Johnny's Sexual Assault Victims Association

Johnny's Sexual Assault Victims Association (JSAVA; Japanese: ジャニーズ性加害問題当事者の会) was a Japanese advocacy organization established on June 26, 2023, by former members of the talent agency Johnny & Associates (now SMILE-UP.) who had been sexually victimized by its founder, Johnny Kitagawa. The group was formed to demand that the agency acknowledge the abuse, issue an apology, and provide compensation and relief to victims beyond the limits of existing law. Its founding representatives were Junya Hiramoto (representative) and Shimon Ishimaru (deputy representative). The association engaged in a wide range of activities: it held press conferences, met with United Nations Human Rights Council working group members on business and human rights, submitted human rights relief requests to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, lobbied politicians from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Japanese Communist Party, and submitted formal requests to SMILE-UP. and its victim relief committee. It advocated for the abolition of the statute of limitations for sexual crimes against children and for the establishment of a fund financed by a percentage of the agency's revenue. Internal and external challenges marked the group's short existence. Hiramoto resigned as representative and left the association on January 31, 2024, leaving it without a representative as of February 2024. The official website was deleted on July 17, 2024, and the association disbanded on September 7, 2024. In 2025, two male members sued Hiramoto, alleging he demanded 20% of their compensation as a fee for supporting their claims procedures and that he engaged in unauthorized legal practice; on October 17, 2025, the Yokohama District Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs.

Johnny's Sexual Assault Victims Association was launched on June 26, 2023, by former Johnny & Associates talents who had been sexually abused by the agency's founder, Johnny Kitagawa. The founding was attended by a reporter from the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun. The group's core members were former Johnny's Jr. who had belonged to the agency, and they demanded fact-finding and an apology from Johnny & Associates, as well as extra-legal relief and compensation for victims. The initial representatives were Junya Hiramoto and Shimon Ishimaru. In July 2023, the association held its first meeting in Tokyo, confirming its policy to seek acknowledgment and apology from the agency. On July 25, four members—Shimon Ishimaru, Kazuya Nakamura, and two pseudonymous individuals, Hayashi and Izumi—were interviewed for about two hours by the United Nations Human Rights Council Working Group on Business and Human Rights, with lawyers present. On July 27, Kazuya Nakamura attended a hearing held by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) in the Diet, criticizing the government's emergency response package as out of touch with reality. On July 28, three members—Junya Hiramoto, Yasunobu Shiga, and Kenri Nihongi—were interviewed by the UN working group in Osaka. On August 4, seven members held a press conference at the Japan National Press Club following the UN working group's press conference. Throughout August 2023, the association continued its advocacy: attending CDPJ hearings, meeting with politicians, and receiving interviews from Johnny & Associates' special team for recurrence prevention. On September 4, seven members held a press conference in Tokyo, requesting dialogue with the agency and the establishment of a fund, and indicating an intention to file criminal complaints. Actor Yoshitsugu Hattori also attended, expressing support. On September 7, following Johnny & Associates' press conference, eight members held a press conference at the Japan National Press Club. On September 11, the association filed a human rights relief request with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, seeking investigation and remedial measures; nine members were applicants. That same day, a suspicious package containing a USB drive, a letter, and a copy of the sender's license was delivered to a member's home. On September 12, members attended hearings held by the CDPJ and the Japanese Communist Party, calling for active government involvement and the abolition of the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse. On September 22, Hiramoto consulted with lawyers and an NPO about defamation against him and the association. Also on September 22, Hiramoto gave an interview to a weekly magazine accusing Hideaki Takizawa, a former Johnny's talent, of abuse; Takizawa strongly protested on X (formerly Twitter), and Hiramoto later clarified on the association's website that he had no intention of accusing him. On September 29, members discussed forming a new movement to abolish the statute of limitations for sexual violence, to be called the "Sexual Violence Statute of Limitations Abolition Forum." In October 2023, the association met with Johnny & Associates representatives on October 3, including then-president Noriyuki Higashiyama and former president Julie Keiko Fujishima, with 12 people from the association side. On October 8, the association issued a request for a redo of the agency's press conference. On October 10, Hiramoto filed a defamation complaint with Kanagawa Prefectural Police over online abuse. On October 16, the association submitted a request to SMILE-UP. (formerly Johnny & Associates) demanding eight measures, including using the company's assets and profits for victim compensation and relief, establishing a new committee for full disclosure and compensation, publishing settlement documents and compensation budgets, and implementing relief for all victims. On October 24 and 27, Hiramoto and Ishimaru observed Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's answers in the Diet regarding the Johnny Kitagawa sexual abuse issue. In November 2023, members filed damage reports with police over online defamation. On November 14, it was revealed that a male member in his 40s had died in the mountains of Minoh, Osaka, in mid-October, with a note nearby; police considered it a suicide. On December 5, members submitted a request to CDPJ leader Kenta Izumi for the abolition of the statute of limitations for child sexual crimes. On December 7, members attended a joint meeting of the CDPJ. On December 12, Hiramoto asked the city of Yokohama to enact an ordinance to curb defamation and establish a consultation desk. On January 15, 2024, five people including Shimon Ishimaru held a press conference at the House of Representatives building, calling for an environment where victims can engage in dialogue with the relief committee and SMILE-UP. On January 17, Ishimaru's damage report for defamation was accepted by Saitama Prefectural Police. On January 18, Hiramoto and lawyer Keiji Goto submitted an opinion to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' expert panel on defamation measures, arguing the proposed legal amendment was insufficient. On January 22, the association's lawyers announced they had submitted a request to the victim relief committee regarding compensation calculation, including compensation for physical health damage, lost profits, and emotional suffering of relatives, and referencing a foreign case where a 15-year-old boy abused by a cleric in July 1979 was awarded a total of $95 million. On January 26, Hiramoto revealed that the association had been interviewed by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations. On January 29, Kazuya Nakamura's damage report was accepted by Saitama Prefectural Police. On January 31, Hiramoto resigned as representative and left the association. On February 3, Ishimaru commented that Hiramoto's resignation was due to health deterioration and that their relationship remained unchanged. On February 8, Ishimaru met with SMILE-UP.'s victim relief committee for the first time. The association's official website was deleted on July 17, 2024, and the association disbanded on September 7, 2024. In August 2025, two male members sued Hiramoto, alleging he demanded 20% of their compensation as a fee for supporting their claims procedures and that his actions constituted unauthorized legal practice prohibited by the Lawyers Act. On October 17, 2025, the Yokohama District Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs.

• Association founded by former Johnny & Associates talents.

• First meeting held in Tokyo; policy to seek acknowledgment and apology confirmed.

• Four members interviewed by UN Human Rights Council Working Group on Business and Human Rights.

• Filed human rights relief request with Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

• Submitted eight-point request to SMILE-UP.

• Representative Junya Hiramoto resigned and left the association.

• Official website deleted.

• Association disbanded.

• Yokohama District Court ruled in favor of two members who sued Hiramoto over compensation fees.

Victim advocacy and compensation-seeking organization

1. 1Official websiteraisingvoicesjapan.com
2. 2Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3ジャニーズ性加害問題当事者の会 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org