TOBE Junior Makes Tokyo Dome Debut Amidst Concerns Over Training System Similarity to Johnny’s Model
From March 14th to 17th, “to HEROes～TOBE 1st Super Live～” is being held at the Tokyo Dome, garnering high attention from fans as it brings together artists from Takizawa Hideaki’s (41) entertainment agency, “TOBE.”
“Former ‘V6’ member Ken Miyake (44), former ‘Kis-My-Ft2’ member Hiromitsu Kitayama (38), former ‘King & Prince’ and current ‘Number_i’ member Sho Hirano (27), Yuta Kishi (28), Yuta Jinguji (26), and the seven-member group ‘IMP.’ will participate. The final performance on March 17th will be live-streamed on Amazon Prime Video to approximately 230 countries, indicating a global awareness,” a sports newspaper entertainment reporter stated.
In just one year since its establishment in March of last year, the artists under the TOBE agency are standing on the stage of the Tokyo Dome. While the event boasts a star-studded lineup, it has also attracted attention with the introduction of new faces, namely teenage boys referred to as trainees.
“The boys who passed auditions last spring are scheduled to serve as backup dancers for Hirano and others. In December of last year, five boys aged 10 to 13 appeared on the YouTube program ‘Tobe-ban’ featuring TOBE artists, and their work may increase in the future,” a television station insider mentioned.
There are high expectations for the performances of these fresh rookies. However, the same television station insider noted, “Watching them, one can’t help but feel the resemblance to the old Johnny & Associates (now SMILE-UP).
“Their cute looks reminiscent of elementary and junior high school students evoke the image of juniors (formerly Johnny’s Jr.). Serving as senior backup dancers is also very much in line with the old Johnny & Associates. It’s been pointed out before, but the impression of creatinglittle Johnny’s remains,” they added.
