Asian Heartthrob Takuya Kimura Faces Career Challenges: Seeks Supporting Roles amid Income Decline

Recently, the acclaimed "Asian Heartthrob" Takuya Kimura, with over 30 years of stardom, is facing a rough patch in life.

Earlier this year, Kimura's former agency, Johnny & Associates, was exposed in a scandal by the BBC and subsequently dissolved, now rebranded as "SMILE-UP.". This seismic shift affected artists under Johnny's management, including the veteran heartthrob and leading actor, Takuya Kimura.

Known for endorsing national brands and top-tier projects, Kimura's endorsements ranged from McDonald's to Nissan, earning him an annual income exceeding a hundred million yen. However, due to the scandal, contracts for endorsing McDonald's and Nissan were terminated, and an advertisement scheduled for July was abruptly canceled. The TV drama "教場" planned for April next year on Asahi TV was also put on hold...

Former collaborators distanced themselves, and his advertising earnings plummeted from 80 million yen (approximately 400,000 USD) to 55 million yen (approximately 275,000 USD), a direct reduction of 25 million yen (approximately 125,000 USD). Moreover, there's no guarantee of finding businesses willing to take over at this reduced rate.

Already in a precarious situation, Kimura further upset fans by posting a quote from the late Kido Kojin, "show must go on," after the Kido incident. Media criticized him for taking the wrong stance, resulting in a significant drop in popularity. His Instagram followers decreased by 25,000 in just a month...

Kimura's younger brother, Shunsaku Kimura, was exposed for extramarital affairs and a criminal record, adding to Takuya Kimura's woes. Despite long-standing conflicts between the Kimura brothers, the company had been covering up scandals to protect Takuya's image.

This time, Shunsaku Kimura used "divorce" as a pretext, entered a relationship with someone he met at a bar, but later reneged. He even used Takuya Kimura's influence and the agency's power to threaten the woman into silence, or else face dire consequences...

After a series of setbacks, Takuya Kimura, who used to have a schedule booked 1-2 years in advance, now faces uncertainties in his post-summer schedule next year. Rumors suggest that he has been actively making "job-seeking" calls, reaching out to former industry colleagues, and even expressing willingness to step back into supporting roles.

However, production teams find it challenging to assign any roles to him, as his appearance would inevitably increase production costs, causing anxiety among TV station staff.

In this era, is it possible that even Takuya Kimura could face unemployment? It's noteworthy that since his debut at the age of 15, the "Asian Heartthrob" has been a widely popular idol in Asia for over 30 years. However, the era of the veteran heartthrob and his "Kimura Effect" may be coming to an end!