On October 17th, a monumental shift in the Japanese entertainment industry took place as Johnny & Associates, the iconic talent agency, transformed into SMILE-UP. Simultaneously, the renowned "Johnny's Jr." has embraced a new identity and is now referred to as "Junior."

The official website proudly introduces itself as "Junior Official Website," and even the YouTube channel, now known as "@juniorchannel_yt," has embraced the new identity, "Junior Channel."

President of SMILE-UP Noriyuki Higashiyama has made it clear that the era of "Johnny & Associates" is ending, hinting at possible name changes for other groups, such as Kanjani Eight and Johnny's WEST.

It's worth noting that while details about the new company where talents are relocating are being worked out, the temporary name for the fan-oriented official site is "FAMILY CLUB Official." Exciting changes are afoot in the Japanese entertainment industry, and "SMILE-UP" signifies a significant shift in values and management in the world of talent agencies.