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Johnny's Entertainment

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 8-11-20
Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo 107-0052
, Japan
Products Entertainment
Services Entertainment
Subsidiaries Johnny's Entertainment
J Storm
J-One Records
Website www.johnnys-net.jp

Johnny & Associates (株式会社ジャニーズ事務所 Kabushikigaisha Janīzu Jimusho?) is a Japanese talent agency, formed by Johnny Kitagawa in 1962, which trains and promotes groups of male entertainers known as Johnnies (ジャニーズ Janīzu?) In 1999 the company sued Bungeishunjū, publisher of Shukan Bunshun, which published articles alleging that sexual abuse and coercion to use drugs (alcohol and tobacco) had occurred at the agency. A lower court initially ruled in favor of the agency, awarding ¥8.8 million in damages, but the award was reduced on appeal; the higher court ruled that sexual abuse had occurred, although the reports of drinking and smoking were defamatory.

In 1962, Kitagawa launched his first group, Johnnys. Six years later, Four Leaves (a boy band created by the agency) became successful. 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) and Hikaru Genji, the first Johnny group with three singles on the Japanese Oricon yearly chart in 1988.


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