Storm Labels
Japanese music and film company formerly known as J Storm.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Storm Labels, Inc. is a Japanese music and film company formerly known as J Storm, Inc. It was established on November 12, 2001, as a label initially built around Arashi, a group associated with Johnny & Associates. The label expanded from releasing recordings by affiliated Japanese pop acts into a broader entertainment operation handling music releases, physical and digital media, artist-related video products, and film production. The company’s recording activities have included major male idol and pop-rock groups connected with the former Johnny & Associates system and its successor entertainment structure. Arashi began releasing through the label in 2002 after its debut-period relationship with Pony Canyon. J Storm subsequently became associated with KAT-TUN through the J-One Records imprint, Hey! Say! JUMP, TOKIO, and Naniwa Danshi. The wider label structure also absorbed or administered related recording businesses. Infinity Records served as an independent label for Kanjani Eight, while Johnny’s Entertainment Record, originally established for KinKi Kids and other affiliated projects, was transferred to J Storm in 2019 and later renamed Elov Label in 2024. Storm Labels has also functioned as a film producer and co-producer. Its screen credits include projects connected to affiliated performers, such as the Pika☆nchi films, Cosmic Rescue, Fantastipo, Hold Up Down, Kiiroi Namida, Eight Ranger, and La La La at Rock Bottom. The company has also participated in co-productions including Hana Yori Dango Final and Eiga Kurosagi, and has issued soundtracks associated with Japanese film and television properties. The business historically operated under strict portrait-rights policies inherited from its former parent-company environment. For many years, images of associated performers were generally restricted from appearing on websites, although the restrictions were loosened in February 2011 and removed more broadly in January 2018. International distribution has been handled through different regional partners, including Avex Asia in Hong Kong and Taiwan, Sony Music in Japan, SM Entertainment in South Korea, GMM Grammy in Thailand, Universal Records in the Philippines, and The Orchard in the United States. Following the sexual-abuse scandal involving Johnny Kitagawa and the resulting restructuring of the former Johnny & Associates business, the company announced in October 2023 that J Storm would adopt the name Storm Labels from January 1, 2024. The renaming marked a change in corporate identity while preserving the label’s role in music releases, filmed entertainment, and artist-related production.
History
Storm Labels was established in Japan on November 12, 2001, under the name J Storm, Inc. Its initial purpose was to provide a dedicated recording label for Arashi, whose early releases had been issued through Pony Canyon. The label took its original name from the group’s association and became part of the specialized music infrastructure serving artists connected with Johnny & Associates. Arashi’s first J Storm single was released in 2002, beginning a long-running relationship between the group and the company. J Storm later broadened its artist roster and label architecture. KAT-TUN launched through the J-One Records imprint in 2006, with the imprint positioned around high-profile chart releases. Hey! Say! JUMP began issuing recordings through J Storm in 2007, and TOKIO moved to the label in 2008. Naniwa Danshi joined the label’s recording roster upon its debut on November 12, 2021. The company’s catalog therefore came to encompass a substantial part of the Japanese male-idol and mainstream pop market associated with the former Johnny’s ecosystem. The company’s scope was not limited to audio recordings. It released CDs, DVDs, and other artist-related media and produced films featuring or connected with affiliated performers. Early film projects included Pika☆nchi Life is Hard Dakedo Happy in 2002 and Cosmic Rescue in 2003. Later projects included Pika☆☆nchi Life is Hard Dakara Happy, Fantastipo, Hold Up Down, Kiiroi Namida, Otonari, The Seaside Motel, Topknot Pudding, Eight Ranger, It's me, It's me, Pikanchi Half, and La La La at Rock Bottom. J Storm also participated in co-productions such as Boku wa Imōto ni Koi o Suru, Eiga Kurosagi, Kakushi Toride no San-Akunin: The Last Princess, Hana Yori Dango Final, and Heaven's Door. Soundtrack releases connected with properties such as Kisarazu Cat's Eye, Yaji and Kita: The Midnight Pilgrims, and Hana Yori Dango further illustrated the company’s combined music-and-screen orientation. J Storm’s structure expanded through affiliated labels. Infinity Records operated as an independent label for Kanjani Eight. Johnny’s Entertainment, which had been established in 1997 for KinKi Kids and had also handled releases for temporary units and other associated performers, closed as a separate company in 2019. Its operations were transferred to J Storm under the name Johnny’s Entertainment Record. On January 1, 2024, that label was renamed Elov Label. The company also reflected the restrictive media policies of its former corporate environment. Portrait images of associated performers were historically barred from many websites. The policy was relaxed on February 28, 2011, though restrictions remained in some contexts, including news websites, before being removed more completely on January 31, 2018. J Storm’s identity changed during the major reorganization that followed revelations concerning sexual abuse by Johnny Kitagawa. In October 2023, the company announced that it would be renamed Storm Labels, with the new name taking effect on January 1, 2024. Storm Labels continues the former J Storm business in music recording, physical and digital releases, artist-related video products, and film production. Its releases have also reached overseas markets through regional distribution arrangements involving companies such as Avex Asia, Sony Music, SM Entertainment, GMM Grammy, Universal Records, and The Orchard.
- 2024
Storm Labels name takes effect
[1]The company adopted the Storm Labels name on January 1.
- 2023
Renaming announced
[1]J Storm announced that it would be renamed Storm Labels amid the restructuring following the Johnny Kitagawa sexual-abuse scandal.
- 2021
Naniwa Danshi debuts through J Storm
[1]Naniwa Danshi began releasing singles and albums through J Storm on November 12.
- 2019
Johnny’s Entertainment Record transfers to J Storm
[1]After Johnny’s Entertainment closed as a separate company, its operations moved to J Storm under the Johnny’s Entertainment Record name.
- 2018
Portrait-rights ban is lifted more broadly
[1]The former broad prohibition on publishing performer images online was removed on January 31.
- 2011
Portrait-rights restrictions are loosened
[1]Restrictions on the online use of images of associated performers were relaxed on February 28, although some limitations continued.
- 2008
TOKIO moves to J Storm
[1]TOKIO began releasing through the J Storm label.
- 2007
Hey! Say! JUMP joins the label
[1]Hey! Say! JUMP began releasing singles and albums through J Storm.
- 2006
J-One Records launches for KAT-TUN
[1]KAT-TUN debuted through the J-One Records imprint, which was administered within the wider J Storm structure.
- 2002
Arashi begins releasing through J Storm
[1]Arashi’s J Storm recording era began with the release of the single A Day in Our Life, following the group’s earlier releases through Pony Canyon.
Products and positioning
Japanese pop, idol music, pop-rock, artist-related video entertainment, and film production
Music · 2001
Recorded music releases
Storm Labels releases singles, albums, and digital recordings by artists associated with its label network. Its catalog is particularly associated with Japanese pop, male-idol groups, and pop-rock acts, including Arashi, KAT-TUN, Hey! Say! JUMP, TOKIO, and Naniwa Danshi.
Music label imprint · 2006
J-One Records
J-One Records was an affiliated imprint created for KAT-TUN. It operated within the J Storm structure and was associated with the group’s singles and albums until KAT-TUN continued under a different arrangement in 2013.
Music label imprint
Infinity Records
Infinity Records is an independent label associated with Kanjani Eight. It forms part of the broader network of labels and imprints connected with Storm Labels and the former Johnny’s entertainment businesses.
Music label imprint · 2024
Elov Label
Elov Label is the name adopted on January 1, 2024, by the business formerly known as Johnny’s Entertainment Record. The predecessor was transferred to J Storm in 2019 after Johnny’s Entertainment closed as a separate company.
Film · 2002
Film productions and co-productions
Storm Labels and its predecessor have produced or co-produced Japanese films connected with affiliated performers. The film portfolio includes the Pika☆nchi series, Cosmic Rescue, Fantastipo, Hold Up Down, Kiiroi Namida, Eight Ranger, Hana Yori Dango Final, Eiga Kurosagi, and other feature projects.
Soundtrack
Film and television soundtracks
The company has issued soundtrack products connected with Japanese screen properties, including Kisarazu Cat's Eye, Yaji and Kita: The Midnight Pilgrims, and Hana Yori Dango.
Controversies
2023
Renaming following the Johnny Kitagawa sexual-abuse scandal
The company announced a change from J Storm to Storm Labels in the aftermath of the sexual-abuse scandal involving Johnny Kitagawa. The renaming formed part of the wider separation and reorganization of businesses associated with the former Johnny & Associates system.
Brand decisions
2023
Corporate renaming from J Storm to Storm LabelsStrategyBackground
The decision followed the sexual-abuse scandal involving Johnny Kitagawa and the resulting restructuring of the former Johnny & Associates-related businesses.
Action taken
The company announced in October that J Storm would be renamed Storm Labels effective January 1, 2024.
Aftermath
Storm Labels became the operating name while continuing the company’s music, video, and film activities.
2019
Transfer of Johnny’s Entertainment operationsStrategyBackground
Johnny’s Entertainment closed as a separate company after operating as a label for KinKi Kids and other affiliated projects.
Action taken
Its business was transferred to J Storm and continued under the Johnny’s Entertainment Record name.
Aftermath
The transferred label was later renamed Elov Label in 2024.
2011
Relaxation of online portrait-rights rulesStrategyBackground
The former Johnny’s corporate network had maintained strict controls over the publication of images of its performers on websites.
Action taken
On February 28, the restrictions were loosened, while some limits continued for news websites and other contexts.
Aftermath
The policy was later removed more completely on January 31, 2018.
Sources1 sources
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