Takuya Matsuoka of “MATSURI” Debuts with Theater Troupe Member at Naka-Meguro Station

The last train had already departed from Nakameguro Station.

In front of a closed shutter, a man and a woman stood close together, engrossed in conversation. Their outfits were casual, yet they were strikingly attractive enough to catch the eye. Could they be Takuya Matsuoka (35) from “MATSURI” and Oto Abe (24) from “Gekidan 4 Dollar 50 Cent”?

Abe reached out and playfully patted the taller Matsuoka on the head, suggesting a rather close relationship. Without hesitation, we decided to approach them for an interview.

Matsuoka (right) and Abe (left) engaged in conversation in front of the shutter at Nakameguro Station.

──Excuse me, we’re from FRIDAY. You’re Matsuoka-san and Abe Oto-san from “MATSURI,” right?

Matsuoka: “Huh… Ah, yes.”

── You seemed quite close. Are you dating?

Abe: “No, we’re just colleagues. We’re both part of the Akimoto Yasushi-produced group.”

── Weren’t you on a date just now?

Matsuoka: “No, we just happened to run into each other there and had a quick chat. We have work after this. There’s a group meeting.”

At that moment, other members of “MATSURI” appeared. It seemed they really weren’t on a date. That day, January 22, was “MATSURI”‘s debut day. That explained why they were working so late into the night.

“MATSURI” is a six-member male vocal group that emerged from the “Don’t Give Up on Your Dreams! Male Group Audition,” held in June 2023 for those aged 25 and older. Under the production of Akimoto Yasushi, they were formed alongside their brother group “SHOW-WA” with the aim of reviving Showa-era pop songs for the Reiwa era. Their average age is 34.5 years. The group consists of members with diverse backgrounds, including a former major-label artist, a former garbage collector, and a former nurse.

In fact, they had once lost a showdown against “SHOW-WA” for their debut, missing their chance. However, they gathered over 20,000 signatures on their own and managed to seize their long-awaited debut from the brink of failure.

We asked them again about their thoughts on their major debut.

Matsuoka: “Honestly, I’m just really happy, and I strongly feel once again how wonderful this group ‘MATSURI’ is. I believe it’s because of these six members that we were able to overcome so many challenges and finally achieve this major debut. Meeting such amazing members is the greatest blessing.”

Watanabe Shin: “Over this time, we’ve had more opportunities to talk as a group and spend time with our fans, so I feel like our bonds have grown even stronger. We’ve had a lot of discussions about how to make things better, which I think has really brought us together as one.”

Their debut single, “Aventure Nakameguro,” was released on January 22. What kind of song is it?

Yanagida Yūki: “This song is about the push-and-pull of romance between a man and a woman. The lyrics have a very Showa-era feel, so I think listeners will find it nostalgic. But at the same time, the composition incorporates modern musical elements, creating a perfect fusion of Showa and contemporary styles. You could say it’s a Reiwa-era mood kayō (romantic ballad). There are parts that feel familiar and nostalgic, and others that feel fresh and new.”

Finally, we asked about their aspirations for the future.

Onodera Tsubasa: “Akimoto-sensei gave us an amazing song, ‘Aventure Nakameguro,’ so we want to bring out its full charm and make it a defining mood of the Reiwa era. Also, since we debuted this year, we want to aim for big stages like the Japan Record Awards and Kōhaku Uta Gassen as MATSURI.”

After overcoming numerous trials, MATSURI has finally achieved their long-awaited debut. Any romance scandals will have to wait until they reach even greater heights.