“Where’s the scruffy character?” Fuma Kikuchi’s “turning point” in the Netflix series “Taipro” has been well-received for his “stiff” attitude.

Overruling the outcry from some fans, the “timelesz project -AUDITION-,” aka Taipro, is on a roll.

Fuma Kikuchi (29), Katsutoshi Sato (28), and Satoshi Matsushima (26) make up “timelesz,” an idol group. The former Johnny’s popular group “Sexy Zone” changed its name on April 1 this year after the graduation of its member Kento Nakajima (30). At the same time, they announced that they would recruit new members through auditions. The auditions are now being streamed on Netflix and have become a big hit.

Sexy Zone” was originally a five-member group that debuted at the end of 2010. At the end of 2010, Mariusuha (24) left the group, and this year, Nakajima also left, leaving the group with three members. Nakajima, in particular, was the oldest and the leader of the group, and was very popular for his prince-like character, throwing sweet words such as “princess ♡” at fans. With three members, it is possible that the group’s popularity will be limited to the status quo. It is thought that the members chose to take on this challenge.

The STARTO ENTERTAINMENT (formerly Johnny’s), to which “timelesz” belongs, has many young talents who have not yet debuted, called juniors. They usually polish their skills as back-up dancers for their seniors, and if their popularity and ability are recognized, they become members of a junior group and eventually make their debut.

The audition for “timelesz” is an opportunity for newcomers who have not gone through such a preparatory period to make their debut. Fans were outraged by the fact that this audition was a radical departure from the traditions of Johnny’s. However, when the audition was finally shown to the audience, they were not surprised to hear that the audition had been held. However, once the auditions began to be broadcast, they became a hot topic of conversation, with the audience commenting that they were “quite interesting. Every time the latest episode is broadcast, it is ranked in the top 10 TV programs of the day.

The character used to be the exact opposite.

What exactly is the reason for the huge success of the show? As we proceeded with our interviews, we discovered that the key lies with Fuma Kikuchi, the new oldest member of the group.

The media people have been chatting about how interesting Taipro is. What is interesting is how stiff they are. The “timelesz” members were more enthusiastic than the applicants, and it was clear that this was not just a farce audition aimed at generating buzz. Fuma Kikuchi stood out the most among the applicants. He gave the applicants harsh words without any discovery, and his seriousness, ‘We don’t want you to come to the audition with a carefree mind,’ was painfully conveyed.

According to writers who have been covering Kikuchi since he was a teenager, he used to be the exact opposite. But according to the writers who have been covering Kikuchi since he was a teenager, he used to be the opposite of that. What happened?

He was a scruffy type who didn’t like to be gung-ho, and would say, “I’m not really interested in popularity. He would come to school just in time, but he would not run or do anything tacky. I was always boasting, “I come to school just in time, but I don’t run or do anything lame like that, but I’m never late either” (laughs).

However, when she reached her mid-20s, she changed drastically. I was shocked when I saw him on a variety show, completely naked and laughing.　I was shocked. From that point on, the scruffy character he used to be completely disappeared,” said an interview writer.

(Interview writer) The answer to the question about his major change came when we interviewed him in his late 20s.

When I asked him about the turning point in his life, he said that in his early twenties, he was very distressed because he was the only one who had no work at all. Thinking back, at that time, in contrast, Mr. Nakajima, who was of the same generation, was in great shape and very busy with dramas and movies in which he starred. This must have contributed to his growing sense of crisis.

Because I had such a tough time, I felt the truth in his words when he said, “Now I am grateful for all the work I do and give it my all. I think that is why he feels more strongly than others about the group, which is also the foundation of his work. I could feel this clearly through the audition. I think that is why viewers are so attracted to Taipro.

The struggles she faced in her early twenties are probably what makes Kikuchi so appealing today.

*FRIDAY Digital welcomes information and tip-offs from everyone. Please send your information to the following information form or to the official X.

Information Form: https://friday.kodansha.co.jp/tips
Official X: https://x.com/FRIDAY_twit