“Was Shigeoka the Trigger for His Departure…?” The Inside Story Behind “WEST.”‘s Sudden Departure and Fujii & Kotaki’s “Rock-Solid Career Plan”

A Surprisingly Sudden Announcement of His Departure

A shockwave has rocked the seven-member group “WEST.,” which celebrated its 12th anniversary this past April.

On August 9, Daiki Shigeoka (34) and Takahiro Hamada (37) each announced their marriages.Just as the shocking news that four of the seven members would now be married had come to light, STARTO ENTERTAINMENT (hereinafter “STARTO”) announced on its official website on the 30th of the same month: “We would like to inform you that our contracted talents, Ryusei Fujii and Nozomu Kotaki, have decided to leave WEST.”It is reported that, amid ongoing discussions regarding the group’s future activities, Fujii and Kotaki expressed their desire to “leave WEST. and pursue new paths.”

“The official date of their departure has not yet been determined, and details regarding upcoming activities and appearances will be announced as soon as coordination with the relevant parties is complete.”Regarding the ‘KAMIGATA EXPO PARK FES 2026’ event scheduled for October 31 and November 1 in Osaka, the agency also announced, ‘Since it will be difficult for WEST. to perform as a group of seven, we will be processing ticket refunds’” (Sports newspaper entertainment reporter)

Fujii and Kotaki will continue their careers as entertainers under the same agency. Regarding WEST.’s future activities, discussions are reportedly ongoing with the remaining members: Shigeoka, Hamada, Tomohiro Kamiyama (33), Terufumi Kiriyama (37), and Junta Nakama (38).

“On the evening of the 30th, comments from Fujii and Kotaki were posted on the fan club website. While both expressed their love and gratitude for WEST. itself, they revealed that a gradual disconnect had emerged between their own vision of what an idol should be and the group’s direction.On the 31st, the two updated their blogs on the members-only site ‘FAMILY CLUB web.’ Although their future plans have not yet been decided, Fujii stated his intention, saying, ‘I want to continue being an idol.’ Kotaki also wrote, ‘I sincerely hope to be able to sing and dance in front of everyone again.’” (Ibid.)

It seems they decided to “leave the group no matter what” and went through with it. Sensing an uneasy atmosphere, fans have taken to the internet to voice concerns, asking, “Could there have been friction among the members?” One factor being cited as a possible cause is the recent joint marriage announcement by Shigeoka and Hamada.

Within WEST., Kiriyama married former women’s national volleyball team member Maiko Kano (38) in January 2025, and Kamiyama married a non-celebrity woman in October of the same year. While Hamada simply announced his marriage, Shigeoka went further, stating, “I would like to announce that we have welcomed a new life,” revealing that a child had been born.Fans were deeply shocked by this sudden announcement. Fujii and Kotaki may also have had their own thoughts regarding the members’ successive marriages.

“Judging by Kotaki’s personal Instagram, it doesn’t seem like he’s reacting negatively toward all the members.Most recently, he ‘liked’ Hamada’s post dated August 30 and Kamiyama’s post dated September 2, and he even traveled to a theater in Osaka to watch Kamiyama’s stage play, *Akechi-ko! ~The Black Diamond of Steam, or the Island of Madness~*.

The play concluded on August 30, but Kotaki posted on his Instagram Stories with photos, saying, ‘I finally got to see the play’ and ‘I’ll be cheering you on for tomorrow’s final performance.’Kamayama also replied via Stories, saying, “Thanks for making the trip all the way to Osaka—I’ll give it my all.” “At the very least, it seems Kamayama and Hamada have a good relationship” (ibid.)

Expected to Make a Name for Himself in Theater and TV Dramas

Incidentally, when Kiriyama got married, Kotaki posted a congratulatory message on his Stories saying, “Terushi—! Congratulations.” It appears he wasn’t opposed to members getting married at the time. However, Shigeoka’s situation is a bit different from that of the other three.

“Since Kotaki went to see Kami-chan’s stage play, I think the cause lies with Shigeoka no matter how you look at it.”
“Kotaki congratulated Terufumi, so I don’t think he has that much aversion to members getting married. Shigeoka is definitely the one to blame.”

Comments like these are scattered across the internet. Fans are pointing out that not being informed about the existence of a child may have been the trigger for his departure…

Although neither Fujii nor Kotaki has decided on their future activities yet, an executive at a major talent agency predicts, “Offers for stage plays and TV dramas are likely to continue.”

“Kotaki was acclaimed for his performance in the 2020 stage production of *The Elephant Man*, winning the Haruko Sugimura Award and the Best Actor Award at the 28th Yomiuri Theater Awards.When he starred in the musical *Death Takes a Holiday* in 2024, he received rave reviews even among musical theater fans, and since then, expectations have been high for his entry into full-scale musical productions.

Fujii has gained new fans through his recent leading roles in dramas such as *Kiss and Hide It, Don’t Let It Show* (Yomiuri TV) and *It’s All for You* (TV Asahi), and many are captivated by his sexy, deep voice. As an actor, his future seems secure for the time being.”

Will this mark the end of WEST.’s seven-member lineup?