Johnny & Associates Changes Name to Smile Up, Establishes New Entity to Oversee Talent

Talent agency Johnny & Associates president Noriyuki Higashiyama announced on Monday at a press conference in Tokyo that the agency will change its name to Smile Up starting on October 17, as part of the company’s “vision” to earn back fans’ trust.

Kitagawa and Johnny & Associates sued the magazine, and the magazine lost the first trial in March 2002.

The members of idol groups under the management of Johnny & Associates are collectively known as “Johnny’s.”