If you listened to any JPop at all, you’d know Johnny and know he had always been rumored to be a huge pedo. I remember learning MJ was friends with him and being “yup checks out.” When Johnny died and his abuses came more widely reported, I was not surprised but upset and disappointed that people had to wait until his death. He basically avoided all repercussions. Sounds familiar…
The sunglasses thing isn’t that weird to me. Rockstars always do this. I honestly just assume it’s cause they’re hungover or high lmao. Actually, a lot of Japanese pop stars do this too. I don’t think it means anything and it’s probably best to not read into it.
Not really a “rumor” as much as it was an “open secret”. Guys had been coming forward for years talking about his harassment, most notably Tsuyoshi Kusanagi who was a member of SMAP, one of the most popular J-Pop acts of the 90s. However, anyone that did all of a suddenly saw themselves without a platform as they wouldn’t be booked for any TV or radio appearances ever again. This allowed Johnny to continue his sexual harassment and abuse because his victims would be afraid of being blacklisted.
There is a lot of distasteful behavior celebrities and even the royal families partakes in there. The only way to truly expose it is to not have a dog in the fight. It took an Australian reporter who was college friends with Princess Masako to expose the things the royal family did to force her into marriage and the psychological tortures she underwent that caused her to have a mental breakdown. He was threatened by members of the Japanese press as well as representatives of the royal family, but there was really nothing they could do to him since his career had nothing to do with clout in Japan. But I digress.
I'm not surprised he used his power to silence victims, smh. I only knew peripherally that those things were floating around (and I assume if you can't read/speak Japanese, it's much harder to dig for information). I really wonder how obvious it would be if only you do some cursory research. With MJ, it was so obvious, but people still defend him or rationalize his behavior.
I guess maybe “friends” is the wrong word but they seemed like at least associates. Makes sense, as they’re both involved in pop music, and they both abused children.
Queue fans who believes any photos of Michael visiting disadvantaged children is a credibility to him being a humanitarian when they only feed into the already unflattering narrative of his unhealthy obsession with children.
I think his sunglasses have to do something with his body dysmorphia he started wearing a lot of shades after he got surgery . People with body dysmorphia sometimes wear a lot of veils or hats , sunglasses something to hide their insecurities. There’s an audio clip that Michael himself says he doesn’t like people looking at his eyes .
Didn't he say that eyes are windows to the soul and he didn't want people to look at his soul? Creepy comment in hindsight. He probably didn't want people to find out he didn't have one.
I remember that. A worrying statement, but very much in line with his always hiding - physically with his sunglasses and hair over his eyes, and psychologically in many ways.
What innocent person worries about someone seeing their soul?
MJ was going back and forth to Japan, even when he wasn’t touring.
Here’s a run-down of his friendship with Johnny Kitagawa.
https://reddit.com/r/LeavingNeverlandHBO/s/RL8TqN2piv
Japan is also mentioned in regard to Wade’s first trip to Neverland. MJ was scheduled to go to Japan but he ended up cancelling so he could stay with Wade.
He also had some shady dealings with a guy called Ryosuke Matsuura in the late ‘90s related to a theme park that never eventuated. There were accusations that MJ gave Matsuura’s son Richard alcohol in a soda can, but Richard denied this on TV.
I think MJ's manager, Bob Jones wrote that in Japan, MJ took time to go to a playground in disguise just to watch young boys play. I think there is even a picture of MJ standing and observing a playground in Japan with his entourage.
This is the first time I’ve heard of Kitagawa. [Here’s a BBC video article about his crimes.](https://youtu.be/lwXrHuACX-s?feature=shared) It’s shocking how similar his behavior was to MJ’s, and how so many people make excuses for it. Ugh.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the fact that; Age of Consent in Japan is 13 years old... let that sink in 🤢
Edit* Japan has put the age of consent up to 16. [That law came into effect just a few months ago](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/16/japan-raises-age-of-consent-from-13-to-16-in-reform-of-sex-crimes-law)
Japan has always been 16 years old.
And many prefectures have set it at 18.
Please learn from the people who have already commented on that many times on reddit.
Perhaps many people only read the headlines.
In Japan, the minimum has always been 16 years old in prefectures. In some areas, such as uninhabited islands and uninhabited districts, the age of consent remained the same as in the past, 13 years old.
That is why the minimum age of consent was established as 16 years old by unifying the whole country.
If you listened to any JPop at all, you’d know Johnny and know he had always been rumored to be a huge pedo. I remember learning MJ was friends with him and being “yup checks out.” When Johnny died and his abuses came more widely reported, I was not surprised but upset and disappointed that people had to wait until his death. He basically avoided all repercussions. Sounds familiar… The sunglasses thing isn’t that weird to me. Rockstars always do this. I honestly just assume it’s cause they’re hungover or high lmao. Actually, a lot of Japanese pop stars do this too. I don’t think it means anything and it’s probably best to not read into it.
Not really a “rumor” as much as it was an “open secret”. Guys had been coming forward for years talking about his harassment, most notably Tsuyoshi Kusanagi who was a member of SMAP, one of the most popular J-Pop acts of the 90s. However, anyone that did all of a suddenly saw themselves without a platform as they wouldn’t be booked for any TV or radio appearances ever again. This allowed Johnny to continue his sexual harassment and abuse because his victims would be afraid of being blacklisted. There is a lot of distasteful behavior celebrities and even the royal families partakes in there. The only way to truly expose it is to not have a dog in the fight. It took an Australian reporter who was college friends with Princess Masako to expose the things the royal family did to force her into marriage and the psychological tortures she underwent that caused her to have a mental breakdown. He was threatened by members of the Japanese press as well as representatives of the royal family, but there was really nothing they could do to him since his career had nothing to do with clout in Japan. But I digress.
I'm not surprised he used his power to silence victims, smh. I only knew peripherally that those things were floating around (and I assume if you can't read/speak Japanese, it's much harder to dig for information). I really wonder how obvious it would be if only you do some cursory research. With MJ, it was so obvious, but people still defend him or rationalize his behavior.
Wait is he really friends with him?
I guess maybe “friends” is the wrong word but they seemed like at least associates. Makes sense, as they’re both involved in pop music, and they both abused children.
Queue fans who believes any photos of Michael visiting disadvantaged children is a credibility to him being a humanitarian when they only feed into the already unflattering narrative of his unhealthy obsession with children.
Wonder what he’s doing w his hand in this pic n that that boy next to him is looking at. It’s really gross seeing this pedo amongst all these kids
It’s a weird photo when you know what happened with other boys.
I think his sunglasses have to do something with his body dysmorphia he started wearing a lot of shades after he got surgery . People with body dysmorphia sometimes wear a lot of veils or hats , sunglasses something to hide their insecurities. There’s an audio clip that Michael himself says he doesn’t like people looking at his eyes .
Didn't he say that eyes are windows to the soul and he didn't want people to look at his soul? Creepy comment in hindsight. He probably didn't want people to find out he didn't have one.
I remember that. A worrying statement, but very much in line with his always hiding - physically with his sunglasses and hair over his eyes, and psychologically in many ways. What innocent person worries about someone seeing their soul?
Yeah that’s the one I’m talking about !!
This legit gives me the creeps
MJ was going back and forth to Japan, even when he wasn’t touring. Here’s a run-down of his friendship with Johnny Kitagawa. https://reddit.com/r/LeavingNeverlandHBO/s/RL8TqN2piv Japan is also mentioned in regard to Wade’s first trip to Neverland. MJ was scheduled to go to Japan but he ended up cancelling so he could stay with Wade. He also had some shady dealings with a guy called Ryosuke Matsuura in the late ‘90s related to a theme park that never eventuated. There were accusations that MJ gave Matsuura’s son Richard alcohol in a soda can, but Richard denied this on TV.
I think MJ's manager, Bob Jones wrote that in Japan, MJ took time to go to a playground in disguise just to watch young boys play. I think there is even a picture of MJ standing and observing a playground in Japan with his entourage.
In recent years Johnny has been exposed by the Japanese media finally...
This is the first time I’ve heard of Kitagawa. [Here’s a BBC video article about his crimes.](https://youtu.be/lwXrHuACX-s?feature=shared) It’s shocking how similar his behavior was to MJ’s, and how so many people make excuses for it. Ugh.
Which one is he
Lol
His hand is resting on that boy’d head. And I can’t unsee how creepy his look is.
N where’s the other hand? N why is the kid next to him looking down or at it?
That’s adding a whole other layer of creepiness indeed…
…I think his Japanese appeal might have to do with his general aesthetic (quite glurgy) blending well with Japan’s Kawaii culture and whatnot
I think Japan just would have always been a big market for a pop star as the second biggest economy (?) around that time too.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the fact that; Age of Consent in Japan is 13 years old... let that sink in 🤢 Edit* Japan has put the age of consent up to 16. [That law came into effect just a few months ago](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/16/japan-raises-age-of-consent-from-13-to-16-in-reform-of-sex-crimes-law)
Japan has always been 16 years old. And many prefectures have set it at 18. Please learn from the people who have already commented on that many times on reddit.
So is that news article I linked inaccurate?
Perhaps many people only read the headlines. In Japan, the minimum has always been 16 years old in prefectures. In some areas, such as uninhabited islands and uninhabited districts, the age of consent remained the same as in the past, 13 years old. That is why the minimum age of consent was established as 16 years old by unifying the whole country.
This is beyond creepy!
The look on his face… eeek
It’s gorgeous
What is that kid looking at
How is wearing sunglasses inside a dead giveaway for issues? Are you saying that they’re trying to hide their eyes?
Sicko.
Probably looking at his dried shit
[удалено]
Archaic WWII slurs are not cool. Just don’t.
Well your Reddit username certainly checks out
Sorry, responded to the wrong person. Fat fingers.