From Johnny’s to STARTO: Japan’s Male Idol Culture

A song may introduce you to a group. The personalities, performances and shared memories can give you a reason to stay.

Perhaps your first encounter is a dance video. Perhaps it is an actor in a drama, followed by the discovery that he also performs with a pop group. For an overseas viewer, Japanese male idol culture can open through many small doors.

One name soon appears in older articles and conversations: Johnny’s. Understanding what that name meant—and how it relates to today’s STARTO ENTERTAINMENT—makes the music and its surrounding world easier to explore.

The name behind several generations of pop

Johnny & Associates was a talent agency founded in 1962. Its artists included SMAP and Arashi, groups that built large followings in Japan and elsewhere in East Asia. “Johnny’s” came to identify the agency and the performers associated with it. It is not a name for every Japanese boy band, or for Japanese pop music as a whole. ^[1]

That distinction matters when browsing. An older concert clip, a fan’s recollection and a current artist announcement may use different names while referring to overlapping musical histories. The group’s own present-day website is the best place to check where its work is now represented.

What changed: Johnny’s, SMILE-UP. and STARTO

In September 2023, the agency acknowledged sexual abuse by its late founder, Johnny Kitagawa. The following month, it announced that its name would become SMILE-UP. from October 17, with its work focused on compensation and support for victims. That history is essential context for the company changes. ^{[1], [2]}

STARTO ENTERTAINMENT began full operations on April 10, 2024. Its launch announcement described it as a separate company with no capital relationship to SMILE-UP. STARTO’s role is artist management and entertainment; SMILE-UP.’s stated role was victim compensation. Calling STARTO simply “Johnny’s with a new name” misses that distinction. ^[3]

For a first listening guide, Snow Man, SixTONES and Travis Japan offer three starting points. All three appear in STARTO’s artist directory, with links to their individual profiles and activities. They are examples, rather than a complete map of this musical world. ^[4]

Snow Man: begin with the movement

For Snow Man, begin with “D.D.”, the group’s debut single released on January 22, 2020. The official release page lists a music video, behind-the-scenes material and a dance video—different ways of approaching the same performance. ^[5]

Try watching once for the whole group and again for the details: a change of formation, the timing of a movement or the person your eye follows. You do not need to memorise every member’s name before finding something you enjoy. Following the choreography can be an introduction of its own.

SixTONES: a shared debut, another way in

SixTONES debuted on the same day as Snow Man, with “Imitation Rain”. Their official discography documents the joint debut and the different editions of the release. Alongside the songs, the packages included making-of footage, live material and videos bringing members of the two groups together. ^[6]

That combination offers a clue to the attraction. There is a finished performance to enjoy, but also conversation, work and interaction around it. Watching how people respond to one another can make a group feel easier to recognise the next time you see it.

Compare the two debut songs, then follow whichever holds your attention. The shared release date gives you a useful point of reference; it does not require you to choose a side.

Travis Japan: a debut built for a global audience

Travis Japan offers another route into the music. Universal Music announced the group’s contract with Capitol Music Group in September 2022, followed by the worldwide digital release of “JUST DANCE!” on October 28. The label’s introduction also describes the group’s dance training and its time living and developing its performance and language skills in the United States. ^[7]

For a listener outside Japan, the debut is a convenient starting point: one title to search, one performance to watch and a group history to follow from there. Visit the official label and artist pages for the music and videos available in your region.

These three introductions are deliberately modest. A debut song is an opening chapter, not a verdict on everything a group has become. After listening, move forward through the official catalogue and notice what changes.

How a favourite becomes part of everyday life

The word oshi is useful here: a favourite person or character someone supports. Oshikatsu describes activities connected with that support, from enjoying music and videos to attending events or visiting associated places. The vocabulary extends far beyond male idols. ^[8]

That leaves room for many kinds of participation. You can follow a group’s music, be especially interested in one performer or enjoy the conversations that happen around a shared favourite. Your own starting point may be as small as a song you return to on the way home.

At concerts, enthusiasm also shares space with other people. FAMILY CLUB’s guidance allows handmade uchiwa fans within the permitted size, asks audiences to hold them at chest height and notes that individual performances may have additional restrictions. Check the instructions for your event before making or bringing one. ^[9]

Following from overseas: three useful distinctions

Start with official artist and label pages, then follow the accounts they link to. This gives you a dependable route to releases and videos without having to guess which similarly named account is authentic.

• News in your language. STARTO NEWS ARCHIVES offers information in English, Traditional Chinese, Thai and Korean, including releases and events relevant to international fans. ^[10]
• Fan-club membership. FAMILY CLUB’s membership FAQ currently limits enrolment to residents of Japan with a domestic address and says a Japan-based proxy cannot join for someone living abroad. Check the current rules before planning around membership or ticket access. ^[11]
• Artist blogs and online content. FAMILY CLUB web is a separate subscription service. Its FAQ says it can be used overseas with a supported device and specifies the available overseas payment methods. A web subscription should not be confused with fan-club membership. ^[12]

For a concert, use the event’s own ticket information and confirm eligibility before booking travel. Listening online, joining a content service and obtaining a concert ticket are different arrangements.

Start with a song, then follow your curiosity

You do not have to learn decades of entertainment history in one sitting. Begin with a performance, then a second song, perhaps a conversation or a behind-the-scenes clip. Names and faces become familiar through the things you enjoy.

Knowing the history helps you understand the words around the music. Giving the music your attention is how the next part of the story becomes your own.

Choose your next listening guide

If one group has caught your attention, follow a short listening route before exploring the rest of its catalogue.

• Snow Man: a first guide to the songs and members
• SixTONES: begin with the voices and three songs
• Travis Japan: a first look through dance and music