Yoshimoto Kogyo

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Yoshimoto Kōgyō Holdings Co., Ltd.
SubsidiariesYoshimoto Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Yoshimoto Developments
Yoshimoto Music Entertainment Co., Ltd.
Yoshimoto Universal Tunes
Yoshimoto Administration
and more
Websitewww.yoshimoto.co.jp

Yoshimoto Kogyo Holdings Co., Ltd. (吉本興業ホールディングス株式会社, Yoshimoto Kōgyō Hōrudeingusu Kabushiki-gaisha) is a Japanese entertainment conglomerate. It was founded in 1912, Osaka, as a traditional theatre, and has since grown to be one of the most influential companies in Japan, employing most of Japan's popular owarai (comedy) talent, producing and promoting the shows they appear in.[1] The two main headquarters are stationed in Osaka and Tokyo.

Yoshimoto has been expanding its business in recent years, due to the warai boom. They now have their own comedy theme park in

athletes
and singers alongside business with the Japanese owarai industry.

History

1912–1932: Establishment of Yoshimoto Kogyo-bu

On April 1, 1912, Kichibei Yoshimoto and his wife Sei Yoshimoto purchased the Second Arts Building in Osaka. They later established Yoshimoto Kogyo-bu in January 1913 in Shinsaibashi. In 1922, they purchased two theatre establishments in January and May in Tokyo and Yokohama.

1932–2005: Rename to Yoshimoto Kogyo, influence on manzai

On March 1, 1932, Yoshimoto Kogyobu changed its name to Yoshimoto Kogyo and set up their second headquarters in Tokyo. In 1933, Yoshimoto Kogyo's

Osaka Securities Exchange
.

In 1959, the company established its own comedy troupe theater group, Yoshimoto Shinkigeki. On October 2, 1961, Yoshimoto Kogyo began trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. From 1962 to 1963, the Kyoto Kagetsu Theater and the Namba Kagetsu Theater opened. In 1982, Yoshimoto New Star Creation was established in Osaka. A second headquarters in Tokyo was established in 1995.

2005–present: Expansion

In January 2005, Isao Yoshino replaced Masao Kimura as director. Kimura had been part of the company since entering in 1969. Yoshimoto Kogyo, Faith, Fandango and Intel Japan formed a strategic alliance, and established Bellrock Media in the United States. On October 1, 2007, Yoshimoto Kogyo restructured as a holding company. In 2009, Yoshimoto Kogyo establishes partnership with the Creative Artists Agency. On February 24, 2010, Yoshimoto Kogyo stopped trading on all stock exchanges.

Controversies

Anti-social group scandal

In 2019, several comedians associated with Yoshimoto Kogyo admitted they had accepted money and attended parties held by the yakuza in 2014 without the knowledge of the company.[2] 11 celebrities under the company were suspended,[3] one of whom included Hiroyuki Miyasako.[4] Shinya Irie, a member of the comedy duo Karateka, was fired earlier for arranging their appearances at the party without the agency's permission.[3] President and CEO Akihiko Okamoto also admitted that the company had found out about the connection between the comedians and the anti-social forces but pressured the comedians to stay silent.[5] Okamoto also apologized for Miyasako and Ryo Tamura and decided to reinstate their contracts after initially firing them.[6] He and chairman Hiroshi Osaki vowed to take a 50% pay cut for one year as atonement over the scandal.[6] The celebrities returned from suspension and resumed their activities on August 19, 2019.[7]

Artists

Comedians

Solo

Groups

Recording artists

Actors/actresses

Others

Property

Yoshimoto Kogyo is the owner of a number of corporate offices and stages, most situated in the downtown areas of Osaka and Tokyo. The company has two headquarters, Osaka HQ (大阪本部) and Tokyo HQ (東京本部) and a number of stages, namely

Shibuya district of Tokyo, Yoshimoto Mugendai Hall (ヨシモト∞ホール). Yoshimoto also had a comedy museum in downtown Osaka called Yoshimoto Shōtengai
(吉本笑店街), but it closed in 2009.

Other assets

Yoshimoto Kogyo also owns a

radio station, YES-fm 78.1 (callsign: JOZZ7AF-FM), based in Namba, Osaka
.

References

  1. Japan Times. p. 3. Archived from the original
    on May 23, 2010.
  2. ^ Yui, Mazakazu (June 15, 2019). "Talent agency to make all its entertainers confirm no ties to 'antisocial groups'". Mainichi Shimbun. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Yui, Mazakazu (June 24, 2019). "11 Japanese comedians suspended for appearing at 'antisocial organization' party". Mainichi Shimbun. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  4. ^ Yui, Masakazu (July 19, 2019). "Japanese comedian Miyasako's contract cut over 'antisocial group' scandal". Mainichi Shimbun. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  5. ^ Morrissy, Kim (July 27, 2019). "Crime Connections, Abusive Practices Come to Light in Yoshimoto Kogyo Entertainment Agency Scandal". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Yashiro, Hisanori (July 22, 2019). "Apologetic entertainment giant boss retracts punishment over 'antisocial group' scandal". Mainichi Shimbun. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  7. ^ Yui, Masakazu (August 10, 2019). "Talent agency Yoshimoto to lift stage appearance ban on 11 comedians". Mainichi Shimbun. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  8. ^ "「HEROES」のマシ・オカ、吉本興業とアドバイザリー契約!日本のテレビへの出演も?". シネマトゥデイ. June 22, 2010. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
  9. ^ "岡田 斗司夫 プロフィール|吉本興業株式会社". profile.yoshimoto.co.jp. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  10. ^ "「私生活ではこけっぱなし」前神奈川知事が吉本入り 都知事選断念の松沢氏". msn産経ニュース. June 16, 2011. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  11. ^ "中野 寛成 プロフィール|吉本興業株式会社". profile.yoshimoto.co.jp. Retrieved May 29, 2019.

External links