ジャニーズ: 大学卒業生
As I already said, I'm a graduate in law ⚖️. I kinda feel forced to tell it here, because my opinion on Johnny Kitagawa allegations will be baseless (or at least it would be seen as baseless and only fan biased thoughts).
Is not like I’m not proud of being a lawyer or being a Johnny’s fan, but sometimes people misunderstood it. I think that happens in Japan too, many fans doesn’t dare to say they like Johnnys because are seen as “non reliable” or “no wife material”.
Aside from my personal situation I can relate to Johnny’s talents being university students or even graduates.
At the beginning, being an idol meant having only compulsory education. Many trainees (Before the formation of the Jr.) had to decide between high school and the idol career.
But luckily, at the end of the 80’s the “idols high schoolers” began to become popular. One the first was Hikaru Genji having Sato Atsuhiro. Why do I remark on him? Because when he finished school at Horikoshi was a headline in the news at the time.
And the first complete members graduate from High school is: Kinki Kids. Yeah, kinda easy there are only two. But T&T didn’t make it either, so it merits the Kansai duo.
👨🎤 And we have to reach 2004 for the first university degree in johnny’s: dear Sakurai Sho.
He is a graduate form Keio university in Economics. He would have the 20th anniversary next 2024 of his degree.
Many other kuhais said he opened a door than everybody else thought as something forbidden for an idol. Sakurai got many bad remarks on having a degree: the industry was against it. He was harassed outside and inside the campus. At least we have some images of the big day!
(Sorry, but I remember my days trying to find “THE” outfit for the day, imagine if someone would have reported it on the news!)
Aiba was the first to be happy for him and made a special bangumi to celebrate it.
After him the path was opened, and many who wanted to pursue a university degree can do it.
Sorry, but from here the dates of the graduations make a real mess. Because the news wasn't reported like Sakurai's. And since there’s not too much and very difficult to say, the list below has the undergraduate programs and graduate programs too.
👨🎓 Johnnys:
Sakurai Sho (Keio Economics)
Koyama Keiichiro (Japanese Literature)
Kato Shigeaki (Law)
Nakamaru Yuuichi (Environment)
Inoo Kei (Architecture)
Kota Yabu (Social Studies)
Kikuchi Fuma (Economics)
Nakajima Kento (Sociology)
Okamoto Keito (Performer Activities)
Nakama Junta
Abe Ryohei
Kawashima Noel
Fujiwara Jochiro
Fugata Rinne
Fukumoto Taisei
🎓 Former Johnny's: (I remark here because they got the grade when they were at the agency)
Tomohisa Yamashita (Meiji- Marketing)
Yo Marious
* If someone felt uncomfortable about the title: we can’t erase the past. No matter what, Johnny or Epstein will exist even after discovering their crimes or after death. So for now since they are still in the middle of “SMILE UP.” to “STARTO” moving, I don’t have many other names to name them.