Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates announced Monday that it will split into two entities: One named Smile-Up that will be focused on compensating victims of sexual abuse by its founder Johnny Kitagawa, who died in 2019, and the other a talent agency that will continue working with upcoming artists. …
Read More »Japanese Pop Mogul Abused Hundreds of Boys, Investigation Finds
The late founder of one of Japan’s most powerful talent agencies assaulted and abused hundreds boys as far back as the 1950s and up through the 2010s, according to the findings of a new internal investigation. Johnny Kitagawa, who died in 2019, was the founder and president of Johnny & …
Read More »Lay Zhang, Amber Liu, MC Jin Set for Inaugural MetaMoon Music Festival
Some of Asia’s most popular performers are headed to Brooklyn this November for a new music festival celebrating Asian excellence. EXO’sLayZhang, f(x) star Amber Liu, Chinese soul singer Tia Ray, and Hong Kong-based punk artist Tyson Yoshi are among the headliners for the inaugural MetaMoon Music Festival, which will bring …
Read More »Music and Anime Make Magic at Crunchyroll Expo
Japanese culture thrived at Crunchyroll Expo 2022, with creators, musicians and legions of fans packing the San Jose McEnery Convention Center last week. There were cosplayers, anime screenings and extensive collectibles, but perhaps the most notable event was the live performances of Japanese bands like SiM, Burnout Syndromes, and Atarashii …
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