Smile-Up controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2023
Sexual-abuse allegations against Johnny Kitagawa
Former performers and other individuals associated with the agency described sexual abuse by founder Johnny Kitagawa. Renewed investigation and testimony in 2023 led to intense criticism of the company's governance, its historical response and the wider industry relationships that enabled the agency to remain powerful. Kitagawa died in 2019, before the company announced its 2023 restructuring.