Ex-deputy of Kitagawa abuse victims' group settles with SMILE-UP.

A former deputy leader of the group representing people who say Johnny Kitagawa abused them has reached a settlement with SMILE-UP., the compensation company.

9 Nov 2026, 21:451 min read

A office building entrance in Tokyo with a company sign, representing the agency SMILE-UP. that handles compensation for abuse victims. — Image: NHKニュース

A former vice-representative of the group of people who say they were sexually abused by Johnny Kitagawa has reached a settlement with SMILE-UP., the company that handles compensation. He made the announcement on November 9.

The news adds a new chapter to a story that has run for years. In March 2023, a BBC documentary, 'Predator: The Secret Scandal of J-Pop', detailed allegations that Kitagawa abused boys over several decades. Later, in October 2023, the agency formerly known as Johnny's Office, which had admitted the abuse, announced it would be renamed SMILE-UP. and focus on compensating victims.

SMILE-UP. is the body that currently carries out that compensation. The settlement was announced by the former vice-representative of the victims' group himself, who says he was abused by Kitagawa.

No further details were included in the announcement.

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