Johnny & Associates

Johnny & Associates, Inc. was a Japanese talent agency formed by Johnny Kitagawa in 1962, which managed groups of male idols known as Johnny's. Until 2019, it was infamous for its strict policies involving their foreign distribution of music, as well as their strict control and influence over the men and boys whose careers the company managed.

Johnny & Associates, Inc.
Company typePrivate (kabushiki gaisha)
IndustryEntertainment
FoundedJune 1962 (1962-06)
FounderJohnny Kitagawa
SuccessorStarto Entertainment
Headquarters
9-6-35, Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo 107-0052
,
Japan
Key people
  • Noriyuki Higashiyama (CEO)
OwnerJulie Keiko Fujishima
Number of employees
130
Subsidiaries
  • Artbank
  • MCO
  • J Base
  • J Storm
  • Johnnys' Island
  • Johnny's Shuppan
  • Johnny's Entertainment
  • Johnny's Music Company
  • MENT Recording
  • Tsuzuki Studio
  • The New Tokyo Globe Theatre
  • Young Communications
  • Unison
Websitewww.smile-up.inc

In the wake of continuing sexual abuse allegations directed against Kitagawa, who died in 2019, his niece, Julie Keiko Fujishima, stepped down as president in September 2023. On October 2, 2023, Johnny & Associates announced that they would be splitting into two entities: Smile-Up, a firm focused on reparations for Kitagawa's sexual abuse cases, and Starto Entertainment, a talent agency managing the acts that had been managed under Johnny & Associates.

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