While “Arashi” has stopped its activities and “V6” has broken up, young Japanese groups are making great strides.
The first of these groups is King & Prince, who made their CD debut in May 2006. In just three years since their debut, they boast 740,000 members in their fan club, third only to Arashi and Kanjani Eight.
King&Prince
Shiki Hirano(24), right
SexyZone Kento Nakajima(27)
On location for the drama “Mimatsu Keisatsu Midnight Runner,” in which he and Nakajima starred together. He was in charge of acrobatics when he was a member of Kansai Jr.This issue’s unpublished cut of King&Prince Hirano Shidou’s pre-debut photos are also on view! The latest photos of the next generation of Johnny’s!A cut that has never been published in this magazine King&Prince Hirano Shidou: Treasure photos from before his debut are also on display! Next Generation Johnny’s Latest Photos
In the past, delinquent idols like KAT-TUN were popular, but now the trend is toward shiny, royal idols like KINPRI. Naniwa Dango”, which just made its CD debut on the 12th of this month, is in the same line. The number of members of their fan club has surpassed 230,000 in the first three months, surpassing the number of members of “Kinpuri” at the time of their debut.
The group is made up of Kansai Jr. members who have a long history of performing, having joined the group at a young age, and they are capable of not only singing and dancing, but also handling variety shows. The fact that Tadayoshi Okura (36) of “Kanjani Eight” produced them also became a hot topic.
They are also actively producing with an eye on overseas expansion. Among them, the talented group Snow Man, which debuted in 2008, is said to be going strong.
The group is characterized by its danceable music that is reminiscent of K-pop, which is currently trending around the world, and the highly choreographed dancing of its nine members, all of whom have excellent body language, is popular among both men and women. Their first album, “Snow Mania S1,” released on September 29th, sold 840,000 copies in its first week alone, which is an astonishing figure in an age when CDs are not selling well.
Other candidates for the “Next Arashi” include the Sixtones, who are highly regarded for their musicianship, and the HiHi Jets, a Jr. group formed by vice president Hideaki Takizawa (39). Enjoy the latest shots of them!
Yuta Jinguji(24), left
Kaito Takahashi(22)
On location for the TV drama “Bukkatsu, suki de nama dake desu ka? on location. It’s been four years since the debut of “Kinpuri” since “Johnny’s West” (photo taken in August 2006).
Ren Nagase(22)
At around 9:30 p.m., Nagase had a dinner with business associates at a high-class Japanese restaurant in Roppongi (Minato-ku). Immediately afterwards, he got into a cab and headed home.
Naniwa Boys
Kazuya Ohashi(24), left
Daigo Nishihata(24)
In the vicinity of Shochikuza Theater in Osaka. Nishibata, the center of the group, and Ohashi, the leader, were members of “Naniwa Prince” and “Funky8” respectively at the time. (Photo taken in August ’13)
Joichiro Fujiwara(25)
Joined the company in 2004 at the age of 8, the youngest ever. He is a hard worker who made his debut after 18 years of performing. He is also the oldest in the group (photo taken in August 2001).
SixTONES
Jessie (25)
Leaving the venue after the press conference to announce the production of the drama “K2”, with his 184cm height and light-hearted talk (photo taken in September 2008)
Hokuto Matsumura(26)
He became the talk of the town when he enthusiastically played the husband of the first heroine in the current morning drama “Come Come Everyday”. His douchey character is popular among fans (photo taken in August 2008).This issue of the magazine has never been published before. SixTONES Hokuto Matsumura’s treasured photos from before his debut are also on display! The latest photos of the next generation of Johnny’s!A cut that has never been published in this magazine Hokuto Matsumura of SixTONES makes his treasured photos before his debut public! Next Generation Johnny’s Latest Photos
Yugo Kouachi(27)
He is also certified in scuba diving, and took up leather craft during the period when he refrained from going out last year. He is in charge of healing the group.
SnowMan
Rahul (18)
On location for the movie “Honey Lemon Soda. He is so good at dancing that he won second place in a world competition. He is the youngest member of the group and the center of the group.At the age of 13SnowMan Rahul’s treasured photos from before his debut are also on display! Next Generation Johnny’s Latest Photos
Koji Mukai(27)
A member who joined just before their debut. Originally, he was active as a member of Kansai Jr. His hobby is photography, and last year he was in charge of a series of articles in a specialty magazine.
Lil Kansai
Takuya Nishimura(18), left
Kotaro Okazaki(17)
The younger brother of “Naniwa Dango”. They are a five-member group with an average age of 17. They are called “Ritokan” by their fans (photo taken in July 2007).
Ae! group
Seiya Suezawa (27), left
Richard Keita Kusama(25)
A six-member Jr. group from Kansai. Suezawa is the older brother of “Naniwa Dango,” a popular Jr. group that sells out its own fans at every live performance (photo taken in July 2007).
7MEN Samurai
Soya Igari(19), left
Rinne Sugeta(23)
The popular Jr. were caught on their way home from lessons. Igari was scouted by the late Janie Kitagawa and joined the club. She is popular for her surreal remarks (photo taken in October 2004).
TravisJapan
Kawashima Noeru(27), left
Tatsuya Shime Kake(26)
Takizawa’s comments that hinted at their debut became a hot topic. They are expected to debut next year, the year of the tiger (photo taken in July 2007).
