They belonged to a label with a horrifying history.
The recent disbandment of an iconic boy group due to one of its member’s sexual harassment scandal has set the internet ablaze. Amid the discussions, the group’s disturbing background is also being re-scrutinized.
The group in question is TOKIO, an iconic Japanese boy group that debuted in 1984.
One of its members, Kokubun Taichi, recently came under fire after his problematic “conduct,” including sexual harassment, led to the disbandment of his group.
Legendary Boy Group Announces Their Disbandment, One Member Blamed
The situation has led many to revisit the history of the boy group, especially that of their former agency, Johnny & Associates.
Started by Johnny Kitagwa in 1962, the talent agency used to manage groups of male idols, who were known as “Johnny’s.” The company had a significant impact on the Japanese boy group scene in the 1980s and enjoyed a monopoly over boy groups in the Japanese idol industry for over 40 years.
It wasn’t until 2023 that Kitagawa was finally exposed for his repeated acts of sexual abuse, starting from the early 1970s until the mid-2010s. It was revealed that between 1988 and 2000, Kitagawa had been accused of taking advantage of his position and exploiting adolescent boys under contract with his agency, forcing them into sexual relationships. During his lifetime, Kitagawa never faced any criminal charges since the Japanese media covered up all allegations against him. In 2002, Shukan Bunshun, a Japanese magazine, was ordered by the court to pay damages to Kitagawa after it published some of the accusations surfacing against him at that time.
Four years after his death in 2019, Kitagawa’s abuse became publicly known after a UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights Council) report in August 2023 concluded that he had sexually abused multiple victims, including the rape of hundreds of boys who were under contract with Johnny & Associates. The report came after a documentary about Kitagawa drew renewed attention toward the sexual assault allegations against him, and former Johnny’s Jr member Kauan Okamoto came forward, accusing the music mogul based on his personal experience.
Reportedly, 478 people have claimed to have been victimized by Kitagawa, and 325 of them sought compensation. Out of these, 150 of them were confirmed to be signed under Johnny & Associates.
On September 7, 2023, Johnny & Associates held its first formal press conference, acknowledging Kitagawa’s abuse for the first time. The company eventually rebranded itself, split into two entities— Smile-Up, a firm focused on reparations for Kitagawa’s sexual abuse cases, and Starto Entertainment, a talent agency managing artists under Johnny& Associates.
According to BBC‘s investigations, Smile-Up has also been caught up in further shady businesses. As of March 2025, Smile-Up has reportedly taken care of 557 lawsuits regarding Kitagawa’s abuse and paid compensation to 545 people, which is around 99% of the total plaintiffs.
