was a Japanese boy band created by

Johnny Kitagawa John Hiromu Kitagawa (Japanese name ; October 23, 1931 – July 9, 2019), known professionally as , was an American-born Japanese businessman and talent manager. He was the founder and president of Johnny & Associates, a production agency for nu ...

before the formation of the Japanese talent agency

Johnny & Associates is a Japanese talent agency, formed by Johnny Kitagawa in 1962, which trains and promotes groups of male entertainers known as . History 1962–1989 In 1962, Kitagawa launched his first group, Johnnys. In its early days, Kitagawa's agency rente ...

. The group was formed in April 1962 and lasted until November 20, 1967. They are considered one of the first of Japan's

idol Idol or Idols may refer to: Religion and philosophy * Cult image, a neutral term for a man-made object that is worshipped or venerated for the deity, spirit or demon that it embodies or represents * Murti, a point of focus for devotion or medit ...

groups. Johnnys is also an abbreviation for "Johnny's Jimusho" and also for the talents signed to the agency. For the sake of convenience in Japan, the group is often called "First Generation Johnny's" or "Founding Johnnys". For those considered to be "

bishōnen (; also transliterated ) is a Japanese term literally meaning "beautiful youth (boy)" and describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in East Asia: a young man of androgynous beauty. This word originated from the Tang dynasty ...

" the term "Johnnys Type" is used. The word, despite referring to one male's looks, is not to be mistaken for the word "Ikemen". Their debut single "Wakai Namida" (1964) was composed by

Hachidai Nakamura was a Japanese songwriter and jazz pianist. Biography Hachidai Nakamura was born in Tsingtao, Republic of China, to Japanese parents, before moving to Kurume at a young age, where he attended high school. He graduated from Waseda University in ...

with the lyrics by Rokusuke Ei. Nakamura and Ei formerly made the music and lyric of

Kyu Sakamoto was a Japanese singer and actor. He was best known outside Japan for his international hit song "Ue o Muite Arukō" (known as "Sukiyaki" in English-speaking markets), which was sung in Japanese and sold over 13 million copies. It reached number ...

's U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 number-one single "

Sukiyaki is a Japanese dish that is prepared and served in the ''nabemono'' (Japanese hot pot) style. It consists of meat (usually thinly sliced beef) which is slowly cooked or simmered at the table, alongside vegetables and other ingredients, in ...

." On December 31, 1965, Johnnys sang the song "

Mack the Knife "Mack the Knife" or "The Ballad of Mack the Knife" (german: "Die Moritat von Mackie Messer", italic=no, link=no) is a song composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Bertolt Brecht for their 1928 music drama ''The Threepenny Opera'' (german: Die Dreig ...

" in the 16th

NHK , also known as NHK, is a Japanese public broadcaster. NHK, which has always been known by this romanized initialism in Japanese, is a statutory corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee. NHK operates two terrestri ...

Kōhaku Uta Gassen , more commonly known simply as ''Kōhaku'', is an annual New Year's Eve television special produced by Japanese public broadcaster NHK. It is broadcast live simultaneously on television and radio, nationally and internationally by the NHK net ...

at the

Tokyo Takarazuka Theater is another home for Takarazuka Creative Arts in Yurakucho, Chiyoda ward, Tokyo. It served as the second round performing theater for the Revue's performing cycle. The original theater was built in 1934. It was taken over by the American GHQ af ...

Members

* (November 1, 1946 — March 6, 2000) * (born August 23, 1946) * (born September 18, 1947) * (born January 10, 1948)

Discography

Singles

# Wakai Namida (Young Tears) # Wakai Yoru (Young Night) # Honō no Kaabu (Curved Flame) # Girl Happy # Eikō no March (Glorious March) # Kimi ga Wakamono Nara (You are a Young Man) # Naiteita Jenny (Crying Jenny) # Batman * used as the theme song for the Japanese airing of the television series

Batman Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on ...

# Ōi Waai Chichichi # Kiri no Yoru no Aishuu (The Sorrow of the Night's Fog) # Tokei wo Tomete (Clock's Stopped) # Taiyō no Aitsu (Guy of the Sun) # Itsuka Dokoka de (Someday, anywhere) # Wakai Nihon no Uta (Song of Japan's Youth)

Albums

# Jyaniizu to Amerika Ryokou ~ Jyaniizu Shou Jikkyou Rokuon (Johnnys and an American Journey ~ Johnnys Real Recording~)

References

Japanese boy bands Japanese pop music groups Johnny & Associates Musical groups from Tokyo Musical groups established in 1962 Musical groups disestablished in 1967 1962 establishments in Japan 1967 disestablishments in Japan {{japan-band-stub