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Tokio announces breakup following repeated harassment by member
- Master Blaster
Jun 26, 2025 - Tweet
Latest scandal simply too much for the remaining members to handle.
- Japan
- (boy bands • music • NTV • Taichi Kokubun • television • The Tetsuwan Dash • Tokio)
Mega-hit Japanese boy band Arashi is disbanding
- Casey Baseel
May 7, 2025
Long hiatus to become permanent following farewell tour.
Johnny’s talent agency announces name change, dismantling, and upcoming new agency formation
- Casey Baseel
Oct 2, 2023
Decision comes one month after admission of sexual abuse by founder.
- Japan
- (boy bands • crime • Idols • Johhny's • Johnny & Associates • Johnny Kitagawa • scandal • Smile Up)
President of Japan’s largest male idol talent agency steps down, admits sexual abuse took place
- Casey Baseel
Sep 7, 2023
Niece of disgraced music producer will remain as representative director at the company for the time being, though.
- Japan
- (boy bands • crime • Idols • Johnny & Associates • Johnny Kitagawa • Johnny's • Julie Fujishima • Julie Keiko Fujishima • male idols • music)
Boy band Ae! group brings their A-game to music, acting, science, welding, and more【Interview】
- Master Blaster
Jul 3, 2023
We sit down and talk pop with Kansai’s rising boy band stars.
- Japan
- (Ae! Group • boy bands • COK • Idols • interview • J-Pop • Johnny's • Ken Kojima • Masaya Sano • music • Richard Kusama • Seiya Suezawa • SNJO • Taisei Fukumoto • Yoshinori Masakado)
President of boy band talent agency Johnny & Associates offers apology over sexual abuse claims【Vid】
- Casey Baseel
May 15, 2023
Founder’s niece says she should have done more to investigate allegations, outlines changes for company going forward.
- Japan
- (boy bands • COK • crime • Idols • Johnny & Associates • Johnny Kitagawa • Johnny's • Johnny's Entertainment • music • video)
We caught up with Travis Japan to chat dancing, anime dreams, and back scratchers
- Krista Rogers
Aug 25, 2022
We interview the all-male J-Pop group Travis Japan in the midst of their trailblazing efforts in the U.S.
- Japan, USA
- (America's Got Talent • Anime Expo • boy bands • interview • J-Pop • Johnny & Associates • Johnnys’ Jr. • SNO • Travis Japan)
What happens when a 40-something dude goes to an anime boy band fan event? Something emotional
- Casey Baseel
Aug 20, 2022
Learning both what Sutopuri is and what makes them special all in the same day!
- Japan
- (anime • boy bands • COK • J-Pop • moving • music • SNJO • Strawberry Prince • Sutopuri • touching)
Travis Japan, the hot Japanese boy band winning hearts through America’s Got Talent【Video】
- Krista Rogers
Aug 11, 2022
We spotlight the J-Pop group that’s now based in the U.S. and is taking over with their charismatic performances on America’s Got Talent and more.
- Japan, USA
- (America's Got Talent • Anime Expo • boy bands • J-Pop • Johnny & Associates • Johnnys’ Jr. • music • SNO • Travis Japan • video • World of Dance Championships)
Former SMAP member Shingo Katori announces marriage to woman he’s been dating for 25 years
- Dale Roll
Dec 30, 2021
The relationship hasn’t exactly been a secret, but it came as a surprise anyway.
- Japan
- (boy bands • boyband • celebrities • Idols • marriage • music • musicians • relationships • romance • Shingo Katori • SMAP)
Arashi members Sho Sakurai and Masaki Aiba get married… Wait, that didn’t come out right
- Master Blaster
Sep 29, 2021
Boy, they really do like doing everything together.
- Japan
- (arashi • boy bands • entertainment • headlines • J-Pop • marriage • Masaki Aiba • music • Sho Sakurai)
Feud with boy band talent agency might spell the end of Sega’s Judgement video game series
- Casey Baseel
Jul 13, 2021
Lost Judgement could be the last Judgement if Sega can’t work out a compromise with with Takuya Kimura’s agency.
- Japan
- (boy bands • celebrities • Johnny's • Judgement • Lost Judgement • Ryu ga Gotoku • Sega • SMAP • Takuya Kimura • video games • yakuza)
Johnny & Associates partners with Neokyo to ship official idol goods outside of Japan
- Krista Rogers
Jul 5, 2021
At last you can get your favorite Johnny’s idol goods delivered to your door anywhere in the world.
- Japan
- (boy bands • Idols • J-Pop • Johnny's • King & Prince • music • Neokyo • proxy service)
7 MEN Samurai leading charge of Johnny’s new wave, need your help translating
- Master Blaster
Jun 9, 2021
From playing their own instruments to scaring the crap out of each other, these six 7 MEN are changing the face of Japanese idols.
- Japan
- (7 MEN Samurai • boy bands • Idols • J-Pop • Johnny & Associates • Johnnys’ Jr. • Katsuki Motodaka • music • Rei Yabana • Reia Nakamura • Rinne Sugeta • Taiki Konno • Taiko Sasaki)
Meet Aloma: the Japanese male idol group cheering on moms through the trials of child-rearing
- Ingrid Tsai
Apr 23, 2021
A truly one-of-a-kind boy band.
- Japan
- (Aloma • boy bands • idol singers • Idols • J-Pop • Japanese idols • mothers • music • Parenting • parents • video)
2020: The year of ARASHI that never was
- Master Blaster
Mar 16, 2021
Even ARASHI can’t always get what they want.
- Japan
- (arashi • boy bands • coronavirus • COVID-19 • J-Pop • Johnny & Associates • Johnny's • music • National Stadium)
2020 got you down? Finish not with a Big Bang, but like a Dynamite, with new BTS-themed coffee
- Ingrid Tsai
Dec 20, 2020
Wash all your Blood Sweat & Tears away with this coffee collaboration between the world’s premier K-pop boy band and a Japanese online retailer.
Former sixth SMAP member wins motorcycle championship, fulfilling 24-year promise with bandmates
- Dale Roll
Nov 5, 2020
Fans dub November “The Day that United SMAP”.
- Japan
- (boy bands • Katsuyuki Mori • morotsports • motorcycles • moving • music • racing • SMAP • touching • video)
Japanese boy bands debut new hand-washing song with dance moves and English lyrics 【Videos】
- Oona McGee
Apr 7, 2020
Arashi, Hey! Say! JUMP, KAT-TUN, and former Smap member Kimutaku are just some of the members to appear in these videos.
- Japan
- (arashi • boy bands • coronavirus • COVID-19 • hand washing • J-Pop • Johnny & Associates • Johnny's • kimutaku • music • video • Yamapi • YouTube)
Daughter of Japanese idol and former SMAP star Takuya Kimura becomes a model in Japan
- Oona McGee
Mar 21, 2020
Eldest daughter of a heartthrob graduates high school and enters the world of fashion.
- Japan
- (boy bands • Cocomi • Dior • fashion • Idols • Japanese models • Japanese women • Kimura Takuya • kimutaku • models • Vogue)
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Recent Posts
- Japanese taxi drivers granted right to kick rude passengers out of their cabs before destination
- This Japanese sandwich mascot is filled with fiery rage, and he’s got a point [Video]
- Studio Ghibli creates illustrated Kyoto sightseeing map, available at any 7-Eleven Japan store
- Japan’s bean sprout shortage hitting Jiro-style ramen businesses hard
- Studio Ghibli adds new Totoro and Jiji blanket socks to its merchandise store in Japan
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MOST POPULAR
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Today
Studio Ghibli creates illustrated Kyoto sightseeing map, available at any 7-Eleven Japan store
Studio Ghibli adds new Totoro and Jiji blanket socks to its merchandise store in Japan
Japan’s bean sprout shortage hitting Jiro-style ramen businesses hard
This Japanese sandwich mascot is filled with fiery rage, and he’s got a point [Video]
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest Christmas celebration coming to Yokohama next month
We waited three hours to get into the new carb heaven all-you-can-eat bread restaurant in Osaka
We hunt for treasure at an all-you-can-stuff Kanagawa secondhand shop for just 1,000 yen
Japanese taxi drivers granted right to kick rude passengers out of their cabs before destination
Ghibli/Kyoto crossover artwork decorates goshuin papers for Zen and Ghibli art exhibition [Pics]
Weekly
What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?
American man runs out of money in Japan, gets arrested for overstaying tourist visa
Japanese milk carton cakes are a genius idea that the world needs to know about- Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
New Studio Ghibli notebooks are a beautiful reason to write and draw by hand [Photos]
Foreign travelers sitting on sidewalks of Tokyo’s Ginza are Japan’s latest tourism culture clash
Studio Ghibli adds Totoro family goods to its anime merchandise store in Japan
New Gundam plush goods mix cosplay and comfort for Char-custom-level coziness [Pics]- We waited three hours to get into the new carb heaven all-you-can-eat bread restaurant in Osaka
Giant wagashi cushions will turn your home sweet home into home sweet Japanese sweets home
Monthly
Japan announces new permanent residency guidelines, foreigners must earn more than average Japanese person
Starbucks Japan unveils new Pokémon collaboration with Pikachu Latte and exclusive goods- Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Studio Ghibli’s Calcifer is ready to light up your home as a magical-looking candle lamp [Photos]
Lady Gaga and Family Mart team up for a Japanese convenience store work video [Video]- What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?
New Gundam Base superstores coming soon in the U.S., with one opening this month
Studio Ghibli releases new plush mascot character collection with a focus on friendship
Tokyo train station will play Godzilla theme song as new departure melody
Do Japan’s new single-minded convenience store bento show depressing poverty or satisfying focus?
Yearly
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
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RECOMMENDED STORIES
Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest Christmas celebration coming to Yokohama next month
We waited three hours to get into the new carb heaven all-you-can-eat bread restaurant in Osaka
We hunt for treasure at an all-you-can-stuff Kanagawa secondhand shop for just 1,000 yen
Japanese taxi drivers granted right to kick rude passengers out of their cabs before destination
Ghibli/Kyoto crossover artwork decorates goshuin papers for Zen and Ghibli art exhibition [Pics]
KFC Japan releases its first thigh-meat fried chicken burger in 43 years, but was it worth the wait?
New Studio Ghibli stamp rally set to start in Japan, with exclusive merchandise for anime fans
Man in Japan says monkey threw his cat into a pond before attacking him
Foreign travelers sitting on sidewalks of Tokyo’s Ginza are Japan’s latest tourism culture clash
New Gundam plush goods mix cosplay and comfort for Char-custom-level coziness [Pics]
Tokyo Monorail, other east Japan rail networks announce discontinuation of magnetic paper tickets
Studio Ghibli adds Totoro family goods to its anime merchandise store in Japan
American man runs out of money in Japan, gets arrested for overstaying tourist visa
Vietnamese-language driver’s license tests suspended in Japan following alleged cheating
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