President of Johnny's successor company to step down at end of Sept.
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The president of the Japanese talent agency previously known as Johnny & Associates Inc. said Monday he will step down when his term
Noriyuki Higashiyama, president of the former talent agency Johnny & Associates Inc., announced on Monday that he will resign at the conclusion of his term on September 30th. The company, now known as Smile-Up Inc., retained his services despite his departure, appointing Masayuki Yamada, the company's chief compliance officer, to succeed him as president.
Higashiyama clarified that his resignation does not signify an end to his commitment to addressing the sexual abuse allegations against the agency's founder, Johnny Kitagawa. The BBC documentary broadcast in March 2023, which featured interviews from multiple abuse survivors, sparked widespread criticism against the agency. Kitagawa, who passed away in 2019, remains at the center of the controversy.
Smile-Up has received compensation claims totaling 1,047 as of Monday, with 587 victims having received compensation and 578 fully compensated. However, 231 claims were deemed ineligible, while 226 remain uncontactable. Higashiyama, a former TV personality who joined the agency in 2023, has not yet contemplated a return to the entertainment industry.
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