Japan’s Johnny and Associates is changing its name to Smile-Up from 17 October to manage compensation and dialogue with survivors of sexual abuse, and a totally new company is being set up to replace the disgraced talent agency, the company said at a press conference in Tokyo this afternoon.

The reformed agency emphasised that it had “completely parted ways with the late Johnny Kitagawa”, whose sexual abuse of Johnny’s talent was an open and ignored secret for years, and cut all ties with owners, the Fujishima family. 

As of 30 September, the Victim Relief Committee had received calls from 478 people, of which 325 reported damage and were seeking compensation. 

Compensation payments are expected to start this November. 

The new company, which will be established within a month but has not yet been named, will have no capital from the Fujishima family. 

Former president, Julie Keiko Fujishima, will not be involved in any way. Fujishima resigned in early September, admitting to turning a blind eye to decades of abuse by her uncle. 

Noriyuki Higashiyama will serve as president and representative director of the new company, with Yoshihiko Inohara as vice president.

Higashiyama has been meeting with survivors of Kitagawa’s abuse directly to apologise and provide compensation.  

The company said the new structure would “eliminate the negative effects of family management”. 

It also promised talent that it would “provide you with a place to flourish”.

Smile-Up will “specialise in activities such as dialogue with victims and compensation for damages, and will go out of business once these roles are completed,” the company said, adding that Smile-Up showed “our determination to completely break away from the late Johnny Kitagawa”. 

The company acknowledged that people might think that the word ‘smile’ was “thoughtless in this situation”. 

The new name originates from Johnny & Associates “social contribution activity” – Smile Up! Project – launched in July 2018. 

“This activity involves the talents and employees working together to think about how they can fulfill their social responsibilities and missions for those who support them on a regular basis.”

“Under the current situation that our company is in, in order to provide relief to victims with sincerity and practical ability, we are grateful for the spirit and attitude of our talent and employees who are working together as one, and for their support. 

“We have incorporated our gratitude to our many fans into the new company name. Additionally, since this is a registered trademark already owned by our company, we are able to quickly complete the procedures for changing the company name, and we hope to be able to provide support and compensation to victims as quickly as possible.”

In a statement released this morning before the press conference, the company said “we understand that it will be a long road to apologise to the victims, provide relief, and restore trust in our company” and promised regular reports on its progress in a bid to “gain everyone’s understanding”.

Key changes being implemented immediately include broadening the potential user-base of its five-month-old whistle-blowing system, replacing the internal point of contact with an external and independent law firm and expanding access to include all talent. Special care is also being taken to ensure the protection of Johnny’s Jr young talent. 

The changes also set in place a “group human rights policy”, established an external advisory board, and appointed attorney Masayuki Yamada as the independent chief compliance officer, effective 30 September. Yamada will report directly to the board. 

The measures, including ongoing training programmes, were recommended by an external “recurrence prevention” team appointed after the agency could no longer cover up decades of sexual abuse. 

The new management also committed to regular board meetings and admitted that “previously, our company had not held any actual board of directors meetings”.