Full Breakdown
Smile-Up Announces President Change Amid Ongoing Victim Compensation
By Drooid · · How we work
Leadership Transition at Smile-Up
Earlier this week, Noriyuki Higashiyama said he will step down as president of Smile-Up Inc., the rebranded successor to Johnny & Associates. The change will take effect later this week, with Masayuki Yamada, the firm’s chief compliance officer and a practicing lawyer, slated to assume the presidency while retaining his compliance role. Julie Keiko Fujishima, Kitagawa’s niece and a representative director, will remain in her position.
Background of the Johnny Kitagawa Abuse Scandal
Johnny Kitagawa, the founder of the former Johnny & Associates, died in 2019 at age 87. Allegations of sexual abuse by Kitagawa surfaced in a 1999 magazine series and were amplified in 2023 after a BBC documentary highlighted former talents’ accusations. In response, the agency renamed itself Smile-Up in 2023 and transferred its talent-management business to a new firm, Starto Entertainment, to focus exclusively on compensating abuse victims. In March 2024, the company disclosed that two former staff members were also found to have committed sexual abuse.
Compensation Efforts and Figures
Smile-Up has received claims for damages from 1,047 individuals seeking compensation for abuse linked to Kitagawa and former staff. Higashiyama emphasized that the transition does not signal an end to the compensation program.
Official Statements & Responses
He added that, even after leaving the presidency, he intends to continue addressing the issue personally. The firm’s statement also noted that Yamada’s legal expertise is intended to guide the ongoing compensation process.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This does not mean that we are bringing the victim compensation process to an end,” — Noriyuki Higashiyama, smile-up president
