive person. There were times when I heard information about sexual assault from people around me. I couldn’t relate to Johnny, who was a parent and a producer on site, but finding out he also had a dark side to sexually assaulting talents when they were a teenager. And to find out it’s true”.

Furthermore, when Ishihara asked, “What do you think about Johnny after learning about the sexual assault?”?

Joshima said, “He caused a lot of trouble to the victims, and while I’ve received a lot of things from Johnny, I honestly wonder what to do now he has left such a negative legacy. Compensation and response to the victims should not be a company-to-person relationship, but a person-to-person dialogue. But I want to do what I can to help build and regain everyone’s trust”.

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