Kirin, Asahi pull ads over J-pop agency Johnny's sex abuse

Tarnished talent factory sees clients drop stars from commercials

20230908N Johnny Kitagawa

A screen in Tokyo broadcasts news of the death of Johnny Kitagawa in 2019. The agency he founded acknowledged on Thursday that he had abused young boys for decades. © Kyodo

MIKI FUNABASHI and RYO SATO, Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- Johnny & Associates, Japan's largest talent agency, has lost two major advertising clients after being rocked by sex abuse allegations, and could lose more as companies weigh the risks of continuing to be associated with the star factory.

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