Did you know that what stands before you used to be called Johnny and Associates? It is now known as \u682a\u5f0f\u4f1a\u793eSMILE-UP. This change happened in October 2023. The company decided to change its name. This was after a big scandal involving its founder Johnny Kitagawa.
\u682a\u5f0f\u4f1a\u793eSMILE-UP now focuses on compensating victims of sexual abuse. The new company called Starto Entertainment will manage talents. Atsushi Fukuda is the CEO of Starto Entertainment. Yoshihiko Inohara is the vice president of \u682a\u5f0f\u4f1a\u793eSMILE-UP.
Let’s delve into the story of this place. It began in 1962 when Johnny Kitagawa founded it. He launched his first group called Johnnys. In the early days his agency rented office space. It was owned by Watanabe Productions. Six years later Four Leaves became successful. This group left a lasting legacy. It was produced as a group that does not play instruments.
Johnny and Associates played a big role. It helped grow Japanese boy bands and the idol industry. The agency made performance oriented idols popular in the 1980s. Kitagawa pioneered a system. Trainees were admitted young. They trained in singing dancing and acting. This continued until their debut.
Around the 1990s the marketing strategy changed. It included variety show hosting. The agency focused on singing and dancing. Acts would retire around age 25. They were aging out of the industry. Johnny and Associates trained groups. They developed public personas.
In 1997 the agency founded a record label. It was called Johnny’s Entertainment. Also a New Year’s Eve concert started. It was live from the Tokyo Dome. It has been known as Johnny’s Countdown Live since 1996.
In 2007 Hey Say 7 broke a record. It was the youngest male group to top Oricon charts. The average age was about 15. Later that year Hey Say Jump broke a record. It was the largest group to debut. There were ten members.
In September 2011 Kitagawa received Guinness World Records. He had the most number one singles. He also had the most concerts produced by an individual. His shows had many attendees.
In the wake of the sexual abuse allegations Julie Keiko Fujishima stepped down. That was in September 2023. On October 2 2023 Johnny and Associates announced a split. \u682a\u5f0f\u4f1a\u793eSMILE-UP focused on reparations. Starto Entertainment managed the acts.
\u682a\u5f0f\u4f1a\u793eSMILE-UP faced challenges. However it adapted and changed. It continues to evolve. It is making an impact on Japan’s entertainment landscape. The location of \u682a\u5f0f\u4f1a\u793eSMILE-UP in Tokyo remains a significant spot. It is a place where dreams were made. It is a place where changes are happening today.