All articles tagged with #japanese idol
Hirata Runa, an 8-year-old trainee for the Japanese idol group DIANNA Project, died on September 25, 2026. Her agency confirmed the cause of death was myocarditis resulting from an influenza infection. Runa had performed her final concert just five days prior to her passing.
Former client of Johnny & Associates, Okamoto Kauan, has accused the agency's founder and head, Johnny Kitagawa, of sexually abusing him and others. Kitagawa, who died in 2019, trained and promoted many of Japan's biggest male idol groups. Okamoto alleged that Kitagawa abused him "15 to 20 times" during his four-year stint at the agency, beginning in 2012 when Okamoto was 15. The agency has not directly addressed the allegations but has stated that it is prioritizing the development of a highly transparent organizational structure. Rumors and allegations of abuse have followed Kitagawa for decades.