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SMILE-UP

For the new agency and company going forward, see STARTO ENTERTAINMENT.

Johnny & Associates logo

SMILE-UP (スマイルアップ), usually stylized as SMILE-UP. and formerly known as Johnny & Associates (ジャニーズ事務所), is a victim compensation office and former Japanese talent agency. While active as Johnny & Associates, it was often shortened to Johnny's.

They have in-house labels named Storm Labels (effective January 1, 2024 (announced October 17, 2023); Formerly J Storm), and ELOV-Label (effective January 1, 2024 (announced October 17, 2023); Formerly Johnny's Entertainment Record).

In 2023, all active talents and acts were transferred to STARTO ENTERTAINMENT.

History

The agency was founded by Johnny Kitagawa (1931-2019) in 1962 as a co-ed talent agency, however they were best known for their male talents and idols. In 1985, the agency stopped accepting female talents completely.

Abuse Allegations and Agency Restructure

There had been rumors of sexual abuse surrounding the agency for many years, but each time the leads disappeared or were taken back by the accusers. However, in early 2023, Johnny's & Associates became the subject of a highly publicized scandal when several performers or former affiliates of the agency began posthumously accusing Kitagawa of sexual abuse. A BBC documentary was also released with additional allegations of alleged grooming of minors and sexual coercion as well as potential evidence that Johnny's & Associates had silenced whistleblowers and media outlets attempting to report the abuse by blacklisting.[1] The agency began internal investigations in April 2023 and in September the agency finally admitted fault.

On October 2, 2023, it was announced that the agency would change its name to SMILE-UP effective October 17. All sites and social media changed their name to FAMILY CLUB.[2]

On December 8, 2023, SMILE-UP was further divided such that SMILE-UP only handled victim compensation and a new company STARTO ENTERTAINMENT would handle the talent and entertainment business.[3]

By the end of 2023, there were over 478 individuals reported to have filed for victim compensation.[4]

Final Lineup

Groups

This lists groups active at the time of the termination of talent agency activity. They are sorted by debut date, although most groups were formed years earlier than when they officially debuted. Almost all groups were not signed when the company was renamed SMILE-UP.

Soloists

Former Acts

Former Groups

Former Soloists

This only includes their time as a soloist, for full time under the agency, please see the artists page.

Johnny's Jr

Johnny's Jr is the in-house trainee program, with the main branch Junior being in Tokyo, and Kansai Junior in Osaka.

Current Trainees

Junior

  • HiHi Jets (2015-present)
  • Bi shonen (2016-present)
  • 7 MEN Samurai (2018-present)
  • Shonen Ninja (Formerly Chibikko Ninja; Small Child Ninja) (2018-present)
  • SpeciaL (2018-present)
  • Go!Go!kids (2022-present)

Kansai Junior

  • Lil Kansai (2019-present)
  • Ae! group (2019-present)
  • Boys be (2020-present)
  • AmBitious (2021-present)

Former Trainees

Junior

References

  1. ↑ Azhar, Mobeen, director. Predator: The Secret Scandal of J-Pop. BBC, 7 Mar. 2023.
  2. ↑ Johnny’s talent agency announces name change, dismantling, and upcoming new agency formation (in English) - SoraNews24 2023-10-02.
  3. ↑ the japan times - Johnny’s changes name to Starto Entertainment BY PATRICK ST. MICHEL Dec 8, 2023
  4. ↑ https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/10/a2d8e584b142-urgent-johnnys-to-change-name-create-new-firm-to-manage-its-performers.html

External Links