- For company history and information before 2023, see SMILE-UP.
STARTO ENTERTAINMENT (スタートエンターテインメント) is a Japanese talent and management company founded in 2023. It currently manages the talents that belonged to SMILE-UP (formerly Johnny & Associates) when it ceased operations as a talent agency.[1]
History[]
In 2023, Johnny & Associates announced its intention to change its name in response to the sexual abuse allegations against its late founder, Johnny Kitagawa, and requested new name suggestions from its fan club members. More than 140,000 applications were received, and initially the company changed its name to the fan-chosen name SMILE-UP in October 2023.
However, on December 8, 2023, SMILE-UP further divided. SMILE-UP would change to a victim compensation firm, and a newly founded company, STARTO ENTERTAINMENT, would handle talent and entertainment business.[2] The announcement of the name change was made in early December 2023, but STARTO ENTERTAINMENT was technically established on October 17, 2023.
The new company name carries the message: "The stars that are present and those that will emerge in the future. We will accompany the individuality and goals of each of them. And from here, we will start a new legend".
Along with the new company name, a new executive team was also announced, with Fukuda Atsushi as CEO, Inohara Yoshihiko as Director and COO (later transferred to CMO), and Tatsuki Kazuhiro as Director. Fukuda had more than 20 years of management experience in the entertainment industry, having served as Vice President of Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc. and President and Representative Director of Sony Digital Entertainment, Inc. The company became fully active on April 10, 2024, representing 295 total individuals.[3] A new company fan club was also launched that same month called FAMILY CLUB, managed by a separate subsidiary FAMILY CLUB Co., LTD who are also in charge of all digital advertising and social media. The company began recruiting new talents and setting up training sessions in April 2025, this time through a contracted talent scouting company called J-Pop Legacy Incorporated.[4]
The company moved from its previous building in Minato, Tokyo, to another in the Roppongi district in 2025.[5] On June 27, 2025, it was announced that STARTO ENTERTAINMENT's CEO and Representative Director Fukuda Atsushi, CMO and Director Inohara Yoshihiko, and Director Tatsuki Kazuhiro would be retiring on the same day due to the expiration of their terms. Additionally, Suzuki Katsuaki, former CEO and Representative Director of TV Nishinippon, would be appointed as the new CEO and Representative Director.[6]
On July 28, 2025, the company announced an additional official fan-club, FamiMall, which is mainly used for solo actors and talentos that belong to the company not affiliated with music.[7]
Acts[]
Current Acts[]
Groups[]
- DOMOTO (Formerly KinKi Kids) (1997-present)
- NEWS (2003-present)
- SUPER EIGHT (2004-present)
- Hey! Say! JUMP (2007-present)
- Kis-My-Ft2 (2011-present)
- timelesz (Formerly Sexy Zone) (2011-present)
- A.B.C-Z (2012-present)
- WEST. (2014-present)
- King & Prince (2018-present)
- SixTONES (2020-present)
- Snow Man (2020-present)
- Naniwa Danshi (2021-present)
- Travis Japan (2022-present)
- Ae! group (2024-present)
Former Acts[]
Groups[]
Soloists[]
- Nakayama Yuma (2014-2025)
Trainees[]
Current[]
- SpeciaL (2018-present)
- Boys be (2020-present)
- AmBitious (2021-present)
- ACEes (2025-present)
- KEY TO LIT (2025-present)
- B&ZAI (2025-present)
Former[]
- Shonen Ninja (Formerly Chibikko Ninja; Small Child Ninja) (2018-2025)
- HiHi Jets (2015-2025)
- Bishounen (2016-2025)
- 7 MEN Samurai (2018-2025)
- Lil Kansai (2019-2025)[8]
- Go!Go!kids (2022-2025)[9]
References[]
- ↑ 旧ジャニーズ事務所の新会社名は「STARTO ENTERTAINMENT」、代表取締役CEOに福田淳氏 2023年12月8日 14:59
- ↑ the japan times - Johnny’s changes name to Starto Entertainment BY PATRICK ST. MICHEL Dec 8, 2023
- ↑ https://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2024/04/10/kiji/20240410s00041000301000c.html
- ↑ https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2381811/full/
- ↑ I could find no proof of them moving on their official websites, but a list of instructions for employees of the building published in August 2025 does include them on the tenant list. https://ietoki.com/sumitomo-roppongi-office-tenant-parking/
- ↑ STARTO社の福田淳CEO＆井ノ原快彦CMOが退任、新CEOは「めざましテレビ」初代プロデューサー鈴木克明氏
- ↑ https://news.tv-asahi.co.jp/news_geinou/articles/900170059.html
- ↑ Lil かんさいが本日をもって個人活動に専念、STARTOが公式発表
- ↑ Go!Go!kidsが本日付で活動終了、STARTOジュニアの5人組
External Links[]
- Other info
