Though technically Travis Japan was the third group I was introduced to within STARTO ENTERTAINMENT, they’ve stolen my heart and have become one of my absolute favorite groups from the most prominent male idol factory in Japan.

MY DREAMY HOLLYWOOD (EXPERIENCE)

I was not only lucky enough to watch them perform live when they were in the states for the OC Japan Fair (and to celebrate the first anniversary of their debut), but I also landed a sit-down interview with the group to talk about the release of their debut album, Road to A.

TJ in OC

While they were on a short break from the tour while I was in Japan over the spring, I had to wait for the home video release of their Road to Authenticity 2024 Concert tour on Blu-ray!

I wasn’t disappointed.

ENERGY LEVEL UP

The concert opened with “DRIVIN’ ME CRAZY,” and the group’s wild energy and truly outrageous costumes set the tone for an unforgettable show! Moving right into one of their most popular Junior Era tracks, “My Dreamy Hollywood,” the group leapt into their debut single, “Just Dance!” – and the crowd went wild!

MY PERSONAL FAVORITES: THE SWEETEST TUNES

“Oki Dokie!” was the lead single from the album, and the music video was shot in Los Angeles over the weekend when I was interviewing them, so I heard a lot about the video and how excited they were (and also what to expect) when it was finally released.

The live version of “Candy Kiss,” which is my all-time favorite TJ song, was absolutely perfect, as was their performance of “Level Up.”

I have a soft spot for their Junior-era introduction song, “Unique Tigers.” It’s just a lot of fun, and you can tell that the guys have fun performing it. However, like most fans, I agree that Shime might be called the “Sweet Tiger,” but—as many instances during the concert proved true—he has a naughty streak.

Every single one of the unit songs was perfect. Genta and Machu’s performance of “Bro” was a happy tear-inducing journey through their many years of incredible friendship. “Paranoia,” featuring Shizu, Shime, and Umi—who also produced the track—was incredibly sexy, while Chaka and Noel’s “Day Off” was pure adorable pop bliss.

“Seasons of Gold” stood out as one of the best performances from the show, and part of it was the editing. The transition from black and white to vibrant color fit so perfectly with the magic of the song.

At their show in Niigata on May 12, 2024, the group debuted their latest single, ‘Sweetest Tune’, which also served as the theme song to Genta’s steamy TV Asahi drama, Tokyo Tower.

The series co-stars Ren Nagase from King & Prince and is now available for international streaming via Rakuten Viki!

Another Favorite T.G.I. Friday Night! The video for this song is a personal favorite and it was the first song the group let the audience share on social media.

The encore also provided my first visual for one of my favorite songs off the debut album – “King of the Jungle” – and it was everything I hoped it would be! Sexy, satisfying, and again shows a peek at Shime’s naughty side.

BLU-RAY SPECS AND EXTERNAL GOODIES

The concert was captured in glorious 1080p HD on two region-free discs. Disc 1 features the 137-minute main live performance, while Disc 2 contains bonus footage, including a visual commentary, dance footage, and more!

The limited edition (the version I purchased) also came with a 60-page photo book and an acrylic keychain of the group’s mascot – a multi-colored tiger – and a B5-sized clear folder.

GOING! GOING! GONE!

Released on August 14, all Blu-ray sets sold out from CD Japan in less than 48 hours!

LIVE! LIVE! LIVE!

Seeing this series I cannot wait to see Travis Japan perform live again when they’re in Los Angeles for the US leg of their Road to Authenticity tour! The group will be performing at the El Rey Theatre (5515 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036) on Monday 14 October. The all ages show will start at 20:00 with doors opening at 19:15. 

There will be more Travis Japan soon so… 

Stay Tuned!