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Straight Outta Kansai: Kamigata Boyz Dream Island Shows Us the Joyz of Japan’s Western Entertainment

Japanese talent agency titan STARTO ENTERTAINMENT holds KAMIGATA BOYZ DREAM ISLAND concert, showcasing its top talent from the Kansai region.

@Storm_Labels_Official on youtube

STARTO ENTERTAINMENT is at the top of the male idol market in Japan. Most of their top talents are from the Tokyo agency, but they also have a Western division in Osaka. The idols at STARTO are breaking the trend of Kansai talent staying within the region and are ready to show the world the joys of Western Japanese entertainment! Join them at “KAMIGATA BOYZ DREAM ISLAND 2024,” featuring all of the STARTO Kansai stars.

SUPER EIGHT has been one of STARTO’s most successful Kansai groups. Their concerts are a sight to behold, one part music and one part comedy, with member Tadayoshi Ohkura as the mastermind in charge of production. Ohkura produces and directs events for his group and junior Kansai talent. Along with ARASHI‘s Jun Matsumoto, Ohkura directed the WE ARE! Let’s get the party STARTO!! concert series, which reintroduced the agency’s talent after a company rebranding period.

Band SUPER EIGHT plays upstage group WEST.
SUPER EIGHT plays music for fellow groups during the WE ARE! Let’s get the party STARTO!! concert. Source: Netflix

Having been a leader in the Kansai division, Ohkura is taking matters into his own hands. Bringing Kansai entertainment to the forefront, SUPER EIGHT collaborated with other groups in the western division to form KAMIGATA BOYZ. The group consists of the members of SUPER EIGHT, WEST., Naniwa Danshi, and freshly debuted Ae! group.

Once they had the opportunity to hold a concert, Kansai talent trainees were also featured. But KAMIGATA BOYZ’s aim isn’t just to expand in Japan; it’s to show their talent to the world! Their music is available on streaming services, and the DREAM ISLAND concert was streamed online until October 14th for international viewers as well.

Show us the boyz!!

Sitting in succession from left to right: You Yokoyama, Ryuhei Maruyama, Tadayoshi Okura, Shota Yasuda, Murakami Shingo
The members of SUPER EIGHT from left to right: You Yokoyama, Ryuhei Maruyama, Tadayoshi Ohkura, Shota Yasuda, Murakami Shingo. Source: STARTO ENTERTAINMENT

In 2004, the group made their CD debut as “Kanjani8.” Initially, the agency described them as a modern Enka group, but their sound has evolved to be more pop or rock. Although the group may have lost a few members since then, they haven’t lost their spirit. As a senior group in the agency now, the Kansai Jrs all look up to these five idols.

SUPER EIGHT has been a prominent group in the Kansai region for 20 years. The members have been with the agency since the 1990s and have been active as a group since 2004. Before the group’s formation, some members of SUPER EIGHT gained nationwide recognition. This popularity lead to two members being in two different groups simultaneously during an earlier period of their journey before ultimately deciding to focus on SUPER EIGHT and continue to strengthen the Kansai division.

After enduring various challenges, including losing members, the group has begun to take on more behind-the-scenes responsibilities. They hope to secure the future of Japanese entertainment and leave a lasting mark on the world.

Five Japanese men standing in a library from left to right: Junta Nakama, Tomohiro Kamiyama, Ryusei Fujii, Daiki Shigeoka, Nozomu Kotaki, Takahiro Hamada, Akito Kiriyama
Members of WEST.
From left to right: Junta Nakama, Tomohiro Kamiyama, Ryusei Fujii, Daiki Shigeoka, Nozomu Kotaki, Takahiro Hamada, Akito Kiriyama. Source: STARTO ENTERTAINMENT

For ten years, STARTO did not debut any new groups consisting of Kansai juniors until the formation of the group WEST. in 2014. WEST. (previously Johnny’s WEST) is a group consisting of seven Kansai juniors. The group had a bit of a rough start. The then-president originally formed the group with seven members, scheduling their debut for the end-of-year concert.

However, the situation changed, and the staff informed them that they wouldn’t be performing at the concert. Later, the staff informed them again that they would indeed be performing at the concert. When the time finally came to announce the group’s formation, the agency suddenly cut three of the members from the group.

The four remaining members would go on to perform at the Tokyo year-end concert, but their upset was clearly visible. Member Shigeoka fought relentlessly to have the other three members added back to the lineup, as he felt they were essential for the group’s national success. His prayers were answered, and now all seven members are bringing their unique style of entertainment to a massive audience!

Members of Naniwa Danshi dressed in white with flower petals falling around them
The members of Naniwa Danshi on the cover of their first album “1st Love.”
From left to right: Joichiro Fujiwara, Kazuya Ohashi, Ryusei Onishi, Daigo Nishihata, Shunsuke Michieda, Kento Nagao, Kyohei Takahashi. Source: Storm Labels

This time, STARTO waited only four years to soft launch their Kansai group Naniwa Danshi, cutting the previous dry period in half. Produced by Ohkura of SUPER EIGHT, the group was previously featured on the YouTube channel for STARTO junior talent before graduating to their own YouTube channel. The group had much support when they debuted in 2021, partly due to the agency’s adaptation to the modern age.

Naniwa Danshi was formed in 2018 and has been actively performing since then. However, they did not officially release their own music until their formal debut in 2021. The announcement came as a surprise during one of their concerts and marked the end of member Joichiro Fujiwara’s 17 years and 8 months as a junior.

The group recently was added to streaming services such as Spotify and announced an Asia tour with performances in Taipei, Seoul, and Hong Kong. This is in part thanks to the success of member Shunsule Michieda, or Micchi, starring in the drama adaption of queer romance My Love Mix-up!, which was loved by fans and was many fans’ introduction to the group.

Ae group members from left to right: Masaya Sano, Seiya Suezawa, Yoshinori Masakado, Keita Richard Kusama, and Ken Kojima.
Ae! group members from left to right: Masaya Sano, Seiya Suezawa, Yoshinori Masakado, Keita Richard Kusama, and Ken Kojima. Source: STARTO ENTERTAINMENT

Produced this time by SUPER EIGHT’s You Yokoyama, Ae! group is the latest Kansai unit to debut. Formed as a group of six in 2019, the group’s name is pronounced “ay group,” meaning “good group” in Kansai dialect. The group lost a member in 2023 but went on to officially debut in May 2024. They are the first group to debut under STARTO ENTERTAINMENT since the company’s rebranding and the fifth Kansai act to officially debut in the agency’s 60+ years.

In the past, it was typical for groups in Kansai to be gatekept pretty heavily, but Ae! group was fortunate enough to be one of the groups featured on the Junior Channel on YouTube, much like Naniwa Danshi. Thanks to their senior’s efforts in moving the agency into the digital age, Ae! group has had great reception online and has also visited fellow YouTube channels led by other groups within the agency.

After their debut, they also launched their own YouTube channel and graduated from the Junior channel.

Male idol groups in a collage. Left: Lil Kansai. Top right: AmBitious. Bottom right: Boys be.
There were also three Kansai Jr. groups that participated: Lil Kansai, AmBitious, and Boys be.
For a long time, I thought “Boys be AmBitious” was one group (it’s not). Source: Starto Entertainment’s official Junior website

No STARTO concert is complete without trainees joining in on the fun. The KAMIGATA BOYZ concert includes the junior groups Lil Kansai, AmBitious, Boys be, and other Kansai juniors who are not in a specified unit. The Junior Channel YouTube channel frequently features these groups, and they serve as backup dancers for their seniors. While these groups have not formally debuted, they have held performances and been guests on Kansai station TV shows.

Tell us about the show!!

Overhead view of the crowd at the KAMIGATA BOYZ concert
The crowd prepares for the show to start. The show sold out on both nights!
Source: ©️STARTO ENTERTAINMENT. Used with permission.

With an audience of 55,000 people in front of them, the Kansai specialty concert showcases the cute, cool, and silly sides of over 100 Kansai-based performers. Not only did the concert sell out twice, but it also became one of the company’s most streamed concerts on its website to date. There is an undeniable desire for more of the Kansai division at STARTO!

The opening video shows Ohkura gathering the other Kansai groups with the help of two other idols. Ohkura and the others give each member an invitation, and they excitedly prepare to join the event. The first song performed is KAMIGATA BOYZ’s “MUSEKININ DE EEJANAIKA LOVE.” The song is playful, and watching the boys have fun performing it brings a smile to anyone’s face, regardless of if you know what it’s about. All the members wear colorful leopard print outfits, each group sporting a distinct cut and style.

Members of Kamigata Boyz on stage at a concert wearing colorful leopard print outfits
The opening outfits for the KAMIGATA BOYZ concert. 6/10 Not the worst idol outfit I’ve seen.
Source: ©️STARTO ENTERTAINMENT. Used with permission.

For instance, the boys of Naniwa Danshi wore pink leopard-print overalls with matching jackets. There are plaid details I don’t really understand, but I thought it was nice that the details on the pink outfits were blue, whereas the WEST boys were wearing blue leopard-print suits with pink details. As far as idol outfits go, this is pretty cohesive visually. It may sound insane if you try to describe it, but it makes sense when you see it. But is it ugly, though?

Naniwa Danshi, WEST., and SUPER EIGHT each perform a song individually, with the other groups dancing in the background before they do a short talking segment. The speaking parts are occasionally removed from recordings, but watching them banter on stage is part of the fun. Sadly, my Japanese is very limited, so I’m a little lost on what’s going on without subtitles, but what matters is I can tell they’re having a good time.

Ae! group leads the next section in these outfits. 10/10 couldn’t ask for a better fit.
Source: ©️STARTO ENTERTAINMENT. Used with permission.

Ae! group opens the next section. I loved their outfits here. Yes, a lot is happening, but most idol outfits have a lot going on. While new to the game, Ae! group’s music is good. I’m not about to fall over because their song “《A》BEGINNING” is just so incredible, but they show a lot of potential. In particular, I favor Richard the most among the five, who appears second from the right in the picture above. He has great energy, voice, and style. He plays the saxophone and bass and is in charge of the rap in their music. I was surprised when I first saw a half-American idol, and I can’t wait to see how he uses both cultures to influence his art!

Next, they perform a song that introduces each of the members. I always find these songs to be a lot of fun but difficult to follow along with if you don’t understand Japanese. Member Seiya, pictured in the center, shows off his high voice, which the members joke hurts their ears. Overall, it’s very playful and definitely a song I will be googling the lyrics to. After their performance, WEST comes out next to perform “Shoko.” This song feels upbeat and would be good for long-distance running. It reminds me of an anime ending theme.

WEST. comes out in basketball uniforms. 7/10 they’re cute but a little plain.
Source: ©️STARTO ENTERTAINMENT. Used with permission.

During this song, the WEST. members hold out their microphones so the audience members can sing along. This is a risky move at an event where fans may not be familiar with their song, but the audience does not disappoint. After the song ends, one of the members pretends to pass out, and the fans must cheer to revive him. It’s short and silly, and it gives us a little peek into their love of physical comedy.

Everyone sings everyone’s songs:

After WEST. performs another song, they move into a summer medley of songs from the different groups. Some groups stay on the center stage and dance, others move to moving carts that weave through the crowds, and others move to further out parts of the stage. Each group has its own look again, but this time, unlike the colorful leopard print costumes, each group’s outfit has little to do with what the other group is wearing.

The outfits overall get a group rating of 7. I’m not wowed, but they are nice. Super Eight, Naniwa Danshi, and Ae! group respectively.
Source: ©️STARTO ENTERTAINMENT. Used with permission.

The groups each take turns performing, often doing covers of songs from their Tokyo seniors and contemporaries. Being part of such a successful agency allows groups to borrow songs from other groups, which is a great way to introduce fans of either group to the other. They cover songs from groups such as King & Prince, NEWS, and SMAP, as well as singing their own group’s songs.

The first hour is finished!
Source: ©️STARTO ENTERTAINMENT. Used with permission.

And that’s just the first hour! The entire show is a little over 2.5 hours long, which is pretty standard for a STARTO Entertainment concert. As someone who grew up watching idol concert DVDs, you can imagine my surprise when I attended a concert for the first time in America, and it was only an hour and a half long. If you want to lighten your mood, explore what the Kansai idols bring to the table, or if you’re a STARTO fan from another group, you’ll find the show to be an absolute delight.

As a long-time Starto follower, having first gotten into ARASHI in 2011, I was pleasantly surprised by how many songs they covered I recognized. For instance, later in the concert, they covered ARASHI’s “Monster” and King & Prince’s “Ichiban.” A total of 45 songs are performed, taken from both Kansai and Tokyo groups. The setlist is bursting with energy, with a few slow songs here and there, making the concert perfectly paced without dragging despite the long runtime. The refreshing aura from the sparkling idols will have you falling in love!

Want to see more? KAMIGATA BOYZ’s second single’s music video is available now with clips from the concert and the behind-the-scenes!

An international fan’s thoughts:

There used to be this perception that to enjoy music, you needed to be able to understand the lyrics, but recently, people have been feeling less and less resistant to music in a foreign language. Longtime fans will tell you that it’s always been about more than the lyrics, but knowing the translation is the cherry on top.

The difficulty with Kansai entertainment going international is that much of their humor only makes sense if you’re aware of Japanese culture. While the concert is fun enough to enjoy on its own, I do feel like a layer of enjoyment is lost when you don’t understand it. Sometimes, it’s very easy to just look up a translation. But Kansai groups are especially niche, making it very hard to find a reliable translation, if any at all. There is computer translation, but that is often riddled with inaccuracies or fails to capture the true meaning of what is being said.

A teenager holds up a phone with the caption "I don't know how to read"
What’s up I’m Reign, I’m 26, and I never learned how to read (kanji/kana).
Source: Josh Kennedy on Vine

Fans have gone this long by translating and sharing things themselves, but there are a lot of drawbacks to that. First of all, it’s free labor. If a fan translates something, it’s because they desire to share it with their friends. There is no financial incentive. If life or their real job gets in the way, no one can cover for them, which can cause some projects to be abandoned halfway through. Second, they are often unable to share their translations at all due to fear of copyright infringement. Can you imagine sitting in jail because you wanted to put some song lyrics on a music video?

With more and more Japanese shows on international platforms such as Netflix, you would expect to see well-done translations. However, fans have complained that some translations are inaccurate, some parts remain untranslated, and the translations often fail to capture the nuances of what is being said.

What can be done?

Unironically, these subtitles are better than some official ones.
Source: Death Note

To combat this, I hope to see more fans become paid translators. Fans who care about the projects they’re working on and how the message comes across. I also hope that streaming services and those in charge of such decisions will consider taking translations more seriously and not choose the quick and easy machine translation route. Many people, including myself, started to learn Japanese by listening to it spoken on a TV show and reading the subtitles along. The translation should be by someone who really cares about the language.

Something that touched my heart personally was the time that ARASHI had their Record of Memories concert movie held in American movie theaters across the country. Not only that, but they subtitled both the songs and speaking portions. Although, I was a bit sad when the Blu-ray was released, and it did not include the option for English subtitles. Maybe you don’t have to know the lyrics to a song, or maybe you don’t have to know the punchline to a joke, but knowing those things will only make you fall further in love with Japanese entertainment.

Interested in other live events? Check out this article about the Chappel Roan concert!

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Written By

Reign is a Columbia College Chicago graduate with a bachelor's degree in creative writing. Having grown up with a passion for anime, Reign enjoys writing about Japanese pop culture from music to TV dramas. She also enjoys American reality TV and has a love for young adult novels.

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Araari

    October 19, 2024 at 9:14 am

    Wow! I had no idea these type of concerts existed within the company. I’d heard the name KAMIGATA BOYZ thought I had not been following many of these groups too closely. SUPER EIGHT just made it to my radar recently and their music is so catchy and unlike anything I’ve heard before. I should give the rest of the Kansai groups a try!

  2. Melody

    October 25, 2024 at 12:15 am

    Thank you for featuring them! I’m a big Lil Kansai fan. They are still a jr group but looking forward to their debut! I really like how all of the Kansai groups support each other.

  3. Yuuma

    October 26, 2024 at 7:13 am

    I definitely agree with you. As a Starto, specifically Kansai Starto follower and bilingual I do think about being a paid translator but, I get scared sometimes that if I mistranslate the nuances as I’m not native English speaker, giving a wrong impression to international fans. Which could lead to loss of fans of the group I love.

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