Johnny & Associates

Johnny & Associates
Native name
 株式会社ジャニーズ事務所
Public
Industry Entertainment
Founded June 1962 (1962-06)
Founder Johnny Kitagawa
Headquarters 9-6-35
Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo
107-0052, Japan
Products Entertainment
Services Entertainment
Number of employees
 120
Subsidiaries
Website www.johnny-associates.co.jp

Johnny & Associates (株式会社ジャニーズ事務所, Kabushiki-gaisha Janīzu Jimusho) is a Japanese talent agency, formed by Johnny Kitagawa in 1962, which trains and promotes groups of male entertainers known as Johnny's (ジャニーズ, Janīzu)[1][2]

History

1962–1989

In 1962, Kitagawa launched his first group, Johnnys.[2] Six years later, Four Leaves, a boy band created by the agency, became successful.[2] Since then Kitagawa has formed a number of successful acts, such as solo artist Masahiko Kondo, whose song, "Orokamono" (愚か者, Fool), won the 1987 Japan Record Award,[3] and Hikaru Genji, the first Johnny group with three singles on the Japanese Oricon yearly chart in 1988.[4]

1990–2009

During the 1990s Johnny & Associates began declining nominations from the Japan Record Awards and the Japan Academy Awards, partly due to a dispute about the musical genre of one of their groups at the 32nd Japan Record Awards.[5] Another reason cited was that the nominations would engender competition among Johnny groups[5] and with other nominees.[6]

SMAP debuted in 1991, hosting television and radio shows, appearing in commercials and acting on television and film.[7] The group's 2003 single, "Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana" (世界に一つだけの花, "A Flower Unlike Any Other in the World"), sold over 2.57 million copies and became the ninth-bestselling single in Japan.[8] In 1997 the agency founded a record label, Johnny's Entertainment.[1]

Two years later, the Japanese weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun published a series of articles alleging that adolescent male agency clients had been sexually abused and coerced into drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco. Johnny & Associates sued the magazine's publisher, Bungeishunjū. In 2002, the Tokyo District Court awarded the agency ¥8.8 million in damages, and Bungeishunjū appealed the ruling to the Tokyo High Court. The court reduced the damages to ¥1.2 million, ruling that the allegations of sexual exploitation were true but the reports of drinking and smoking were defamatory.[9]

In 2006, Oricon sued journalist Hiro Ugaya when he was quoted in a Cyzo magazine article suggesting that the company manipulated its statistics to benefit certain management companies and labels (specifically, Johnny & Associates. Ugaya condemned the action as a strategic lawsuit against public participation,[10] and it was later dropped by Oricon with no charges filed against the journalist.

In 2007, temporary Johnny's Jr. group, Hey! Say! 7, broke a record as the youngest male group to ever top Oricon charts, with an average age of 14.8 years. Later that year, Hey! Say! JUMP broke a record as the largest group to debut in Johnny's history, with ten members.

2010–present

Headquarters in Minato, Tokyo (1998–2018)

On November 19, 2010, Masahiko Kondo received the Best Vocal Performance award at the 52nd Japan Record Awards; Kondo was the first Johnny recipient since Ninja refused to perform live at the 1990 awards.[11] After the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami Johnny & Associates cancelled or postponed 18 concerts, including shows by Tomohisa Yamashita and Tackey & Tsubasa. Generators, trucks and 2,000 litres (530 US gal) of gasoline which would have been used at the concerts were donated to the relief effort.

The agency began a fundraising project, Marching J, for the Tōhoku earthquake victims; its first event was held on April 1–3, 2011. Hey! Say! JUMP, SMAP, Tokio, KinKi Kids, V6, Arashi, Tackey and Tsubasa, NEWS, Kanjani8, KAT-TUN and Johnny’s Juniors participated in the fundraiser, which included talk sessions and a cappella performances.[12] The agency planned to hold one fundraiser per month for a year. The next event, a baseball tournament featuring Johnny’s Juniors, was held on May 29.[13]

On September 18, 2011, Kitagawa received Guinness World Record awards for the most number-one singles (232) and the most concerts (8,419 from 1974 to 2010) produced by an individual. His shows have been attended by an estimated 48,234,550 people.[14]

Current artists

Groups

Debut Artists Members Leader Notes
1985 Shōnentai 3 Kazukiyo Nishikiori Inactive
1994 TOKIO 5 ® 4 Shigeru Joshima -
1995 V6 6 Masayuki Sakamoto 20th Century and Coming Century are sub-units of the group
1997 KinKi Kids 2 - -
1999 Arashi 5 Satoshi Ohno -
2003 NEWS 9 ® 8 ® 7 ® 6 ® 4 Keiichiro Koyama Tegomass is a sub-unit of the group
2004 Kanjani8 8 ® 7 - -
2006 KAT-TUN 6 ® 5 ® 4 ® 3 - -
2007 Hey! Say! JUMP 10 ® 9 - Hey! Say! BEST and Hey! Say! 7 are sub-units of the group; Largest group to debut; Youngest group ever to perform in Tokyo Dome with the average age of 15.7 years old[15]
2011 Kis-My-Ft2 7 Hiromitsu Kitayama Busaiku is a sub-unit of the group
2011 Sexy Zone 5 Kento Nakajima Youngest group to debut (average age of 14.6 at the time).
2012 A.B.C-Z 5 - -
2014 Johnny's WEST 7 - -
2018 King & Prince[16] 6 Yuta Kishi Was originally the Johnny's Jr. unit, Mr. King vs Mr. Prince

Trainees

Johnny & Associates trainees are known as Johnny's Jr. Juniors perform their songs and those by established artists on variety shows, such as The Shōnen Club, and are backup dancers for the agency's established groups.[17][18]

Former artists

Groups

Debut Artists Members Leader Notes
1962 Johnnys 4 Hiromi Maie Disbanded in 1967
1967 Four Leaves 5 ® 4 - Disbanded in 1976. Reunited in 2002 and disbanded in 2009.
1975 Little Gang 2 - Disbanded in 1976
1982 Shibugakitai 3 - Disbanded in 1988
1983 The Good-Bye 4 - Disbanded in 1990
1985 Otokogumi 7 ® 5 ® 4 - Disbanded in 1993
1987 Hikaru Genji 8 ® 7 Kōji Uchiumi Hikaru and Genji were sub-units of the group. Disbanded in 1995.
1988 SMAP 6 ® 5 Masahiro Nakai Disbanded in 2016
1990 Ninja 6 ® 4 - Disbanded in 1997
2002 Tackey & Tsubasa 2 - Disbanded in 2018.

Soloists

Group members

Other releases

Temporary / special units

Debut Artists Members Members listed Reason
1975 Johnny's Junior Special ? - -
1980 Tanokin Trio 3 Toshihiko Tahara, Nomura Yoshio, Masahiko Kondo -
1998 J-Friends 13 Tokio, V6, KinKi Kids charity group
2000 Secret Agent 2 Noriyuki Higashiyama, Ryo Nishikido Theme song for the drama Heisei Meoto Jawan
2000 Shingo Mama Solo Shingo Katori -
2001 Sakuraba Yuichiro Solo Tomoya Nagase Theme song for the drama Mukodono!
2001 MiMyCen 3 Go Morita, Ken Miyake, Junichi Okada for the variety show MiMyCen!
2001 Go Tarimo and Mini Curry Solo Go Morita for the variety show Gakkou e Iko!
2002 Ya-Ya-yah 5 Kota Yabu, Hikaru Yaotome, Naoya Akama, Shoon Yamashita, Taiyo Ayukawa, Masaki Hoshino Theme song for the anime Nintama Rantarō; Had their own show with the same name
2004 Hattori-kun Solo Shingo Katori Theme song for the movie Nin x Nin: Ninja Hattori-kun
2005 Toraji Haiji 2 Tsuyoshi Domoto, Taichi Kokubun Theme song for the movie Fantastipo
2005 Shūji to Akira 2 Kazuya Kamenashi, Tomohisa Yamashita Theme song for the drama Nobuta wo Produce
2006 GYM 3 Golf, Tomohisa Yamashita, Mike Women Volleyball Supporter
2006 Kisarazu Cats Eye feat. MCU 6 Junichi Okada, Sho Sakurai, Yoshinori Okada[upper-alpha 6], Tsukamoto Takashi[upper-alpha 6], Ryuta Sato[upper-alpha 6] Theme song for the drama Kisarazu Cat's Eye: World Series
2007 Trio the Shakiiin 3 Noriyuki Higashiyama, Go Morita, Kenta Suga[upper-alpha 6] Theme song for the drama Kuitan
2007 Hey! Say! 7 (Temporary group) 5 Yuya Takaki, Daiki Arioka, Ryosuke Yamada, Yuto Nakajima, Yuri Chinen Hey! Say!; Theme song for the anime Lovely Complex; Later became Hey! Say! JUMP
2008 Matchy with Question 6 Masahiko Kondo, Daijiro Yonemura, Yoshihiro Yodogawa, Kazuyori Fujiie, Akun Igo, Daisuke Ishigaki Theme song for the anime Naruto
2009 The Shigotonin 3 Noriyuki Higashiyama, Masahiro Matsuoka, Tadayoshi Okura Theme song for the drama Hissatsu Shigotonin
2009 NYC boys 7 Ryosuke Yamada, Yuri Chinen, Yuma Nakayama, Kento Nakajima, Fuma Kikuchi, Hokuto Matsumura, Yugo Kochi Women Volleyball Supporter
2009 Ryo-san Solo Shingo Katori Theme song for the drama Kochikame
2009 Snow Prince Gasshodan 11 Shintarō Morimoto, Shintarō Kishimoto, Reia Nakamura, Kei Kurita, Yūya Ōtsuka, Tatsuya Horinouchi, Aoi Okada, Yūki Haba, Ryō Hashimoto, Mizuki Inoue, Aoi Chino Theme song for the movie Snow Prince Kinjirareta Koi no Melody (Snow Prince Melody of Forbidden Love)
2009 Lands 2 Jin Akanishi, Takeshi Kobayashi[upper-alpha 6] Theme song for the movie Bandage; Acted as a band in same drama
2010 Kaibutsu-kun Solo Satoshi Ohno Theme song for the drama Kaibutsu-kun
2011 Ryo-san Solo Shingo Katori Theme song for the movie Kochikame
2011 A.N. Jell 4 Hikaru Yaotome, Taisuke Fujigaya, Yuta Tamamori, Miori Takimoto[upper-alpha 6] Theme song for the drama Ikemen desu ne; Acted as a band in same drama
2012 The Monsters 2 Shingo Katori, Tomohisa Yamashita Theme song for the drama Monsters
2014 Hottake Band 2 Kazuya Kamenashi, Tamaki Koji Theme song for the drama Tokyo Bandwagon
2015-2016 Sensations 9 Hey! Say! JUMP Theme song for the movies Assassination Classroom and Assassination Classroom: Graduation
2016 Jigoku-zu 4 Tomoya Nagase, Ryunosuke Kamiki[upper-alpha 6], Kenta Kiritani[upper-alpha 6], Nana Seino[upper-alpha 6] Theme song for the movie Too Young to Die! Wakakushite Shinu
2017 Kame to YamaP 2 Kazuya Kamenashi, Tomohisa Yamashita Theme song for the drama, Boku, Unmei no Hito Desu
2017 A.Y.T 3 Hey! Say! JUMP's Yuya Takaki, Hikaru Yaotome and Daiki Arioka Theme song for the drama, Koshoku Robot

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Akasaka was arrested for drug possession on October 28, 2007. Johnny & Associates announced his dismissal on October 29, 2007.[19]
  2. ↑ Yamaguchi was suspended indefinitely on April 26, 2018, after he was referred to prosecutors for sexually harassing a teenage girl.[20] On May 2, 2018, he handed his resignation letter to TOKIO's leader, Shigeru Joshima.[21] Yamaguchi officially resigned on May 6, 2018.[22]
  3. ↑ Imai announced his departure on September 13, 2018. The announcement came with a notice of disbandment from Tackey & Tsubasa. Imai, who has Ménière's disease, will be focusing on his health.[23][24]
  4. ↑ Tanaka contract with Johnny & Associates was terminated on September 30, 2013 due to several contract violations.[25][26]
  5. ↑ On June 27, 2011, Morimoto was suspended indefinitely for underage smoking.[29] His profile was removed from the official Johnny & Associates website in 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A non-Johnny's artist

References

  1. 1 2 "Johnny & Associates, Inc". JaME World. 2009-06-03. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
  2. 1 2 3 Campion, Chris (2005-08-21). "J-Pop's dream factory". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  3. ↑ "List of Winners from 1959–2007" (in Japanese). Japan Record Award. Archived from the original on 2010-02-19. Retrieved 2009-12-15.
  4. ↑ 嵐、史上初の"CD、DVD4 冠"達成～シングルTOP3独占は光GENJI以来21年ぶり (in Japanese). Oricon. 2009-12-18. Retrieved 2009-12-18.
  5. 1 2 キムタクが日本アカデミー賞辞退 (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 2006-12-20. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  6. ↑ "Kimutaku Declines Academy Nomination". Japan Zone. 2006-12-20. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
  7. ↑ "Johnny's Jimusho". Japan Zone. Retrieved 2009-12-16.
  8. ↑ 「およげ！たいやきくん」がギネス認定、再評価の気運高まる (in Japanese). Oricon. 2008-02-20. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
  9. ↑ Fukue, Natsuko (2009-04-14). "So, you wanna be a Johnny?". The Japan Times. Japan. p. 3. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
  10. ↑ Prideaux, Eric (2007-02-08). "Libel suit attacks free speech: defendant". The Japan Times Online. Japan. Retrieved 2014-11-02.
  11. ↑ レコ大20年ぶりジャニーズ 転機となるか. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). Oricon. 2010-11-20. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
  12. ↑ Pang, Lauren (2011-04-05). "Asia Pacific Arts: Johnny's Entertainment fundraiser "Marching J" attracts 389,000". Asiapacificarts.usc.edu. Retrieved 2015-06-07.
  13. ↑ "Johnny's Company "Marching J" Project". Tokyofever. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
  14. ↑ "Johnny Kitagawa has been presented with two Guinness World Records". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
  15. ↑ Ｈｅｙ！Ｓａｙ！最年少東京ドーム公演. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2007-12-23. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
  16. ↑ ジャニーズ事務所『King & Prince』が今春CDデビュー (in Japanese). oricon ME inc. 2018-01-17. Archived from the original on 2018-01-17. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  17. ↑ ジャニーズＪｒ．に初密着！独自養成システム大公開！. Sports Hochi. 2012-08-03. Archived from the original on 2012-12-15. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  18. ↑ ジャニーズ事務所　なぜ人材集まるのか　公式募集無し、いつしか履歴書が (in Japanese). Daily Sports. 2016-07-06. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  19. ↑ 寂しさ紛らわすために覚せい剤？赤坂容疑者３月に離婚していた (in Japanese). Sankei Sports. 2007-11-01. Archived from the original on 2007-12-03. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  20. ↑ ＴＯＫＩＯ山口メンバー 芸能活動は無期限の謹慎 (in Japanese). NHK. 2018-04-26. Archived from the original on 2018-05-01. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
  21. ↑ ＴＯＫＩＯの４人謝罪 「音楽活動は白紙」 (in Japanese). NHK. 2018-05-02. Archived from the original on 2018-05-03. Retrieved 2018-05-06.
  22. ↑ ジャニーズ事務所　山口達也と契約解除　本人が改めて強い辞意　ジャニー社長と城島が協議し受理 (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. 2018-05-07. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
  23. ↑ "「タッキー＆翼」アーティスト活動に関するお知らせ". Johnny's Net (in Japanese). Johnny & Associates. 2018-09-13. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  24. ↑ "Japanese idol duo Tackey & Tsubasa disband after 16 years" (in Japanese). Mainichi Shimbun. 2018-09-13. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  25. ↑ "Johnny & Associates cancels exclusive contract with Tanaka Koki, KAT-TUN becomes a 4-member group". 6Theory Media. 2013-10-09. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  26. ↑ 田中聖と専属契約解除、ＫＡＴ―ＴＵＮ脱退 (in Japanese). 2013-10-09. Archived from the original on 2013-10-17. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  27. ↑ 赤西仁　契約解除で初コメント「子供のころからの夢　海外活動を今まで以上に」 (in Japanese). 2014-03-03. Archived from the original on 2014-03-06. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  28. ↑ "[BREAKING] KAT-TUN's Taguchi Junnosuke to leave the group & Johnny's". 6Theory Media. 2015-11-24. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  29. ↑ "Hey! Say! JUMP's Morimoto Ryutaro activities supsended due to underage smoking". 6Theory Media. 2011-06-27. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
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