Number_i signs a contract with a major U.S. agent company “behind the scenes” of overseas expansion and President Hideaki Takizawa’s “real aim

X” YOSHKI, Bruno Mars, and Billy Irish also signed with Endeavor.

On February 5, it was announced that the three-member group “Number_i,” consisting of Shiyoh Hirano (29), Yuta Jinguji (28), and Yuta Kishi (30), had signed an agent contract with the major US agent company William Morris Endeavor (WME) (“Endeavor”).

Endeavor has many top artists in its roster, including musicians such as YOSHKI (formerly of X), Bruno Mars, and Billy Irish, as well as actors such as Angelina Jolie and Angelina Jolie. The company also has a long list of leading actors, such as Angelina Jolie, Matt Damon, and Hugh Jackman. The fact that Number_i has been able to secure a contract with such a large agency is definitely a big step forward in its global strategy.

Hideaki Takizawa, 43, president of TOBE, to which Number_i belongs, launched Travis Japan in the U.S. in October 2010, when he was vice president of the former Johnny’s Office. It was well known within the industry that he had always had a global orientation.

In October 2010, Takizawa resigned from Johnny’s and established TOBE in 2011. Two months later, in July of the same year, they joined TOBE. Overseas expansion has been a goal of the office since that time,” said a source in the entertainment industry.

In December of the year before last, President Takizawa traveled to the U.S. and joined TOBE in July of the same year.

In April ‛24, they performed at the world’s largest outdoor music festival “Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival” (a.k.a. Coachella), Number-i’s first US performance, where they performed their debut song “GOAT” and other songs.

Since then, preparations for Number-i’s “full-scale” overseas expansion have been steadily underway.

In December 2012, President Takizawa took five or six staff members from his office to the U.S. It seems that the trip was related to Number_i’s contract with Endeavor. In other words, he must have been working toward an agent contract with Endeavor since that time. The U.S. makes a very precise contract, so it must have taken them a long time to get to this point after careful discussions,” said a music insider.

The aforementioned music insider reveals that TOBE’s side has a lot to gain.

The current trend in the music scene is to secure profits from concerts. Now that distribution has taken center stage, the days of making money by selling CDs are over, as was the case a decade ago. In this sense, it was great that we were able to sign a contract with Endeavor, which has a strong influence in Asia. I am sure Number_i’s overseas activities will become even more active.

Number_i is likely to become popular not only in Japan but also overseas, and we cannot keep our eyes off of them.

On the FRIDAY Digital “Entertainment Reporter Channel” (YouTube), entertainment journalists interviewed President Takizawa about the background behind his decision to sign the contract and the aims of Number_i. The interview was titled “Behind the scenes” of Number_i’s full-scale entry into the US market and President Hideaki Takizawa’s “real aim” (Entertainment Reporter #10), The report also discusses the aims of Number_i based on interviews with other celebrities who have made inroads overseas. The report also details the overseas expansion of other talents.