Former SMAP member Masahiro Nakai showed his “love for his mentor” on “Music Day”… Why he wore a “luxury watch” given to him by a younger colleague.

Former SMAP member Masahiro Nakai and TBS announcer Shinichiro Azumi served as general hosts of the music special “Ongaku no Hi 2024” (TBS) broadcast on July 13. Continuing from last year, dance vocal groups gathered for a dance project, and both male and female groups, including Snow Man, Travis Japan, and artists from LDH, participated. Nakai, the host of the event, looked on with great excitement, but behind the scenes he was also sending encouragement to the younger members of the former Johnny’s office.

The dance project for this year’s “Music Day” was “We’ve crossed the barrier! Let’s battle this time!” From STARTO ENTERTAINMENT, Travis Japan continued to perform, and Snow Man members Teru Iwamoto, Daisuke Sakuma, and Ryota Miyadate participated for the first time.

Travis Japan had studied abroad in Los Angeles, U.S.A., as a “warrior training” for singing and dancing before making their worldwide debut in October 2010. He was the only member from the office to participate in last year’s “Music Day” dance project, where he demonstrated his skill level. The three members of Snow Man, who have newly joined the group, also have outstanding physical abilities, and when they were junior members, they were known for their performances that included acrobatics,” said an idol magazine writer.

In the “1-on-1 Dance Battle,” Kaito Nakamura of Travis Japan and Sakuma of Snow Man appeared. In this corner, eight top dancers from each group who are confident in their dance skills competed in a freestyle style battle.

In the “1-on-1 Dance Battle,” the group members served as the gallery, cheering on their friends with loud voices. Nakai and Azumi were also close by, and when Sakuma put on a show, Nakai clapped and threw his hands up in the air in a flirtatious manner, which showed his excitement.

Travis Japan was matched with JO1 in the “Intergroup Dance Battle. The theme of the battle was “Michael Jackson Showdown,” and each of the two groups showed their own unique dance moves to Michael’s hit songs. On the other hand, the theme of the battle between Snow Man and BE:FIRST was “movie theme songs. This was another performance that went in completely different directions, and the scene was filled with excitement.

After the show, Travis Japan shared an episode with host Nakai on their Instagram live-stream. Just before they sang their song “LEVEL UP,” Nakai confirmed that they would be competing in the dance battle that was to follow, and blasted them, “Don’t lose! He told them, “Don’t lose!

Nakai’s words seemed to inspire them all: “I was a little more fired up than usual for ‘LEVEL UP'” (Nakamura), “He gave me an engine” (Kanya Yoshizawa), “He was so passionate” (Genta Matsuda), “‘Don’t let him beat you! It’s good, isn’t it?” (Ryoeru Kawashima).

On the 15th, Snow Man Sakuma updated his blog on the FAMILY CLUB web, a members-only site. During the dance project, “Nakai-kun was talking to me a lot,” he began, reporting on their conversation that day.

Before the “1-on-1 Dance Battle,” he said, “Sakuma, are you okay? The guys here are in a lot of trouble! He was worried about me, but when I asked him for his opinion after the event, he said, “You’re the best! You’re awesome! He praised me with a smile. Furthermore, when Nakai’s eyes met Nakai’s during the “Intergroup Dance Battle,” Sakuma, Iwamoto, and Miyadate were given a message that said, “If you’ve come this far, you have no choice but to do it. Encouraged by their senior, they may have been able to perform even better.

Kis-My-Ft2, who used to perform with Nakai and SMAP, also appeared on this year’s “Music Day,” and after a one-year reunion, they talked with big smiles on their faces.

Nakai left Johnny’s in March 2008. According to his own words on the July 20 broadcast of the radio program “Masahiro Nakai ON & ON AIR” (Nippon Broadcasting System, Inc.), he has a rule that he only wears this watch when he meets Kismai. I only wear this watch when I meet Kiss My.’ Since Kiss Mai has won the award for “perfect attendance” at the annual “Music Day,” which started in 2011, he must have a strong emotional attachment to the event.

Although their current offices are different, Nakai’s junior members of STARTO probably still have a special presence in his life. It is to be hoped that there will be more opportunities to see this kind of “master-disciple” relationship in the future.