
NHK’s headquarters building
14:14 JST, September 28, 2023
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The public broadcaster NHK will not sign new contracts with talents from scandal-hit Johnny & Associates Inc. for the time being, NHK President Nobuo Inaba said Wednesday.
“We will not [make new work offers to Johnny’s talents] unless we confirm that [the talent agency] is steadily proceeding with compensation to victims [in the sexual abuse scandal] and efforts to prevent a recurrence,” Inaba told a regular press conference.
NHK will maintain existing contracts with Johnny’s talents, he added.
The policy of avoiding new contracts with Johnny’s talents went into effect on Wednesday. It will also apply to “NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen” (NHK red and white song battle), the broadcaster’s long-running show aired every New Year’s Eve.
Last week, NHK made a verbal request to Johnny & Associates to provide relief to victims and take preventive measures.
Earlier this month, the talent agency admitted that its founder, Johnny Kitagawa, who died in 2019, had sexually abused young Johnny’s members for decades.
"Society" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Earthquake Hits with Epicenter in Central Tokyo; No Tsunami Warning
-
Princess Aiko Delivers First Address During Official Duty; Daughter of Emperor and Empress Speaks at Opening of International Medical Conference
-
Suspicious Plastic Bottle Containing Black Liquid Found on Tokaido Shinkansen Train; Police Working to Identify Contents
-
Man Arrested on Suspicion of Drunk Driving after Rear-ending Bus in Yokosuka
-
2025 Expo Osaka: Visitor Surge Expected in Latter Half as Increased Ticket Sales Not Leading to More Attendance Yet
JN ACCESS RANKING
-
Core Inflation in Japan’s Capital Sharply Accelerates in April
-
U.S. Holds Fire Over Yen Exchange Rate Targets; Bessent Said to Understand Negative Impact on Markets
-
Rice Prices Rise for 15th Straight Week, with Releases of Stockpiled Rice Slow to Circulate
-
Japan Must Take Lead in Maintaining Free Trade System, Says Chairman of Japan Trade Group
-
Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for Japan’s 1st Casino Resort; Site Set to Open in Fall of 2030