Talk:Johnny & Associates

Diffence between Johnny & Associates and Johnny's Entertainment
There seems to be a lot of confusion over the two.

Please take note that they are different; Johnny & Associates (aka Johnny's Jimusho) is a talent agency whilst Johnny's Entertainment is a record label. Please take care and do not mistake one for another. Frozencrumbz (talk) 07:30, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

Use of Johnny photos across Wikipedia
My understanding about Johnny & Associates is that they do not allow web sites to post photos of their people without some sort of a license. I understand that within Wikipedia, it is okay to upload a photo under the guidelines that the photo was provided by the agency for promotional purposes. However, I believe that Johnny's employees are the exception. If you go to the official web sites, you don't see photos of any of the employees. Also, when you view TV drama web pages, photos of Johnny's people are always removed or replaced with a silhouette. I've also read throughout the Internet about Johnny's attorneys emailing various fansites, asking them to take the photos down. If it is true that the use of photos without a license from Johnny is illegal, we should remove these photos from all the Johnny-related articles within Wikipedia. If you look at the Japanese Wikipedia, they contain no photos on any of the Johnny-related articles. Groink 01:47, 1 November 2006 (UTC)
 * This makes a lot sense. I agree. -- Kaje 04:16, 9 April 2007 (UTC)
 * I think it's true that Johnny does not allow his boys to appear in photos on the internet, shown very obviously in pages of TV dramas. I've read something in a talk (on Wikipedia) that deals with a similar case, and the agreement was that it could be used since this is the English Wikipedia and that it wasn't Japan.. or something. Don't take my word for it, I can't even remember what the discussion was about, if only someone could find it... Oh, and, the lack of pictures in the Japanese Wikipedia seems to be pretty common. I haven't actually seen a single idol with a page that has a picture yet. -- Tydus Arandor(talk) 06:44, 9 April 2007 (UTC)

An update... According to several articles I've read on Wikipedia regarding fair use (or non-fair use), Japan does not have a law in the books regarding fair use. This explains why the Japanese Wikipedia lack promotional photos of any kind. And, it makes it easy for any talent agency like Johnny to police the Internet of images. Even though the Wikipedia servers sit on U.S. soil, the laws set by the country of origin for a given photo takes precedence over any U.S. law. This came up recently because Wikipedia is trying to clean itself of fair use images, in order to comply with GFDL guidelines. Groink (talk) 06:30, 10 December 2007 (UTC)

"Sexual harassment claims" move?
Since this page is about Johnny's Entertainment, as in the company itself, shouldn't the "sexual harassment claims" section be moved to Johnny Kitagawa's page? -- Tydus Arandor 22:07, 31 December 2006 (UTC)
 * Doesn't seem like anyone's going to reply anytime soon, so I'll just go ahead and move it. -- Tydus Arandor 07:45, 15 January 2007 (UTC)

"M.A.D." wrong link?
If you click on the link to Jr's "M.A.D." you come to a page about warfare. I don't think this is right. Can someone change this please (I don't know how, sorry) Traumjaegerin, 5 January 2007
 * Are you sure? If you search "M.A.D." in the searchbox, then you go to the warfare page. The link for M.A.D. on this page isn't even clickable (well, you can click it but it has nothing) right now, since no one made an article on it. -- Tydus Arandor 00:55, 6 January 2007 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Johnny-Jp.jpg
Image:Johnny-Jp.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot 06:35, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Johnny -tw.jpg
Image:Johnny -tw.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot 06:37, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:JE official.jpg
Image:JE official.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot 10:06, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

Coping material from other wiki sites
Could you guys stop copying our work and take the god damn time that we spent on writing up formats and articles, and do it on your own. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.141.175.13 (talk) 15:24, 5 January 2008 (UTC)

External links modified
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 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/20131017011753/http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/entertainment/news/20131009-OHT1T00143.htm to http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/entertainment/news/20131009-OHT1T00143.htm
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/20140306223536/http://woman.infoseek.co.jp/news/entertainment/sponichin_20140303_0018 to http://woman.infoseek.co.jp/news/entertainment/sponichin_20140303_0018

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Second paragraph move please
Given that this talent agency is by far the most famous in Japan, and represents a vast majority of the most popular acts, there's no way that just one lawsuit deserves such a major place--the second paragraph of the lead. This is definitely WP:UNDUE. Could someone please move it and figure out a more appropriate prominence? I do not edit articles directly.

60.239.218.105 (talk) 13:07, 17 February 2016 (UTC)

External links modified
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 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20100219170108/http://www.jacompa.or.jp/rekishi/s1959.htm to http://www.jacompa.or.jp/rekishi/s1959.htm

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Removal of information for being "non-notable"
I would like to ask the reason why the fact that J&A opening SNS for itself is not notable. The company is recognized for being closed up. I think the fact that opening SNS for itself as well as for the artists is important, as it proves (in a way) J&A's opening and reaching out to the world, even more when their first post (and most of all subsequent) have been in English. In this new era of Johnny's, I think that this information should be displayed for people to learn. The information (along with it's link) was included in the article, and has been removed during the recent rearranging. SugaShikaoFans (talk) 02:32, 13 April 2023 (UTC)


 * I think it should be listed in the "Accessibility to talents" section, otherwise it comes off as WP:PROMOTION. lullabying (talk) 20:56, 13 April 2023 (UTC)


 * Thank you for your reply. I will include it as you say, under that section. SugaShikaoFans (talk) 07:08, 14 April 2023 (UTC)

Smile Up or Smile-Up
I have noticed that many articles reporting on the rebranding of the company are referring to it as Smile-Up in the articles, with a hyphen. In some areas of the Wikipedia article referring to the new name, there is no hyphen (admittedly some of those edits being my own). Should the company title in the Wikipedia article change to Smile-Up with a hyphen? JRHorse (talk) 12:16, 18 October 2023 (UTC)


 * Similar question: Shouldn't we move the article from Johnny & Associates to Smile-Up! as the company has been renamed with a new logo etc. in October? --Goroth (talk) 08:24, 29 November 2023 (UTC)

Requested move 29 November 2023

 * The following is a closed discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. Editors desiring to contest the closing decision should consider a move review after discussing it on the closer's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

The result of the move request was: not moved. Per consensus, WP:TOOSOON] (closed by non-admin page mover) – robertsky (talk) 01:03, 14 December 2023 (UTC)

Johnny & Associates → Smile-Up! – The company was renamed to Smile-Up! on October 17, 2023 in the wake of the sexual harassment scandal revolving around the former founder Johnny Kitagawa who passed away in 2019. The company even received a new logo. The company will be abolished once every victim of the harassment has received compensation. Goroth (talk) 08:40, 29 November 2023 (UTC) — Relisting. ASUKITE  16:49, 6 December 2023 (UTC)


 * Oppose: per WP:TOOSOON. The company is still more known under Johnny & Associates per WP:COMMONNAME, such as in the case of Twitter with X. lullabying (talk) 09:41, 29 November 2023 (UTC)
 * I made a mistake. The new page name should bei either Smile-Up. or Smile-Up if it will be moved. I understand WP:TOOSOON but there is not mentioned if it applies on companies as well. We can leave Johnny & Associates as redirection to the new name. Otherwise the introduction sentences of this article would not make any sense. --Goroth (talk) 16:10, 29 November 2023 (UTC)
 * The company is still more known under Johnny & Associates, and Japanese news articles still mention its former name. Sources are still calling the company under that name instead of Smile-Up. lullabying (talk) 01:22, 30 November 2023 (UTC)
 * Well, I guess it is a pretty normal process if a well-known company changes it's name after building reputation for decades. In German news when a famous company rebrands it is also called by ex-"former name" for a while. --Goroth (talk) 09:47, 30 November 2023 (UTC)
 * Yes, but more people are going to be familiar with Johnny & Associates based on name alone than Smile-Up. They've been known as Johnny & Associates for over 50 years, and the name is so ubiquitous their talents were called "Johnny's" (as a common noun) and it has permeated Japanese mainstream. The company rebranding is only done this year. A good example of how much the former name is still much more ubiquitous is how the main article for X is Twitter instead of X. lullabying (talk) 02:19, 1 December 2023 (UTC)
 * That may be true but the current president of the company announced already, that the name Johnny & Associates and all names related to Johnny will be took to a grave. For example: Johnny's West already removed Johnny's from their groups name and only be West. from now onwards. Everything revolving Johnny Kitagawa will cease to exist. --Goroth (talk) 09:59, 2 December 2023 (UTC)
 * Yes, BUT the media and all reliable sources still refer to them as Johnny's. They are still mainly known as Johnny's. Johnny's has become a common noun and descriptor describing men who look like they could be part of Johnny & Associates because they match their aesthetics, such as the word Johnny's kei (ジャニーズ系). It hasn't really gone away from public conscience yet. lullabying (talk) 21:49, 2 December 2023 (UTC)


 * Support per WP:RECENTISM and . But I will suggest moving this article to SMILE-UP. (in all caps). --49.150.4.134 (talk) 11:09, 30 November 2023 (UTC)
 * The capitalization is a stylization. See MOS:CAPS and MOS:JAPAN. lullabying (talk) 02:15, 1 December 2023 (UTC)
 * Similar this discussion on Japanese Wikipedia for name change proposal. 49.150.4.134 (talk) 22:59, 2 December 2023 (UTC)
 * Note: WikiProject Pop music has been notified of this discussion. ASUKITE  16:48, 6 December 2023 (UTC)
 * Note: WikiProject Japan has been notified of this discussion. ASUKITE  16:48, 6 December 2023 (UTC)
 * Oppose - too soon, and the name is very much in the public consciousness now. Due to the name connection and import this could be one of the rare cases where we split the article in two and keep one for Johnny & Associates historically and one for the new name. We don't do it too often, but it does happen. Canterbury Tail talk 17:53, 6 December 2023 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

Starto Entertainment
It looks like Smile-Up is only a temporary division meant for reparations to Johnny's victims (if I remember correctly) because the talent agency itself is going to be renamed Starto Entertainment per this article. We should probably include this in the main article. lullabying (talk) 04:16, 4 January 2024 (UTC)

Section name
I would like to know why "2024: A new start for entertainment with Starto" would be considered "Flowery", if I only stated it would be a new start for the agency, in regard to the entertainment side? As for the terms used, considering the wording given as examples in the reference given by @Lullabying, I did not use any of them. Isn't it the truth that 2024 would be a new start for the agency's entertainment side? If using the phrase as a section is wrong, what about using it as a subsection for the company's rebranding? SugaShikaoFans (talk) 23:48, 1 March 2024 (UTC)


 * "A new start for entertainment with Starto" sounds like something written in an essay or fan site, and not really appropriate for Wikipedia. I don't think there needs to be a subsection especially since the rebranding section is already really short. lullabying (talk) 08:53, 3 March 2024 (UTC)
 * Got it. Thank you for replying SugaShikaoFans (talk) 05:56, 4 March 2024 (UTC)