were a Japanese boy band created by Johnny Kitagawa before the formation of the Japanese talent agency

Johnny & Associates was a Japanese talent agency formed by Johnny Kitagawa in 1962, which managed groups of male idols known as The company had a significant impact on pop culture with male idols and boy bands in Japan since the 1980s. Until 2019, the company w ...

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

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

Kyu Sakamoto , legally registered as since 1956, was a Japanese singer and actor. He was best known outside Japan for his international hit song "Ue o Muite Arukō" (known as "Sukiyaki (song), Sukiyaki" in English-speaking markets), which was sung in Japane ...

'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" () is a song composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Bertolt Brecht for their 1928 music drama ''The Threepenny Opera'' (). The song tells of a knife-wielding criminal of the London underworld n ...

" in the 16th

NHK , also known by its Romanization of Japanese, romanized initialism NHK, is a Japanese public broadcasting, public broadcaster. It is a statutory corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television licence, television license fee. NHK ope ...

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 Revue, 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 ...

. Although little known in the U.S., they were the first group to record the hit song "

Never My Love "Never My Love" is a pop standard written by American siblings Don and Dick Addrisi, and best known from a hit 1967 recording by the Association. The Addrisi Brothers had two Top 40 hits as recording artists, but their biggest success as songwri ...

" by

the Association The Association is an American sunshine pop band from Los Angeles, California. During the late 1960s, the band had numerous hits at or near the top of the Billboard charts, ''Billboard'' charts (including "Windy (The Association song), Windy" ...

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 who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on M ...

# 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