Mary Kitagawa

nihongo|Mary Yasuko Fujishima|藤島メリー泰子|Fujishima Merī Yasuko|December 26, 1927 – August 14, 2021 She was the older sister of Johnny Kitagawa. Kosuga noted that she seemed to be aware of Johnny's sexuality, but she would shut down any conversation about it. She then attended and graduated from Los Angeles City College. Fujishima was the manager for the company's first boy bands, Johnnys and Four Leaves. She then helped develop later acts, including Tanokin Trio, Shibugakitai, Hikaru Genji, SMAP, Tokio, and Arashi. Fujishima rarely made public appearances.

On January 29, 2015, through an interview with Shūkan Bunshun, Fujishima named her daughter, Julie Keiko Fujishima, as Johnny & Associates' successor. In the same interview, Fujishima had invited Iijima and stated to her, "If you're against it, I'll have you take SMAP and leave starting today."

Death

Fujishima died on August 24, 2021, from pneumonia, in a hospital in Tokyo, Japan. A private memorial service was held with her close relatives.