Koichi and Tsuyoshi Domoto Show Their Own Ways of Caring—Fans Feel the Unfading Bond

Koichi’s love for his juniors

The final performance of NEWS’s concert tour was held on October 22 in Fukuoka, where DOMOTO’s (formerly KinKi Kids) Kōichi Dōmoto (46) made a surprise appearance.

There had been no prior announcement. He came onstage with pre-debut Juniors and brought out a cake. Although DOMOTO is a long-established veteran who celebrated the 28th anniversary of his CD debut in July, he has recently been stepping into more supportive roles for his juniors, showing them the example of a dependable senior.

Kōichi appeared at the final show of NEWS LIVE TOUR 2025, which began on August 9. On Instagram on the 22nd, he reported that he had been entrusted with the important task of delivering a cake and balloons from the staff to the members.

On the 16th, in the Amazon Prime Video and DMM TV series Star Song Special Season 2, Kōichi performed “Come On A My House” as a backup dancer for Hey! Say! JUMP, mixed in with the fresh-faced Juniors. His appearance—dancing in the same outfit as the young Juniors—had recently become a hot topic on social media.

This context made fans react:

〈Koichi-san got a taste for performing as JUMP’s backup, and then showed up at NEWS’s concert too — it’s just the cutest.〉

〈Following Star Song Special, Koichi-san blending in among the NEWS backup Juniors — I love him too much. This kind of collaboration is one of the things I love about this agency.〉

〈Koichi-kun appeared as a Junior on that recent program, and knowing he also came to NEWS’s concert today made me cry. He’s my favorite senior.〉

Fans were deeply moved by Kōichi’s love for his juniors.

“Koichi also took part in the field of STARTO’s four-member group 4U on the 30th. During the performance 4U. LIVE TOUR 2025 39×4 = Iikoro held at LINE CUBE SHIBUYA in Tokyo, he pulled off a surprise by appearing disguised among the staff during Yuta Fukuda’s (39) solo segment.

For Ueda Tatsuya’s (42) festival MOUSE PEACE FES. 2025 2nd Bite (held Oct. 29–30 at Yoyogi National Gymnasium First Gymnasium), Kōichi appeared as a storyteller via video, but on the second day he descended onto the stage in person.

Despite running his own solo tour KOICHI DOMOTO LIVE TOUR 2025 RAISE from October 4 to November 6, he still rushed to various venues to support his juniors, going out of his way to cheer them on.” (Sports newspaper reporter)

The juniors explode with joy

Meanwhile, although he has left STARTO, Koichi’s partner Tsuyoshi Domoto (46) also seems to be actively trying to connect with younger members.

Tsuyoshi attended the fan meeting OFFICE NINO HOLDINGS FAN MEETING 2025 “Show Case” of Arashi member Kazunari Ninomiya (42), and on October 2, Ninomiya posted a two-shot photo on X (formerly Twitter).

“I’d love to do something together next time. I’m someone who actually knows a lot about you. Please. Above all, I really feel the love from you coming today — thank you so much for coming despite being busy!” he wrote, overflowing with joy.

This March, on his own radio program Domoto Tsuyoshi to Fashion & Music Book (bayfm), Tsuyoshi revealed that he had spoken on the phone with Snow Man’s Ren Meguro (28) for about an hour and a half. Tsuyoshi is also close enough to have private meals with SixTONES’ Jesse (29), and recently Jesse acted as a go-between so Tsuyoshi could have drinks with Snow Man’s Ryota Miyadate (32) as well.

According to Miyadate’s October 26 broadcast of his radio show Ryota Miyadate’s Royal Salon (TBS Radio), Tsuyoshi had called him the other day to invite him out, but Miyadate declined because he had to get up early the next day.

Tsuyoshi then told him, “If that happens again, give me a call,” and when Miyadate replied, “It’s too much for someone like me to be the one calling you,” Tsuyoshi warmly reassured him, saying, “Don’t worry about that,” “If you call me, I’ll be happy,” and “Just hearing your voice and catching up is totally fine.”

Feeling the distance between himself and the senior he admires suddenly shrink, Miyadate said, “It’s real, but it feels like a dream.”

“Due to the sexual abuse scandal involving Johnny Kitagawa, the founder and first president of Johnny’s Entertainment, the agency changed its name to SMILE-UP. on October 17, 2023. A new agency system, STARTO, was established, creating a fresh start — but the bonds between the talents themselves have not been lost.

Among them, the veteran DOMOTO duo seems to be maintaining their own ways of staying connected with younger artists and supporting them,” said an entertainment reporter.

The two themselves said goodbye to the long-familiar unit name KinKi Kids and restarted as DOMOTO on July 22 of this year. One can’t help but look forward to what lies ahead for them, as they are undoubtedly being inspired by their juniors.