TV Tokyo to lift ban on new casting for talents of STARTO ENTERTAINMENT

On the 3rd, TV Tokyo held a regular press conference at its headquarters in Roppongi, Tokyo, and announced that it would be changing its approach to casting talents affiliated with STARTO ENTERTAINMENT.

President Ishikawa Ichiro commented, “TV Tokyo has had various discussions with the former Johnny’s Entertainment over the past year since last year. We have been making requests and demands and they have responded, and I honestly believe that some progress has been made”.

Regarding SMILE-UP.’s (the parent company of STARTO ENTERTAINMENT) efforts, he said, “First of all, they have made considerable progress in providing relief to the victims, and we have confirmed that security deposits have been paid. I think there will be more to come, but I understand that there has been great progress at this stage”.

In addition, he praised the fact that the fan club business was taken over by a newly established company, and that SMILE and Bright Note Music will reduce their share of the master rights to music and other materials that they jointly own. He also stated, “Regarding the establishment of governance and separation of management that we have repeatedly requested, I believe that the separation of management has progressed with Fujishima stepping down as both representative director and director”.

In response to this series of responses, President Ishikawa stated, “I think that we will continue to make requests to the company while continuing to do business in various ways in the future” and with regard to the casting of talents belonging to the agency, he said, “We will proceed with various procedures with STARTO, and then leave the remaining hiring to the discretion of the hiring staff on the ground level”.