Johnnys (ジャニーズ, Janīzu) was a Japanese boy band created by Johnny Kitagawa before the formation of the Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates.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".