When Kenichiro Kawai (55) of Johnny’s Sexual Abuse Victims Association was 18 years old, he received a phone call from the late Johnny Kitagawa, founder of Johnny’s Office (now Smile Up), who had received his resume. The night of the incident, the victim was attacked at a training camp. He did not show his face and used a pseudonym, but at a press conference in Nagatacho, Tokyo on January 15th, he took off his mask and said, “I will reveal my face and confess my real name.” Why did he decide to confess using his real name? (Interviewer: Imochi Mochizuki)
◆Experience of playing “Match’s younger brother” in the movie
In junior high school, he belonged to a children’s theater group and played the younger brother of Masahiko Kondo, who starred in the movie “High Teen Boogie.” He was planning to go to a vocational school to become an actor, but his parents became ill and they were unable to pay the 500,000 yen annual tuition fee, so he hung around while working part-time jobs.
Kawai was in junior high school when he belonged to a children’s theater group. He played the role of Masahiko Kondo’s younger brother in the movie “High Teen Boogie” (provided by the actor)
When he turned 18, he sent his resume to Johnny & Associates, thinking, “I want to make a living as an actor.” Then, he received a phone call from Mr. Kitagawa at his home, saying, “I usually throw away resumes, but I saw that you played the role of Match’s younger brother,” and contacted me.Would you like to come to the studio in Kawasaki from now on?”
I was surprised because I was watching the TBS singing program “The Best Ten,” but I headed over right away. When I arrived at the studio, I found the pre-debut Hikari GENJI members filming themselves dancing and skating on roller skates.
Mr. Kitagawa asked me, “What do you want to do?” and I cheekily answered, “I don’t want to sing or dance.” Then he said, “There will be a drama about Higashiyama (Mr. Noriyuki) in the fall, so you should appear in it. Until then, you can just work as Higashiyama’s driver.”
I remember thinking that my life had opened up, and I couldn’t help but say out loud, “Thank you!”
◆Even though everyone else is sleeping like a small fry, “You should sleep in that bed.”
Afterwards, they headed to a training camp in Tokyo with former Mitsu GENJI member Kazumi Morohoshi and two others in a car driven by Kitagawa. When we arrived, Mr. Kitagawa kindly said, “You’re hungry. Would you like some fruit or sushi?” Immediately after, he said that a talent he belonged to had caused a traffic accident and had to go out to deal with the situation. Mr. Kitagawa instructed Mr. Morohoshi, “Get me some sushi.”
In the living room, Mr. Higashiyama was sitting cross-legged playing a game, and when he said, “I want to eat sushi,” Mr. Morohoshi ordered and we all ate.
When my stomach was full and I was tired and sleepy, while everyone else was asleep, Morohoshi pointed to the only bed there was and said, “Oh, you should sleep on that bed.” . I thought it would be okay if I was the only one in bed, but I was so nervous and tired that I fell asleep in no time.
*The next page contains descriptions of the sexual assault suffered by Ms. Kawai.
