Bishonen is a six-member Junior unit under the umbrella of one of Japan’s most influential entertainment companies. Taisho Iwasaki, Ryuga Sato, Yuto Nasu, Hidaka Ukisho, Naoki Fujii, and Issei Kanasashi have been together since 2016 (Kanasashi joined in 2017) and recently starred in the 2023 production of the beloved stage play SHONENTACHI. 

Directed by agency peer Hikaru Iwamoto of best-selling boy band Snow Man, this year’s take on the story titled Through The Darkness explores overcoming demons human and metaphysical to find your own inner strength, which is exactly what the group is doing. 

Set in a future not far from our own, a devastating war has wiped out much of Japan’s population. Those who did survive must now learn how to live again. It’s a dark and turbulent time, especially for the young men in the detention center where this play takes place. Driven by anger, the only thing that seems to manifest any kind of happiness is nearly killing one another. Eventually, they do come to realize that they’re on the same side and unite to fight the corruption holding them hostage. 

Between this show, their national concert tour, and a host of television work, these guys have definitely kept themselves busy! I was lucky enough to get a few minutes with each one of them to hear about what they think has stood out the most in 2023. 

Naoki Fujii: I would say, after everything we’ve gotten to do this year, for me, it was our tour. My love for dancing was the main reason I wanted to join this agency, and when I’m on stage looking out on the faces of our fans, their responses to what me and the other group members are doing energize me in a way I can’t really describe. I’m more myself on stage than I think I am anywhere else, I love cheering people up and making them smile. It’s amazing.

Yuto Nasu: I would say it was the chance to act in the television program “LOVE it” over the summer. I’d been itching to do more for television, so I was very excited when I was asked to be a regular for the season. I had so much fun and ate so much delicious food…talk about energy, it was amazing (laughs)! I also learned a lot from Kawashima-san, the MC, especially about how a program like this is run. It was a wonderful experience for me and one I really hope I get the chance to do again.

Issei Kanasashi: I personally enjoyed the megaconcert “ALL Johnnys’ Jr. 2023 WASSHOI CAMP! in Dome” that we performed in Osaka and Tokyo. Our parts on stage were quite short because there were so many groups beyond Bishonen, but to be standing there in the wide expanse of the dome among all our Junior comrades was really special. Personally, I enjoyed working on the mix-and-match rap section and I was so inspired by the other groups. It was a great and valuable experience that’s propelled me to want to do even better on our next tour. 

Taisho Iwasaki: I had a lot of fun performing in “SHONENTACHI.” It was mainly the six of us, with a few other Juniors, but it was a lot of fun to be in something like this together, as a group in the lead roles. From the first day of rehearsals to the final curtain call, it was an incredible accomplishment for us as a unit. But, if I was going off of something that’s just for me personally, I would have to say that getting to take over the World Songs Selection from Jesse (of SixTONES) in the bi-monthly music show The Shonen Club was the best. I got to perform a lot of classic English songs, most of them jazz-style standards which I really like. I love taking something from the past and putting a new spin on it. It’s a really great way to collaborate with history as a performer.

Ryuga Sato: I would say it was starring in the drama “Lawyer Sodom.” My roles starts out as a criminal, but along the way he becomes a companion to the main actor who is a lawyer and joins the side of good. I was inspired by a lot of the plays and dramas I’ve seen outside our agency standards and the director was the same director of a drama we (Bishonen) all starred in as a group. This was my first time working with him by myself though, and I saw a totally different side to him. It was fascinating, and I also got along well with the other actors. They inspired me to want to do my best. 

Hidaka Ukisho: For the group, it’s the TV show called “Bishonen Tei,” which is a variety show. It has been one of our long-time dreams to do a variety show with just Bishonen. So, needless to say, I am elated by the fact that it finally came true! I think we can do even more programs like this in the future. I really want us to try new things and broaden our horizons. I also got to be in some really fun dramas like “Suki Suki Wan Wan!” in January, and also “Gifted” more recently with (Takahisa) Masuda-kun of NEWS. I also did a lot of plays this year, so I think it was fun and stimulating every day and I was able to spend my time learning happily. Next year, I want to be involved in even more live stage plays and hopefully even movies! It’s a different world being on stage for a play vs. being on stage at a concert or on set during a series, but I love it all!

They’re a great group of talented guys with big smiles and even big dreams. They remind me of another group I was given the chance to interview when they were still juniors and like them, I am very excited to follow this group on their journey. 

More Bishonen soon so… 

Stay Tuned!