Japanese companies drop stars of scandal-tainted Johnny’s entertainment company
Several Japanese companies have decided to stop using stars who are represented by Johnny & Associates, an entertainment company at the center of a sexual assault scandalByYURI KAGEYAMA Associated PressSeptember 12, 2023, 2:31 AMFILE - Sho Sakurai, a member of Japanese pop music band ARASHI, listens to a question during an interview with The Associated Press in Tokyo on Sept. 17, 2020. Beverage maker Asahi Group Holdings — known for its Super Dry beer — will no longer air its ads featuring Junichi Okada, Toma Ikuta and Sho Sakurai, the company said Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, and there are no plans to sign singers, dancers or actors affiliated with Johnny’s. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, File)The Associated PressTOKYO -- Several major Japanese companies have decided to stop using stars who are r...