Johnny Kitagawa, the man who shaped Japanese entertainment, dies at 87

"It is the end of an era!"

It is a reaction going viral on Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo, after the death of Japanese entertainment mogul Johnny Kitagawa was announced on Wednesday.

Johnny Kitagawa, the man who shaped Japanese entertainment industry and influenced the aestheticism of idols for several generations in Asia, died of a stroke on Tuesday at a hospital in Tokyo, according to his office.

He was 87.

Pedestrians walk past a large screen displaying news reporting on the death of Japanese entertainment mogul Johnny Kitagawa in Tokyo, Japan, July 10, 2019. [Photo: IC]

Kitagawa was founder of the Johnny & Associates Inc., a top talent agency and production company. He was the man behind a number of renowned Japanese pop music bands including SMAP, Arashi, KAT-TUN and Hey! Say! JUMP.

To the Japanese, and even the pop culture fans in Asia, he is the one "who shaped Japan’s boy band landscape for more than half a century," reported Kyodo News.

A number of the boy-bands members, later turned into household names as solo artists. Takuya Kimura (former member of SMAP), Hideaki Takizawa, Tomohisa Yamashita, Jun Matsumoto and Kazuya Kamenashi are only a few examples, most of whom have made a name not only in Japan, but in other Asian countries.

Members of Japanese boy band SMAP perform at a concert in Beijing, on September 16, 2011. [Photo: VCG]

Kitagawa himself won three Guinness World Records for his career, including "most No. 1 singles" and most concerts produced by any one individual.

Massive mourning on Social Media

Tribute to Kitagawa has started trending on social media in Asian countries since early morning on Wednesday.

According to media reports, #ThankyouMrJohnny has started to go viral soon after the news was reported. Many fans and artists related to his company have mourned his death while expressing gratitude for his contribution.

Members of Japanese boy band Hey! Say! JUMP greet fans after arriving at Taipei, Taiwan, on June 14, 2019. [Photo: VCG]

Even the political world have paid heed to his death.

"He raised many entertainment idols through the years in a huge contribution to Japan's entertainment industry," Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kotaro Nogami told in a news conference on Wednesday.

In China, the news has been trending on Sina Weibo as well.

"Mr. Johnny, you've been taking the lead until now. I hope you could take a break now," Takuya Kimura, a legendary figure in Japanese entertainment history, wrote on his Weibo account, triggering nostalgia among Chinese fans.

Japanese actor and singer Takuya Kimura attends a promotional event for the video game "Judge Eyes" in Taipei, Taiwan, on December 2, 2018. [Photo: IC]

Most of those paying tributes are fans of bands or artists cultivated by Kitagawa's company.

"Thank you for leading all the idols and creating us one beautiful dream after another," reads a Weibo comment.

"Goodbye, grandpa. I've been prepared for such a day, but when it is finally here, seeing an era dropping curtains breaks my heart," reads another comment.

According to Kyodo News, Hideaki Takizawa, former member of the J-pop idol duo Tackey & Tsubasa, who was named president of Johnnys' Island Inc., an affiliate company of Johnny & Associates, this January, is rumored to be Kitagawa's successor.