Michi Iijima, the talent manager widely credited as the driving force behind the career of iconic boy band SMAP, has been appointed J-POP executive producer at HYBE JAPAN, the Japanese arm of the South Korean entertainment giant behind BTS. The appointment was announced on July 7.
In a statement released alongside the announcement, Iijima said she wants “to further expand the possibilities that Japan’s entertainment industry holds,” signaling a new push by HYBE to build up its presence in the Japanese music market through homegrown J-POP talent.
Iijima will continue her existing work at CULEN, the talent agency she runs that represents former SMAP members Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori, according to the announcement. Her HYBE role will run alongside her CULEN duties rather than replace them.
Who is Michi Iijima?
Michi Iijima (飯島三智) rose to prominence as the longtime chief manager for SMAP, one of Japan’s most successful boy bands, and is often described in Japanese media as the group’s “foster parent” for her role in guiding their decades-long career. She later became known for her continued management of former SMAP members Inagaki, Kusanagi, and Katori through her agency CULEN. Her move to HYBE JAPAN, the local subsidiary of HYBE, the South Korean company that manages global superstars BTS, marks her first major role within a K-pop-rooted entertainment company.
HYBE has been expanding its footprint beyond Korean acts in recent years, and Iijima’s appointment suggests the company is looking to tap veteran Japanese industry expertise as it grows its J-POP business.
