NEWS reborn

Since the departure of Tomohisa Yamashita and Ryo Nishikido, NEWS are set to release their first single as a four members, it was announced on June 12, reports Nikkan Sports, Sports Hochi, Daily Sports Online, and Chunichi Sports.

 

“We can finally make a start.  I’ve been waiting for this day,” Shigeaki Kato said.

“The feeling that it’s about to start is finally sinking in,” Keiichiro Koyama said.

 

It has been reported “チャンカパーナ (Chankapana)”, meaning “the person I care about or love”, will be released on July 18.  It is the group’s first single in 20 months.

“When I first heard the title I was like, ‘excuse me?’, but I like the fact that it makes you want to know what it means,” Koyama said.

The group talked to the media about how all of the members decided it was best for Yamashita to focus on his solo work and Nishikido on Kanjani8, and how the remaining four changed a group threat into a chance.

“I was worried, I didn’t know what was going to happen or where my life was headed,” Koyama said.

“There’s no way I couldn’t be upset.  But I turned a corner, I knew it would be a challenge but the four of us could do it,” Kato said.

“I wasn’t worried at all.  I’m sure the two had things they wanted to accomplish and it’s a big no for NEWS to make someone stay who doesn’t want to,” Yuya Tegoshi said.

“I was frustrated that the dream the six of us had had was torn apart, but it also made me want it more.  I felt like I wanted the four of us to achieve it, and more,” Takahisa Masuda said.

 

It has been reported even though the four of them had different thoughts about last year’s event, Koyama had said they all loved NEWS and did not want it to end.  It is also the reason why the four had spent six months preparing new material.  During the time the four would catch up for meals, talk about the new single, and started suggesting more of their own ideas to producers.

“There’s no song we have that has more of us in it than this.  Because there are fewer of us, it’s easier for our personality to come through.  I’m confident the four-member NEWS can overtake the six-member NEWS,” Tegoshi said.

“There aren’t many four-membered groups in Johnny’s.  I want to use it as an advantage.  We’ve even made four versions of the new single,” Masuda said.

 

The group started with nine members in 2003, but Koyama had said this was the last change.

 “We’ll do this till we’re old men.”

It has been reported a summer concert tour is also being planned.

V6 finish up on their national tour

Johnny’s group V6 finished up their national tour on October 10 in a venue they had not played in for 10 years, bringing back old memories, reports Chunichi Sports, Sankei Sports, and Sports Hochi.

 

At the Yokohama Arena yesterday, video footage of their concert in the same venue from 2001 was played on screen during the group’s MC session.  It has been reported the members started talking about what had and had not changed in the last decade.

“We’re better dancers now.  And 10 years later, none of us have lost any hair,” Yoshihiko Inohara said.

“We’ve been eating so much but no one’s put on any weight.  No one in V6 is porky,” Hiroshi Nagano said.

“No one [in Johnny’s] is,” Junichi Okada said.

 

V6 celebrate 16 years together now, but group leader Masayuki Sakamoto said group success does not come easy.

“It’s important not to interfere with one another (laughs).  We’re all different ages so there was a long wait before we could all go out drinking as a group.  I think after we could, we got to know one another better.”

 

V6’s national tour went around eight venues, totaling 17 concerts and attracting more than 180,000 fans.

 

EXTRA

Arashi’s Ninomiya made a guest appearance during the group’s MC.

“The first time I was a back dancer was for a V6 concert,” he said, surprising the members before slipping in a little PR for his own group.

“Our new single comes out on November 2,” he said.

 

V6 leader Sakamoto also talked about Tomohisa Yamashita and Ryo Nishikido’s departure from NEWS, and wished them and the remaining four members the best of luck.

“I think they had a really hard time trying to decide what was best.  All they can do now to make up for the trouble they’ve caused to their fans is to work harder than they ever have.

“As part of the Johnny’s family, I wish them all the best,” he said.

 

Sakamoto also commented about new Johnny’s group Sexy Zone’s upcoming debut.

“I’ll keep an eye on them like a father,” he said.

Kanjani8’s first 5 Dome tour

Johnny’s group Kanjani8 will embark on their first five-dome venue tour at the end of the year, it was revealed on September 6, reports Chunichi Sports and TV Asahi.

The group had already been set to perform at four dome stadium venues, but yesterday it was announced they would also perform at Nagoya Dome on Christmas Eve.

“Thankfully, now we can see our fans in Nagoya!” Shingo Murakami said.

It has been reported only three other Johnny’s groups have toured around all five dome stadiums: SMAP, KinKi Kids, and Arashi.  For the Kanjani8, it will also be their first time performing at Sapporo, Fukuoka, and Nagoya Dome.

“I can’t believe it, I’m so happy we’re going on a 5 dome stadium tour.  I hope I can show our fans how much I appreciate this, and make them happy by watching the concert,” Subaru Shibutani said.

A new album is also in talks of being released around November, which will include all of the group’s recent chart-topping hit singles like “T.W.L” and “My Home”.

Tadayoshi Okura said the tour comes at a good time following the group’s busy schedule this year with four single releases, becoming the main personality for 2011’s 24Hr TV, and getting their late night show re-scheduled for prime time television.

“We’ve had a lot of good news so finishing it with a 5 dome tour is perfect.  I’ll do my best to make sure the energy doesn’t drop as we go into our eighth year,” he said.

Kanjani8’s tour will begin on November 23 in Sapporo, before moving onto Fukuoka, Tokyo, and Nagoya, before finishing up in Osaka on New Year’s Eve.